OK, now that I've found the link amidst the Nascar like ads section, I'll post my choices.
Juvenile Fillies Division:
To me, WITHOUT QUESTION, the best performance of the year by a 2yo filly came when Indian Blessing broke her maiden in her debut. Looking like a female version of the early Seattle Slew, she broke poorly from a rail draw that's VERY tough going 5.5 if you don't leave the gates well. Despite that, she unleashed a breath taking display of sustained speed. I've seen Maykovsky, Macho Uno, and Harmony Lodge all have tremendous debuts going 5.5 furlongs at Saratoga this decade...and I have no doubt Indian Blessing's performance was better.
Among the options in the poll - I'd take Indian Blessing's BC Juvie fillies win. I strongly believe IB, like her dam, is a pure sprinter...and it's to her credit that she's been able to win a pair of Grade 1 races in career starts 2 and 3 at distances that I believe are far beyond her scope. She will be exposed in route races next year - but certainly has the talent to be considered a strong contender for the second running of the BC Filly and Mare sprint in '08.
Juvenile Division:
I see a maiden performance was added in this category - and while it was a remarkable thing to watch visually - Numaany won a very slow race over an uninspiring group of horses. If anyone remembers back to last year - Giant Chieftan was beaten 4 lengths in his debut at Saratoga after doing the same exact thing - at the same point of the race - with the same jockey (Javier Castallano) up. It was also a soft maiden race - and Giant Chieftan has since been always bet and always disapoints.
I think War Pass's BC Juvenile win is a very obvious selection. It was by open lengths the fastest Beyer ever earned by a runner in that race - and while circumstances may have made the race look better than it was - it was still a giant effort.
Filly and Mare Turf Division:
I don't really think I saw a single memorable Filly and Mare turf race all year long. By default, the Breeders Cup F & M Turf is my pick - even though it was run over a soft turf course - and featured a Euro runner who cost all chance to at least two of her rivals by racing very erratic before finally being eased up.
Sprint Division:
I can certainly understand the exclusion of IB's debut win in the Juv fillies poll. I don't get how the Vosburgh and especially the Forego were excluded in this one! The Forego is obviously the choice here.
It was a historic performance from a speed figure standpoint by the winner, Midnight Lute. Since the Beyer figures have been published in the Daily racing form more than 15 years ago - no horse had ever run a Beyer of greater than 124 sprinting...and prior to the Forego, only Artax had run a 124 Beyer. Which he did just once, when he broke Mr. Prospector's track record for six furlongs at Gulfstream Park while beating the following year's champion Kona Gold in the BC Sprint. Not only did Midnight Lute's 124 Beyer in the Forego equal the best sprint Beyer ever published - but his negative 7 Thoro-Graph figure in that race broke Ghostzapper's mark for fastest TG fig ever. Midnight Lute did win the BC Sprint next out - but that was at a distance a little sharp of his liking..and was not an overwhelming performance analytically.
Mile Divison:
I'd give an edge to Shakespeare's exciting win at Kip Deville's expense at Woodbine.
Distaff Divison:
While not as exciting or entertaining of a race as the BC Distaff or Alabama was - Rags To Riches Kentucky Oaks was a giant performance in an important race.
Turf Division:
English Channel going out with a lopsided win in the BC Turf is very obviously the winner here. I know there were circumstance that made his race look better than it was - much like with War Pass's juvenile - but both races are impossible to deny.
Classic Division:
The Preakness wins this - as well as race of the year.
Stories:
I'm not a big story guy at all - but I'd assume a filly winning the Belmont after 102 years would win. Though, it's not like she didn't have a big chance to win it going in.
Person of the Year:
Did anyone else find it amusing that both Larry Jones and Rick Porter are on this list? I vote for Scavs.
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