Eclipse Voting, 2011, The Juveniles

Eclipse Voting, 2011

by

Murray West

Churchill  Downs, early Wednesday morning, 11-2-2011

         It’s that time of the year again.  Everybody has opinions, theories, their favorites and, unfortunately, oft times their villains.  I could never figure out why, but somehow the more contentious the voting, the more opinionated, inflexible, and rude people become.  Truth be, the horses are never the villains; the same can not always be said for their human connections.  I trust there is no villainy in my considerations, merely opinion, such as it is.

Churchill Downs,  early Wednesday morning, 11-2-2011

Two Year Male

     The leading contenders could only be Union Rags and Hansen.  This is not to say that there are no other outstanding 2 year old colts, but at this stage of development and accomplishment these two stand alone.  That this will remain true four months hence I see as improbable, for each of these fine colts I suspect will less than relish the classic distances, particularly early in their 3 year old campaigns.

     

Union  Rags, 11-2-2011

Union Rags

Union Rags

Union Rags

     Union Rags entered the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile with stellar credentials, earned against the toughest competition offered in the East and, as such, was very worthy of his favoritism in this race.  The near-white Hansen, though also undefeated, came into the race surrounded by significant doubt, for his victories had come at the expense of undoubtedly lesser competition, over-matched foes who afforded him little more than paid workouts.  Many doubted his ability to withstand the pace pressure that he would face in the Juvenile and, if he proved capable of this, felt certain he would be so weakened by this effort that he would prove incapable of effectively coping with the anticipated onslaught from the stalking and late charging Union Rags.

     

Hansen, Breeder's Cup Juvenile winner, post parade

Hansen, post parade

     

Union rags, post parade

     

     Neither happened.  Hansen indeed withstood the new experience of being closely stalked by colts of proven quality and, when Union Rags moved to within one length of him at the quarter pole, found another gear and proved his grit by actually accelerating away from his vaunted adversary.  Giving all he had Union Rags lost nothing in defeat, but the final eighth mile found him bearing out under  encouragement, an indication typically either of fatigue, physical discomfort, or racing greenness.  Although ultimately straightening out and losing a narrow nose decision, he was unable to gain the decision over his equally courageous rival.  Some have proposed the argument that Union Rags had a more troubled trip, was carried three wide around the final turn and thus had to travel a longer distance of ground and, if not for this, would have comfortably triumphed.  Not a valid argument in my opinion, for those on the front end, while having a more direct and unimpeded path, must also pay a price, that of greater early energy expenditure in attaining and maintaining the lead against constant pressure imposed by challengers who would seek to thwart, while those choosing to stalk off the pace are conserving energy, to be taxed later in the stretch drive.  Expend early and hold on late, or, relax early and expend late.  Who is to say which is the more difficult, an answer which I’m sure varies with differing race scenarios.

     

Deep stretch, Juvenile

Finish, Juvenile

Union Rags departs track after thrilling  Juvenile

Union Rags

     Union Rags was within one length of Hansen with the full length of the stretch to run him down and, with Hansen showing great determination and courage, was unable to do so.  In my opinion, an Eclipse performance for Hansen, otherwise, why do we run races?

Hansen, Juvenile victor, leaves track

Hansen

Hansen

Two Year Old Female

     This category would appear to be without serious contention.  My Miss Aurelia had an undefeated season while overwhelming her rivals in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Filly.  There appear, however, a number of very nice fillies presently several steps behind at this stage, youngsters who may well excel after a winter of maturation.  Surely numerous others, currently unknown to the masses, are quietly causing their connections to dream big, fillies who without doubt will play important roles in the coming year.  

     

Juvenile Fillies first turn, My Miss Aurelia between horses with white bridle

     Grace Hall, a daughter of the emerging stamina influence Empire maker, came into the Breeder’s Cup also undefeated, fully deserving of her position as second favorite.  Languishing some 6 lengths off an honest pace over a dull racetrack, she tracked My Miss Aurelia as the latter moved for the lead around the final turn, but on this day proved no serious threat to the winner, while comfortably holding safe the second spot by fully 6 lengths from duel Grade 1 winner, the very talented Weemissfrankie, 

My Miss Aurelia, pulling up on first turn after victory in Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies

      One of the more impressive performances on the Breeder’s Cup card was turned in by Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Stephanie’s Kitten, another special runner emerging from these early crops of former turf champion, Kitten’s Joy.  Coming into the Juvenile Filly Turf off an impressive victory in the Alcibiades over Keeneland’s polytrack, she quickly demonstrated how synthetic form will so often translate to turf success.  2 3/4 lengths off a dawdling opening 6 furlongs in 1:15.71, this homebred showed an excellent turn of foot, accelerating down the stretch to complete her final quarter in an impressive 22.49 seconds, while winning going away in 1:38.90.  Though not enough for serious Eclipse consideration this season, she clearly has stamped herself as one to be followed closely as the distances stretch out in her sophomore year.  If her synthetic and turf form can translate further to dirt, she could well prove a major force to be reckoned with in the coming year.

Stephanie's Kitten, post parade

     

Stephanie's Kitten leaves track after victory in Juvenile Filly Turf

     Coming into the Breeders Cup, no horse was more vaunted than My Miss Aurelia.  Bred by co-owner Stonestreet Stables, and maintaining the Curlin/Rachel Alexandra connection with Steve Asmussen as trainer, the bay daughter of Smart Strike came undefeated into her final start of the year, boasting most impressive victories in the G2 Adirondack and the G1 Frizette, tallies which clearly marked her the horse to beat in this race.  She did not disappoint.  Stalking closely in second position as they moved down the backstretch, she effortlessly moved to the fore rounding the final turn and, under early encouragement from Cory Nakatani, comfortably put away her competition, drawing off to win by a widening 3 lengths.  Her final time in this race, contested over a very tiring track rated “good,” belied the apparent ease of her victory and, with a pedigree suggesting added distance should present no serious problem, she emerges as deserving 2 year old filly champion and pro-tem leader of the forthcoming sophomore filly class.             

My Miss Aurelia, morning work in dark, Wednesday, 11-2-2011

My Miss Aurelia

My Miss Aurelia

My Miss Aurelia leaves track after Juvenile Filly victory

     Eclipse award to My Miss Aurelia and, unless some voter is smoking the wrong stuff, this should be unanimous.