The finalists for the 2008 Eclipse Awards have been announced, and there were two surprises.
Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stable, majority owner of Horse of the Year candidate Curlin, was not even named a finalist for outstanding owner. The owner contest was perceived by many as a race between Stonestreet and IEAH Stables (owner of Big Brown and seven other Grade 1 winners in 2008).
I also thought Bob Baffert deserved consideration for the trainer award. He trained three Eclipse finalists in Midshipman, Indian Blessing, and Midnight Lute, but wasn’t a finalist in the trainer category.
The Eclipse Awards finalists (in alphabetical order):
Two-Year-Old Male: Midshipman, Old Fashioned, Vineyard Haven
Two-Year-Old Filly: Dream Empress, Maram, Stardom Bound
Three-Year-Old Male: Big Brown, Colonel John, Raven’s Pass
Three-Year-Old Filly: Eight Belles, Music Note, Proud Spell
Older Male: Commentator, Curlin, Einstein (BRZ)
Older Female: Cocoa Beach (CHI), Ginger Punch, Zenyatta
Male Sprinter: Benny the Bull, Midnight Lute, Street Boss
Female Sprinter: Indian Blessing, Intangaroo, Ventura
Male Turf Horse: Conduit (IRE), Einstein (BRZ), Grand Couturier (GB)
Female Turf Horse: Cocoa Beach (CHI), Forever Together, Goldikova (IRE)
Steeplechase Horse: Be Certain, Good Night Shirt, Sovereign Duty
Owner: Godolphin Racing, IEAH Stables, Stronach Stables
Breeder: Adena Springs, Stonerside Stable, WinStar Farm
Trainer: Steve Asmussen, Richard Dutrow, Jr., Bobby Frankel
Jockey: Robby Albarado, Rafael Bejarano, Garrett Gomez
Apprentice Jockey: Inez Karlsson, Pascacio Lopez, Abel Mariano
7 comments:
While Jess Jackson is a great owner and probably deserved a nomination, I can understand why he was left off the ballot.
Curlin had a spectacular year and Jackson brought lots of good publicity to the sport, but once you look past the ace, his rotation lacks depth (horrible baseball reference? Check!). I honestly could not name you another horse running under the Stonestreet colors.
Meanwhile, the three stables nominated for the award each produced several graded stakes winners in 2008. The numbers game must have been too much to overcome in the eyes of the voters.
Another deserving outfit shut out of the owner finalists was Zayat Stables. Lack of a big horse probably hurt them, but they are undoubtedly one of the top stables in America.
Must be nice to win a Grade 2 and finish second in a Grade 1 and receive a finalist nod over a filly who won three Grade 1 races.
I wonder if the snub is more a reflection of Jackson speaking out against the industry, therby being perceived as a "non-team" player or the valid total stable performance issue. Factor in other stables (as noted that performed well and are excluded, trainer and horse OTY of topic stable minus owner) not considered, the answer is simple.
Let's see...I go with the former...the idustry doesn't like Jackson.
Eddie D.-
I assume you are referring to Eight Belles vs. Indian Blessing in the three-year-old filly category.
I don't argue with those who voted for Eight Belles, as it could be logically argued she was the best of a great crop. I voted for Proud Spell, but I would consider Eight Belle's second in the Derby to be just as good or better than an Oaks win.
Hopefully Indian Blessing will win champion female sprinter.
Good point by Mi-bred Claimer and Coeurdefer on the lack of depth in Stonestreet's racing stable and the repercussions of his various lawsuits and reform efforts.
The omission of Zayat from the finalists' list strikes me as much more unjustified than omitting Jess Jackson, who, as has been noted, really had only one big horse. Zayat had so much depth that they even sold off some stakes winners in a dispersal at the end of the season.
With the exception of the two-year-old division, I can't imagine ever voting for a horse who did not win a Grade 1 race.
This year's North American-based three-year-old male crop was abominable, so second in the Derby is no great shakes to me--even for a filly.
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