Eclipse Award Finalists

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Why is Bob Baffert there? I'm not saying he isn't a good trainer, but there are others I would consider first like Hollendorfer or A. Dutrow (the latter, if you're using stats as the deciding factor).

No contest IMO, he deserves it.

[NTamm1215]

I would have preferred Hollendorfer to be included and Mott as well. Mott had a better year than Baffert, hands down. Between Proviso, Drosselmeyer and Unrivaled Belle, he deserved to be up there. Baffert got skunked at the BC, and had one horse run big all year, Lookin at Lucky. Hollendorfer had a better year than Baffert as well.

If Shirreffs even gets any votes for Trainer of the Year it's laughable.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Impressive math skills, Freddy. (I had to check it first, though.)

Where can we find out how many starters the Moss's had in 2010. And how does Midwest TB's not make owner of the year? How many races did they win?

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Where can we find out how many starters the Moss's had in 2010. And how does Midwest TB's not make owner of the year? How many races did they win?

According to "Stats Central" at equibase.com, the Mosses had 111 starters in 2010, with a 25-16-19 record, and nearly $2.7 million in purse earnings.

Midwest Thoroughbreds won 310 races.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

John Shirreffs is on the ballot for Trainer of the Year and Bill Mott is not? That's comical.

Makes you think that since Zenyatta isn't going to win Horse of the Year, her connections will win in every other category that they are nominated in. Including the Team Zenyatta lifetime achievement award (or whatever they are calling it).

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Alan07

• Steeplechase Horse: Arcadius, Percussionist, Slip Away

This is probably the category that people care least about but it's interesting (well I think it is) because there are only 5 G1s and each one of these horses won one this past year.

I'm wondering why Arcadius and Percussionist are here and not Tax Ruling (won the Iroquois) and Sermon of Love (won the NY Turf Writers Cup at Toga). I mean it seems almost random to me but what do I know?

I don't know if it's fair to judge who should win by a single race (you gotta base it on something though), but I think my vote would go to Slip Away cause of his win in the Colonial Cup. He won by something like 25 or 26 lengths and that's after the 2 and 3/4ths of a mile.

Arcadius beat him this year... by a length at Monmouth. It was his first G1 win and it was special cause it was the 1,000th steeplchase win for Sheppard.

Percussionist, who a lot of people here probably know from when he ran in England (he's actually a big star in Scandinavia. He lives in Denmark but since there's no jump racing there they bring his over to Norway and I think Sweden. Whatever the biggest race in Norway is? He won that one.) won the Grand National which I think is the race with the biggest purse.

Anyway it'll be interesting to see which one wins.

Oh yeah and I agree with the Hollendorfer posts. He should be a nominee...

[Princess Doreen]

Last chance - get your predictions in. No redboarding allowed.

[my miss storm cat]

I don't really know how to say this but I'll try.

This is my dilemma... I'm trying to figure out if I'm a hyprcrite on one level and just a horrible person on another (and for God sake that is no ones hint to say oh no you're not).

Am I a hyprcrite for agreeing that the award if for the year and not the career?

That sounds like I'm rooting for Blame, who I think will win.

I love Zenyatta for the record.

And Goldikova.

All three.

They are the three horses of the year as far as I'm concerned and award or no award it's my truth, just like last year with Rachel AND Zenyatta.

So that said, understanding what the award is, am i hyprocritical for hoping that Tuscan Evening wins... that's what I wonder.

How can sentiment dictate what one hopes for one but not another?

Issue number 2...

This.

http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40400

This makes me sick.

It's not the horses fault and I know Percussionist is really good BUT I don't want those owners rewarded and that's becaue of their connection to the trainer.

I KNOW this is unfair and I mean I'm not rooting against this horse but it just bothers me so much that they might have known / been in on it and besides Slip Away was much much much the best this year.

All of that said, it really doesn't matter.

I guess my pennance for always going against Gio might be to root for him but I do like Winchester a lot...

No predictions except that the fashion police will be out in force as usual (as well they should!).

[OldDog]

• Horse of the Year: Zenyatta

• Two-Year-Old Male: Uncle Mo
• Two-Year-Old Filly: Awesome Feather

• Three-Year-Old Male: Lookin At Lucky
• Three-Year-Old Filly: Blind Luck

• Older Male: Blame
• Older Female: Zenyatta

• Male Sprinter: Big Drama
• Female Sprinter: Champagne d’Oro

• Male Turf Horse: Gio Ponti
• Female Turf Horse: Goldikova (IRE)

• Steeplechase Horse: Slip Away

• Owner: Claiborne/Dilschneider

• Breeder: Claiborne/Dilschneider

• Trainer: Todd Pletcher

• Jockey: Ramon Dominguez
• Apprentice Jockey: Omar Moreno

[Travis Stone]

I think who is going to win is different than who should win. If I had a vote, I would have voted for Blame.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I think who is going to win is different than who should win. If I had a vote, I would have voted for Blame.

Blame should win, but I'll be shocked if Zenyatta doesn't win HOY.

[Princess Doreen]

Blame should win and I have a really strong feeling that he will win HOY.

The ONLY one of my predictions that is wishful thinking is Champagne D'Oro as female sprinter. I'm pretty sure she won't win - it will most likely go to Dubai Majesty. I'm just wishin' for CD'O. I'm a sucker for any MD'O kid.

[Sightseek]

I think the margin of votes in Blame's favor will be much more than expected.

If Champagne wins, I'll riot.

[Princess Doreen]

Originally Posted by OldDog

• Horse of the Year: Zenyatta

• Two-Year-Old Male: Uncle Mo
• Two-Year-Old Filly: Awesome Feather

• Three-Year-Old Male: Lookin At Lucky
• Three-Year-Old Filly: Blind Luck

• Older Male: Blame
• Older Female: Zenyatta

• Male Sprinter: Big Drama
• Female Sprinter: Champagne d’Oro

• Male Turf Horse: Gio Ponti
• Female Turf Horse: Goldikova (IRE)

• Steeplechase Horse: Slip Away

• Owner: Claiborne/Dilschneider

• Breeder: Claiborne/Dilschneider

• Trainer: Todd Pletcher

• Jockey: Ramon Dominguez
• Apprentice Jockey: Omar Moreno

Well done, OldDog - 14 out of 17.

[OldDog]

Originally Posted by Princess Doreen

Well done, OldDog - 14 out of 17.

I'd like to thank all the little people . . .