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COMMENTARY JANUARY 11, 2009 A Beginners Guide to the Eclipse Awards by John Mucciolo The 38th annual Eclipse Awards ceremony, where Thoroughbred racing names its champions for 2008, is to be held January 26 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach in Miami Beach, Florida. The Eclipse Awards are named after the great 18th-century racehorse and foundation sire Eclipse, who began racing at age five and was undefeated in 18 starts, including eight walkovers. We'd like to do that great one justice, so we've conjured up an Eclipse Awards for Dummies guide to help those who only watch racing once or twice a year, if at all, to make the right decisions in order to crown our appropriate heroes. If you have a voting right and have no familiarity with any of the following names, take these cliff notes and apply them to your voting slip. We acknowledge that many of the divisions are no-brainers (to most of us), but there are few that are still up in the air. Take, for instance, the two-year-old male division, with standouts MIDSHIPMAN (Unbridled's Song) and VINEYARD HAVEN (Lido Palace [Chi]) among the three on the ballot. While the former bagged a pair of Grade 1's, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), Vineyard Haven certainly looked like the more brilliant animal, crushing his foes in his last two races, the Hopeful S. (G1) and Champagne S. (G1), which were in fields that were arguably every bit as good as what Midshipman encountered. Following the Champagne tour de force, jockey Edgar Prado stated after the race something along the lines of that he had to pull the horse up before the finish because he didn't want to win by too much. I'm pretty certain Midshipman will win this competition, but I can't fault anyone choosing his classy counterpart. If you're stuck between the two, vote for the one Godolphin owns. I give the slightest of edges to Vineyard Haven, since he ran on a real surface and dominated. Cases can be made for each of the trio of finalists in the three-year-old filly category, with Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up EIGHT BELLES (Unbridled's Song), Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine PROUD SPELL (Proud Citizen) and Belmont wonder MUSIC NOTE (A.P. Indy), who was poetry in motion at "Big Sandy." My personal choice (and I believe the correct one) would be Proud Spell for the body of work she compiled for trainer Larry Jones. The brilliant lass was superb all campaign, defeating INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie) early in the year, all comers in the middle of 2008, and Music Note toward the latter portion of her season. The key moment of the year came when Proud Spell toppled Music Note in the Alabama S. (G1) over 10 furlongs at Saratoga, looking her in the eye for a quarter-mile and refusing to let her pass. That's what champions do. Music Note was downright scary the way she inhaled her competition for Saeed bin Suroor. The blue-blooded lass topped Proud Spell in the Mother Goose S. (G1) and added triumphs in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Gazelle S. (G1), completing her year with a solid third in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1). Her raw talent might top all of her competition, but that's not what this vote is all about. The late Eight Belles was on her way to this honor prior to her misstep at Churchill Downs in May, but the sentimental choice here simply does not boast the resume of the other two. While courageous and ultra-talented, the filly just doesn't stand up to the other pair based on her success in early 2008. She will not be forgotten, though. The male sprinter award should go to BENNY THE BULL (Lucky Lionel), giving IEAH Stable their second trophy, but many will be sucked in by MIDNIGHT LUTE (Real Quiet) after his ever-impressive Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) demolition. I love 'Lute' and appreciate what he did on the track, but Benny was unbeaten in 2008 with authoritative wins in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1), Smile Sprint H. (G2), True North H. (G2) and Sunshine Millions Sprint. STREET BOSS (Street Cry [Ire]) was a major force on the West Coast for much of the year, and the Bruce Headley trainee will also get some attention, as he should. We'll stick with Benny, as should you. We think INDIAN BLESSING should be a lock for female sprinter, but we fear that Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint dynamo VENTURA (Chester House) could undeservedly take this award. I'll be the first to say that Ventura is one of the top 10 horses currently in training, and not many hold her in the regard that I do, but Indian Blessing compiled a phenomenal season, from January to December. Ventura, on the other hand, did damage on both turf and synthetic, but only contested one traditional sprint event. If the two faced each other on dirt, would this debate even exist? Don't let one race determine a season. GOLDIKOVA (Ire) (Anabaa) will certainly grab a ton of attention, deservedly so, following her sublime effort in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), but FOREVER TOGETHER (Belong to Me) did enough for me to merit favoritism in the turf female category. The Jonathan Sheppard-trained gray won the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) with a tremendous and seemingly effortless late run, and also annexed the Diana S. (G1) and First Lady S. (G1), all without breaking a sweat (she lacks the ability to perspire)! Take absolutely nothing away from 'Goldie,' she's simply awesome, but Forever Together won from a mile to 10 furlongs, from New York to California, and proved to be worthy of this highest honor. There are some easy divisions as well. If STARDOM BOUND is not the unanimous choice for two-year-old filly, those voting for others should have their voting privileges revoked immediately and passed on to someone who could put it to good use. The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) vixen concluded 2008 with a trio of Grade 1 scores and left little doubt on each occasion. It's next to impossible to make a case for her competition. The same can be expected for older male, where CURLIN (Smart Strike) should receive no less than 99.863 percent of the votes. We all know of the exploits of Curlin, who passed Cigar on the all-time earnings list last year. He'll be missed, but at least he'll be sent out a champion. ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]) will -- and should -- be unanimous in the older female division. For those synthetic surface detractors out there, don't hold this filly accountable. She may be as good or better on dirt. Did you see her Apple Blossom H. (G1) romp? If not, watch it if time permits. It's good stuff. Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1) champ BIG BROWN (Boundary), love him or hate him and/or his connections, IS champion three-year-old male. The electric sophomore captured the Florida Derby (G1) and Haskell Invitational (G1), as well, and also toppled a solid group of elders in the grassy Monmouth S. Case closed. Speaking of connections, IEAH Stables endured a fantastic year, bagging nine Grade 1 races and campaigning what should be two champions. Whatever opinion you may have of the boisterous outfit, you must acknowledge that they have an uncanny ability to spot a top horse from anywhere and they are deserving of the prize of outstanding owner. Although CONDUIT (Ire) (Dalakhani [Ire]) won just once on this soil, he rates as the top pick due to the nature of the turf male division having little to offer. It wouldn't be right to award either EINSTEIN (Brz) (Spend A Buck) or GRAND COUTURIER (GB) (Grand Lodge), both of which earned two Grade 1 wins, based on their respective seasons, which were good but eons from championship caliber. The eight-year-old GOOD NIGHT SHIRT (Concern) was unbeaten from five tries in 2008, all Grade 1 events, which should be more than enough to make him unanimous for top steeplechaser. Garrett Gomez and Steve Asmussen should cruise home easy winners in the jockey and trainer categories, respectfully. Asmussen saddled more winners than any conditioner in the past, while a minor injury late in the year kept Gomez from earning the most money of any jockey in one season. The sheer numbers Frank Stronach's Adena Springs churned out makes that outfit tough to knock off for Eclipse-winning breeder. Stonerside did wonders with less, and it wouldn't be totally inappropriate to crown them, but the gross numbers don't lie. Adena is the one. By the way, I really have no idea who should be named champion apprentice jockey. I'll leave you some work to do. We haven't yet touched base on the battle between Curlin and Zenyatta for Horse of the Year, simply because we can understand the case made for each of these phenomenal athletes. Curlin amassed wins in the Stephen Foster H. (G1), Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (G1), Woodward S. (G1) and Dubai World Cup S. (UAE-G1), while posting a second in the grassy Man o' War S. (G1) and a good fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Of his two defeats, which were both excellent efforts, one came in his grass debut and the other in his first try on the synthetic. He earned more than $5.3 million and would get my vote. Zenyatta won all seven of her outings in 2008, only being somewhat tested on one occasion for John Shirreffs. The absolutely remarkable Kentucky-bred is too good for words and may have had a fighting chance if entered versus the boys in the Classic -- her time in the Ladies' Classic was comparable to that of the Classic. You can't knock her.
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