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Curlin crowned Horse of the Year

Curlin sealed Horse of the Year honors in the Breeders' Cup Classic (Alex Evers/Horsephotos.com) After a brilliant season marked by twists and turns worthy of a gripping page-turner or a blockbuster film, CURLIN (Smart Strike) was acclaimed Horse of the Year and champion three-year-old male at Monday night's Eclipse Awards ceremony at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The powerful chestnut ranks as just the second horse to begin his sophomore season as an unraced maiden and finish it as the nation's Horse of the Year. Since the modern era of championships dawned in 1936, only Tiznow in 2000 had achieved a similarly meteoric rise. Curlin was purchased for $57,000 at the 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale on behalf of Midnight Cry Stable, the nom de course of Shirley Cunningham Jr. and William Gallion. Cunningham named the colt after his great-grandfather, Charlie Curlin, a former slave and Civil War veteran. Initially trained by Helen Pitts, Curlin made his career debut in early February at Gulfstream Park, trouncing his nearest rival by 12 3/4 lengths. That scintillating performance earned rave reviews and caught the attention of Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables, George Bolton, and Satish Sanan's Padua Stables. Those three parties soon joined forces and acquired an 80-percent interest in Curlin for a reported $3.5 million. For the rest of the season, Curlin would sport each owner's silks on a rotating basis. Curlin was promptly transferred to Steve Asmussen, who had no hesitation to step up him into stakes company, and stretch him out to two turns, in the Rebel S. (G3) at Oaklawn Park. Easily handling all of his new tests at once, Curlin cruised by 5 1/4 lengths. He extended his record to a perfect three-for-three in resounding fashion in the Arkansas Derby (G2), galloping by 10 1/2 lengths. The inexperienced Curlin endured a trial by fire in the Kentucky Derby (G1), where he was forced to steady early and raced much farther back in the pack. He did well in the circumstances to grab third, but he didn't threaten Derby hero Street Sense or runner-up Hard Spun.

Advancing rapidly on his learning curve, Curlin was about to prove his true class in the Preakness S. (G1). After stumbling and nearly going to this knees at the break, the chestnut regrouped and launched a stirring late rally to nail Street Sense by a head at the wire. Curlin turned in a similarly game effort in the Belmont S. (G1), but despite his never-say-die attitude throughout a memorable stretch drive, he was outdueled by champion three-year-old filly Rags to Riches. After a lackluster third in the Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth, where he didn't seem to enjoy the far turn, a much sharper Curlin wore down champion older male Lawyer Ron in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).

The stage was then set for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), the definitive showdown with year-end honors on the line. Judging by Curlin's less than stellar effort in the Haskell, it was not altogether clear that he would handle Monmouth any better this time, especially being untested in the slop. Curlin answered every question in the Classic. Roaring around the far turn with agility, he outgunned the rail-hugging Street Sense as the pair commenced their rallies, and Curlin blew past the pacesetting Hard Spun en route to a 4 1/2-length success. With the Classic on his resume, Curlin improved his record to 9-6-1-2 and more than doubled his earnings to $5,102,800.

Unfortunately, while Curlin covered himself in glory on the track, his ownership was involved in a maelstrom of controversy off the track. Midnight Cry principals Cunningham and Gallion became embroiled in legal problems arising from their settlement of the fen-phen lawsuit, and both are currently in jail in Boone County, Kentucky, awaiting trial. Padua was the first to bow out of the partnership, selling its share of Curlin to Stonestreet and Bolton shortly after the Breeders' Cup Classic. Just a few days before Christmas, Stonestreet announced that it had purchased Bolton's share in the chestnut. No price was revealed for the transaction, which boosted Stonestreet's ownership of the colt to 80 percent. The remaining 20-percent interest is still held by Midnight Cry, but that stake remains the subject of legal action on the part of the fen-phen plaintiffs.

Jackson confirmed during the awards ceremony that they plan to race Curlin in 2008.

Bred in Kentucky by Fares Farm Inc., Curlin is the first stakes winner out of the unraced Sherriff's Deputy (Deputy Minister), who has since produced an unnamed juvenile filly by Medaglia d'Oro and an unnamed yearling filly by Saint Liam. This is the family of 1997 champion two-year-old filly and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) victress Countess Diana (Deerhound) as well as the ill-fated multiple Grade 1-winning Exogenous (Unbridled).

*The tallies represent only first-place votes from members of the consolidated voting entities, NTRA/Equibase, Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers Association. For each division, the three horses, or people, with the most first-place votes are listed. 

Rags to Riches compiled a five-race winning streak while racing in top company (Benoit Photo) RAGS TO RICHES (A.P. Indy) entered 2007 owning just a fourth-place finish in her maiden debut but exited the year with her name firmly established in the history books, not only as champion three-year-old filly but also as the first filly in 102 years to win the prestigious Belmont. The Todd Pletcher-trained miss made her sophomore bow on January 7 at Santa Anita, and dominated a maiden special weight field of six rivals by six lengths. She stayed at that venue and stretched out for her next one, making her stakes debut in the Las Virgenes S. (G1), and gave the first indication that she was something really special in that one-mile event. Breaking to the right when the gates opened, Rags to Riches stayed five wide around the turn and four wide down the backstretch, running farther than any of her rivals on that day. She continued her wide trip down the stretch, but the added ground didn't affect her chances as she stormed home a three-quarter of a length victress in a spectacular display. The blaze-faced lass continued her dominance in the three-year-old filly ranks on the West Coast in her next start, the Santa Anita Oaks (G1). Once again parked wide, but not as wide as in the Las Virgenes, Rags to Riches loped along while tracking the pace before putting in her devastating outside run to score by 5 1/2 lengths. Talk immediately began of entering the flashy chestnut in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) about a month later, and possibly even the Kentucky Derby (G1) two months down the road, but her connections decided to keep her running against the fillies, a move that paid major dividends next out in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Another wide trip awaited Rags to Riches in the Kentucky Oaks as she raced between rivals down the backstretch, but that nine-furlong test never seemed to challenge the favorite. Coming out four wide for the stretch run, she simply drew away from the field, eventually crossing under the wire 4 1/4 lengths the best while making her first start on a sealed, muddy track.

After such a devastating display in the Kentucky Oaks, Rags to Riches' connections were finally willing to try their star against the boys, but chose a race that no filly had won in 102 years. In the 1 1/2-mile "Test of Champions," Rags to Riches received her first real challenge since beginning her sophomore campaign. Stumbling out of the gate of the Belmont, the filly quickly moved up to settle in fifth behind the pacesetters before starting her now familiar wide, late run around the turn. She wasn't alone, though, as Preakness hero Curlin split horses coming out of the turn and kept pace with his rival. Those two battled nip and tuck to the line, but Rags to Riches had just enough left to stick her head in front at the wire. In the process, she became just the third winning filly in the storied history of the Belmont.

Rags to Riches raced just once more in 2007 and suffered her only loss of the year when a courageous half-length second in the Gazelle S. (G1), after which it was revealed she had suffered a hairline fracture to her right front pastern during the running of that 1 1/8-mile test. That came after three months of waiting for her return.

Originally expected to show up in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), she spiked a fever and was withdrawn from consideration for that event. Then just a week later, she was pulled up during a routine morning workout, prompting her connections to call for a complete physical for their celebrated filly. Though given the green light to commence training after no problems were found, Pletcher opted to skip her next expected start in the Alabama S. (G1) and instead point her for the Ruffian H. (G1), with the Gazelle against her own age-group as a back-up. Instead, she spiked another fever and her conditioner decided to keep her against three-year-olds in the Gazelle, where she would finish out the year with a 6-5-1-0 mark and $1,340,028 in earnings.

Rags to Riches has so far earned $1,342,528 from a 7-5-1-0 career line. With her Belmont victory, she followed in the hoofsteps of older half-brother Jazil (Seeking the Gold), who captured the 2006 edition. Both classic winners are out of Grade 2 winner Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister), who placed in the 1999 Acorn S. (G1) and Mother Goose S. (G1). The 12-year-old mare has also produced the unraced three-year-old Casino Drive (Mineshaft) as well as unnamed yearling and weanling colts by Giant's Causeway.

The case was made with brilliant victories in the Woodward S. (G1), Whitney H. (G1) and Oaklawn H. (G2), and the verdict went to LAWYER RON (Langfuhr) for champion older male. Owned by Stonewall Farms and Hines Racing, the Pletcher-trained colt broke a 33-year-old mark when establishing a new track record at Saratoga, turning 1 1/8 miles in 1:46 3/5 in the Whitney, and the chestnut turned in one of the gamest performances of the year in defeat when second to Horse of the Year Curlin in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

A millionaire entering the season, Lawyer Ron banked an additional $1.32 million while compiling an 8-4-2-1 line in 2007. He opened his four-year-old campaign with an easy score over allowance/optional claiming rivals at Gulfstream Park and then shipped to Oaklawn Park, site of his 2006 victories in the Arkansas Derby (G2), Rebel S. (G3) and Southwest S. Lawyer Ron didn't disappoint his legion of fans in the Razorback State, rolling to a four-length score in the prestigious Oaklawn H. He proceeded to finish second in the Salvator Mile (G3) and third in the Metropolitan Mile H. (G1), and next came Saratoga.

Dominant might understate his impact in the two premier races for older horses at the Spa. Lawyer Ron crushed his rivals when posting a 4 3/4-length win in the Whitney, and he was even more impressive in the Woodward five weeks later, walloping his opponents with an 8 1/4-length decision. It was difficult to imagine any horse in training beating him in upstate New York.

Lawyer Ron prepped for the Breeders' Cup Classic with an excellent second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park, battling head and head in the stretch with Curlin before falling a neck short in the final strides, but the sloppy track at Monmouth Park wasn't to his liking. Lawyer Ron never got involved in the running on Breeders' Cup Day and checked in seventh. That uncharacteristic performance didn't dissuade voters, however, and Lawyer Ron was justifiably rewarded with the Eclipse Award.

Bred by James T. Hines, Lawyer Ron is out of the Lord Avie mare Donation, who has produced an unraced sophomore filly named Ron's Lady and a juvenile filly named Miss Deanna D, both by Elhayq (Ire). She also has an unnamed yearling colt by Smarty Jones.

Lawyer Ron compiled a total of nine stakes wins and $2,790,000 in earnings from a 26-12-4-4 line during his stellar career. The Kentucky-bred will stand his first year at stud in 2008 at Stonewall Farm near Versailles, Kentucky, for a $30,000 fee.

Frank Stronach's GINGER PUNCH kept the party going at Adena Springs Farm as she garnered a second straight Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) score for her sire, Awesome Again. However, the chestnut went one farther than last year's winner by also being honored as the 2007 champion older mare. In 2006, Round Pond brought home the Breeders' Cup trophy but missed out on an Eclipse Award to Fleet Indian, who entered the Distaff undefeated and exited with an injury.

Unlike Fleet Indian, Ginger Punch came into the Breeders' Cup with three losses on the year, but no off-the-board finishes. She wasn't well known when beginning her four-year-old season and dropped her first start when second in the Madison S. (G2) over Keeneland's Polytrack. Trainer Bobby Frankel moved his up-and-coming charge to Churchill Downs for her next start, and she rewarded that decision with an easy allowance score on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

For her next five starts, Ginger Punch would stay in New York, competing at Belmont Park and Saratoga. Following a game runner-up finish, just a neck back of the winner, in the Ogden Phipps H. (G1), the chestnut posted three straight scores. Dropped back to seven furlongs in the First Flight H. (G2) at Big Sandy, she responded by taking the lead soon after the start and going on to finish five lengths better than her closest rival. Another easy win followed in the nine-furlong Go for Wand H. (G1) at Saratoga as she successfully negotiated two turns for the first time to be six lengths clear on the line.

Ginger Punch added the Ruffian to her resume on September 8, tracking the early pacesetter before taking over and repelling challenges from two rivals in late stretch to score by three parts of a length. Frankel wheeled her back 22 days later in the Beldame S. (G1), but she could never quite catch up with the leaders, settling for third at the end of that 1 1/8-mile affair.

Then, finally, Breeders' Cup Day arrived, but overcast and muddy, not bright and clear. Because she wasn't Breeders' Cup nominated, Ginger Punch's connections had to supplement her into the championship event, and she was facing a sloppy track for the first time since running in her sophomore finale. Neither of those factors made a difference to the betting public, as they sent her off the 4-1 favorite, but more importantly, it made no difference to Ginger Punch. Saving ground on the inside down the backstretch, she moved up to take the lead entering the stretch, but found company in the form of Hystericalady (Distorted Humor). Those two battled all the way down the lane, pushing and shoving each other, with Hystericalady actually knocking Ginger Punch into the rail and off stride. She wouldn't be denied, though, and fought back while in tight quarters to get up for the neck victory over her equally game rival.

While many Breeders' Cup winners are immediately retired, racing fans will get a chance to see Ginger Punch run in 2008, beginning in Saturday's Sunshine Millions Distaff. Last year, she racked up an 8-5-2-1, $1,827,060, record, and improved her career line to 14-7-5-1 having banked $1,901,679 in earnings. She is, so far, the best foal produced by 1995 Comely S. (G2) winner Nappelon (Bold Revenue), who is also responsible for an unraced sophomore filly named Gold Revenue (Touch Gold) and an unnamed juvenile filly by Red Bullet.

WAR PASS (Cherokee Run) wrapped up his juvenile season with a 4 3/4-length romp in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), and the unbeaten colt was the easiest of winners in the voting for champion two-year-old male. None of the other finalists received more than one first-place vote as War Pass garnered 262.

Trained by Hall of Famer Nick Zito, War Pass won all four starts in wire-to-wire fashion in 2007. The speedy colt captured his career debut at Saratoga in late July, taking a six-furlong maiden by 2 3/4 lengths, and garnered a six-furlong allowance/optional claiming event by 5 1/2 lengths later in the meet. War Pass then made a smashing stakes bow in the one-mile Champagne S. (G1) at Belmont Park in early October.

With regular rider Cornelio Velasquez in the irons, the Robert LaPenta colorbearer shot right to front when the gates opened in the Champagne and quickly opened a daylight lead through testing fractions in :22 4/5, :45 3/5 and 1:10 1/5. War Pass kept right on going, drawing off by 5 1/2 lengths in midstretch, and remained in complete control to the wire. It was a foreshadowing of what was to come at Monmouth Park three weeks later.

Favored at 2-1 over 10 rivals in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, War Pass eliminated any suspense during the early stages as he increased his advantage at every internal point of call while ripping through splits of :22 3/5, :45 2/5 and 1:09 3/5. He reached midstretch with a seven-length lead and was under wraps late, hitting the wire 4 3/4 lengths the best. His final time for 1 1/16 miles over the sloppy track, 1:42 3/5, was two seconds faster than the winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) one race earlier.

Bred in Kentucky by Cherry Valley Farm LLC, War Pass is out of the multiple stakes-placed Vue (Mr. Prospector), making him a half-brother to 1996 Spinaway S. (G1) heroine Oath (Known Fact), 2004 Raven Run S. (G2) runner-up Vision of Beauty (Danzig) and an unnamed juvenile colt by Monarchos. War Pass's fourth dam is Bayou (Hill Prince), the champion three-year-old filly 1957 and a noted producer, whose illustrious descendants include two-time champion and $3.5-million earner Slew O' Gold and multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Aptitude. The two-year-old champion was purchased for a bargain $180,000 as a Keeneland September yearling and has now earned $1,397,400.

The focus now turns toward the Kentucky Derby (G1) following War Pass' outstanding juvenile season.

Speed also ruled supreme in the Eclipse voting for two-year-old filly with the unbeaten INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie) taking home championship honors. A blessing indeed for her connections, the Bob Baffert-trained lass dominated her rivals in all three outings in 2007, concluding her season with a 3 1/2-length score in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Indian Blessing's hallmark is her blazing early speed (Benoit Photo) The Patti and Hal J. Earnhardt III homebred made her first appearance under silks in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight in late August at Saratoga and romped to a 5 1/4-length decision. The one-mile Frizette S. (G1) at Belmont Park came next and after dueling for the lead through an opening quarter-mile in :22 2/5, Indian Blessing quickly shook loose of her competition, opening up a 5 1/2-length margin through a half-mile in :45 2/5. It was a laugher the rest of the way, with the dark bay filly leading by eight lengths in midstretch before being throttled down late by regular rider Garrett Gomez, and Indian Blessing headed to Monmouth Park off the easy 4 1/2-length tally. Sent off the overwhelming 8-5 choice over 12 opponents, Indian Blessing sailed over the sloppy track at Monmouth Park. She increased a narrow early lead into a three-length advantage at the half-mile mark and then really poured it on, opening up by six lengths in midstretch as she cruised to the finish line. Indian Blessing captured her three starts last season by a combined 13 1/4 lengths. Bred in Kentucky, Indian Blessing is out of the stakes-winning and multiple Grade 3-placed Shameful (Flying Chevron). She has a pair of younger half-brothers, the juvenile colt He's Shameful (Candy Ride [Arg]) and an unnamed yearling colt by Roman Ruler.

Indian Blessing, who opened her 2008 campaign with a victory in the January 13 Santa Ynez S. (G2) at Santa Anita, has now amassed $1,447,200 in earnings.

James T. Scatuorchio's ENGLISH CHANNEL (Smart Strike) has been a high-class turf performer for three straight years, and his consistent excellence finally garnered him an Eclipse Award as champion turf male. In the process, English Channel and newly crowned Horse of the Year Curlin presented their sire, Smart Strike, with an unprecedented double. Since 1953, when the turf category was first introduced, no stallion had ever been responsible for two different horses honored as Horse of the Year and champion turf horse in the same season. Smart Strike has now made history, courtesy of Curlin and English Channel.

English Channel's 2007 campaign began auspiciously with a course record-setting victory in a Gulfstream Park allowance. Next time out in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1), the Pletcher charge wound up a thoroughly uncharacteristic 12th in a 16-horse field, the only dismal performance in his illustrious career. Once back in the United States, English Channel would never again finish out of the top two.

After missing by a head in the Manhattan H. (G1), he defended his title in the United Nations S. (G1) at Monmouth in course-record time. English Channel was upset when second in the Sword Dancer Invitational S. (G1) at Saratoga, but he rebounded with a daring, bounce-off-the-rail rally to score back-to-back triumphs in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational S. (G1). English Channel thereby became only the third horse in history to win the Joe Hirsch twice. Even more remarkably, the chestnut came within a head of taking it three times, having narrowly failed in the 2005 edition as a sophomore.

The often headstrong English Channel saved his best race for last. In his third try at the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), following a fifth in 2005 and a third in 2006, he traveled supremely well on Monmouth's rain-soaked ground to annihilate a world-class field by seven lengths. Never in the previous 23 years of the Breeders' Cup had a horse won a turf contest by such a dominant margin.

With this final career start in the books, English Channel retired with a mark of 23-13-4-1 and $5,319,028 in earnings. He boasts 10 career stakes scores, six of them at the Grade 1 level, and he has placed in a total of five Grade 1 contests. In 2006, English Channel captured the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) and Canadian Turf H., and in 2005, he took the Virginia Derby (G3), Colonial Turf Cup S. and Woodlawn S.

Bred by Keene Ridge Farm in Kentucky, the winner was sold to Scatuorchio for $50,000 at the 2003 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The now six-year-old is the first registered foal from the unraced Belva (Theatrical [Ire]), making him a full brother to Lane's End S. (G2) runner-up Sedgefield, who was a commendable fifth in the 2007 Kentucky Derby (G1). He has three half-sisters -- an unraced sophomore named Lura (Street Cry [Ire]), an unnamed juvenile by Aldebaran and an unnamed yearling by Ghostzapper. Belva is herself a full sister to Grade 1 winner Pharma and multiple Grade 2 winner Hap, all of them out of Committed (Hagley), a European champion and multiple Group 1-winning sprinter in 1984-85.

English Channel will commence his stud career this season at Hurricane Hall near Lexington, Kentucky, for $25,000, live foal.

In contrast, Shadwell Stable's homebred LAHUDOOD (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) was a late arrival to the filly and mare turf scene. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee chose the right moments to shine, however, and was rewarded with an Eclipse Award as champion turf female.

Making her American, and 2007, debut in an entry-level allowance at Belmont in June, Lahudood was just caught by a neck and settled for second. The bay wasted no time in clearing that condition next time out, rolling to a 3 1/4-length tally, and was then pitched into the Beverly D. S. (G1) against top-level opponents at Arlington Park. Lahudood threw in the worst effort of her entire career. After racing within striking distance of the pace, she retreated to finish last of seven, and her connections cited the rain-softened ground as a major factor.

Few could have foreseen that Lahudood would not taste defeat again. Ignored at 21-1 in the Flower Bowl Invitational S. (G1), she stormed home along the rail to get up by three-quarters of a length over Rosinka (Ire) (Soviet Star), with champion and 4-5 favorite Wait a While third. When the heavens opened at Monmouth and the course came up soft for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), Lahudood appeared to be at a disadvantage. As things turned out, nothing could have been further from the truth. Driving through the bog, she opened up a two-length lead in midstretch and stayed on dourly to hold off Honey Ryder by three-quarters of a length.

Lahudood began her career under the direction of John Hammond in France. She scored her first stakes victory in the 2006 Prix de Liancourt, and that same year, she placed in the Prix de Malleret (Fr-G2), Prix de Royallieu (Fr-G2) and Prix de Psyche (Fr-G3). Lahudood sports a record of 12-4-5-1, $1,695,373.

Bred in Great Britain, Lahudood is out of the winning Arazi mare Rahayeb (GB), who is also the dam of an unraced sophomore filly named Kareemah (Peintre Celebre) and a juvenile colt named Alhudud (Sinndar). Lahudood springs from the family of once-beaten dual classic winner Nashwan (Blushing Groom [Fr]), multiple Group 1-winning highweight Nayef (Gulch), multiple English Group 2 hero Unfuwain (Northern Dancer) and Japanese superstar Deep Impact (Sunday Silence).

Now retired, the five-year-old Lahudood will try to add further laurels to the family as a member of the Shadwell broodmare band.

Convincing wins in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) and Forego S. (G1) netted MIDNIGHT LUTE (Real Quiet) the Eclipse Award for champion male sprinter. Those were the only victories in 2007 for the Baffert-trained colt, but they were more than enough to earn the most coveted honor for short-distance specialists.

Arguably the most impressive Sprint winner in history, Midnight Lute broke nearly last of 10 runners over Monmouth Park's sloppy track. The dark bay trailed far behind during the early stages over a speed-friendly oval and began to circle rivals after Gomez swung him out for clear sailing on the far turn, but there was still plenty of ground to make up on the leaders as Midnight Lute arrived at the top of the stretch. Once he straightened into the lane, though, he flew home, closing dramatically down the middle of the racetrack. Midnight Lute steamrolled past his opposition like they were standing still, turning a major deficit into a clear lead in seemingly the blink of an eye, and he hit the wire 4 3/4 lengths in front, completing six furlongs in a snappy 1:09. It was quite a performance.

The seven-furlong Forego also turned into a one-sided affair, with Midnight Lute racing closer to the pace over the fast track at Saratoga before delivering a devastating turn of foot. The Watson & Weitman Performance & Mike Pegram colorbearer quickly opened up by daylight in upper stretch and cruised to the wire, winning by a 2 1/4-length margin.

Midnight Lute opened 2007 with a runner-up finish in the 1 1/16-mile San Fernando S. (G2), missing by only a nose to eventual Breeders' Cup Classic third-placer Awesome Gem (Awesome Again) in a gutsy effort. He followed that with a pair of respectable fourths in the Strub S. (G2) and Commonwealth S. (G2), and then earned a 4 1/2-month freshening, triumphantly returning to races in the Forego. Midnight Lute capped last season with a runner-up finish in the Cigar Mile H. (G1) at Aqueduct.

Bred in Kentucky by Tom Evans, Macon Wilmil Equines and Marjac Farms, Midnight Lute notched his first stakes win in the 2006 Perryville S. (G3). He sold for $70,000 at the 2004 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Produced from the unraced Candytuft (Dehere), Midnight Lute is a half-brother to the current stakes-placed sophomore Tusculum Rd (Gilded Time), an unnamed juvenile colt by Sir Cherokee and an unnamed yearling colt by Maria's Mon.

Midnight Lute will embark upon his five-year-old campaign in 2008 with an 11-5-3-1 career record and $1,610,600 in earnings. Plans call for Midnight Lute to return to action in the February 16 San Carlos H. (G2) at Santa Anita.

MARYFIELD (Elusive Quality) recorded three stakes victories in 2007, closing out with a pair of important victories in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and Ballerina S. (G1), and the now seven-year-old mare took home the inaugural Eclipse Award for champion female sprinter. The classy Doug O'Neill runner came a long way over the past two seasons after being claimed for $50,000 in January 2006.

Wearing the colors of Mark Gorman, Nick Mestrandrea and Jim Perry, Maryfield scored in the Distaff H. (G2) at Aqueduct in March and just missed by 1 1/4 lengths when fourth in the Princess Rooney H. (G1) at Calder in July. She followed the latter effort with a determined tally in the seven-furlong Ballerina, getting up in the final strides to win the prestigious event at Saratoga. She continued the dramatic, late-running heroics in the first running of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

After rating well off the pace over the sloppy track at Monmouth Park, Maryfield chose the cleanest path to glory, rallying down the middle of the track to catch Miraculous Miss (Mr. Greeley) in the shadow of the wire for a half-length decision. She completed six furlongs in 1:09 4/5 and pushed her career earnings past the $1 million mark.

Bred in Ontario by Mike Carroll and John C. Harvey Jr., Maryfield fetched a bid of $80,000 at the 2002 Keeneland September Yearling sale. All five of her stakes wins came over different tracks, with victories in the Very Subtle S. at Churchill Downs and the Flower Girl H. at Santa Anita in 2006, and she placed in four black-type events during her career, compiling an overall mark of 28-9-5-1, $1,334,331. The bay mare sold for $1.25 million to Southern Equine Stables at the recent Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale.

Maryfield is out of the stakes-placed Sly Maid (Desert Wine) and counts as a half-sister the Canadian Grade 3-placed Quiet (Roar), who is herself the dam of Canadian Grade 2 runner-up Quietly Mine (Belong to Me).

There was a changing of the guard in the steeplechase division, as Sonny Via's GOOD NIGHT SHIRT (Concern) dethroned three-time champion McDynamo, who had won the Eclipse Award for the past two years. Good Night Shirt compiled a 5-3-1-0 mark while racing exclusively in Grade 1 company in 2007, and his $314,163 in earnings are a single-season National Steeplechase Association record.

The John Fisher charge earned his championship by soundly defeating McDynamo twice in their three meetings this season. When Good Night Shirt romped in the Iroquois Hurdle (NSA-G1) in May, and ground out a gallant victory in the Colonial Cup Steeplechase (NSA-G1) in November, McDynamo checked in fourth and sixth, respectively. Good Night Shirt's lone unplaced effort this year came as a fourth to McDynamo in the Breeders' Cup Grand National Steeplechase (NSA-G1).

In Good Night Shirt's other two outings, the chestnut gelding landed the Lonesome Glory Hurdle S. (NSA-G1) and finished a rallying second  to Mixed Up (Carnivalay) in the Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings (NSA-G1).

The now seven-year-old has amassed a bankroll of $483,563 from his 26-8-4-3 career line, including his starts on the flat. Good Night Shirt's steeplechase resume also includes a score in the 2006 David L. "Zeke" Ferguson Memorial Steeplechase S. (NSA-G3) and a total of five stakes placings.

Bred in Maryland by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Good Night Shirt is out of the stakes-placed Hot Story (Two Punch). This is the family of Heartlight No. One (Rock Talk), the champion three-year-old filly of 1983, and Grade 1-winning millionaires Afternoon Deelites (Private Terms) and Soul of the Matter (Private Terms).

Horseman Todd Pletcher, who topped the year-end standings with a record $28,111,700 in stable earnings, continued his dominance with a fourth straight Eclipse Award for leading trainer. His horses won 289 races from 1,228 starts in 2007. Pletcher was represented by champions Rags to Riches, English Channel and Lawyer Ron during Monday's ceremonies.

A native of Dallas and the son of veteran trainer J.J. Pletcher, the 40-year-old conditioner garnered his first Triple Crown win when saddling Rags to Riches to an historic victory in the Belmont. She became the first filly in 102 years to win the "Test of Champions." English Channel netted a third Breeders' Cup win for Pletcher when capturing the Turf at Monmouth Park. Lawyer Ron captured a pair of Grade 1s at Saratoga, including a track record-setting triumph in the Whitney.

He was also represented by Grade 1 winners Any Given Saturday, Scat Daddy, Octave, Panty Raid, Cotton Blossom and Unbridled Belle in 2007.

Pletcher grew up around horses and worked as an assistant for Charles Whittingham and Henry Moreno while at the University of Arizona. He then went to work for his mentor, Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, handling many successful runners during his seven-year stint. He went out on his own at the end of 1995 and saddled his first winner in February 2006.

Pletcher broke the previous earnings mark that he established in 2006. Based primarily in New York, Pletcher also maintained divisions in California, Kentucky and Florida last year. He recently recorded his 2,000th career win.

After missing in a close vote 12 months ago, Garrett Gomez proved to be a runaway winner for leading jockey in 2007, garnering his first Eclipse Award. He established a new single-season record by winning 76 stakes, and earned the William Shoemaker Award for outstanding jockey during the 2007 Breeders' Cup, registering two wins and a pair of thirds.

A native of Tucson, Arizona, the 36-year-old jockey ranked first for all North American jockeys in earnings last season with $22,800,074, and Gomez won 265 races from 1,258 starters. The California-based pilot guided champions Rags to Riches, Midnight Lute and Indian Blessing in 2007, and other notable mounts included Any Given Saturday, Wait a While (Maria's Mon), Majestic Warrior (A.P. Indy), Shakespeare, Honey Ryder, Panty Raid, Lady of Venice (Fr), Georgie Boy (Tribal Rule), Crossing the Line (NZ) (Cape Cross [Ire]), Pussycat Doll (Real Quiet) and Spring at Last (Silver Deputy).

Gomez, who has won four Breeders' Cup races during his career, notched his fourth overall jockey title at Hollywood Park during the recently completed Autumn Meet. He began his riding career in 1988 at Santa Fe Downs in New Mexico.

After making a splash at Fair Grounds last winter, apprentice Joseph Talamo moved his tack to Southern California during the spring and continued his winning ways. On Monday night, he was named champion apprentice jockey.

Born in Marrero, Louisiana, the recently turned 18-year-old rider won 249 races and ranked 14th nationally with $10,705,403 in earnings in 2007. He's the regular rider of Nashoba's Key (Silver Hawk), guiding her to victories in the Vanity Invitational H. (G1), Yellow Ribbon S. (G1), Milady Breeders' Cup H. (G2) and Clement L. Hirsch H. (G2), and Talamo also rode Grade 1 winners Artiste Royal (Ire) (Danehill) and Bilo (Bertrando).

The youngster began riding Thoroughbreds at 11 and his first racing experience came at a bush track in Duson, Louisiana, where many other recognized jockeys got their start. He finished second in the standings at the Hollywood Spring/Summer Meet, the second-highest total for an apprentice rider in track history.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Shadwell Stable was honored as the leading owner. A major presence upon the international scene, Shadwell made a big impact in the United States in 2006 with Horse of the Year Invasor (Arg) and Belmont S. winner Jazil. The stable enjoyed another fantastic season in 2007.

Invasor got the year off to a good start with his victory in the Donn H. (G1), but he was retired before ever appearing under silks again in North America. Grade 1 stars Lahudood (GB), Lear's Princess (Lear Fan) and Daaher (Awesome Again) helped fill the void. Lahudood captured the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and Flower Bowl Invitational en route to championship honors for female turf horse. Lear's Princess won the Gazelle, upsetting champion Rags to Riches, and finished second in both the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama. Daaher wrapped up his season with excellent wins in the Cigar Mile and Jerome H. (G2), stamping himself as a contender for Horse of the Year honors in 2008.

Kiaran McLaughlin conditions Shadwell's U.S. division.

If a dynasty is defined by continued excellence with a stranglehold upon championship honors, Frank Stronach's Adena Springs fits the bill. For the fourth straight year, and fifth time overall, Adena Springs captured the Eclipse Award for outstanding breeder. It's the first time one operation has been named champion breeder four consecutive years.

With breeding and stallion operations in Kentucky, Florida and Ontario, Adena Springs led all breeders by money earned for the fifth consecutive time with $18,057,205 in 2007, more than twice as much as the second leading breeder. Adena's flagship horse was champion older mare Ginger Punch.

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