Printer Friendly Page 

'Alexandra the Great' reigns supreme as Horse of the Year

Rachel Alexandra reigns as Thoroughbred racing's queen (Bill Denver/Equi-Photo) Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick's RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro) was dubbed a filly of destiny very early this year, and on Monday fulfilled that billing when honored as the 2009 Horse of the Year during the Eclipse Awards ceremony at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Following an unbeaten season that culminated in an historic win in the Woodward S. (G1) at Saratoga on September 5, the blaze-faced lass prevailed over fellow Horse of the Year finalist ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]) in the highly-anticipated ballot. Rachel Alexandra is the first three-year-old filly to earn the Horse of the Year award since Hall of Famers Twilight Tear and Busher received the honor in consecutive seasons more than 60 years ago. The lass was also the unanimous choice as champion three-year-old filly for dominating her own division as well as the boys in the Preakness S. (G1) and Haskell Invitational (G1) in 2009. Rachel Alexandra owns just three losses for her entire career, with that trio coming during her juvenile campaign. The bay lass came to life at Churchill Downs in 2008, running second in the Pocahontas S. (G3) before putting it all together for a 4 3/4-length score in the Golden Rod S. (G2). Since then, the filly has essentially paraded at tracks all over the country. She made her sophomore debut an eight-length romp in the Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn Park, and in the process gave notice of what was to come.

A sloppy track greeted Rachel Alexandra in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), but neither she nor jockey Calvin Borel were fazed by the conditions. Governing throughout that test, the filly was throttled down long before the wire and still had 1 3/4 lengths to spare over her nearest rival. The three-year-old took a trip back to Oaklawn Park to add an eight-length victory in the Fantasy S. (G2) to her line, and suddenly the big dance was just around the corner.

Rachel Alexandra was never challenged in taking the Oaks (EquiSport Photos) Rachel Alexandra was sent off the 1-5 favorite in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and turned the 1 1/8-mile race into an exhibition. Leaving Borel with nothing to do but stay in the saddle, the bay lass loped along beside early pacesetter Gabby's Golden Gal (Medaglia d'Oro) for the opening six furlongs. Nearing the turn, with Borel still sitting chilly in the saddle, Rachel Alexandra continued her galloping motion but was suddenly drawing even and then away from the leader. Never asked for any kind of run, the three-year-old lass merely drew off under her own power, eventually crossing under the wire 20 1/4 lengths clear of second place in a final time of 1:48.87, just missing the stakes record of 1:48.64 established by Bird Town in 2003. The margin of victory is an Oaks record. The largest previous victory margin was 10 lengths, a feat last achieved by Lite Light in 1991. Trainer Hal Wiggins was already making plans the day after the Oaks for Rachel Alexandra to make her next appearance in the June 6 Acorn S. (G1) at Belmont Park, but less than a week later the filly was transferred from his barn to that of Steve Asmussen. Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables announced on the Wednesday following the Kentucky Oaks that it had reached an agreement to purchase Rachel Alexandra from owners Dolphus Morrison and Mike Lauffer. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but her new connections stated their intentions not long after to send her to Pimlico for the Preakness just two weeks later. The legend of Rachel Alexandra grew by leaps and bounds on Preakness day, as the fantastic filly held off the game late rally of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mine That Bird (Birdstone) by a length to become just the fifth filly, and the first since Nellie Morse in 1924, to take the historic second jewel of the Triple Crown.

Everyone was now taking notice of "Alexandra the Great," including Vogue magazine. A trip to the Preakness inspired Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour to set up a photo shoot by acclaimed fashion photographer Steven Klein. His images of the Oaks and Preakness winner were published in the August issue of Vogue.

Rachel Alexandra returned to business as usual a month later in the Mother Goose S. (G1), demolishing two rivals in winning by 19 1/4 lengths, a record margin for the race accomplished in stakes record time of 1:46 1/5 for nine furlongs.

Rachel Alexandra re-broke after the Woodward wire and drew off from her rivals (EquiSport Photos) Her connections apparently recognized the futility of trying to assemble a field of fillies to face their icon and instead gave her another shot at the boys, this time in the Haskell Invitational. Rachel Alexandra joined champion Serena's Song (1995) as the only fillies to win that prestigious event when defeating Belmont S. (G1) victor Summer Bird (Birdstone) by six lengths on the line. The bay filly had a number of options for her next start, but Saratoga's Woodward ultimately drew the short straw. Rachel Alexandra entered the race attempting to become the first female of any age to win the prestigious 1 1/8-mile event in its 56-year history. She got the job done, but it was far from an easy win. The three-year-old was forced into setting punishing fractions and, while she looked home free albeit by a small margin just inside the sixteenth-pole, the leg-weary vixen had to dig deep as Macho Again (Macho Uno) made one last lunge under right-handed urging. Rachel Alexandra would not be denied, though, prevailing by a head.

The next logical step for Rachel Alexandra would have been the Breeders' Cup, either the Classic (G1) or Ladies' Classic (G1), but co-owner Jackson has never been shy about airing his opinions, and the winemaker has made his disdain of all-weather surfaces well known. Since the Breeders' Cup was being held for a second consecutive year on the synthetic Pro-Ride at Santa Anita, Jackson stated unequivocally that his star filly would not compete. Not long after that, Jackson announced that Rachel Alexandra would be getting the rest of the year off before reappearing in 2010 for a four-year-old campaign.

The Kentucky-bred Rachel Alexandra finished out 2009 perfect in eight starts having earned $2,746,914. In total, the miss has banked $2,948,354 to go along with a career line of 14-11-2-0.

The first foal out of the stakes-winning and Grade 2-placed Lotta Kim (Roar), Rachel Alexandra is a half-sister to an unraced sophomore colt named Empire Ruler (Empire Maker). Lotta Kim is herself a half-sister to 2001 Pocahontas S. winner Lotta Rhythm (Rhythm), who was third in that same year's Golden Rod, as well as 2008 Tejano Run S. victor High Blues (High Yield). Also included in the female family is 1991 Miss Preakness S. heroine Missy's Music (Travelling Music) and Grade 3 winner Devil Diamond (Devil's Bag).

Rachel Alexandra has settled in at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, and her fans are awaiting the first official breeze from the breakout star of 2009.

*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.

Zenyatta extended her record to 14-for-14 when beating males in the Breeders' Cup Classic (Benoit Photos) Though she missed out on Horse of the Year for a second straight year, Jerry and Ann Moss's Zenyatta became a dual Eclipse Award winner when being named champion older mare by voters in a landslide. The honor was bestowed on the undefeated mare following an historic win in the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 7. The Eclipse accolade comes on the heels of the World Thoroughbred Rankings, in which Zenyatta was hailed as the top horse in the United States and joint fourth-best in the world with Irish Derby (Ire-G1) hero Fame and Glory (Montjeu [Ire]). Zenyatta's Breeders' Cup Classic victory was the first time a female had won the race and came in her now familiar come-from-behind fashion. Her career line shot to a perfect 14-for-14, surpassing the great Hall of Famer Personal Ensign, and she's earned $5,474,580 to become the richest North American-based distaffer in Thoroughbred racing history, easily overtaking 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri who accumulated $4,079,820 during four seasons of racing. Zenyatta racked up a five-for-five mark and $3.33 million in earnings for 2009, and the Mosses subsequently announced the retirement of their prize mare following the Classic. The newly turned six-year-old was supposed to travel to Lexington, Kentucky, at some point and be bred to a Kentucky-based stallion.

However, despite her retirement status, Zenyatta had been breezing at Hollywood Park since her Classic victory, and on Saturday Jerry Moss revealed that the massive mare would be returning to competition in 2010 after all. The prospect of a Zenyatta/Rachel Alexandra showdown has once again been revived, and the April 3 Apple Blossom H. (G1) at Oaklawn Park could be where the showdown takes place. Zenyatta captured the 2008 running in her only try on dirt to date, easily powering past then reigning champion older mare Ginger Punch by 4 1/2 lengths, and she could prep for that 1 1/16-mile test in the March 13 Santa Margarita H. (G1).

Zenyatta has been dominating rivals throughout her career, which began belatedly in the fall of her three-year-old season at Hollywood Park. Trainer John Shirreffs probably had an idea that the massive miss could be special following a dominating three-length, come-from-behind victory, but even he couldn't have foreseen the rollercoaster ride that was beginning.

Following a season that saw scores in the El Encino S. (G2), Apple Blossom, Milady H. (G2), Vanity H. (G1), Clement L. Hirsch H. (G2), Lady's Secret and Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic, Zenyatta was named champion older mare for 2008. She had a delayed start to her five-year-old season, as she was supposed to debut in the Louisville Distaff S. (G2) on Kentucky Oaks Day, but Shirreffs opted to scratch her because of the off track. The dark bay was then rerouted to a title defense in the Milady and responded with a 1 3/4 length win. Zenyatta continued to pad her resume, taking the Vanity by 2 1/2 lengths while shouldering 129 pounds, and then came the closest to defeat that she's ever been when a head winner of the upgraded Clement L. Hirsch.

Smith and Zenyatta have been inseparable since winning the 2008 Apple Blossom (Benoit Photos) Talk was already heating up about whether Zenyatta would go in the Ladies' Classic or try the boys and 1 1/4 miles for the first time in the Classic, and that was even before she captured the Lady's Secret by 1 1/4 lengths. Shirreffs and regular jockey Mike Smith were keeping mum on the subject, and it wasn't until the pre-entries were released on October 28 that fans were rewarded with the knowledge that their prize mare would be risking it all in the Classic. The excitement built all day for the Classic, but Zenyatta never appeared fazed by the frenzy taking place around her. Keeping her pre-race ritual of dancing her way through the paddock and post parade, the first signs of strain came when she gave the starters trouble loading into the gate. Finally finessed in, the mare received an encouraging pat on the neck from Smith. For those who breathed a sigh of relief, the excitement wasn't over yet.

Quality Road (Elusive Quality) balked at loading into the gate, and no shoving, pushing or whip cracking could get the irate sophomore to enter his drawn post of stall 12. The starters blindfolded the bay colt and, after leading him in a circle, finally managed to load the runner. As soon as he realized what had happened, though, Quality Road began bucking and kicking, leaving his handlers no choice but to back him out of the stall.

Zenyatta's fans turned out in force for the Classic (Benoit Photos) The rest of the Classic field was unloaded as the veterinarian checked Quality Road and eventually scratched him, resulting in the first gate scratch in the history of the Breeders' Cup Classic. Zenyatta once again proved a stubborn load, but once in settled down. The gates opened and Smith immediately angled Zenyatta over to the fence as Regal Ransom (Distorted Humor) went to the lead. The mare began making her move nearing the turn, and Smith allowed her to angle off the inside as they entered the lane. She appeared ready to scoot between Summer Bird to her inside and Twice Over (GB) (Observatory) to the outside in midstretch, but the hole disappeared and Smith sent her to the center of the track. For the first time in her career, Zenyatta had to dig in but still ran down the lane with ears pricked, eager to strut her stuff. She easily caught Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat) late in the lane, and drew off to be one length clear on the wire.

Bred by Maverick Production Limited in Kentucky, Zenyatta went to her current connections for $60,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. She is out of the winning Vertigineux (Kris S.), who was named 2008 Broodmare of the Year following Zenyatta's amazing season. The mare has also produced multiple Grade 1 queen Balance (Thunder Gulch), stakes winner Where's Bailey (Aljabr) and the unraced sophomore colt Souper Spectacular (Giant's Causeway). Zenyatta is from the same family as Canadian champion turf mare Sweetest Thing (Candy Stripes); English/Irish champion and sire Shareef Dancer (Northern Dancer); and Grade 1 winner and sire Mizzen Mast (Cozzene).

Gio Ponti belongs to an exclusive club with Round Table, Dr. Fager, Fort Marcy and John Henry (Four Footed Fotos) Castleton Lyons' GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat) achieved the rare distinction of being voted both champion older male and champion turf male, a double accomplished by only four previous horses since the turf championship was introduced in 1953. All four of these past champions are enshrined in the Hall of Fame. The most recent, John Henry (1981), was the only one to turn the double in the modern era of Eclipse Awards. Under the pre-Eclipse voting system, Round Table garnered both championships outright in 1958 and repeated the feat in 1959, albeit while splitting the 1959 champion handicap male title with Sword Dancer. Dr. Fager reigned supreme as the champion handicap male (and sprinter) of 1968, and split the grass horse title with Fort Marcy that season. Fort Marcy was the stand-alone champion grass horse of 1970, and split the handicap crown with Nodouble. (The split decisions were the result of separate voting blocs, a system that was replaced in 1971 by the more streamlined balloting for the Eclipse Awards). Gio Ponti's dual championship does not fit neatly into any of those precedents, and not only because his "main track" experience occurred on the synthetic Pro-Ride, instead of the traditional dirt. Unlike Round Table, he did not divide his time between the turf and the main track, pummeling his opponents in equal-opportunity fashion. And unlike Dr. Fager and John Henry, he did not win a major event in his foray onto a different surface.

But, more importantly for his historic credentials, Gio Ponti did in fact perform at a high level on the main track in addition to his stellar races on turf. Unlike Fort Marcy, who earned his portion of the handicap title purely in recognition of his turf exploits, Gio Ponti came by his older male crown by finishing a superb second to Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic. The Christophe Clement pupil thereby stood out in a division beset by disarray, if not weakness, in 2009.

Gio Ponti had shown a high level of ability long before his championship season. As a juvenile in 2007, he captured the Bourbon S. in smart style at Keeneland. At three, he landed the Virginia Derby (G2), Hill Prince S. (G3) and off-the-turf Sir Beaufort S. (G3), the latter in his synthetic debut, and also finished second in the Del Mar Derby (G2) and Jamaica H. (G2).

Gio Ponti opened his 2009 campaign with a rare unplaced effort, rallying for fifth in the Strub S. (G2) on Santa Anita's Pro-Ride. It was only the third off-the-board finish in his career; the first two -- an eighth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and a seventh in the Hollywood Derby (G1) -- can be attributed to significant traffic trouble.

Returning to his usual home on the turf following the Strub, Gio Ponti proceeded to reel off four consecutive Grade 1 victories. In the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) at Santa Anita, he uncorked a furious late charge to nip Ventura by a nose, inflicting her only defeat on grass in 2009. Gio Ponti would not be seen again at a mile, but Ventura would go on to compliment him by crushing the Woodbine Mile (Can-G1) in stakes-record time, and by becoming an Eclipse finalist herself in the turf female category.

Gio Ponti next stepped up to 1 1/4 miles on Belmont Park's yielding turf in the Manhattan H. (G1). Dead last in the 12-horse field through the first half-mile, the bay deftly improved his position swinging for home, sailed past Marsh Side (Gone West) in deep stretch and won going away by 1 1/2 lengths. Gio Ponti dismissed another top-class group in the 1 3/8-mile Man o' War S. (G1) at Belmont, overcoming a wide trip throughout to inhale the front-running Musketier (Ger) (Acatenango) by 1 3/4 lengths.

Gio Ponti put his three-race winning streak on the line in the Arlington Million (G1), where he consolidated his divisional supremacy. After a slight bobble at the break, he smoothly recovered and relaxed into his customary spot off the pace. Gio Ponti delivered the coup de grace turning for home with his trademark burst of speed, and he safely repelled the late bids of Just as Well (A.P. Indy) and Stotsfold (GB) (Barathea [Ire]) to score by 1 1/4 lengths.

When tackling 1 1/2 miles for the first time in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1) in his next start, Gio Ponti appeared on the verge of extending his skein to five in a row. He accelerated to the lead in the stretch, only to become leg-weary on the soft ground. Gio Ponti was stunned by a resurgent Interpatation (Langfuhr), the 43-1 shot whom he had passed, and wound up second.

Gio Ponti's connections had a few Breeders' Cup options, but elected to pursue the Classic on the Pro-Ride. Gio Ponti vindicated the decision with a gallant performance. Indeed, he did everything right except win. Employing his explosive move, Gio Ponti seized command in the stretch and pulled clear of English Group 1 winner Twice Over and champion three-year-old male Summer Bird, among others. He yielded only to the Amazonian presence of Zenyatta and checked in an honorable runner-up, beaten one length.

Over his four-year-old campaign, Gio Ponti compiled a record of 7-4-2-0, $2,333,000. For his career, he sports a mark of 16-9-4-0 with a bankroll to the tune of $3,153,800.

Bred by Kilboy Estate in Kentucky, Gio Ponti is out of the stakes-placed Chipeta Springs (Alydar), making him a half-brother to current multiple stakes queen Bon Jovi Girl (Malibu Moon). Third in the Gazelle S. (G1) last out, Bon Jovi Girl was just sold for $950,000 at Keeneland January. Chipeta Springs has also produced Fisher Pond (A.P. Indy), winner of the 2002 Lawrence Realization H.; an unraced sophomore colt named Man on the Moon (Malibu Moon); and a yearling filly by Bernstein. Gio Ponti's second dam is Argentinean Group 1 queen Salt Spring (Arg) (Salt Marsh). This is the family of Grade 1 victor Mongoose (Broad Brush), Grade 3 scorers Hesanoldsalt (Broad Brush) and Puxa Saco (Dehere), and further back, two-time Horse of the Year Cigar (Palace Music).

Gio Ponti stays in training in 2010, with his principal early-season objective being the March 27 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) on Meydan's Tapeta surface.

Goldikova joined Miesque, Lure and Da Hoss as two-time Breeders' Cup Mile winners (Benoit Photos) Wertheimer & Frere's homebred GOLDIKOVA (Ire) (Anabaa) has revived the tradition of handing the Eclipse Award for champion turf female to an exceptional European who thrashed North American males. The legendary Dahlia started it all in 1974, when she was honored as "champion grass horse" before a separate category was instituted for turf females in 1979. In her wake came a number of European-based divisional champions, including April Run (Ire) (1982), All Along (Fr) (1983), Pebbles (GB) (1985) and Miesque (1987-88), recognized for beating the boys on this side of the pond. That trend went into abeyance, however, especially with the rise of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) in 1999. The European distaffers no longer had to face males to earn their Eclipse Awards, and the best American-based contenders could pocket the trophy by beating their international rivals head-on. Goldikova finally broke the stranglehold that the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf has exercised over the divisional championship, but it took an historic repeat score over males in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) to do so. With her blistering title defense at Santa Anita, the French filly became just the fourth horse to win two runnings of the Mile, and gave jockey-turned-trainer Freddie Head a unique double. Besides conditioning a two-time Mile heroine in Goldikova, Head had also ridden Hall of Famer Miesque to both of her Mile triumphs.

While Head compared Goldikova favorably to Miesque last season, the parallel would not have worked for their earlier careers. Miesque was a French champion two-year-old in 1986 with a couple of Group 1 wins already on her resume; Goldikova was two-for-two in minor events as a juvenile in 2007. Miesque was a dual classic winner at three in 1987; Goldikova had the misfortune to be foaled the same year as Zarkava, and finished second to that unbeaten dynamo in the 2008 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) (Fr-G1).

Miesque and Goldikova began to resemble each other more closely in the remainder of their sophomore campaigns. Both failed to stay the 10 1/2 furlongs of the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) (Fr-G1). Miesque had finished second, Goldikova third, with the beaten margin being about four lengths in each case. The pair then regrouped back at a mile. Miesque won three of her next four, including the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Fr-G1) and Breeders' Cup Mile.

Goldikova never lost again in 2008. In addition to capturing a couple of races Miesque hadn't contested in her day -- the Prix Chloe (Fr-G3) and Prix Rothschild (Fr-G1) -- Goldikova emulated Miesque by taking both the Moulin and Breeders' Cup Mile. Unlike Miesque, whose first Mile crown came with an Eclipse Award in 1987, Goldikova was passed over for that honor last year, finishing second in the voting to Filly & Mare Turf queen Forever Together (Belong to Me).

Goldikova's 2009 campaign had similarities with Miesque's in 1988. Both kicked off their four-year-old season in the Prix d'Ispahan (Fr-G1), with wildly divergent results. Miesque overcame trouble to get up late by a neck, but Goldikova faded tamely to post the worst effort of her career in seventh. Although the soft ground was initially cited as a factor, Head's yard was also battling a bug early in the year. Whatever the cause for that debacle, Goldikova never ran a bad race in five subsequent starts.

Goldikova was ready to rebound in the Falmouth S. (Eng-G1) at Newmarket, where she comfortably defeated Heaven Sent by a measured half-length. Back at home in France, she looked even more authoritative when rolling to a 1 1/2-length score in the Rothschild at Deauville. After cruising in the slipstream of her pacemaker, Goldikova simply skipped clear and was eased late, allowing a game Elusive Wave (Elusive City) to narrow a gap that could have been larger.

The paths of Goldikova and Miesque, who had been idle since the d'Ispahan, now resumed their parallel track. Each defeated males in the Prix Jacques le Marois (Fr-G1) in their next start, but Goldikova trumped Miesque in both the time and manner of victory at Deauville. Bursting away in devastating fashion, Goldikova demolished a strong cast by six lengths in a stakes-record 1:33 2/5. As an indicator of her sheer dominance, the runner-up Aqlaam was himself five lengths clear of third.

Ironically, the two superstar fillies then suffered narrow upsets at Longchamp. Miesque failed by a head in the Moulin, while Goldikova was nabbed by a half-length when shortening up to about seven furlongs in the Prix de la Foret (Fr-G1). Considering that Goldikova chased a frantic pace, sauntered to the lead, and just tired late to open the door to Varenar (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) and Sweet Hearth (Touch Gold), it was a solid enough prep.

Like Miesque, Goldikova bounced back to defend her title in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Miesque spread-eagled the field by four lengths at Churchill Downs, but Goldikova had to work for her half-length decision. Disadvantaged by drawing post 11 at Santa Anita, Goldikova was eased back much farther off the pace than usual, yet still delivered her potent kick to reel in Courageous Cat (Storm Cat).

Goldikova's 2009 record stood at 6-4-0-1, $1,992,375. Her overall mark reads 15-10-2-2 with earnings of $4,090,090.

The Irish-bred filly was produced by the winning Blushing Groom (Fr) mare Born Gold, who is also responsible for Group 3 scorers Gold Round (Caerleon) and Gold Sound (Fr) (Green Tune), the Group 3-placed pair of Born Something (Ire) (Caerleon) and Red Tune (Green Tune), and Ocean Seven (Green Tune), the impressive winner of his lone start at two in 2009. Born Gold is a full sister to multiple Group 1 heroine Gold Splash. Goldikova's second dam is Group 1 queen Riviere d'Or (Lyphard), and her third dam is champion Gold River (Fr) (Riverman), who captured the 1981 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1).

Goldikova will return to the racecourse as a five-year-old in 2010. Venturing into territory unknown to Miesque, who retired after her four-year-old season, Goldikova will aim for an unprecedented third victory in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Summer Bird recorded an historic hat trick of Grade 1 wins (Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com) After launching his racing career in March, SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone) developed into the top three-year-old male in 2009. He captured the Belmont S. (G1) three months after his debut, and continued to distinguish himself with important victories in the Travers S. (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). Those wins put him among a select group of Thoroughbreds -- every other horse to accomplish the feat in the same season was either named champion and/or is in the Hall of Fame -- and enabled Summer Bird to garner the Eclipse Award by an overwhelming margin. Trained by Tim Ice, the Kalarikkal K. and Vilasini Jayaraman homebred didn't break his maiden until March 23, winning his second career start at Oaklawn Park, and then immediately jumped to stakes company, registering a closing third in the Arkansas Derby (G2). Despite a lack of experience in a bulky 19-horse field at Churchill Downs, he offered a decent run to finish sixth behind Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby (G1). The late-blooming colt avenged the loss with his first stakes triumph in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont, rallying boldly under regular rider Kent Desormeaux to win going away by 2 3/4 lengths.

Following a second to the outstanding filly Rachel Alexandra in the 1 1/8-mile Haskell Invitational (G1), the chestnut rebounded with a dominant performance in the prestigious 10-furlong Travers at Saratoga, winning in the slop by a widening 3 1/2 lengths. The Jockey Club Gold Cup set up as a showdown between him and Grade 1 winner Quality Road, and Summer Bird asserted his superiority in the stretch of the 1 1/4-mile test at Belmont Park, edging clear for a one-length decision.

He became the first horse since Easy Goer in 1989 to win the Belmont, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup in the same year, adding his name to a list that includes Man o' War (1920), Twenty Grand (1931), One Count (1952), *Gallant Man (1957), Sword Dancer (1959), Damascus (1967), Arts and Letters (1969) and Temperence Hill (1980).

His sophomore season concluded with a fourth-place effort in the Breeders' Cup Classic, his first start over a synthetic track. Summer Bird was shipped to Japan for an attempt at the December 6 Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1), but sustained an injury during a workout at Hanshin Racecourse. After returning to the United States, he underwent successful surgery to repair a nondisplaced fracture of his right fore cannon bone, and is expected to return to racing in 2010.

"As long as rehab goes smoothly, he should make a full recovery," Ice said. "There was no cartilage damage at all. They inserted one screw, and it went in with no problem and fit like a glove. The prognosis is that he'll come back 100 percent, so the Jayaramans are excited about bringing him back."

Summer Bird, who has earned $2,323,040 from a 9-4-1-1 line, is currently recuperating in his trainer's barn at Oaklawn Park.

The Kentucky-bred hails from a respected female family. He's the first stakes winner out of the Summer Squall mare Hong Kong Squall, who has also produced a juvenile colt named Summer Fun House (Johar) and a yearling filly by Friends Lake. His second dam, Hong Kong Jade (Alysheba), is a daughter of Ruby Slippers (Nijinsky II) and a half-sister to 1992 champion sprinter Rubiano (Fappiano) as well as stakes victress Tap Your Heels (Unbridled). The latter mare is herself the dam of Grade 1 winner and leading sire Tapit (Pulpit). Other daughters of Ruby Slippers have gone on to produce the likes of stakes winner and Grade 3-placed Chitoz (Forest Wildcat); Woodlawn S. hero Affirmatif (Unbridled's Song); and 2004 Summer S. (Can-G2) queen Dubleo (Southern Halo). Other notables in the family include sires Relaunch and Glitterman.

Lookin at Lucky is the third juvenile male champion trained by Hall of Fame horseman Bob Baffert (Benoit Photos) The synthetic era in California has been good to Hall of Fame horseman Bob Baffert, who for the second consecutive year has trained the nation's leading juvenile male using an all-California campaign. Following in the hoofsteps of 2008 champion Midshipman (Unbridled's Song) was Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman's LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike), whose luck was all good save for an excusable setback by a head in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). Never one to win by wide margins, Lookin at Lucky nonetheless appeared to have firm grip atop the divisional leader board for much of the season. Ridden by Garrett Gomez in all six starts, the bay was favored each time he set foot on the racetrack, kicking off his career with a maiden win at Hollywood Park in July going six Cushion Track furlongs. Heading south to Del Mar to run over Polytrack, Lookin at Lucky proved best in the Best Pal S. (G2) by three parts of a length going 6 1/2 furlongs, then returned to take the seven-furlong Del Mar Futurity (G1) by a length. He further cemented his claim for Breeders' Cup Juvenile favoritism by successfully stretching out in the 1 1/16-mile Norfolk S. (G1), scoring by a season-high margin of 1 3/4 lengths.

Vulnerability in the Juvenile set in, however, when post positions were drawn early Breeders' Cup week, with Lookin at Lucky landing the widest post (13) for the 1 1/16-mile heat at Santa Anita. Forced to check slightly entering the first turn, Lookin at Lucky found himself further off the pace than usual in an effort to save ground. Forced to rally five-wide turning for home, Lookin at Lucky wound up brushing with eventual winner Vale of York (Ire) (Invincible Spirit) late and narrowly missed catching the European import who was making his first and only appearance of the season in the United States. The combination of  the wide post position and the troubled trip left many observers thinking Lookin at Lucky was best despite the defeat.

Vale of York's upset victory at 30-1 in the Juvenile clouded the race for divisional honors somewhat. Apparently unwilling to offer his colt's candidacy on a losing note, Baffert set Lookin at Lucky's sights on the December 19 CashCall Futurity (G1) at Hollywood Park. Heavily favored at 1-5, Lookin at Lucky did not disappoint as he steadily inched away from his rivals through the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length. He concluded his campaign with a mark of 6-5-1-0, $1,243,000.

Bred in Kentucky by Gulf Coast Farms, Lookin at Lucky was a $475,000 Keeneland April two-year-old-in training purchase. Produced from the winning Private Feeling (Belong to Me), he is a half-brother to the 2009 Jim Dandy S. (G2) and Dwyer S. (G2) winner Kensei (Mr. Greeley), as well as a yearling colt by Afleet Alex. Private Feeling is a half-sister to Grade 3 queen Grand Charmer (Lord Avie), the granddam of 2006 champion three-year-old filly Wait a While (Maria's Mon). Lookin at Lucky's third dam is Grade 1 queen Sharp Belle (Native Charger), and Sir Harry Lewis (Alleged), the 1987 Irish Derby (Ire-G1) winner, also hails from this family.

Baffert has stated that Lookin at Lucky will likely have just two races before the Kentucky Derby (G1), with the March 13 San Felipe S. (G2) at Santa Anita being a probable seasonal debut.

SHE BE WILD (Offlee Wild) would have had an undefeated mark going into her sophomore debut if not for a tough-luck, half-length second in the Alcibiades S. (G1) at Keeneland on October 9. The Wayne Catalano charge quickly reasserted her superiority over her juvenile filly rivals, though, when capturing the November 6 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) by three parts of a length. That victory, combined with the rest of her stellar 5-4-1-0 mark in 2009, was more than enough for the dark bay lass to be named champion two-year-old filly with 171 first-place votes.

She Be Wild raced exclusively on synthetic surfaces (Benoit Photos) She Be Wild has yet to compete on a dirt track, beginning her career with an easy 7 1/4-length score in an Arlington Park maiden claiming event on May 30. Despite being in for a $40,000 tag that day, no claims were made on the filly and she remained with owner Nancy Mazzoni and Catalano. The pair weren't about to risk their prize pupil again, and She Be Wild has been running exclusively against stakes rivals since. Making her stakes bow in the August 8 Top Flight S. back on Arlington's Polytrack, She Be Wild posted a 5 1/4-length win in that seven-furlong test. That earned her a shot in the Arlington-Washington Lassie (G3), and the dark bay responded with a 5 3/4-length success while stretching out to a mile. Next up came her only loss to date in the Alcibiades, where she led in upper stretch before just being caught late by Negligee (Northern Afleet). That rival proved to be no match for She Be Wild, though, when the two met again in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. In that race, She Be Wild was content to track in the two path just behind in third while Connie and Michael (Roman Ruler) pressed Always a Princess (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]). Connie and Michael couldn't keep up with the pace, fading as the field entered the stretch. Always a Princess still maintained the advantage, but She Be Wild had already angled over to the rail and accelerated through a hole in late stretch to take the victory by three parts of a length.

She Be Wild passed through the OBS April sales ring, but RNA'd at $19,000. Bred by Mazzoni and her husband, Mike Mazzoni, the filly is out of Trappings (Seeking the Gold), one of three broodmares the Mazzonis purchased at the 2003 Keeneland November sale in their first foray into owning Thoroughbred racehorses. She Be Wild was raised on the Mazzoni's 25-acre farm near Lexington, Kentucky, and comes from the same family as Canadian champion turf horse Portcullis (Smart Strike) and 2002 Prioress S. (G1) queen Carson Hollow (Carson City), whose only non top-two finish came in the 2002 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).

She Be Wild is currently in residence at Gulfstream Park, where Catalano is readying his charge for her sophomore bow.

Kodiak Kowboy has now won championships in the United States and Canada (Alyssa Spakowski/Equi-Photo) Though Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm's KODIAK KOWBOY (Posse) did not possess the flattering win percentage of either of the other two finalists for champion male sprinter, Zensational and Dancing in Silks (Black Minnaloushe), the quality of the races he did win was undeniable. With the strength of the division generally considered to be in the East in 2009, Kodiak Kowboy registered two significant victories in three attempts over arch-rival Fabulous Strike (Smart Strike), which boosted his claim on championship honors. Kodiak Kowboy encountered sloppy, sealed tracks in two of his first three starts on the season, finishing second in the Duncan F. Kenner S. at Fair Grounds and seventh, in his worst performance of the year, in the Churchill Downs S. (G2). Those efforts bookended a top-level score by a head in the Carter H. (G1) at Aqueduct over Fabulous Strike going seven furlongs, a distance many observers felt favored Kodiak Kowboy.

After a facile victory in the Donald LeVine Memorial H. at Philadelphia Park, Kodiak Kowboy met Fabulous Strike again in the six-furlong Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G2) at Saratoga. Going the shorter distance, Fabulous Strike took no prisoners as he finished 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Kodiak Kowboy, who came home third. Kodiak Kowboy's late heroics also fell short in the seven-furlong Forego S. (G1), as the bay colt missed by a half-length to Pyro.

Following the Forego, Kodiak Kowboy was transferred from the barn of the retiring Larry Jones to Steve Asmussen, who had conditioned the four-year-old earlier in his career. Kodiak Kowboy resurfaced in the six-furlong Vosburgh S. (G1) to meet Fabulous Strike for a third and decisive time. A heavy downpour that began when the field was in the paddock turned the track into a sloppy mess, and that combined with the distance seemed to favor Fabulous Strike in the rubber match. However, Kodiak Kowboy and jockey Shaun Bridgmohan had other ideas, wearing down the odds-on favorite and drawing off to a half-length victory.

Shipped to Santa Anita to prepare for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), Kodiak Kowboy was subsequently withdrawn from consideration after working poorly over the Pro-Ride strip and scoping dirty, and instead made the final start of his career in the November 28 Cigar Mile H. (G1). Though technically not a sprint, Kodiak Kowboy earned bonus points from some voters for his three-quarters of a length win over the tough miler Bribon (Fr) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]), multiple Grade 1 winner Vineyard Haven (Lido Palace [Chi]) and Pyro. His seasonal scorecard read 8-4-2-1, $832,805.

Kodiak Kowboy was named Canada's champion juvenile colt in 2007 following wins in the Victoria S., Bashford Manor S. (G3) and Saratoga Special S. (G2), and placings in the Futurity S. (G2) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile. At three, his major victories included the Amsterdam S. (G2) and Sport Page H. (G3), but he fell short in races he would later win such as the Vosburgh and Cigar Mile. With his racing career completed, Kodiak Kowboy retires with a mark of 23-11-4-3, $1,663,363.

Kodiak Kowboy was bred in Kentucky by Hartwell Farm and fetched a bid of $70,000 at the 2006 OBS August sale. He is out of the unraced Kokadrie (Coronado's Quest), who has since produced an unnamed juvenile colt by Lion Heart and a yearling filly by Giant's Causeway. Kokadrie is herself a half-sister to Grade 1 hero West by West (Gone West), and this is the same family as 1986 Brooklyn H. (G1) victor Little Missouri (Cox's Ridge).

Kodiak Kowboy will stand his first season at stud in 2010 at Vinery, near Lexington, Kentucky, for a fee of $15,000 live foal.

Informed Decision won major races on both synthetic and dirt during her championship campaign (Benoit Photos) Owner George Strawbridge Jr. and trainer Jonathan Sheppard first enjoyed Eclipse Award glory together when Hall of Famer Cafe Prince took back-to-back steeplechase crowns in 1977-78. After a three-decade gap, the pair were back in the limelight at Eclipse time a year ago when Forever Together took down champion turf female honors. In 2009, they had the pleasure of watching their gray flash INFORMED DECISION (Monarchos) win coast-to-coast en route to a championship in the female sprinter category. A minor stakes winner on dirt at age three, Informed Decision showed an immediate fondness for synthetic when concluding her sophomore campaign in the Raven Run S. (G2) at Keeneland. Back at that track for her four-year-old debut in the Madison S. (G1) on April 9, Informed Decision pulled off the minor upset of 2008 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Ventura by a head under John Velazquez. Julien Leparoux took over the irons for the remainder of the season, beginning with the May 2 Humana Distaff (G1) at Churchill Downs. Contested over seven furlongs on a sloppy track, the filly made up more than six lengths in the final furlong to earn the hard-fought victory by three parts of a length.

Returning to Polytrack for her next start in the Chicago H. (G3) at Arlington Park, Informed Decision earned a facile win by 4 3/4 lengths, but suffered her only defeat of the year in the Ballerina S. (G1) at Saratoga in her next start. Also contested in the slop, the Ballerina was dominated by Music Note with 2008 champion female sprinter Indian Blessing second and Informed Decision third, 6 1/4 lengths behind the winner. Informed Decision went back to synthetic for her next two, taking the Presque Isle Downs Masters S. (G3) over Tapeta by 2 1/2 lengths and the Thoroughbred Club of America S. (G2) at Keeneland by a nail-biting three-quarters of a length.

Despite her victory over Ventura in the Madison, Informed Decision was only the 3-1 second choice behind the Juddmonte filly at Santa Anita in the Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). Memories of Ventura's authoritative win the year before was enough for bettors to make her the odds-on choice, but Informed Decision was prominent throughout tracking a relatively moderate pace and got the jump on her rival. Ventura couldn't quite catch up the Augustin Stable colorbearer at the end, with the gap a much more decisive 1 1/4 lengths in the rematch.

Informed Decision completed 2009 with a seasonal mark of 7-6-0-1, $1,435,030. Expected to follow the same route to the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs in 2010, Informed Decision will start her five-year-old campaign with a career tally of 14-11-0-2, $1,771,617.

Bred in Kentucky by Charles L. Kidder and Nancy M. Cole, Informed Decision has passed through the sales ring twice, bringing $150,000 as a Fasig-Tipton July yearling and $320,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May two-year-old. She is out of the winning Palangana (His Majesty) and has an unnamed juvenile half-sister by Champali and a yearling full brother. Informed Decision's second dam is Grade 3 winner and Grade 2-placed Countess North (Northern Dancer), who produced 1985 New Orleans H. (G2) winner Westheimer (Blushing Groom [Fr]).

This is the same family as three-time Grade 1 heroine Banker's Lady (Nijinsky II), Grade 1 scorer Ecton Park (Forty Niner), Grade 2 winners Banker's Gold (Forty Niner), Impetuous Gal (Briartic), Relaxing Rhythm (Easy Goer) and Spring Waltz (Silver Charm) as well as Grade 3 victress Meribel (Peaks and Valleys).

When two-time defending champion Good Night Shirt (Concern) exited the scene early in the season due to injury, the steeplechase division was thrown into chaos. With every significant race during the summer and fall won by a different horse, the scene remained murky leading into November 21 Colonial Cup (NSA-G1) at Camden, South Carolina, which brings the major jumps season to a close. When the smoke cleared at the end of the 2 3/4-mile hurdle it was the 10-year-old MIXED UP (Carnivalay), who in edging Red Letter Day (Red Ransom) by a neck, appeared to have done just enough throughout the year to be named the leading jumper.

Conditioned by Hall of Fame maestro Jonathan Sheppard, Mixed Up was conservatively spotted early in the year. Winner by a nose in the restricted Imperial Cup at Aiken, South Carolina, on March 21, the gelding won an allowance the next month in North Carolina before returning to the stakes wars in the Marcellus Frost  (NSA-G3) at Nashville, Tennessee. Third, beaten 6 1/2 lengths, in that contest, Mixed Up was subsequently second by five lengths in the David L. (Zeke) Ferguson Memorial at Colonial Downs.

Mixed Up was allowed to step up in class during the Saratoga meet, starting with the A.P. Smithwick Memorial (NSA-G1) over 2 1/16 miles. Having won the race previously in 2007, the veteran started at 5-2 despite his recent setbacks. Tracking near the back of the six-horse field, he turned in a furious rally through the final furlong to win by a half-length. Three weeks later in the New York Turf Writers Cup (NSA-G1), Mixed Up turned in a far uglier performance, beating only one rival in finishing 50 lengths behind Spy in the Sky (Thunder Gulch).

Next up was the Lonesome Glory (NSA-G1) at Belmont Park, where Mixed Up tracked the loose-on-the lead Red Letter Day for the first half of the race before faltering to seventh and last. While Red Letter Day went on to finish fourth in the October 17 Grand National (NSA-G1) at Far Hills, New Jersey, Mixed Up sat on the sidelines and awaited the Colonial Cup, which Red Letter Day also tried to steal on the front end. He nearly did so, but the strong rally by Mixed Up through the stretch was just good enough to deny the front runner his own hopes at divisional honors. Mixed Up concluded his season with a scorecard of 8-4-1-1, $184,495, and elevated his career mark to 48-18-3-8, $748,261.

Mixed Up was bred in Pennsylvania by owner William L. Pape and Sheppard, who has now trained the champion of this division 11 times since 1973. In addition to Mixed Up, Sheppard also conditioned Athenian Idol (1973), Cafe Prince (1977-78), Martie's Anger (1979), Flatterer (1983-86), Jimmy Lorenzo (1988) and Highland Bud (1989). The legendary Flatterer and Martie's Anger were also owned by Pape.

Mixed Up, whose other major career wins came in the 2006 New York Turf Writers Cup and 2007 Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings (NSA-G1), was produced from the multiple stakes-placed Oh Nonsense (Oh Say) and is from the family of 1988 Ruffian H. (G1) winner Sham Say (Oh Say).

For the second consecutive year, Steve Asmussen received the Eclipse Award for leading trainer. The 44-year-old conditioner continued to blaze a trail in the win column in 2009, surpassing last year's record-setting total of 623 with 650 victories, and gained a measure of distinction by saddling his third consecutive Horse of the Year winner, Rachel Alexandra , who joined two-time victor Curlin in the history books. Kelso's Carl Hanford was the last trainer to accomplish the feat in the early 1960s.

With more than $21 million in stable earnings, Asmussen led all North American trainers in that category for the second straight year in 2009. Other top performers included sprint champion Kodiak Kowboy; Grade 1 winner and juvenile fillies finalist Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union); and multiple Grade 2 scorer Kensei (Mr. Greeley).

He's been entrenched at the top of the win standings for the last decade, garnering his third straight title, and sixth in the last eight years, during his 2009 runaway season. Runner-up Scott Lake (307) saddled less than half as many winners as Asmussen, who was an Eclipse finalist in 2004, 2005 and 2007 before earning his first trophy for 2008.

He won 22 percent of his starts in 2009, compiling an overall mark of 650-488-396 from 2,944 starters. Born in Gettysburg, South Dakota, and raised in Texas, Asmussen became the first trainer to win both 500 and 600 races in a single season, crossing the former threshold in 2004 (555 wins) and the latter in 2008. He's presently the fifth all-time winningest Thoroughbred trainer with 5,211 wins, through Sunday's races, and his runners have earned more than $154 million.

Asmussen hails from a racing family, which continues to operate El Primero Training Center in Laredo, Texas. His father, Keith, was a former jockey and trainer. His mother, Marilyn, was a trainer, and his brother, Cash, won the Eclipse Award as leading apprentice jockey in 1979 and later became a champion rider in Europe. Steve took out his jockeys' license at age 16 and rode for three years in New Mexico, California and New York, prior to retiring because of his size. He began training Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses in New Mexico in 1986.

His first Grade 1 win came in the 1999 Mother Goose with Dreams Gallore, and Asmussen captured the Preakness and Breeders' Cup Classic in 2007 with Curlin, who added the 2008 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) to his many accomplishments. Curlin ranks as North America's all-time leading money earner with a bankroll of $10,501,800.

Asmussen has been the leading conditioner at numerous tracks throughout the Midwest and in Canada, and trains approximately 200 horses. Scott Blasi is his top assistant.

Julien Leparoux burst upon the U.S. racing scene in 2006, earning the Eclipse Award for champion apprentice rider after leading North America with 403 wins, and the journeyman added the 2009 Eclipse Award for leading jockey to his accomplishments on Monday night. The 26-year-old native of Senlis, France, narrowly lost the national purse money-won title to Garrett Gomez on the final day of the year, but he received more than twice as many first-place votes (122-46) as Gomez, who settled for runner-up honors after winning back-to-back Eclipse Awards in 2007-08.

Leparoux therefore joins Hall of Fame riders Chris McCarron, Steve Cauthen and Kent Desormeaux, who likewise won Eclipse Awards as both apprentices and journeymen.

Known as a top turf rider but proven on any surface, Leparoux won 247 races from 1,129 mounts (21.9 percent) in 2009, and his mounts earned $18,560,565. He rode three winners and was named the outstanding jockey of the 2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships, piloting champions She Be Wild and Informed Decision to scores in the Juvenile Fillies and Filly & Mare Sprint, respectively. He also guided Furthest Land (Smart Strike) to an upset in the Dirt Mile (G1).

Other top mounts last season included multiple Grade 1 hero Einstein (Brz), champion Forever Together and Grade 1 queen Icon Project.

Based at Churchill Downs, Gulfstream Park, Keeneland and Saratoga, Leparoux compiled three riding crowns in 2009, including his second sweep of the spring and fall meet championships at Churchill Downs. He's won six titles at the Louisville, Kentucky, track.

The son of former jockey-turned-trainer Robert Leparoux, Julien grew up around racing in Chantilly, France, and rode competitive hunters/jumpers until his father allowed him to begin a racing career at 18. He came to the United States in 2003 to work as an exercise rider for fellow Frenchman Patrick Biancone and became the trainer's first-call rider following Gary Stevens' retirement at the end of 2005.

Shortly after arriving in the United States from Puerto Rico, Christian Santiago Reyes moved his tack to the West Coast and made an impact as the leading apprentice in Southern California, winning a total of 93 races with purse earnings of $2,413,676. As a result of his success, the up-and-coming jockey was named champion apprentice on Monday night.

Santiago Reyes worked with retired rider Jose Corales upon his arrival in the United States, and the 19-year-old picked up his first career win at Gulfstream Park on April 12. He hooked up with noted agent Tony Matos and took up residence at Hollywood Park during the middle of the spring/summer meet, and proceeded to hold his own against some of the best jockeys in America, recording top 10 finishes at Del Mar and Oak Tree.

The elite Godolphin Racing operation, which campaigns horses around the world, earned its first Eclipse Award for leading owner when edging the Mosses in a close vote. Founded by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the driving force behind the royal blue silks, Godolphin comprises the very best of the Maktoum family's racing stock. Godolphin enjoyed a tremendous season in 2009, with such prominent North American stakes winners as Flashing, Gayego (Gilded Time), Music Note, Vineyard Haven (Lido Palace [Chi]), Seventh Street (Street Cry [Ire]), Pyro, Regal Ransom (Distorted Humor), Girolamo (A.P. Indy) and Sara Louise (Malibu Moon).

Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Vale of York could give the stable a Kentucky Derby (G1) contender in 2010. All told, Godolphin won 202 races worldwide in 2009.

Saeed bin Suroor is the head trainer, and Simon Crisford serves as racing manager.

Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms was recognized for its contributions to the North American Thoroughbred industry with its fifth Eclipse Award for leading breeder. With farms in Lexington, Kentucky, and outside Newmarket, England, Juddmonte bred 29 individual group/graded stakes scorers of 48 races in 2009, including North American Grade 1 winners Champs Elysees (GB), Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream [GB]), Midships (Mizzen Mast) and Ventura. Champs Elysees was just announced as a finalist for a Sovereign Award as Canada's champion turf male.

Juddmonte has now received 11 Eclipse Awards, including the top breeder award in 1995 and 2001-03, and snapped a five-year run by Frank Stronach's Adena Springs. It bred a record nine starters in the 2009 Breeders' Cup, including homebred Filly & Mare Turf heroine Midday, and leads all breeders with 59 starters in Breeders' Cup history. Prominent Kentucky-based stallions include Empire Maker, Aptitude and Mizzen Mast, and Juddmonte has approximately 350 mares worldwide.

Prince Khalid Abdullah is the first cousin of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and the brother-in-law of the late ruler King Fahd.

More Racing Headlines:

Miss Temple City earns hard-fought victory in Matriarch

Annals of Time captures first stakes win in Hollywood Derby

Penn Derby upgraded to Grade 1 for 2017

Miss Temple City headlines Del Mar's closing-day Matriarch

Trio of graded stakes on tap Saturday

Send this article to a friend