 | ||||
|
Story by MC_Excelsior "The Stick" Along with many turf writer's, we told you the reasons why 'Zapper would prevail in our first Superstory. He earned the victory.
1/25/05 The Awards are in ! Last night All of the Eclipse Awards were announced at their annual dinner. There were no big surprises, and we were very accurate with our picks for each award. I don't think you would have needed rocket science to know that Ghostzapper was going to be Horse of the Year. All the Award catagories are listed below. The Stick Horse Racing dot Com wishes to send our *CONGRATULATIONS* to the winners.
*Top Breeder - Adena Springs*
Frank Stronach's Adena Springs.
*Top Apprecentice Jockey - Brian Hernandez, jr.*
This award was very well deserved and now the secret is out. Brian Hernandez, jr. had 233 victories and anyone watching this young guy ride at Keeneland, knew he was something special. How many apprentice's can say they rode in Kentucky against the likes of Pat Day, Robby Albarado, and Eddie Martin, and won a riding title over them ? I will tell you....NONE ! Perhaps the legendary Steve Cauthen could be considered as a top apprentice who defeated joourneymen. We are very happy for this young man, and its a shame everyone else knows about him now too. BH was a 'secret weapon', of many, in our arsenal of selecting winners long term for our many fans and customers here at The Stick Horse Racing. Congratulations Brian Hernandez, jr. We expect good things from you in the future. *Top Jockey - John (Johnny V!) Velasquez*
It went to a man we told all our fans about for the last 2 and 1/2 years. One of the best riders to come along in many years, and a regular fan favorite in NY. John Velasquez is the *TOP* Jockey for 2004. Its interesting, because the leading rider this year teamed up with this years leading trainer, and Eclipse award winner, to earn a record purse share of $22,203,756 for the year. Wow ! Thats really the Lion's share for a career, much less 1 year of riding. Way to go Johnny V. We are a huge fan, and have always wanted to see JV take home the gold. Making the victory even more special is the fact that Hall of Fame jockey, Angel Cordero, jr. was JV's agent. Anyone who had the fortune to watch Angel Cordero ride in NY and the Breeders Cup races, were truly entertained and thrilled. Angel was and is one of the all time great jockey's, and it looks like he has a protege to follow in his footsteps in JV. Of note, Edgar Prado finished second in the voting, and his success's over the past 3-5 years have stamped him a future hall of fame contender as well. Watch our for The "Amazing" Edgar this year, he rides to win ! *Our Favorite race this year for Johnny V was his ride aboard Storm Flag Flying at Belmont, when they defeated Azeri. It was a tactician's dream, and Johnny rode Strom Flag Flying to absolute perfection. Race riding 101 ! *Top Trainer - Todd Pletcher*
Another well earned, and well fought victory for Todd Pletcher. Pletcher was one of the student's of D.Wayne Lukas. Lukas, a hall of fame trainer and master in his own right, took on many talented and bright new talent and helped promote their career's to great prominence. Mark Hennig, Dallas Stewart, others deserve high praise for their accomplishments also. What can we say about Todd Pletcher this year ? Super Trainer ? Giant Killer - part deux ? Ober-Trainer ? What words can you use to describe a man, who was so fantastic this year ? For that matter, the past 3 years. We have been enjoying putting Pletcher horses on top as Stick Best Bets in our figures, because they have earned them and they just won, and won, and won. Pletcher's Top horses this year had to include Speightstown, and Ashado. Congratulations to Todd Pletcher for a wonderful year, and a deserving win in the Eclipse Awards. Pletcher's purses for 2005 were an incredible $17,282,744 ! Very nice job TP ! Of note, Bobby Frankel, the leading trainer the last 4 years and the trainer of Horse of the Year, Ghostzapper, was in the hunt all year long as well. It should be a very interesting 2005 to see these two trainer's meet in the big stakes races around the country. *Eclipse Award for Top 2 Yr old(C & G) - Declan's Moon*
Declan's Moon, and his powerful victories against much of the competition, brought home the gold for 2 yr old Colt. Interestingly enough, Declan did not run in the Breeders Cup, which is almost a pre-req for winning your division, but he did win all 3 of his lifetime starts. In doing so, he defeated most of the other contenders, including Afleet Alex, and Roman Ruler. Will this 2 yr old be ale to keep it together for the Kentucky Derby ? He might...Declan's moon is lightly raced, and he does not have the jinx of winning the B.Cup Juv. and trying to be the first to win the KY Derby. We may see a very powerful 3 yr old with this one. Stay Tuned.... *Eclipse Award for 2 yr old fillies - Sweet Catomine*
Sweet Catomine is the little girl who could ! She wins the Eclipse for 2 yr old female. Remember what we said about have to win(or even run) in the Breeders Cup to win your division ? Well, thats just what Sweet Catomine did. She won the B.Cup Juv Fillies and the Eclipse Awards were all hers without competition. Congratulations to the connections of Sweet Catomine. Too bad she will never face Azeri, due to Azeri's retirement. That would have been the ultimate test of youth vs. experience.
*Eclipse Award for Distaff - Azeri* The tough, and durable mare, Azeri earned her 4th Eclipse Award(*Special Thanks to Tim Stephansen for pointing out our mistake typo of this being her 2nd). Azeri was Older Female Champion for the last 3 years. Azeri was also Horse of the Year in 2002. If you want to look up the word repetition, you will see a picture of Azeri next to it. his amazing mare has 2 and 3-peated most major filly and mare stakes races in California and around the country. There was a lot of controversy about her coming back to racing this year. In fact, her regular trainer, Laura de Seoux, quit over the row. This year, D.Wayne Lukas took over the reigns and helped bring Azeri home a big winner 3 times. It was a gamble to go in against the boys in the Breeders Cup Classic, but we will forever remember Wayne Lukas as the man who brought Winning Colors to a victory in the 1988 Kentucky Derby. While she was out of the money in the Breeders Cup Classic, she will still remain in everyone's heart. Congratulations to the Grand Dame of racing, Azeri. *Eclipse Award for the Sprinters - Speightstown*
Surprise, surprise, NOT ! We knew it was Speightstown's year after watching him crush stakes horses 3 times in sub 1:09 races. Except for one loss, Speightstown was incredible this year. He truly shined in a stand out division, and if not for Ghostzapper, would have been Horse of the Year. The reason we say this, is that Smarty Jones would have been the top 3 yr old, and if no Ghostzapper, Speightstown's connections could have made a great case to say this one was truly exceptional for his division. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Speightstown edged out rival Pico Central for the divisional honors. Congratulations to the connections of Speightstown. We hope your baby stays sound and strong and we can see him thrill the crowds again this year. Of note, Speightstown earned our Highest Ever, Stick Racing Figure EPL/MPL of 169/170. No horse has ever been rated so highly by our speed figures. Cigar came close with a 165/165, but we had to double check our figures 3x to make sure that was accurate. Way to go Speightstown !
*Eclipse Award for Filly/Mare Turf - Ouija Board* Ouija Board came out on top. Congratulations to her connections. *Eclipse Award for on Turf - Kitten's Joy*
Kitten's Joy was declared the winner in this division, but not without a lot of controversy. Kitten won his B.Cup Turf, and was a powerful force all year long. His accomplishments paved the way for this well earned title. Believe it or not, the owner of Kitten's Joy, long time horseman, Ken Ramsey apparently is alleged to have attempted to BRIBE! another owner to scratch his horse out of a race at Turfway Park. This happened on Dec. 31st. Mr. Ramsey has come out publically and apologized for the incident in question. He was also fined $25,000 and suspended from racing for 1 week by the KY Racing Authority. Of note, The Ramsey's are top owners in the sport and campaigned the wonderful Roses in May who finished second in this years Breeders Cup Classic. *Eclipse Award for 3 year old - Smarty Jones!*
Every year the Kentucky Derby winner is the horse to watch. They become the media darling and everyone mentions them and talks about them with pride. In this year's winner, that pride and status are 100% earned. Let me ask the fans reading this article a question. How many horses can you name that raced at Philadelphia Park as a 2 yr old have won the Kentucky Derby ? Do you need some time to think about it ? Would you like to go find some reference material and email us back later ? Wait, let me save you some time. NO HORSE WHO EVER RACED AS A 2YR OLD AT PHILLY PARK EVER WON THE KENTUCKY DERBY ! We love Philadelphia Park, and we think they put on a World Class operation. We have traveled to Bensalem and rode the 3 mile long (not actually) escalator to the top floor and the restaurant in the clubhouse. Philly Park is a Top facility, large and with big fields. The people who work there are dedicated, and the horseman well versed and capable. With all this said, the reality in horse racing is that the expensive horses race where the purses are the largest. This should logically mean that the best horses race at the biggest tracks. Well, guess again. This is horse racing, and logic is quite often meaningless in face of determination and heart. Smarty Jones showed us his heart. He was really something special, and he did what he was called upon to do. I think I remember watching one of those 2 yr old ALLW races from Philly on the simulcast and I watched this little guy blaze along and win by 11 lengths. "Smarty Jones in front" came the word from track announcer Keith Jones. I wonder if Keith realized he was looking at a Derby winner. The Kentucky Derby is a symbol for America, and a symbol of Horse Racing excellence. This one race is the culmination of dreams and myth, of speculation and pedigree. Yet, for all the preparation that the big names in the sport go through every year in looking for the elusive band of roses, one little horse from Philly Park came along and TOOK IT ! Sure, he never ran against older horses. You can say, he was a front runner with breakway speed who might have been vulnerable to a rabbit. However, no matter what you ever say about Smarty Jones or his start in life at Philly Park, you are talking about a Kentucky Derby winner. In fact, Smarty Jones was almost the 12th Triple Crown winner. If not for a little monster(meaning he was powerful) named Birdstone, Smarty Jones would have been Horse of the Year without question. His victories in the Arkansas Derby, Kentucky Derby, and Preakness Stakes left him undefeated, and looking like a legend. Well, tell you what Smarty Jones is a legend. He's the underdog no one thought could go as far as he did. He's the little (well not so little now) horse from Philly Park who shocked the World. This is what legends are made of, and what movies and books are written about. If you want the epitome of an American Legend, look no further then Smart Jones ! Of note, Veteran trainer John Servis, and jockey Stewart Elliot, both have enjoyed renewed vigor and vitality from their relationship with Smarty Jones. I guess being involved with a horse like that can lift your spirits to new heights. The Stick Horse Racing dot Com and Family wish to send our highest regards to the connections of Smarty Jones. You really did it. Along with Funny Cide, and War Emblem, and all the Derby winners, Smarty Jones has earned his place in history. G-d bless. *Eclipse Award for Handicap Division - Ghostzapper*
The 'zapper' was all business this year, and his victory march in the Breeders Cup Classic made him a virtual lock for Horse of the Year honors. Ghostzapper really impressed me as a Sprinter last year. It looked as if that was going to be his game this year, but I suspect that after seeing the depth of the Sprint division, the connections took a gamble with running him longer. The gamble paid off ! In what looked like an innocent enough Iselin HDCP at Monmouth Park this year, Ghostzapper was put to the test by a relative unknown. No will remember Presidential Affair, except those who love him, and his run at glory in the Iselin. However, watch the replay's of that race, and you will see that Ghostzapper was put to an ALL-OUT drive for the length of the stretch. In what looked like an Affirmed/Alydar type race, both Ghostzapper and Presidential Affair went at each other tooth and nail. Each horse fought for position and the lead. In the end, Ghostzapper prevailed and went on to win the Breeders Cup Classic. Presidential Affair came out last in the Woodward in his rematch against Ghostzapper, and faded into the relative obscurity of local racing. However, for those of us who keep times and make speed figures for a living, the final time of that race on that track was a testament to the horses who competed in the Iselin. Some may call it a 'Mud Freak', but after we reviewed the tapes of that race at home, it was a very impressive effort by both Ghostzapper and Presidential Affair. Ghostzapper had a perfect year. Everything fell into place for him, and he won all 4 of his races. The victory in the Breeders Cup Classic was a solid one, and he defeated a tough competitor in Roses in May, and the wonderful 3 yr old, Birdstone. It would have been nice to see Smarty Jones take on Ghostzapper, but thats what dreams are made of. Congratulations to the connections of Ghostzapper, Horse of the Year 2004. Enough said...MC To see our Picks and comments for the Eclipse Awards, please see our earlier Superstory. TO READ OUR OTHER HEADLINES Press Here |
||||
 | ||||
| ||||
| home • about us • news • logo polo's • wager strategy • advertise • marketplace • contact us | ||||
| TheStickHorseRacing.Com © 1998-2005 | Terms Of Use | ||||
