Eclipse Voting, 2011
by
Murray West
Three Year old Male
Not so easy here, and I suspect controversy will surround the outcome, no matter who is declared champion. Animal Kingdom most certainly won the most coveted race while dominating in the Kentucky Derby, doing so in such fashion as to once again conjure up serious consideration of a possible Triple Crown champion. A fast closing second to the courageous Shackleford in the Preakness did little to tarnish his star, but his season ended prematurely with injury sustained in the running of the Belmont Stakes, that occurring quite possibly when he stumbled badly at the start, effectively losing all chance in that instant. Thus his resume, while indicating unquestionable quality with unlimited promise for a four year old campaign, lacks the impact necessary for me to grant him the most coveted award. Perhaps indeed the most talented of this group, we eagerly await his return to the races.
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| Animal Kingdom, outside, assumes control, mid-stretch Kentucky Derby |
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| Animal Kingdom |
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| Animal Kingdom, John Velazquez |
For consistency, as well as moments of brilliance, who could not cheer for the beautiful Shackleford? He danced every dance and gave his all each time, valiantly attempting to overcome apparent inherent stamina limitations and a running style that cried “miler!” Victorious in the Preakness, but for a head in the Florida Derby and a neck in the Haskel, he would be a three time Grade One winner this season. Such standing, given the way this season ultimately unfolded, would see him as the probable favorite for the Eclipse. However, the sporting world is replete with “but fors” and, given a more accomplished contender, Shackleford receives my affection and admiration but not my vote for the Eclipse.
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| Shackelford, Wednesday, 11-2-2011 morning |
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| Shackelford, post parade Breeder's Cup Dirt Mile |
That honor goes to Caleb’s Posse, arguably the most impressive winner on Saturday’s Breeder’s Cup card. Exploding down the Churchill stretch, he literally blew by the aforementioned Shackleford in the Breeder’s Cup Dirt Mile in the excellent time for that day of 1:34.2, in so doing earning his second Grade One victory of the year. His first Grade One came at the expense of last year’s champion 2 year old, Uncle Mo, in the 7 furlong King’s Bishop, that in turn following on the heels of a dominating victory in the G2 Amsterdam, also at Saratoga, where he prevailed over the 61/2 furlong trip in 1:15.4, while winning in hand. Several earlier attempts to stretch out beyond one mile against top class competition had demonstrated that sprinting and middle distance was his forte, and when frequenting such venues he proved near invincible. With no three year old colt stepping forth at the classic distances, the door was thus opened for this fine colt and he took full advantage of that opportunity. His breeder’s Cup victory over a rather stellar field, and the fashion in which he accomplished this, stamps him as the most accomplished 3 year old male of 2011, a status worthy of the Eclipse Award..
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| Caleb's Posse, winner Breeder's Cup Dirt Mile |
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| Caleb's Posse winning Breeder's Cup Dirt Mile with authority! |
Three year Old Female
As has been the trend for a number of recent years, it was again the distaffers who shone the brightest and performed with the greatest consistency throughout the 2011 season. Approaching the Breeder’s Cup, the 3 year old filly category was so contentious, so evenly matched, that victory on this special day by no less than any of five fillies could have potentially catapulted each to an Eclipse. Another filly of the highest quality, R Heat Lightning, earlier this year was proving to be “any kind,” with devastating victories in consecutive Grade 2 races at Gulfstream in February and April, only to be sidelined by injury. Yet another grand filly, last years Eclipse winning 2 year old Awesome Feather, was out of action for most of this racing season. She returned at Belmont in October to defeat a fine stakes field while going 7 panels in 1:22.3. Returning for her second seasonal start in November, she was again highly impressive while annexing the Grade 1 Gazelle by a facile 5 1/2 lengths. Both these fillies, while not legitimate candidates for year-end honors this year, may prove very formidable in the coming campaign, and each demonstrates the potential to challenge for next year’s highest honors.
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| R Heat Lightning |
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| R Heat Lightning with Randy Spears |
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| R Heat Lightning |
It’s Tricky came to the Ladies' Classic sporting a byline of 7-4-2-0, including Grade 1 victories in the Acorn and CCA Oaks plus second place finishes in the G1 Alabama and G2 Cotillion. Turning into the stretch at Churchill with the 3 year old Eclipse in sight, she ultimately proved no match for the winner while tenaciously holding the place position. With two Grade Ones and season earnings in excess of $1,000,000, this campaign in another year might have proved enough, but under the Churchill lights she was denied the requisite Breeder’s Cup victory and with that any chance for the Eclipse.
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| It's tricky, 11-2-2-11 early morning |
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| It's Tricky |
Another with championship aspirations coming into the Ladies' Classic was the Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner, Plum Pretty. Aside from that stellar victory, she sported a victory in the G2 Cotillion, as well as G1 stakes placing in the CCA Oaks and G2 placing in the Santa Ynez and Hollywood Oaks. Setting the fractions in the Classic, she held the lead well into the stretch but ultimately offered little resistance, fading to a well beaten 5th at the wire, a valiant effort but clearly not a championship performance.
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| Plum Pretty winning Kentucky Oaks |
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| Plum Pretty, Wednesday 11-2-2011 |
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| Plum Pretty, post parade for Ladies' Classic |
Eclipse award possibilities in two categories existed for the exciting Turbulent Descent, both for Champion Sprinting Female as well as, depending upon how the Ladies’ Classic played out, for Champion 3 Year Old Filly. Choosing to contest the Female Sprint, she came into the race sporting an impressive resume of two Grade One victories (Santa Anita Oaks and Test Stakes), a highly impressive win in the Grade 2 Beaumont at Keeneland, as well as second place finishes in the G1 Las Virgenes and G1 Acorn Stakes, from five outings. Victory in the Sprint would assure her of sprinting honors and would place her in a contentious position for 3 Year Old filly honors should the favorites in the Classic falter and go down to defeat by an outsider. Alas it was Turbulent Descent herself who faltered, without doubt influenced by having to take up sharply on the backstretch during the running of the race. She appeared to have overcome that setback, however, as she surged to the lead entering the stretch while appearing well on her way to victory. For whatever reason she could not sustain that bid, faltering and giving way in mid-stretch, ultimately finishing a weakening fifth. A grand season but, given her unfortunate final outing, falling short of championship form. A proposed final outing in the G1 La Brea on 12-31-2011 may serve to re-establish her dominant position but is very unlikely to have any bearing on the outcome of Eclipse voting.
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| Turbulent Descent at Keeneland |
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| Turbulent Descent, at Keeneland, prior to Beaumont victory |
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| Turbulent Descent at keeneland |
Coming up to the Breeder’s Cup perhaps no sophomore sported a more impressive resume than did Zazu. Her seven seasonal outings proved her to be a filly of the highest quality while displaying remarkable consistency. Throughout this season, on multiple occasions she traded blows with both Turbulent Descent and Plum Pretty, splitting her two meetings with the former while prevailing over the latter in 3 of their 4 meetings, her lone occasion when finishing behind Plum Pretty being a third place finish in the G1 Kentucky Oaks. Her three victories included Grade 1 wins in the Santa Ynez and Lady’s Secret as well as a Grade 2 victory in the Hollywood Oaks. Three times she finished second, on each occasion closing rapidly while missing the garland by one jump, in each instance the margin of defeat a mere neck. Of all fillies contending for the sophomore Eclipse, Zazu alone could claim success prior to the Breeder’s Cup while competing against her older brethren, losing by a diminishing neck to Ultra Blend in the G1 Clement Hirsch, then coming back to gain her revenge against that rival while winning the G1 Lady’s Secret by a widening ½ length. The latter effort, on October 1, 2011, unfortunately proved her final outing for this season as injury prevented her from challenging in the Ladies’ Classic at Churchill Downs. A most impressive resume, indeed, a stellar campaign regrettably cut short by misfortune.
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| Zazu, post parade for Kentucky Oaks |
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| Zazu following Kentucky oaks |
Arguably, no horse, male or female, was visually more impressive in the two day Breeder’s Cup than was the classic looking, regal, long striding Royal Delta. At first observation I thought this victory had been accomplished with consummate ease, her stretch acceleration allowing her to blow past over matched rivals, jockey Mike Smith easing her the last thirty yards as she cruised under the wire. On closer look, and after reviewing the race on numerous occasions, it is apparent that indeed she was a trifle slow to get into gear at the head of the stretch, that she benefited from an unimpeded journey, and that her easing at the wire belied the fact that from the 3/16th pole to past the 1/16th marker, Mike Smith, switching his stick adroitly, found it necessary to give her no fewer than ten reminders of the task at hand. Further, I’m not certain that what appeared to be a devastating closing kick may have been somewhat of an illusion created by her competitors tiring on the fatiguing Churchill surface. That said, hers was an excellent effort by a steadily improving, very well conditioned filly, whose future appears unlimited given her classic pedigree, physical stature, and the fact she remains in the most capable hands of her Hall of Fame conditioner.
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| Royal Delata, post parade Ladies' Classic |
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| Royal Delta ease past It's Tricky on way to victory |
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| Royal Delata, Jose Lescaro up |
Her stakes career began at Pimlico in the G2 Black Eyed Susan on Preakness day, where she handled a nice field while winning comfortably by 21/2 lengths. She was found wanting in the G1 CCA Oaks at Saratoga, finishing a well beaten 3rd while failing by some 7 lengths to It’s Tricky and Plum Pretty. Following that outing, an impressive victory in the G1 Alabama, while defeating the aforementioned It’s Tricky, made a resounding statement, speaking not only to her obvious improvement but also to her inherent stamina, this conferring to her an apparent affinity to excel as racing distance lengthens, a rarity in the American Thoroughbred today. Her attempt to step up against the wonderful Havre de Grace on October 1st at Belmont proved too ambitious, not only for her, but for all presumptuous enough to tackle that special filly. In receipt of 3 pounds from Havre de Grace, she proved no match for that one, losing by a widening 8 ½ lengths. Testament to the special training skills of her trainer, Bill Mott, this “good old fashioned butt-whipping” proved an excellent prep for the Ladies’ Classic, contested in the darkness of Churchill Downs. With the aforementioned Havre de Grace staying in the barn while awaiting a showdown with the boys, the remaining fillies and mares proved no match on this day for Royal Delta.
This sophomore filly class proved to be very talented and closely matched. One can only wonder what might have been had R Heat Lightning continued to compete, if Zazu had not been injured, or if Awesome Feather had found her way back to the races 6 weeks earlier. All speculation, of course, but what a grand group they appear to be. When all is considered, however, and particularly with her dominance in the defining race of the year, I feel the Eclipse must go to Royal Delta. I suspect this decision may be near unanimous. Fully expecting that result and supporting that outcome, I do feel there are arguments to be made for Zazu. That said, Royal Delta is my selection.
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| Royal Delta after Breeder's Cup victory |
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| Royal Delta leaves track after Classic victory |
One salivates at the prospect of these fillies, healthy and sound, returning to competition as four year olds. May we be so blessed!
Murray West
