Zenyatta Wins The Eclipse For 2010 Horse Of The Year!
2-Year-Old Male – *Uncle Mo was the best 2-year-old male of 2010. Uncle Mo was a two time GI winner in 2010. He won the Champagne GI and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile GI with dominating performances to establish himself as the early favorite for the 2011 Kentucky Derby. Boys At Tosconova won the Hopeful GI back in September at Saratoga. To Honor And Serve captured a pair of GII races at Aqueduct. He won the Nashua GII and the Remsen GI. And possibly the most talented of the 2-year-old group was Kanthros, who was retired do to an injury. He won all three of his races by a combined 28 lengths, including the Saratoga Special GII.
2-Year-Old Filly – *Awesome Feather was a perfect 6 for 6 in 2010. She capped her perfect 2010 season off with a dominating win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, defeating 11 other fillies in the process. She also swept the Florida Stallion series. R Heat Lightning won the Spinaway GI at Saratoga back in September. Turbulent Descent was a perfect 3 for 3 including a win in the Hollywood Starlet GI.
3-Year-Old Male – *Lookin At Lucky was the best 3-year-old of 2010. He won a pair of GI events, which included the Preakness Stakes GI, and the Haskell GI. He won 4 races overall in 2010 and earned over $2 Million. Paddy O’ Prado had a great year on the turf. Paddy O’ Prado also ran 3rd over the sloppy going in the Kentucky Derby GI. He swept Colonial Downs two marquee grass events, the Colonial Turf Cup GII and the Virginia Derby GII. He also won the Secretariat GI at Arlington Park. Eskendereya was on his way to being the favorite in the Kentucky Derby before an injury ended his career. He won the Fountain of Youth GII, and ran-away with the Wood Memorial GI. Sidney’s Candy won 5 races in 2010. He won two Kentucky Derby preps in California. He took the San Vicente GII, San Felipe GII, and Santa Anita Derby GI. He also set a new turf course record in the La Jolla GII at Del Mar- ran a game 6th in the Breeders’ Cup Mile GI.
3-Year-Old Filly – *Blind Luck was the best 3-year-old filly in 2010. She racked up 5 wins, including three GI’s, and finished 2nd in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic to Unrivaled Belle. Blind Luck’s biggest wins in 2010 came in the Kentucky Oaks GI and Alabama GI. She earned $1,679,662 in 2010. Evening Jewel had a solid 2010. She captured the Del Mar Oaks GI on turf, and the Ashland GI on synthetics. Devil May Care captured two GI’s in 2010. She won the Mother Goose GI, and the Coaching Club American Oaks GI. Havre de Grace defeated Blind Luck in the Cotillion.
Older Male – *Blame secured his spot as the best older male of 2010 with his win over Zenyatta in the $6 Million Breeders’ Cup Classic GI. Blame was a three time GI winner in 2010. He also won the Stephen Foster GI and the Whitney GI. Quality Road had a solid 2010. He was a three time GI winner in 2010 as well. He captured the Donn Handicap GI, Met Mile GI, and the Woodward GI. Haynesfield had a solid 2010. He won the Jockey Club Gold Cup GI over Blame. He also won the Suburban GII. Richards Kid took a pair of GI’s in California. He won the Pacific Classic GI and Goodwood GI.
Older Female – *Zenyatta remained the dominating force of this division. She was the best in 2010. She tied a North American record with her 19th consecutive win-tying Peppers Pride, and won 5 consecutive GI races in 2010. Zenyatta also broke the all-time North American female earnings record. She retired with career earnings of over $7 Million to pass Ouija Board. Zenyatta’s only defeat was by a head in the Breeders’ Cup Classic GI to Blame. Unrivaled Belle captured the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic GI over Blind Luck. Life at Ten was a 5 time winner in 2010, including wins in the Ogden Phipps GI, and the Delaware Oaks GII.
Turf Male – *Gio Ponti repeats as ThorougbredZone’s best male turf horse in the country in 2010. Gio Ponti was a two time GI winner in 2010. He won the Man o’ War GI overcoming a turtle like pace. In September he won the Shadwell Turf GI mile at Keeneland. He ran 2nd in three other GI’s in 2010-including a 2nd place finish to Goldikova in the Breeder’s Cup Mile GI. And was 4th in the $10 Million Dubai World Cup. Paddy O’ Prado had a big 2010 on the turf. He was a winner four times in 2010. He won the Colonial Turf Cup GII and the Virginia Derby GII. And the Secretariat GI. Winchester was a two time GI winner in 2010-wins included the Manhattan GI, and the Turf Classic GI. Champ Pegasus took the Del Mar Handicap GII and the Clement Hirsch GI in California.
Filly And Mare Turf – *Goldikova gets the nod this year for being the best female turfer in the land. She only raced once in the US in 2010. She won the Breeders’ Cup Mile GI for an unprecedented third consecutive year in a row. I normally do not think that awards should be given to horses with only one race in North America, but she was spectacular, and proved she is a one of a kind thoroughbred. Proviso (GB) was a four time GI winner in 2010. She won the Fred Kilroe GI, Just a Game GI, Diana GI, and the First Lady GI. She had a super year.
Male Sprinter – *Big Drama’s win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint GI secured his spot as the best sprinter in the land in 2010. He also won the Smile Sprint GII at Calder back in July. Majesticperfection was on his way to being the best in 2010, until and injury derailed that bid. He was an impressive winner in the Vanderbilt GI at Saratoga. Discreetly Mine had a big 2010 until he was injured and retired. He won the Amsterdam GII and Kings Bishop GI at Saratoga.
Filly And Mare Sprinter – *Dubai Majesty capped her 2010 campaign by winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint GI. The win makes her the best filly and mare sprinter in the land for 2010. In all Dubai Majesty won four times in 2010, and earned over $1 Million. New York bred Fanny Freud won the Prioress GI, but was injured and retired. Rightly So won the Ballerina GI at Saratoga.
Horse Of The Year – *Zenyatta is the best horse in the land for 2010. She was a five time GI winner in 2010. Her only blemish was a narrow head loss to Blame in the Breeders’ Cup Classic GI. She tied a North American record last year winning her 19th consecutive race. She also became the all-time leading female money earner. She was once again phenomenal, as she has been in every one of her career races. Blame had a great year as well. He won the Breeders’ Cup Classic GI by a hard fought head over Zenyatta. In all Blame was a three time GI winner in 2010. The battle for top honors is close, but Zenyatta deserves to be called the best horse in the USA in 2010. You can read more here-Zenyatta Earned 2010 Horse Of the Year On The Track
Steeplechase – *Slip Away edged out Arcadius in this department. Slip Away was a 25 length winner in the Colonial Cup GI at Camden, SC. He earned $191,500 in 2010. Arcadius won the Helen Haskell Sampson Stakes GI. He earned $124,500 in 2010.
Race of The Year – *The Breeders’ Cup Classic GI. The race captivated a nation, and it delivered a thrilling finish as Blame edged out Zenyatta. The memories of this race will last a lifetime. (NTRA Moment of the Year)
Top Trainer – John Shirreffs guided Zenyatta through another nearly perfect 2010 campaign, and was a portrait of class, and an ambassador of the sport throughout Zenyatta’s career. He is a world class horseman, and he gets best trainer in 2010. Todd Pletcher and Steve Asmussen of course had more wins, and bigger earnings, but John Shirreffs did a brilliant job with Zenyatta.
Breeder – *Adena Springs continued to roll along as one of the best breeding operations in the land. Adena Springs bred winners earned $13,638,355 on the track in 2010.
Top Owner - *WinStar Farm was best in 2010. They won the Kentucky Derby with Super Saver, and the Belmont Stakes with Drosselmeyer. WinStar Farms top the charts in the earnings department as well. WinStar Farm horses earned $5,183,379 in 2010. Midwest Thoroughbreds led the nation with most wins. They had 310 winners from 1,157 starters.
Top Sire - Giant’s Causeway is the 2010 best sire of the year. He once again had another super year. His progeny continued to win at a high rate.
Top Jockey - *Ramon Dominguez is the best jockey of 2010. Ramon Dominguez led all jockeys in the US in earnings in 2010. His mounts brought home $17,411,880. He was also 2nd in the nation with wins. He had 369 wins from 1,475 mounts. Garret Gomez had $16,889,037 in earnings. John Velasquez brought home $16,743,328 in earnings.
Top Apprentice Jockey – *Omar Moreno led all apprentice jockeys in wins and earnings in 2010. He won 144 races from 1002 mounts. His mounts brought over $5 million in earnings. Angel Serpa won 78 races from 604 mounts. His mounts brought back $2,484,983.
*2010 Eclipse Award Winner
