Yesterday, the finalists for the Eclipse awards were announced to the public, spawning renewed debate on which horses should win each award. Some categories are clear-cut, such as champion three-year-old filly, in which it would be a surprise if Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) winner Untapable does not win in unanimous fashion. Other categories, such as champion older male, are more contentious -- do you reward turf star Main Sequence as the best older male in the country, or do you conclude that the honor is really supposed to honor the best older male on dirt, in which case Palace Malice is the most logical candidate for the award.
But no category sparks as much debate as Horse of the Year. By my count, six horses -- Bayern, California Chrome, Main Sequence, Shared Belief, Untapable, and Wise Dan all compiled Horse of the Year-worthy seasons, although only the first-mentioned trio are finalists for the honor.
Personally, I am of the belief that California Chrome should receive Horse of the Year. He was good throughout the year, won four grade I races on two different surfaces, won two-thirds of the Triple Crown, and finished an admirable third in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
What I find interesting is that one of the main arguments against California Chrome is that he failed to defeat older horses, a feat achieved by Bayern in the Breeders' Cup Classic. This is a legitimate point, although that point must be carefully worded in order to be accurate. The real argument against California Chrome is that he failed to win a race against older horses, not that he failed to defeat them. Both California Chrome and Bayern ran just once against older horses, in the Breeders' Cup Classic, and both colts defeated every older horse in the race. Thus, from my perspective, California Chrome did defeat older horses -- exactly the same older horses that Bayern defeated.
Of course, although I believe California Chrome should be Horse of the Year, I have to admit that this is a very contentious year, and the credentials of Bayern and Main Sequence are equally deserving of receiving the golden Eclipse. Both won Breeders' Cup races and multiple other prestigious stakes races, and if either one is voted Horse of the Year, I will gladly join the bandwagon and hope they can defend their title in 2015.
On an interesting side note, if Bayern wins Horse of the Year, he will be the first Breeders' Cup Classic winner to claim the honor since Curlin in 2007. Since then, the Classic victories by Raven's Pass, Zenyatta, Blame, Drosselmeyer, Fort Larned, and Mucho Macho Man have been insufficient to garner Horse of the Year, which is slightly ironic given that the Classic is considered to be the defining race of the American racing calendar.
Equally noteworthy is that the Breeders' Cup Turf winner has not been honored as champion turf male since Conduit earned the title in 2008. Gio Ponti, who never even ran in the Breeders' Cup Turf, took home the award twice in 2009 and 2010, followed by Cape Blanco in 2011 (who was injured and retired prior to the Turf) and two-time Breeders' Cup Mile winner Wise Dan in 2012 and 2013.
Speaking of Wise Dan, it's a shame that the two-time reigning Horse of the Year is unlikely to receive any Eclipse awards this year despite going 4-for-4 during an injury-abbreviated campaign. Still, I consider it absolutely amazing that Wise Dan was able to accomplish what he did despite having his season interrupted by colic surgery, and best of all, the champ is expected to be back as an eight-year-old in 2015. Perhaps he can pick up where he left off and become the first horse to win three Horse of the Year titles in non-consecutive fashion!
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