Third time's the charm for Horse of the Year Zenyatta

Zenyatta (Alex Evers/EquiSport Photos) ZENYATTA's (Street Cry [Ire]) carefully managed career ended on November 6 when the superstar suffered her first loss, going down by a head to BLAME (Arch) while attempting to join Tiznow as the only back-to-back winners of the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). That one defeat wasn't enough to keep the popular mare in the bridesmaid ranks for a third straight year, though. Runner-up in the 2008 and 2009 voting, Zenyatta was named Horse of the Year during the 40th annual Eclipse Awards ceremony at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach in Miami Beach, Florida, on Monday. It's only the second time in history that female runners in the Sport of Kings have been honored Horse of the Year in consecutive years. Rachel Alexandra was awarded the trophy following her historic campaign in 2009, beating Zenyatta by 31 votes to claim the honor. The only other occurrence came with Twilight Tear (1944) and Busher (1945). Zenyatta also joined fellow Horse of the Year Azeri as the only three-time champion older mare when presented with that honor for the third consecutive year. She heads to the breeding shed with a 19-1 mark from 20 starts and earnings of $7,304,580, making her the top-earning distaffer in North America. The seven-year-old mare won over numerous fans during her career, attracting thousands to the track when she showed up to race. Entertaining her legions of supporters with a step-and-dance routine worthy of Broadway prior to the races, Zenyatta never failed to thrill in the actual main events. Her come-from-behind style was established right from the start, when the dark bay rallied from way back to break her maiden by three lengths on November 22, 2007.

Trainer John Shirreffs never rushed his charge, who was still growing into

her massive frame. Zenyatta made just one more start as a sophomore, capturing

an allowance by 3 1/2 lengths in mid-December 2007. It would the final time she

faced non-stakes company.

The mare was already drawing attention but many wondered if she could carry

her late kick to victory against stakes rivals. Zenyatta answered that question

in her four-year-old bow, the El Encino S. (G2) in January 2008. Following that

1 3/4-length score, she made what was to be the first of only three forays

outside of California when going in the Apple Blossom H. (G1) at Oaklawn Park.

Also entered that day was reigning champion older mare Ginger Punch, who would

go on that year to add three more Grade 1 wins to her resume. In the Apple

Blossom, though, Ginger Punch was no match for Zenyatta, who romped by 4 1/2

lengths in her dirt debut.

Shirreffs shipped his budding star back to California, where she finished out

the year with wins in the Milady H. (G2) and Vanity H. (G1) at Hollywood Park,

the Clement L. Hirsch H. (G2) at Del Mar, and the Lady's Secret S. (G1) and

Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) at Santa Anita. In the latter event, she

handed Ginger Punch yet another defeat, and in the Hirsch established a new

track record for 1 1/16 miles when going in 1:41.48 on the synthetic Polytrack.

Those wins, and her undefeated mark, were more than enough for Zenyatta to

earn her first Eclipse Award as champion older mare, taking 240 of the 242

votes. Owners Jerry and Ann Moss decided to keep their brilliant mare in training as a

five-year-old. This time, though, Zenyatta remained in California to defend her

titles in the Milady, Vanity, upgraded Clement L. Hirsch (G1) and Lady's Secret.

After running in her own division all season long, Zenyatta's connections

decided to roll the dice and send her against males for the first time in the

Breeders' Cup Classic, which was being held for a second straight year at

Santa Anita. By now Zenyatta's antics were well known and the crowds chanted the

great mare's name as the field came onto the track. The grandstands were awash

in the teal and pink colors of the Mosses' silks as fans waved "Go Zenyatta"

signs.

Zenyatta's 2009 Classic victory propelled her into the history books (©Breeders' Cup Ltd.) The star mare did not disappoint, powering from last entering the stretch to score by a length over eventual champion older male Gio Ponti. In the process, she became the first female to win the race and also surpassed the great Personal Ensign's undefeated mark of 13 races. The Mosses, who owned A&M Records and named their champion mare after the Police album "Zenyatta Mondatta," announced her retirement not long after that and the tributes came pouring in. Farewell ceremonies were held at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita, and the throngs came out to bid their favorite equine a loving goodbye. Many were awaiting word of where Zenyatta would take up her new career as a broodmare, but all the while Shirreffs kept his charge in condition by sending her out in sharp works. That merely fueled speculation that Zenyatta would return for a six-year-old campaign, and on January 16, 2010, Jerry and Ann Moss made it official. Thus Zenyatta embarked upon her fourth season of racing carrying an undefeated mark of 14 races and hopes of becoming just the second back-to-back winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic. There was also a score to settle after the three-year-old Rachel Alexandra was named Horse of the Year following an historic campaign against boys. Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra were the only finalists for Horse of the Year, but the voting tally came back 130-99 in the youngster's favor. The celebrity mare did take all the votes to earn her second straight champion older female statue, but Horse of the Year was on everyone's minds as Zenyatta began 2010.

Zenyatta's first win of 2010 came in the Santa Margarita Invitational H. (G1)

but the rubber match with Rachel Alexandra was set for the Apple Blossom at

Oaklawn Park on April 9. Alas, the much-heralded match never materialized as

Rachel Alexandra's connections decided she wasn't ready after numerous training

setbacks over the winter months. Zenyatta would go on to romp by 4 1/4 lengths

in her second Apple Blossom victory. Other options were thrown out for the match

race, but it was not to be as Zenyatta stayed in California and Rachel Alexandra

on the East Coast.

Zenyatta proceeded to three-peat in the Vanity, Clement L. Hirsch and Lady's

Secret before beginning preparations for a title defense in the Classic, which

was being run at Churchill Downs.

Putting her undefeated mark on the line in the 1 1/4-mile test, Zenyatta

seemed to fall back even farther back than usual after being crowded a bit

leaving the gate in the race, which was being run under the lights for the first

time. Regular rider Mike Smith settled her into the rear of the field as Blame

took up a ground-saving position in seventh under Garrett Gomez. Smith asked

Zenyatta a bit entering the backstretch as the field began pulling away, and she

answered to stay in contact with the group.

Blame got the jump on Zenyatta when suddenly angling out and shooting between

horses as the field circled the turn. Zenyatta also began her run in the second

turn, but tried to save a bit of ground while heading to the inside. She was

forced to steady briefly as horses tired in front of her, but quickly altered

course and began the powerful run that had proved so successful 19

previous times.

Blame and Zenyatta hooked up just strides before the wire, but the popular

mare could never quite get by the four-year-old colt, who kept his head in front

just as the photo was snapped. Handing Zenyatta her first loss from 20 career

starts, Blame finished up the 1 1/4-mile championship event in 2:02 1/5 on the

fast main track.

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. Vertigineux has also produced multiple

Grade 1 queen Balance (Thunder Gulch), stakes winner Where's Bailey (Aljabr) and

four-year-old Souper Spectacular (Giant's Causeway), who has finished fourth in

the Ft. Lauderdale S. (G3) and Tropical Turf H. (G3) in his past two. 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).

Zenyatta has taken up residence at Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Kentucky,

following her permanent retirement after the Classic. Though she wasn't able to

maintain an undefeated mark, to her legions of fans the great mare will never be

anything other than perfect.

Though Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's homebred Blame didn't take

Horse of the Year honors, the bay still capped a memorable 100th anniversary

year for the Paris, Kentucky, establishment when named champion older male at

the Eclipse Awards ceremony.

Blame (inside) refused to back down from Zenyatta and handed his massive opponent her first loss (Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs) Also a finalist for Horse of the Year honors, he racked up four wins from five starts in 2010, including a head victory over the previously undefeated Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic. That was not enough to spoil the great mare's third and last shot at Horse of the Year. The lightly-raced colt only made two starts as a juvenile in 2008, running third at Turfway Park before breaking his maiden at Keeneland. He wasn't to try a conventional dirt track for seven months, returning as a sophomore to be third against allowance rivals at Churchill Downs with Garrett Gomez taking the reins for the first time. Blame successfully scaled that condition next out under the Twin Spires with new rider Jamie Theriot in the saddle, and those two teamed up for the colt's first stakes coup in his first try when capturing the 2009 Curlin S. at Saratoga. Blame was given a brief freshening by trainer Al Stall Jr. before being brought back to make his graded bow in the Super Derby (G2). Compromised by a pedestrian pace scenario, he rallied strongly for second, and wouldn't taste defeat again for an entire year. Shipped back to Keeneland for the Fayette S. (G2), Blame scored by 1 1/4 lengths in the Polytrack test and took on multiple Grade 1 veteran Einstein (Brz) in the Clark H. (G2) under the Twin Spires to close out his 2009 season. The bay led home a sophomore exacta in the Clark, scoring by a neck over eventual Santa Anita H. (G1) winner Misremembered (Candy Ride [Arg]) with Einstein another neck back in third.

Once again given the winter months to soak up some well-deserved rest and

relaxation, Blame didn't reappear until last May. It had been six months since

his Clark triumph, but the colt's crafty conditioner already had his eye on the

bigger prize at the end of the year. Stall mapped out a campaign that would

bring his charge up to the Breeders' Cup Classic in peak form, and the quest

began in the May 15 William Donald Schaefer (G3) at Pimlico. Gomez regained the

mount on Blame, and guided the colt to a visually impressive 1

1/2-length score.

Blame (EquiSport Photos) Gomez stayed in the saddle for the bay's remaining starts, and the pair made their Grade 1 bow together next out in the Stephen Foster H. (G1) at Churchill. A late burst of speed saw Blame prevail over New Orleans H. (G2) winner Battle Plan by three parts of a length on the wire. Blame racked up his fifth consecutive victory next out in the August 7 Whitney H. (G1) at the Spa, reeling in then-divisional leader Quality Road by a head to shake up the standings. He couldn't keep his streak going in the October 2 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), where he was reserved off a tepid pace, but still gave game chase down the entire length of the stretch. The build-up to the Classic revolved around defending champion Zenyatta, leaving Blame to sneak in somewhat under the radar. Whereas the mare's previous opponents had all faltered and fallen under her monstrous late run, Blame never flinched when Zenyatta suddenly appeared at his throat latch. The pair hooked up in deep stretch and battled all the way home. Blame never gave an inch, holding by a head on the wire in what many consider the race of the decade.

While shock and disappointment silenced the masses huddled under the Twin

Spires, Blame was led into the winner's circle as the only horse to go

hoof-to-hoof with the popular mare and turn her back. His Classic conquest shot

his 2010 earnings to $3,751,467 and more than doubled his career bankroll to

$4,368,214. Blame retired after the Breeders' Cup with a 13-9-2-2 lifetime

record and has taken up residence at Claiborne, where

he will stand alongside his sire for a $35,000 fee.

Already a transatlantic champion by virtue of her past heroics, Wertheimer & Frere's

GOLDIKOVA (Ire) (Anabaa) crossed the threshold into legendary status in

2010. By winning an unprecedented third Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), and previously

breaking Miesque's record of 10 Grade/Group 1 wins for a European-based horse, the

Freddie Head mare has earned a place in the racing pantheon. The pride of France

was hailed as Cartier's Horse of the Year in November, a second straight Eclipse

Award as champion turf female came as a matter of course, and she even attracted

votes for American Horse of the Year.

Goldikova is the epitome of the Wertheimer racing and breeding operation (©Breeders' Cup Ltd.) Goldikova's prowess is especially gratifying for the Wertheimer family, which celebrates its centenary in Thoroughbred racing in 2011. Not only is her pedigree sprinkled with past Wertheimer champions, but her female line has been in the family for five generations. Her fifth dam, Glamour, sired by Wertheimer colorbearer Djebe, was purchased for 2,100 guineas in 1960 and repaid the investment in spades. Goldikova's fourth dam, Glaneuse (Snob), invaded Italy and plundered the 1969 Gran Premio del Jockey Club, thereby claiming the mantle of Italian champion three-year-old filly. Bred to the Wertheimer-owned classic winner Riverman, Glaneuse produced Goldikova's third dam, Gold River (Fr), who captured the 1981 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) en route to French champion older mare honors. Gold River visited another Wertheimer star, Lyphard, and foaled Riviere d'Or, the 1988 Prix Saint-Alary (Fr-G1) winner who eventually became Goldikova's second dam. Rivere d'Or's daughter Born Gold (Blushing Groom [Fr]) wasn't able to match her maternal relatives' ability on the racecourse, but she more than atoned as a broodmare by producing Goldikova.

Equally enduring has been the relationship between the Wertheimers and the

Head clan. Freddie rode such Wertheimer luminaries as Gold River, Riverman,

Lyphard and Gay Mecene, who were all trained by his father, Alec, as well as

Riviere d'Or, who was trained by his sister, Criquette.

Another Criquette Head pupil to play a leading role in the Goldikova story is

her sire Anabaa, who owed his life to the Head family. Bred by Gainsborough

Stud, he was out of the Criquette-trained Group 1 winner Balbonella (Fr),

herself a daughter of Gay Mecene out of a Riverman mare. When Anabaa was

diagnosed as a "wobbler" at two, and nearly euthanized, Alec and Criquette Head

intervened on the colt's behalf, and Sheikh Maktoum gave him to them. Anabaa

turned out to have only a pinched nerve. Under Criquette's tutelage, and with

Freddie in the saddle, he developed into the champion sprinter in Europe in 1996

and later a top sire.

So, when the Wertheimer mare Born Gold visited the court of the Head family's

Anabaa, the mating represented more than a half-century of close collaboration. These

ties, the equine forged by blood and

the human forged by loyalty, have been transmuted into the dazzling brilliance

of Goldikova.

In perhaps the first real inkling of her talent, Goldikova finished second to

the undefeated champion Zarkava in the 2008 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French

One Thousand Guineas) (Fr-G1), despite stumbling badly and taking a nosedive at

the start. She next found the 10 1/2 furlongs of the Prix de Diane (French Oaks)

(Fr-G1) a bridge too far, but kept on bravely to salvage third behind Zarkava.

Head then returned her to a mile, and the rest is history. After an easy score

in the Prix Chloe (Fr-G3), Goldikova commenced her inexorable march through

Group 1 territory. She collected her first top-level trophy in the Prix

Rothschild (Fr-G1), and extended her winning streak to four by beating males in

the Prix du Moulin (Fr-G1) and the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita, dethroning

defending champion Kip Deville.

Whether because of a virus in the yard, or the depth of the soft ground,

Goldikova threw in the only poor effort of her career when reappearing in the

2009 Prix d'Ispahan (Fr-G1). She recovered to reel off three straight Group 1

victories that summer in the Falmouth S. (Eng-G1), Rothschild and Prix Jacques le Marois (Fr-G1),

in the latter routing males by six lengths in stakes-record time.

Her skein was snapped in the Prix de la Foret (Fr-G1). Though that marked her

first try at a distance as short as seven furlongs, her trip was likely more to

blame. Goldikova wound up pressing a torrid pace from post 14 and was just

swamped late and relegated to third. Her prep didn't pan out as hoped, but that

disappointment faded into the background when she rebounded to win the Breeders'

Cup Mile at Santa Anita for the second straight year. Besides bringing her

Grade/Group 1 tally to seven, she took home her first Eclipse Award.

Goldikova kicked off 2010 by taking care of some

unfinished business from the preceding year. Once again tackling the May 23 Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp,

the bay tracked the pacemakers, inherited the lead a long way out, and

comfortably stayed every yard of the about 1 1/8-mile trip to fend off the

classy male Byword (Peintre Celebre) -- breaking the course record to boot.

The next lacuna in her resume that needed to be

remedied was a trip to Royal Ascot. Crossing the Channel for the June 15 Queen Anne S. (Eng-G1),

Goldikova sprinted clear in a matter of strides and put the race beyond the

reach of a closing Paco Boy. Her game rival came as far as her throat latch, but

Goldikova's regular rider, Olivier Peslier, looked to have Paco Boy measured.

Thus the Gallic queen entered Royal Ascot lore, and racked up Grade/Group 1 number

nine.

For the remainder of her campaign, Goldikova

followed her by now familiar itinerary. She reverted to female company for the

only time all season in the Rothschild, where she won in a hack canter for the

third straight year. While the official margin was three lengths, it might as

well have been twice that, and as a bonus, she equaled Miesque's mark of 10

Group 1 titles. Then the ground turned against her ahead of her title defense in

the August 15 Jacques le Marois. Noticeably unable to quicken in her

lightning fashion on the unsuitably soft going, she was swamped by Makfi. Yet Goldikova,

no prima donna, didn't fold but stuck to her task to outduel Paco Boy for

runner-up honors.

Goldikova again used the October 3 Foret as her stepping stone to the Mile,

with happier results. The ground was cause for some concern, but Head decided to

let her take her chance anyway. Under a clever ride by Peslier, she showed in

front early, eased back to allow a rival to take the lead, came around him, and

drove to a half-length decision. Goldikova looked more tolerant than enamored of

the going, but she did enough to foil archrival Paco Boy, and eclipse Miesque by

garnering her 11th Grade/Group 1.

History of a different sort was on the line when Goldikova aimed for a

three-peat in the Breeders' Cup Mile. No horse had ever won three Breeders' Cup

races in total, let alone three straight editions of the same event, and her

drawing post 11 at Churchill Downs wasn't calculated to help her chances. Add in

the comparisons to Zenyatta, who would later seek a third career Breeders' Cup crown,

and the anticipation surrounding Goldikova's bid was at a high pitch.

As if responding to the call of history, Goldikova turned in possibly her

best North American performance to date. Racing wide throughout, she

nevertheless summoned a devastating burst of speed to overwhelm her opponents.

The final sixteenth was pure poetry as she surged 1 3/4 lengths clear, posting

her biggest margin of victory in the Mile, while her delighted groom ran

alongside the outer rail and jumped for joy.

Her 12th career Grade/Group 1 score was a smashing finale to a year in which Goldikova registered a 6-5-1-0

record and a shade more than $2 million in earnings. Overall, Goldikova boasts

the sterling mark of 21-15-3-2, and her bankroll is approximately $6.1 million.

She has been a champion for each of the past three years. The highweight

three-year-old miler in France in 2008, Goldikova was Europe's champion older

horse of 2009. She now joins Hall of Famers Miesque (1987-88) and Flawlessly

(1992-93), as well as Ouija Board (GB) (2004, 2006), as a two-time champion turf

female in the United States.

Bred in Ireland, Goldikova is a half-sister to Group 3 scorers Gold Sound (Fr) (Green Tune)

and Gold Round (Caerleon), the latter the dam of current Group 3

winner Goldwaki (Dalakhani). Goldikova's other half-siblings include the Group 3-placed pair of Born

Something (Ire) (Caerleon) and Red Tune (Green Tune), and the winning

three-year-old

filly Galikova (Galileo [Ire]), who finished fifth in the October 3 Prix

Marcel Boussac (Fr-G1). Their dam, Born Gold, is herself a full sister to multiple Group 1 heroine Gold Splash.

The Wertheimer brothers have graciously opted to bring Goldikova back as a

six-year-old in 2011. Whatever she accomplishes would put a crowning touch on

the family's centenary, not unlike the way Blame capped a memorable 100th

anniversary for Claiborne Farm in 2010.

Bob Baffert called Lookin at Lucky one of the best he's ever trained (Alyssa Spakowski/Equi-Phot) LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike), the top juvenile male in 2009 by a wide margin, ran away with his second straight Eclipse Award on Monday night, winning three-year-old honors by 219 votes over his nearest rival. Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, the Bob Baffert-trained colt became the first horse since Spectacular Bid in 1978-79 to be named both champion two-year-old and three-year-old male. Winner of the Preakness S. (G1), Lookin at Lucky also scored in the Haskell Invitational (G1), Rebel S. (G2) and Indiana Derby (G2) during his three-year-old season. He was retired following a fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) to Ashford Stud near Versailles, Kentucky, with earnings of $3,307,278 from a 13-9-1-1 line.

A three-time Grade 1 winner at two, Lookin at Lucky entered 2010 as the early

Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite. He opened his sophomore campaign with a victory in

the Rebel at Oaklawn Park, but experienced a troubled trip when forced to take

up sharply on the far turn in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) next out. The chestnut

was able to re-rally for third in his final prep for the Run for the Roses.

Facing muddy conditions for the first time, Lookin at Lucky broke from the

rail as the slight favorite and wound up being roughed up during the early

stages of the Derby, dropping near the back of the 20-horse field before

gallantly managing to secure a sixth-place finish. He finally secured a clean

trip at Pimlico, driving to a comfortable three-quarter length victory with new

rider Martin Garcia.

Freshened nearly three months after the Preakness, Lookin at Lucky returned

with a smashing four-length score in the Haskell at Monmouth Park. He received

another two-month rest for his penultimate appearance, an easy 1 1/4-length

victory in the Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park.

The Kentucky-bred wound up with a total of eight stakes wins in his

distinguished career.

Lookin at Lucky is out of the winning Private Feeling (Belong to Me), making

him a half-brother to 2009 Jim Dandy S. (G2) and Dwyer S. (G2) hero Kensei (Mr.

Greeley). This female family is also responsible for the 2006 champion

three-year-old filly and multiple Grade 1-winning turf star Wait a While

(Maria's Mon), as well as 1987 Irish Derby (Ire-G1) victor Sir Harry Lewis

(Alleged).

BLIND LUCK (Pollard's Vision)

cemented leadership in the three-year-old filly division early on in 2010 when gutting out a

nose victory in

the Kentucky Oaks (G1). But a late-in-the-year challenge from Havre de Grace

(Saint Liam) forced the chestnut miss to dig in once again so as not to

lose out on an Eclipse Award for the second straight year.

Blind Luck proudly wore the lilies following her Kentucky Oaks victory (Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs) That's just what Blind Luck did, and on Monday her determination was rewarded with a statuette to celebrate her being named champion three-year-old filly of 2010. Following a nine-race campaign that never saw her out-of-the-money, Blind Luck gained a measure of revenge for being runner-up for 2009 two-year-old filly honors. Her connections' disappointment of losing out on an Eclipse Award in 2009 was quickly tempered when Blind Luck came back to win the Las Virgenes S. (G1) at Santa Anita by a gutsy nose over Evening Jewel (Northern Afleet) just one month after the ballots were read. The late-running filly left herself too much to do in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) next out, missing in her game rush by a half-length to be third that day. Trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer stayed the course, though, sending his pupil to Oaklawn Park for the Fantasy S. (G2), and Blind Luck responded with a 2 1/2-length score. Next up was the acid test under the Twin Spires. The gates opened on the Kentucky Oaks and Blind Luck took up her familiar rear-running position as Tidal Pool (Yankee Gentleman) slowed things down on the front end. Jockey Rafael Bejarano allowed Blind Luck to settle into stride before urging her on as the field neared the turn. Evening Jewel had taken command by this point and seemed well on her way to victory, but Blind Luck was having none of that. Inching ever closer in the lane, the blinkered miss just got her nose down on the wire in a scene very reminiscent of the Las Virgenes.

Blind Luck and Evening Jewel would not meet again, as the latter filly's

connections switched her to the turf. The Kentucky Oaks winner found a new

challenger waiting in the wings, though. Her first race back after taking the

Kentucky Oaks saw Blind Luck run second in the Hollywood Oaks (G2), but she

quickly put that experience behind her when racking up scores in the Delaware

Oaks (G2) and Alabama S. (G1).

It was in those latter two races that Blind Luck first encountered Havre de

Grace, getting up for the nose and neck victories, respectively, over

her newest rival. Havre de Grace finally managed to outgame Blind Luck in the

Cotillion S. (G2), taking that test by a neck. One final meeting

awaited the duo to determine who was best, and that came while facing older

competition for the first time.

Blind Luck was sent off the 3-2 favorite in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic at Churchill Downs, but it was Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song) who

crossed under the wire a 1 3/4-length winner on that day. Just behind her,

though, was Blind Luck and Havre de Grace. Blind Luck easily beat her

three-year-old adversary on that occasion, effectively ending all discussion on

who should be named champion sophomore filly.

Bred in Kentucky, Blind Luck ran worse than second only once in 2010, with

that coming in the Santa Anita Oaks. Her 9-5-3-1 record earned the miss

$1,679,662 for the season, and boosted her career mark to 15-9-4-2, $2,388,712.

Based on those numbers, Blind Luck was a bargain when selling for $11,000 as a

Fasig-Tipton July yearling.

She is the first registered foal out of the winning Lucky One (Best of Luck),

who has since produced an unnamed sophomore colt by Orientate and a yearling

filly by Successful Again. Lucky One is herself a half-sister to 2002 Swale S.

(G3) hero Ethan Man (Glitterman). The pair's dam, Twilight Spectre (Imp

Society), counts among her half-siblings multiple Grade 2 victor Chas Conerly

(Big Burn) and multiple Grade 3-placed Gainzer (Turkoman).

Blind Luck has already returned to action as a four-year-old, closing for

second in this past Sunday's El Encino on a speed-favoring track at Santa Anita.

The word was out early on Repole Stable's

UNCLE MO

(Indian Charlie), to whom bettors took an immediate liking when he first set

foot on the racetrack on Travers Day at Saratoga. Many others have since taken a

strong liking to the Todd Pletcher-trained bay, who thoroughly dominated his

peers with three wins in as many starts. It was the shortest campaign by a

champion in this division since Action This Day in 2003, and the shortest by an

undefeated divisional champ since Seattle Slew swept three races in the fall of

1976.

Uncle Mo's win in the Champagne was among the fastest in the race's history (Adam Coglianese/NYRA) A colt with a high cruising speed, Uncle Mo set out on his journey in front of a savvy Travers Day audience at Saratoga in a six-furlong maiden special weight over six furlongs. While the track might have tilted toward early speed, the 4-5 Uncle Mo left an impression he would have been hard to beat, bias or no bias, by demolishing his rivals by 14 1/4 lengths under a hand ride by full-time partner John Velazquez. Arguably the most impressive performance of the entire Spa session by a juvenile, Pletcher soon announced Uncle Mo would have just one prep before the Breeders' Cup. That next outing came in the October 9 Champagne S. (G1) at Belmont Park, where Uncle Mo started at 1-5 against five rivals. Forced to set fractions of :22 2/5 and :45 4/5 in the one-mile contest, Uncle Mo switched to another gear in the stretch and opened up with authority to win by 4 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:34 2/5, ironically tying the winning time achieved by Seattle Slew 34 years earlier. Only Devil's Bag, who won in 1:34 1/5 in 1983, has ever run a faster raw time in a one-mile edition of the Champagne. The best two-year-olds throughout the country converged on Churchill Downs for the November 6 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) over 1 1/16 miles, and Uncle Mo's growing reputation preceded him to Louisville. Despite having to face the likes of undefeated Hopeful S. (G1) winner Boys at Tosconova (Officer), as well as the West Coast's leading juvenile prospects, Uncle Mo went to post as a strong 7-5 choice in the field of 10.

Showing an ability to rate for the first time, Uncle Mo traveled smoothly in

second as longshot Riveting Reason (Fusaichi Pegasus) drew off by as much as two

lengths through the opening half-mile. Uncle Mo began to apply pressure around

the far turn and swiftly moved past that rival at the top of the stretch, then

braced for the bid of the oncoming Boys at Tosconova. However, that rival could

only offer a middling challenge as Uncle Mo quickly extended his lead and proved

much the best by 4 1/4 lengths in his two-turn debut. The victory pushed his

seasonal earnings to $1,296,000.

Uncle Mo, who is wintering at Pletcher's Palm Meadows base in Florida, is

expected to have two preps leading up to the May 7 Kentucky Derby (G1), with the

March 12 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and April 9 Wood Memorial S. (G1) at Aqueduct the

most logical stops if all goes according to plan.

Bred in Kentucky by D. Michael Cavey, Uncle Mo passed through the sales ring

twice, bringing $160,000 as a Keeneland November weanling and $220,000 when

going in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is the third registered foal

out of the multiple stakes-placed Playa Maya (Arch), whose dam is a half-sister

to Grade 3 scorer Woods of Windsor (Woodman). This female family has also

produced the likes of Argentinean Group 1 winner Eithan (Polish Numbers) and

Group 3-placed Impetious (Inchinor [GB]).

Awesome Feather's racing future is in doubt (Matt Wooley/EquiSport Photos) AWESOME FEATHER (Awesome of Course), a 2 1/4-length winner of the Breeders' Juvenile Fillies (G1), easily garnered the crown of champion two-year-old filly. The unbeaten lass received all but three of the 238 first-place votes. The bay opened her racing career with an easy maiden special weight win and then captured the open J J'sdream S. The Florida-bred became just the third filly to sweep Calder's Florida Stallion S. series in its 29-year history, cruising to facile wins in the Desert Vixen and Susan's Girl before registering the hat trick with a rousing 8 1/4-length victory in the My Dear Girl on October 16. Having asserted her dominance over the juvenile filly ranks at Calder, Awesome Feather was ready to take on the rest of her division in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs. With regular rider Jeffrey Sanchez, she edged away late to win as the favorite among 12 rivals, improving her career mark to six-for-six. Awesome Feather has earned $1,495,746.

Awesome Feather is out of dual Grade 3-placed multiple stakes queen Precious

Feather (Gone West), making her a half-sister to multiple stakes-placed Brooks

'n Down (Montbrook). Precious Feather is herself a daughter of Group 3 heroine

Last Feather (*Vaguely Noble), who ran third in the 1982 Oaks (Eng-G1) at Epsom,

as well as a half-sibling to Group 3-placed multiple stakes winner Ruznama

(Forty Niner) and Group 3 second Phar Feather (Lyphard).

Raced by breeder Fred Brei's Jacks or Better Farm and trained by Stanley Gold

in 2010, Awesome Feather sold for $2.3 million to Adena Springs at the Fasig-Titpon

Kentucky November sale two days after her Juvenile Fillies victory. She was sent

to Chad Brown's stable in South Florida to prepare for a three-year-old

campaign, but Awesome Feather is currently sidelined with a tendon issue.

After Castleton Lyons' homebred

GIO

PONTI (Tale of the Cat) compiled a stellar 2009 campaign, subsequently

crowned by Eclipse Awards as champion older male and champion turf male, it

would have come as no great surprise if he had been retired to stud. Yet his

sporting connections had already decided to keep him in training in 2010.

Although his five-year-old season didn't always go according to plan, and Gio

Ponti didn't visit the winner's circle as often as he did in 2009, he continued

to set a very high standard throughout the year. His chances of

repeating as champion older male were slim even going into 2010, based

on both historical precedent for a grass horse and the unusual alignment

of circumstances that first propelled him to that title, but he easily

garnered a second Eclipse Award

in the turf male division that lacked another persuasive presence.

Gio Ponti is just the fifth horse to repeat as turf champ (Matt Wooley/EquiSport Photos) Gio Ponti ranks as the fifth horse to earn back-to-back turf championships, following Round Table (1957-59), Fort Marcy (1967-68), John Henry (1980-81 and 1983-84) and High Chaparral (Ire) (2002-03). He was actually emulating Hall of Famers Round Table, Fort Marcy and John Henry for the second straight year. Since all three had also been honored as champion handicap male -- Round Table in 1958 (and then shared the title in 1959), Fort Marcy in 1970 (the year he also regained the turf crown) and John Henry in 1981 -- Gio Ponti was following in their hoofsteps in 2009 too. A credit to trainer Christophe Clement, Gio Ponti has remained in superb form for four consecutive years. The bay stamped himself as a colt with real potential when capturing the 2007 Bourbon S. as a juvenile, and he began to live up to that promise as a three-year-old. During his sophomore season in 2008, Gio Ponti deployed his potent late kick to score in the Virginia Derby (G2), Hill Prince S. (G3) and Sir Beaufort S. (G3), while taking runner-up honors in the Del Mar Derby (G2) and Jamaica H. (G2).

Those were but a prelude to Gio Ponti's performances in 2009. Then just

reaching his prime, the four-year-old reeled off four straight Grade 1 victories

with his electric burst of speed -- the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1), Manhattan

H. (G1), Man o' War S. (G1) and Arlington Million (G1). His streak was snapped

in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1), where the combination of 1 1/2

miles and desperately soft ground sapped his stamina, and he tired to second.

With champion turf horse honors virtually sewn up, Gio Ponti switched surfaces

for an assault on the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), contested over Santa

Anita's Pro-Ride. He ran a winning race, only to be inhaled late by Zenyatta.

The gamble came off in one important respect, for that effort secured him the

champion older male title.

Gio Ponti thus entered 2010 with the burden of exceedingly high expectations,

which he did his level best to fulfill. The $10 million Dubai World Cup

(UAE-G1), on the Tapeta at the brand new Meydan Racecourse, was a natural

objective on March 27, so Clement chose the February 20 Tampa Bay S. as the most

suitable prep race. Sent off as the 1-5 favorite in his reappearance, Gio Ponti

was done no favors by a pedestrian early pace. When he rallied boldly to

confront a loose-on-the-lead Karelian, the pacesetter dug in, and drifted out,

floating Gio Ponti a few paths wider on the course. Karelian prevailed on the

head-bob, and kept the verdict following a stewards' inquiry and an objection

lodged by Gio Ponti's regular rider, Ramon Dominguez.

The Tampa Bay set the tone for most of the year: Gio Ponti always showed up,

but things usually didn't fall his way. In the World Cup, his chances were again

compromised by a snail-like tempo, and his furious rush could net him only

fourth. His preparation for a title defense in the June 5 Manhattan was beset by

a pair of hiccups -- a work that went awry, and a brief illness -- but the

ever-genuine Gio Ponti still answered the call of duty. After meeting with

trouble and checking just when he would have been producing his charge, he

eventually found room in time and surged to the lead between calls, but was

nailed by his stablemate Winchester (Theatrical [Ire]) in the final strides.

The July 10 Man o' War almost provided another hard-luck story, as Gio Ponti

lagged behind a ridiculously slow pace on firm ground. Then he was trapped in

traffic momentarily. This time, however, his class carried him. Exploding once

given a clear path, he got up by a neck, becoming just the fourth horse to

repeat in the Man o' War. The August 21 Arlington Million gave Gio Ponti's fans

a much less satisfying roller-coaster ride. The champion circled the field on

the far turn and stormed to the front in midstretch, apparently destined to make

history as the first back-to-back Arlington Million winner. Then he began to

idle, and Debussy (Ire) (Diesis [GB]) erupted from nowhere to surprise him by a

half-length.

As if by compensation, Gio Ponti next enjoyed his finest hour of the season

in the October 9 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1). Shortening up to that distance for the

first time since the 2009 Kilroe, he sauntered home on a tight rein, either

mocking his overmatched opponents, or kindly letting them think that they had a

chance.

The versatile champion thus gave his connections an enviable, if difficult,

Breeders' Cup dilemma: should he take another crack at Zenyatta in the Classic,

which would be his first start on dirt, or should he stay on the turf to oppose

Goldikova in the Mile? They chose to stick with what Gio Ponti knows best, and

he again delivered a high-caliber performance. His rally from near the tail of

the field wasn't enough to cope with Goldikova, but he was best of the rest.

By finishing second in such divergent disciplines as the Classic and the

Mile, Gio Ponti provided a new benchmark for Breeders' Cup versatility. He

arguably surpassed the feat of Swain (Ire), who finished third in both the Turf

(G1) (1996) and Classic (1998). Moreover, the fact that Gio Ponti was denied

only by two all-time greats, and doubtless Hall of Famers, adds greater luster

to his achievement.

Gio Ponti, who bankrolled $1,884,000 from a 7-2-4-0 record in 2010, sports an

overall mark of 23-11-8-0, $5,037,800. Bred by Kilboy Estate in Kentucky, he is

out of the stakes-placed Chipeta Springs (Alydar), making him a half-brother to

multiple stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Bon Jovi Girl (Malibu Moon) and stakes

victor Fisher Pond (A.P. Indy). Chipeta Springs' latest offspring are both by

Bernstein, an unnamed two-year-old filly and a yearling colt. 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).

The six-year-old Gio Ponti will return to the racing wars again in 2011, with

the March 26 Dubai World Cup once more in his sights. For his pursuit of

excellence over the long term, his diverse talents, and his palpable love for

his work, he has shown himself worthy of his namesake -- the Italian architect,

designer and artist/poet Gio Ponti. 

Harold Queen's homebred

BIG DRAMA (Montbrook) dabbled in longer races earlier

in his career with some success, but the realization he had quite the sprinter

on his hands convinced trainer David Fawkes to keep the Florida-bred around one

turn for 2010. That approach -- exploiting the colt's specialty -- produced

handsome dividends with a Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) title and an Eclipse Award

as the nation's leading male sprinter.

Big Drama clinched his title with a dominating Breeders' Cup Sprint victory (Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com) Absent from the races for more than nine months when making his seasonal debut in the June 12 Ponche H. at Calder over six furlongs, Big Drama showed no signs of rust with an authoritative 3 3/4-length score under a hand-riding Luis Saez. Reunited with regular pilot Eibar Coa for the July 10 Smile Sprint H. (G2) over the same track and distance, Big Drama again showed supreme fondness for his home base with a sharp 1 1/2-length triumph over multiple Grade 3 scorer Mambo Meister (King Cugat). Big Drama was beaten twice at Saratoga but lost no luster in either defeat. In the Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G1) going six furlongs, Big Drama was bumped slightly at the start as Majesticperfection burst like a rocket from the gate and quickly opened up on the field. None of his six rivals could keep pace with Majesticperfection, who drove home a 2 3/4-length winner with Big Drama edging Bribon (Fr) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]) for second by a half-length. Majesticperfection was retired the following month after sustaining an injury during a morning workout, leaving leadership of the division in flux. Big Drama faced the Spa starter again in the seven-furlong Forego S. (G1) on Labor Day weekend. Once again hurt by a troubled beginning -- this time a stumble -- Big Drama recovered sufficiently to lead the field by a length after three-quarters of a mile. However, he found the seventh and deciding eighth-mile and the upstart Here Comes Ben (Street Cry [Ire]) too difficult. The margin of defeat in finishing second was three parts of a length.

Fawkes chose to train Big Drama up to the November 6 Breeders' Cup Sprint at

Churchill Downs, where the four-year-old was sent off at 5-1. Looking a bit like

Majesticperfection in the Vanderbilt, Big Drama broke alertly and quickly

separated himself from the field. Setting splits of :21 1/5 and :44 2/5, Big

Drama was never in serious danger through the stretch as he finished up in 1:09

with 1 1/2 lengths to spare. His seasonal mark was 5-3-2-0, $1,420,810.

Big Drama won five of six starts as a juvenile, sweeping the three-race

Florida Stallion S. series and notching the Delta Jackpot S. (G3). He endured a

brief five-race campaign at three, opening up the season with a victory in the

Swale S. (G2) that was negated by the stewards after he interfered with a rival.

Subsequently fifth in the Preakness S. (G1), he next captured the Red Legend S.

at Charles Town by seven lengths, then finished a neck second in the West

Virginia Derby (G2). He concluded his season with a subpar sixth in the King's

Bishop S. (G1).

Out of the unraced Riveting Drama (Notebook), Big Drama is a

half-brother to stakes victress Drama's Way (Farma Way) and three younger

half-siblings by Burning Roma, including a juvenile filly and a yearling filly.

His three-year-old half-brother, Little Drama, captured the Frank Gomez Memorial

S. at Calder last summer.

Big Drama has already begun his 2011 Eclipse title defense in dazzling style.

In Saturday's Mr. Prospector S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park, Big Drama fended off a

stretch challenge from Custom for Carlos (More Than Ready) to win by four

lengths in a track-record 1:08 for six furlongs. His record presently stands at

17-10-4-1, $2,699,560.

The busiest of the season's champions having made 10 starts, champion female

sprinter

DUBAI MAJESTY (Essence of Dubai) also proved the most versatile,

winning stakes on dirt, turf and synthetic. While unlucky at times -- she missed

winning three stakes by a head or less -- she won the premier race of the

division, the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), by a commanding 2 1/4

lengths.

Dubai Majesty's first stakes win of the year was a repeat score in the Winning Colors (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography) Conditioned by Bret Calhoun, Dubai Majesty got off to a somewhat frustrating start to 2010 when missing by a nose in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride, then fell short by a head in the Pan Zareta S. when returned to her winter base at Fair Grounds. The string of bridesmaid finishes continued in the Madison S. (G1) at Keeneland, which was followed by her worst effort of the season in the Humana Distaff (G1), where she wilted to ninth after contesting the early pace over a sloppy Churchill Downs strip. Dubai Majesty went on to win four of her final six starts of the season, commencing with the May 31 Winning Colors S. (G3). The defending champion in that six-furlong dash at Churchill, the dark bay drove home a 4 1/2-length winner under Miguel Mena, who replaced regular rider Jamie Theriot in the irons for four starts over the summer. The pair were next third in the Princess Rooney H. (G1) at Calder, but rebounded to take the Incredible Revenge S. over the Monmouth Park turf going 5 1/2 furlongs. Mena was also aboard when Dubai Majesty fell a head short of catching 2009 divisional champion Informed Decision (Monarchos) in the Presque Isle Downs Masters S. (G3) on Tapeta after slow start.

Dubai Majesty prepped for the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, in the Thoroughbred

Club of America S. (G2). Employing a stalk-and-pounce strategy in that

six-furlong Polytrack test, Theriot timed the mare's bid perfectly and proved

three-quarters of a length best while Informed Decision could do no better than

third. Overlooked somewhat in the Breeders' Cup despite her fondness for the

Churchill main track, Dubai Majesty broke sharply from post 12, rated less than

two lengths off the leaders down the backside, then seized command at the top of

the stretch and drove home a dominating winner of the seven-furlong heat. The

victory pushed her seasonal mark to 10-4-4-1, $1,009,724.

Campaigned by Martin Racing Stable and Dan Morgan, Dubai Majesty's other

career highlights include a score in the 2009 Winning Colors and placings in

prior editions of the Humana Distaff, Indiana Oaks (G2), Raven Run S. (G2) and

Azalea S. (G3). She ended 2010 with career totals of 34-12-7-6, $1,509,243.

Bred by Harold J. Plumley in Florida, Dubai Majesty RNA'd for a mere $7,000

as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling. She's out of the winning Great

Majesty (Great Above) and is a half-sister to multiple stakes victor Majestic

Dinner (Formal Dinner) and an unnamed juvenile colt by Trippi. This is the

family of dual Grade 3 turf hero Williams News (Alleged), runner-up in the 2000

Canadian International (Can-G1).

Two days after her Breeders' Cup triumph, Dubai Majesty brought $1.1 million

from Katsumi Yoshida of Japan at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Plans were for

her to be bred in Japan this year.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's

SLIP AWAY (Skip Away) danced virtually every dance

during the 2010 steeplechase season and ended his campaign with a one-horse

waltz in winning the Colonial Cup (NSA-G1) by 25 3/4 lengths. That decisive score

swayed a majority of voters in his direction as the division's best, giving the Ramseys their second Eclipse Award champion after 2004 champion turf male

Kitten's Joy.

One of the speediest members of the hunt set, Slip Away had developed a

reputation of not being able to close the deal in many of the division's top

races. While evident for much of 2010, his campaign did not start that way as he

led from flag-to-finish in the Temple Gwathmey (NSA-G3) at Middleburg, Virginia,

scoring by nine lengths. Next out, in the three-mile Iroquois (NSA-G1) at

Nashville, Tennessee, Slip Away enjoyed a long lead before getting passed by Tax

Ruling (Dynaformer). Though second by 4 3/4 lengths, Slip Away would defeat Tax

Ruling in three subsequent meetings.

Third by three parts of a length behind Divine Fortune (Royal Anthem) and

Arcadius (Giant's Causeway) in the A.P. Smithwick Memorial (NSA-G2) at Saratoga,

Slip Away next turned in his worst finish of the season when fifth in that

course's premier jumps event, the New York Turf Writers Cup (NSA-G1). Second

that day was Arcadius, who handed Slip Away a third defeat in four encounters on

the year when proving best by one length in the Helen Haskell Sampson (NSA-G1)

at Monmouth Park. However, Arcadius was forced to miss the remainder of the

season due to injury, while Slip Away plugged along to the final major stops of

the jump season.

At Far Hills, New Jersey, for the October 23 Grand National (NSA-G1), Slip

Away proved no match for European invader Percussionist (Ire) (Sadler's Wells),

finishing second by seven lengths. However, he earned his revenge in emphatic

fashion in the Colonial Cup, at Camden, South Carolina, drawing away as he

pleased while Percussionist trailed the field of six by more than 90 lengths.

The Tom Voss-trained Slip Away finished the season with a mark of 7-2-3-1,

$110,834.

A rarity in that he did not begin his racing career on the flat, Slip Away

spent part of his early days contesting claiming races and starter allowances.

He initially developed into a stakes-quality performer in 2009, winning the

"Zeke" Ferguson Memorial (NSA-G3) at Colonial Downs and Noel Laing S. at

Montpelier, Virginia. He also placed in an ungraded version of the Helen Haskell

Sampson. His career record now stands at 25-10-6-1, $332,414.

Bred in Kentucky by Glencrest Farm, Trontz and Madison, Slip Away was

produced by the stakes-winning Aurora Slew (Slew's Royalty), who has also reared

the unraced juvenile gelding Aurorin Shot (Shotiche). Slip Away counts as his

third dam the Grade 3 winner Lady Roberta (Roberto), herself a full sister to

Group 3 vixen Tursanah.

Todd Pletcher, who topped all North American conditioners with $23,157,098 in

earnings in 2010, was named leading trainer Monday night. It is the fifth

Eclipse Award for the 42-year-old native of Dallas, who won four straight from

2004-07.

After nine years of trying, the future Hall of Famer finally secured Thoroughbred racing's biggest prize in 2010, winning his first Kentucky Derby (G1)

with Super Saver. It snapped a 0-for-24 mark in the Run for the Roses.

“It's a joy," Pletcher said after realizing his Derby dream. "People said we

had one with our name written on it. I didn't take anything for granted. It

feels awfully good."

Pletcher was also represented last year by Uncle Mo, who established himself

as the early 2011 Kentucky Derby favorite with sensational victories in

Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Champagne S. Uncle Mo was named champion

juvenile male on Monday night.

Pletcher won 20 Grade 1 stakes in 2010. Other top performers included Eskendereya,

Quality Road, Life at Ten (Malibu Moon), Discreetly Mine, Devil May Care (Malibu

Moon), Pluck (More Than Ready), More Than Real (More Than Ready), R

Heat Lightning (Trippi) and Malibu Prayer.

He posted 274 wins from 1,082 starters, a 25 percent

success rate, and topped the $20 million earnings plateau for the fourth time in

his career in 2010. Pletcher established the earnings mark of $28,111,700 in

2007, training champions Rags to Riches, English Channel and Lawyer Ron that

season.

Pletcher grew up around horses and worked as an assistant for Charles

Whittingham and Henry Moreno while at the University of Arizona. Pletcher 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 1996.

Prominent coast-to-coast, Pletcher maintained divisions in New York, Florida,

California and Kentucky during 2010.

Ramon Dominguez received his first Eclipse Award for leading jockey. A native

of Venezuela, the 34-year-old topped the North American jockeys' list

in 2010 with earnings of $16,911,880.

Dominguez, who moved his tack to New York on a full-time basis in 2009, won

five riding titles at NYRA tracks in 2010 and topped the standings with a total

353 wins at Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga, nearly twice as many as the

runner-up. He recorded his 4,000th career win on March 19. Other highlights last

year included

winning five races on February 17, and riding four winners on 12 different

occasions.

Dominguez finished second by wins in 2010 with 369.

His best mounts included Haynesfield (Speightstown), Gio Ponti, Boys at Tosconova and First Dude (Stephen Got Even).

Dominguez, who began riding horses at 16, came to the United States from his

native country in 1995 and rode his first winner at Hialeah Park in March, 1996.

He was the leading rider at Delaware Park from 2004-07, and led the nation in

wins in 2001 and 2003.

Omar Moreno, who led all apprentice jockeys in North America with 144 wins

and more than $5.3 million in earnings, convincingly took home top honors for

leading apprentice at the Eclipse Awards. Based in Canada, Moreno also won the

Sovereign Award for outstanding apprentice in 2009.

A native of El Salvador, the 25-year-old rider moved to Canada as a refugee

in 1991 and was a three-time junior national champion in boxing before leaving

the sport due to a shoulder injury. He graduated from the jockeys' school at

Olds College in Calgary and began riding at Woodbine in the fall of 2009.

Moreno finished fifth in the 2010 Woodbine standings.

WinStar Farm enjoyed a banner year in 2010, winning its first Kentucky Derby with Super Saver and leading all North American owners with $5,183,379 in

earnings, and it received its first Eclipse Award for leading owner on Monday

night.

Located near Versailles, Kentucky, WinStar Farm was founded by Kenny Troutt

and Bill Casner in 2000. It quickly grew as a racing and breeding operation, and

gained fame in 2003 by breeding Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide.

Super Saver gave WinStar its first classic success as an owner, and WinStar

would go to become the first owner since Overbrook Farm in 1996 to win two legs

of the Triple Crown with different horses when Drosselmeyer (Distorted Humor)

captured the Belmont S. (G1) five weeks later.

In October, Troutt bought out Casner to become the sole owner, but Casner

remains the farm's biggest client. Former trainer Elliott Walden serves as

President/CEO and racing manager.

Frank Stronach's Adena Springs finished 2010 as the leading individual

breeder in North American with earnings of $13,369,852, the eighth consecutive

year that it has topped the list, and wound up edging out Claiborne Farm and

Adele Dilschneider for the Eclipse Award for leading breeder. It's the seventh

time that Stronach has taken home the prize.

With farms in Kentucky, New York and Canada, Adena Springs is a massive

operation. It was represented individually as a breeder by 519 wins from 3,739

starts in 2010, more than doubling the 236 winners from 1,565 starters of

runner-up Brereton C. Jones. Adena Springs was represented by 15 stakes winners

individually and one in partnership.

Adena Springs stallions that made a major impact in 2010 include the late El

Prado (Ire), Awesome Again, Macho Again and Ghostzapper.