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2007 TURF AWARDS
JANUARY 5, 2008
by Kellie Reilly
With the turning of the calendar page to a brand new year, it's time to look
back on the highlights, and lowlights, of the 2007 turf scene. Rather than
serving up a dry as dust rehash, a la the typical "Year in Review" piece, I'll
hand out awards -- a few dubious, but most genuine expressions of appreciation
-- to hail the season's noteworthy gladiators.
The inaugural Reilly Awards don't have the cache of the Eclipses, or a
coveted statuette to accompany them, but in a few decades' time, they might just
catch on. I've tried to spread the wealth as much as possible, in an effort to
avoid duplicate honorees. Nearly all of the categories have three winners -- one
each for the turf (T) and filly and mare turf (F/M T) divisions in America, plus
an international (I) recipient. Like any self-respecting awards show, I'll open
with the lesser honors and build to the greatest.
Race with the Most Mayhem that Didn't Involve a Tragedy
T -- Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial H. (G2) at Fair Grounds. Anyone who saw
EINSTEIN (Brz) (Spend a Buck) being floated out past the center of the course
approaching the far turn wouldn't have given him a chance of winning, in this or
any alternate universe, but the dark bay was clever enough to regroup from that
seemingly hopeless position. Rapidly calculating the ground loss and distance
still to be covered, factoring in the estimated arrival time, and arriving at
the required acceleration, Einstein duly delivered.
F/M T -- Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Monmouth. Why SIMPLY PERFECT
(GB) decided to blow the second turn, eliminating a few of her opponents in the
process, we'll never know. Maybe she was auditioning for a remake of Ben Hur.
I -- Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) at Longchamp. DYLAN THOMAS (Ire)
interfered with several horses as he commenced a starboard drift in the stretch,
but the result was rightly allowed to stand, as his waywardness did not
materially affect the outcome. The stewards took so much time to decide,
however, that they may as well have been framing yet another global climate
treaty.
Most Mysterious Fizzle to a Promising Campaign
T -- SKY CONQUEROR (Sky Classic) looked like a rising star in the Woodford
Reserve Turf Classic (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day, overcoming a nosedive at the
start to get up in the last stride. The Canadian was unable to follow through
with further top-level conquests, however, and wound up playing the role of the
conquered.
F/M T -- MAKDERAH (Ire) earned rave reviews from this corner, and elsewhere,
when producing a dizzying burst of speed to romp in the New York S. (G2) at
Belmont. We never saw those fireworks again in her remaining outings.
I -- SIXTIES ICON (Galileo [Ire]), the winner of the 2006 St Leger
(Eng-G1), kicked off his 2007 season with a sparkling score in the Jockey Club
S. (Eng-G2). His form abruptly tailed off thereafter, and the illusory Age of
Aquarius never dawned for him.
Most Gnawing "What Might Have Been"
T -- SHOWING UP (Strategic Mission) appeared set for a brilliant campaign,
only to be sidelined by injury after a single start. In that lone outing in the
Maker's Mark Mile S. (G2), he was just outdueled by a race-fit Kip Deville
(Kipling), the eventual Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) winner. How much would a sound
Showing Up have been able to achieve? Hopefully, he'll be healthy enough to live
up to his name in 2008.
F/M T -- KAREN'S CAPER, who was only two noses away from capturing the 2005
Coronation S. (Eng-G1) and Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S.
(G1), may have been on the brink of garnering an elusive Grade 1 victory in
2007. The Stonerside Stable homebred opened her season in grand style with a
course record-setting victory in the Eatontown S. (G3) at Monmouth, but
unfortunately, she suffered a setback and was eventually retired. Maybe her
foals will prove to be less camera-shy.
I -- One year ago, no one would have imagined that first-year stallion GEORGE
WASHINGTON (Ire) would become a tragic figure. If he hadn't been subfertile, he
would have enjoyed his retirement at stud in the Emerald Isle, and the Coolmore
brain trust would never have returned him to Aidan O'Brien. If he hadn't been a
marvelously gifted athlete, he wouldn't have run so well in his three races back
from stud, and he wouldn't have inspired his connections to pursue the ultimate
dream of the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). If he hadn't tried so hard, giving his
all, maybe he wouldn't have suffered that fatal breakdown in the Monmouth slop.
A thousand "Ifs," but only one, sad, certainty.
Most Heroic Performance in Defeat
T -- EXCELLENT ART (GB) in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Monmouth. Despite
breaking from the dreadful post 12, and slogging through bottomless ground that
he did not like, the O'Brien sophomore rallied strongly for runner-up honors to
Kip Deville.
F/M T -- IRRIDESCENCE (SAf) in the Beverly D. S. (G1) at Arlington Park. After
tracking the pace on rain-softened ground, the Mike de Kock mare kicked clear
and did her utmost to stave off Royal Highness (Ger), going down grudgingly by a
head.
I -- PURPLE MOON (Galileo [Ire]) in the Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) at Flemington.
The one-time hurdler very nearly became the fourth Northern Hemisphere shipper
to capture the race that stops a nation. Traveling beautifully at every stage of
the two-mile handicap, the Luca Cumani charge set sail for home at the top of
the stretch, only to be eclipsed late by the flying Efficient (Zabeel).
Best Campaign without a Grade/Group 1 Score
T -- COSMONAUT (Lemon Drop Kid) came awfully close in the Shadwell Turf Mile
S. (G1) at Keeneland, held on for third in the Breeders' Cup Mile and tired late
when relegated to fourth in the Manhattan H. (G1) in his three attempts at the
elite level.
F/M T -- HONEY RYDER distinguished herself exceptionally well, especially versus
males. The gray was just caught in the Gulfstream Park Turf S. (G1) and finished
an honorable second to likely Eclipse Award winner English Channel in the United
Nations S. (G1). If she didn't have to take the overland route in the Breeders'
Cup Filly & Mare Turf, Honey Ryder might have landed the spoils.
I -- YOUMZAIN (Sinndar) narrowly failed to collar Dylan Thomas in the Arc, after
garnering placings in the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1), Tattersalls Gold Cup S.
(Ire-G1) and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. (Eng-G1).
Most Lethal Surprise
T -- GRAND COUTURIER (GB) (Grand Lodge) refused to doff his hat to 3-5
favorite English Channel in the Sword Dancer Invitational S. (G1) at Saratoga.
Instead, the 15-1 outsider charged from far off the pace to blow past his more
accomplished rival and score by three handy lengths.
F/M T -- LAHUDOOD (GB) rebounded from a last-place finish in the Beverly D. to
upset Wait a While (Maria's Mon) and Royal Highness, among others, as a 21-1
longshot in the Flower Bowl Invitational S. (G1) at Belmont. The Shadwell
colorbearer was again dismissed at 11-1 in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf,
largely because of her alleged aversion to soft ground, and plowed through to
another upset victory.
I -- Nakayama specialist MATSURIDA GOGH (Sunday Silence) pulled a monumental
shocker in the Arima Kinen (Jpn-G1), upstaging Japan's finest at a huge price.
Few could have envisioned such a form reversal from a horse who had been drubbed
in the Tenno Sho (Spring) (Jpn-G1) and Tenno Sho (Autumn) (Jpn-G1).
Most Impressive Front-Running Tour de Force
T -- SUNRIVER (Saint Ballado) annihilated the field in the Hollywood Turf Cup
S. (G1), helping to restore some luster to an event that has been lacking in
recent years.
F/M T -- MY TYPHOON (Ire) was allowed to get away with a leisurely, uncontested
pace in the Just a Game S. (G2) at Belmont, and the royally bred mare lashed
Wait a While and her other opponents with a devastating 3 3/4-length victory.
I -- TOYLSOME, Manduro's one-time pacemaker, ran his toiling rivals ragged to
upset the Prix de la Foret (Fr-G1).
Best Arrival in the Nick of Time
T -- BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin Man) stormed through along the inside in the
Manhattan, getting the last word in a dramatic four-way finish.
F/M T -- MRS. LINDSAY (Theatrical [Ire]) looked beaten in deep stretch of the
E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) at Woodbine, but kicked into another gear in the final
yards to collar a slowing Sealy Hill (Point Given).
I -- DARJINA (Zamindar) finished with a flourish to nail Finsceal Beo (Mr.
Greeley) by a head in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand
Guineas) (Fr-G1). Not only did that foreshadow Darjina's future success on the
mile scene, but it also prevented an unprecedented three-Guineas sweep by
Finsceal Beo.
Most Breathtaking, Instantaneous Acceleration
T -- SHAKESPEARE answered the "To be or not to be" question in a matter of
strides in the Woodbine Mile S. (Can-G1), rallying from an apparently one-paced
fourth into a warp-speed winner.
F/M T -- LADY OF VENICE (Fr) (Loup Solitaire) majestically sailed past most of
the field in less than half a furlong in the CashCall Mile Invitational S. (G2)
at Hollywood Park and was actually gearing down approaching the wire.
I -- SACRED KINGDOM (Encosta de Lago) went from a tracking position to a
commanding leader in about two jumps in the Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1) at Sha Tin.
So comfortable was jockey Gerald Mosse in the stretch that he gave his mount a
congratulatory pat on the head, while his pursuers were all under the whip.
Bravest Performance in Victory
T -- OUT OF CONTROL (Brz) (Vettori), still only a three-year-old by Southern
Hemisphere reckoning, passed The Tin Man not once, but twice, en route to taking
the American Invitational H. (G2) at Hollywood Park. Once The Tin Man battled
back to reclaim the advantage, it would have been perfectly natural for Out of
Control to throw in the towel. But the Bobby Frankel colt came right back at the
grand old veteran and simply outbattled him to the line.
F/M T -- VACARE (Lear Fan) slipped through along the inside to wrest command
from Precious Kitten (Catienus) in the First Lady S. (G2) at Keeneland, but she
had to dig down deep to keep her tenuous lead through the stretch. Indeed,
Vacare's face was a study in grim determination.
I -- ADMIRE MOON was all heart and iron will in the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1). Racing at a 12-furlong trip that he hadn't previously mastered, and a bit
overeager in the opening stages, the Darley acquisition struck the front at the
head of the demanding Tokyo straight and successfully fought off the deep
closers who were calling on the far outside.
Most Ruthless Triumph
T -- ENGLISH CHANNEL demolished the Breeders' Cup record for biggest margin
of victory in the Turf (G1) when sluicing through the Monmouth swamp by seven
lengths. The classy chestnut probably would not have won in such spectacular
fashion had the turf been firm, but he still deserves all the praise for turning
a championship event into an utter rout.
F/M T -- RUTHERIENNE (Pulpit) treated her rivals in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) with
consummate disdain, uncorking a monstrous move on the turn and leaving no doubt
about her superiority.
I -- AUTHORIZED chose precisely the right moment, the hallowed Epsom Derby
(Eng-G1), to turn in his career-best effort. Cruising up ominously to join the
leaders in the stretch, the Peter Chapple-Hyam charge left them for dead as he
kicked clear.
Best Late Bloomers
T -- CLOUDY'S KNIGHT (Lord Avie) improved out of all recognition as a
seven-year-old to earn the accolade of Canada's champion turf horse. The
chestnut gelding captured the Fair Grounds H. (G3), finished second to Einstein
in the Muniz, just missed by a nostril in the Stars and Stripes H. (G3), and
checked in a rallying second in the Nijinsky S. (Can-G2) before wrapping up the
year with a pair of stellar efforts. Cloudy's Knight landed the Sky Classic S.
(Can-G2), then drove to a narrow score in the Canadian International S. (Can-G1)
over highly touted European invaders.
F/M T -- NASHOBA'S KEY (Silver Hawk) rose from an unraced four-year-old in
January to an unbeaten multiple Grade 1 heroine by the end of September.
Moreover, the Carla Gaines filly proved to be quite versatile, taking the Milady
H. (G2) and Vanity Invitational H. (G1) on Hollywood's Cushion Track, the
Clement L. Hirsch H. (G2) on Del Mar's Polytrack and the Yellow Ribbon S. (G1)
on the turf at Oak Tree. She clearly wasn't suited by the mire at Monmouth when
suffering her first loss in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, but she kept on
resolutely to finish a creditable fourth.
I -- DOCTOR DINO (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]) graduated to become a high-class
performer on the global stage at the age of five. After placing in the Prix
Ganay (Fr-G1), Singapore Airlines International Cup (Mal-G1) and Arlington
Million S. (G1), the French-based chestnut broke through with a tally in the Man
o' War S. (G1). A troubled third in the Champion S. (Eng-G1), Doctor Dino saved
his best for last when rolling to a convincing win in the Hong Kong Vase
(HK-G1).
Most Exciting Stars on the Rise
T -- COWBOY CAL (Giant's Causeway) was already branded for this award, which
was safely tucked away in the hermetically sealed Price Waterhouse Cooper
envelope, even before his Tropical Park Derby (G3) romp on New Year's Day.
Indeed, the Todd Pletcher pupil rounded up this honor by virtue of his 6
1/4-length demolition job in the Laurel Futurity. Whether he successfully
switches to the dirt or not, Cowboy Cal rates as a seriously promising turf
campaigner for 2008.
F/M T -- It doesn't take a forensics expert to identify CRIMINOLOGIST (Maria's
Mon) as an upwardly mobile performer. The Shug McGaughey filly won her last four
starts in 2007, including a course-record setting romp in the Perfect Sting S.
at Saratoga, the Athenia H. (G3) at Belmont and the Cardinal H. (G3) at
Churchill.
I -- NEW APPROACH (Galileo [Ire]) was a perfect five-for-five during his
juvenile campaign, garnering such prestigious events as the National S. (Ire-G1)
and Dewhurst S. (Eng-G1). Trainer Jim Bolger has famously compared him to
Secretariat, a prophecy that will be tested this year. In any event, New
Approach's tactical speed, abundant stamina and raw power make him an explosive
classics prospect.
Most Exceptional Virtue Displayed Every Time
T -- THE TIN MAN never shirked his duty during his nine-year-old campaign,
capturing the Shoemaker Mile (G1) in his reappearance, only stubbornly yielding
to Out of Control in the American, Jambalaya (Langfuhr) in the Arlington Million
and Artiste Royal (Ire) (Danehill) in the Clement L. Hirsch Turf
Championship S. (G1). This Tin Man has more than his fair share of heart.
F/M T -- PRECIOUS KITTEN could not have been more dependable in 2007, winning or
placing second in eight of her nine starts, with the lone exception coming when
she was wiped out by Simply Perfect's antics in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare
Turf. Even more remarkably, the Ken and Sarah Ramsey homebred compiled this mark
while racing exclusively in graded company, and she improved over the course of
the year. By the time of her seasonal finale in the Matriarch S. (G1), the
kitten had been transformed into a lioness, powering to a decisive score.
I -- RAMONTI (Martino Alonso) earned four Group 1 successes, and finished
runner-up in two other top-drawer contests, by dint of his superior battling
qualities. The Godolphin star is one you want in your corner in a street fight,
and he is a devilishly tough horse to pass, as a stream of rivals learned in the
Queen Anne S. (Eng-G1), Sussex S. (Eng-G1), Queen Elizabeth II S. (Eng-G1) and
Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1).
World's Best Turf Distaffer
There was nothing timid about PEEPING FAWN (Danehill) in 2007. The O'Brien
filly took a while to learn her job, breaking her maiden in her fourth start in
May, but once she had mastered the game, she became a smashing Group 1 heroine.
Neither the state of the ground, nor a demanding schedule, made the slightest
difference to her. Third in the Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) and a flying
second in the Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1), Peeping Fawn tore through her next four races
in succession. She thrashed her elders in the Pretty Polly S. (Ire-G1), romped
in the Irish Oaks (Ire-G1), grew bored when in front in the Nassau S. (Eng-G1),
and put the coda to her campaign with a four-length stroll in the Yorkshire Oaks
(Eng-G1). Peeping Fawn was not seen out again, but she had done more than
enough.
World's Best Turf Performer
MANDURO wasn't merely undefeated from five outings in 2007. The Andre Fabre
charge emphatically dismissed every rival, at a variety of distances ranging
from one to 1 1/2 miles. An imperious winner of the Earl of Sefton S. (Eng-G3)
and Prix d'Ispahan (Fr-G1) by a combined nine lengths, the outstanding
German-bred summarily rebuffed Dylan Thomas in the Prince of Wales's S. (Eng-G1)
at Royal Ascot, embarrassed several milers in the Prix Jacques le Marois
(Fr-G1), and stormed to victory in the Prix Foy (Fr-G2), despite suffering a
career-ending injury in the latter. The nearly black Manduro seemed to be on
cruise control much of the time in his races, gathered momentum at the decisive
juncture, and strode clear with a minimum of fuss. I suspect that he usually had
a bit more up his sleeve that he just didn't need to call upon, and we'll never
know just how extraordinary he truly was.
Lifetime Achievement Award
A retrospective just wouldn't be complete without paying homage to the late,
great JOHN HENRY, the first turf horse I ever followed, who died on October 8 at
the age of 32. As a nine-year-old, I watched the 1981 Arlington Million on
television, frantic that The Bart was staying on so insistently, and desperate
for John Henry to get up in time. I was devastated when Tolomeo (Ire) denied him
in the 1983 Arlington Million, but celebrated joyously when John Henry regained
his crown in the 1984 edition. Now, as a writer, I come full circle by honoring the legendary
Hall of Famer who helped to stoke my interest in turf racing. Rest in peace,
John Henry.
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