ThoroughbredZone’s 2006 Awards and Year in Review
The 2006 year in horseracing had its share of up and downs. Here is my take on the 2006 Eclipse voting.
2 year old Colt-.Several two year olds showed promise early one. Eclipse could go to a few, but will settle with the undefeated Tiz Wonderful. Nobiz Like Shobiz’s Remsen win was impressive. Street Sense made a strong case in winning the Breeder’s Cup juvenile.
2 year old Filly-Dreaming of Ana had as a dominant a season has a 2 year old filly can have. She was undefeated in all starts this year and capped it with an impressive Breeder’s Cup victory.
3 year old Colt-As much as I want to say Barbaro should get it, he won’t. It’s very unfortunate that the injury he suffered in the Kentucky Derby ended his career. Who knows what the future would have brought if not for that horrible incident. Bernardini came on the scene in the Preakness and was a force to reckon with all summer. Winning 3 Grade I’s and narrowly missing a win in the Breeder’s Cup Classic. It was a deep crop this year. Showing Up had a great year as well, so did Henny Hughes and the lightly raced Discreet Cat. ThoroughbredZone picks to Bernardini as the top 3 year old of 2006.
3 year old Filly- You can make a case for a few 3 year olds here. It’s that close, but based on 3 Grade I wins, it’s fair to say Bushfire should get the nod for top 3 year old filly. She has beaten each of the other two top choices for the award in 2006 Wait a While and Pine Island. And she has also lossed to both this year. The win against Wait a While was on the dirt in April at Keeneland, and as we know Wait a While turned into a monster on the grass, and beat her elders in the Grade I Yellow Ribbon. Pine Island defeated Bushfire in the Gazelle, but narrowly defeated by her in the Mother Goose.
Older Filly or Mare-Top honor goes to Fleet Indian who had a super 2006 year. She rode a 6 race winning streak into the Breeder’s Cup, winning most of those by daylight. Game win in beating Balletto in the Beldame. She was simply better than the rest this year in this division.
Turf Male-A tough one, but based on 3 Grade I’s English Channel should get the nod for his 2006 season. English Channel won 3 Grade I’s this year and beat one of the contenders for an Eclipse in this division Cacique twice, although Cacique did beat him in the Manhattan. Miesques Approval had a great 2006 as well, finishing it off with a win in the Breeder’s Cup mile. Both Lava Man and The Tin Man also get consideration for their seasons as well.
Turf Filly or Mare- This could be tight, but the winner is….Wait A While as she was just sensational this year when she made the move to the lawn. She captured two Grade I wins in California and beat is a 3 year old who beat her elders in the Yellow Ribbon in an impressive romp. Gorella is another main contender for the award won the Beverly D in at Arlington Park in what was one of the most impressive moves we have seen by a horse all year as she went 6 wide circling the field. However that was her lobe Grade I win in 2006. If the Grade I‘s win accounts for anything, Wait a While has two. Oujia Board is regarded as one of the best mares in the world, but only the Breeder’s Cup win is not enough for me to get it.
Sprinter- I have made a case for Discreet Cat, but based on the true sprint distance of 6 furlongs and what have you done for me lately, Thors Echo notched the award with his late season heroics in the Breeder’s Cup Sprint and Defrancis Dash, both Grade I’s. Those were his only two wins of the year, but they were big ones. Leave no doubt though; the Cigar Mile has impacted the sprint division in the past. Henny Hughes had a big year as well, and if not for a disastrous Breeder’s Cup Sprint might have been able to get the award. Bordonaro won three times this year and was very fast in each win including a Grade I.
Trainer-Todd Pletcher broke the single season earnings mark for a trainer, so with that said he is a no brainer to capture the Eclipse for top trainer. Scott Lake was on pace to break the single season mark for most wins until he had to serve his suspension.
Owner- Cases can be made for several, but I feel Roy and Gretchen Jackson should get the award. They owned and bred both Barbaro and Showing Up who had super 2006 seasons, and were humble and courageous through the entire Barbaro situation. They also bred George Washington, winner of three Grade I’s in Europe including the 2000 Guineas the same day Barbaro won the Kentucky Derby. Now that’s a true daily double. Darley and Shadwell stables are also leading contenders for the award amassing several million dollars in purses with their Grade I winning Bernardini and Jazil.
Jockey- As of now Garret Gomez leads in total purse money and has had arguably his best year yet as a jockey.
Apprentice- Julien Leparoux led the nation in wins in what a huge accomplishment for an apprentice.
Horse of the Year-The top award of the year is HOY. And the ThoroughbredZone horse of the year is?Cases can be made for at least three, but if accomplishments on the track are the main criteria for the award, it has to go to Invasor for his perfect 2006 season which he won four Grade I’s and capped it with a win in the Breeder’s Cup Classic. Lava Man was a Grade I winner on dirt as well as grass. If he was able to put together a better run in the Classic, he could have very well have an argument, but the case against him is he raced in California all year. He did race often though and should count for something. Barbaro would get the award based on what he has meant for the sport, his gameness in fighting a life threatening injury and the attention he brought to horseracing; however HOY does not take into account those variables off the track.
Race of the Year-No Eclipse for this, but ThoroughbredZone gives it to the Florida Derby. Barbaro won a ding dong stretch battle over Sharp Humor, propelling him to a win in the Kentucky Derby.
Here is a look back at other happenings in 2006.
Highlights of 2006
The story of Barbaro of course is something we will never forget. It was an up and down rides of the high of winning the Kentucky Derby, to the dreadful low of his breakdown in the Preakness Stakes. And the story is still not over. He is well on his way to recovery.
Russell Baze becomes the all-time winning jockey passing Lafit Pincay.
Jerry Bailey retires, capping a Hall Of Fame career. He joined ESPN/ABC as a racing analyst.
Fernando Jara the 18 year Panamanian wins the Belmont Stakes and Breeder’s Cup
Classic
Dr. Dean Richardson, the vet who has done a magnificent job in saving Barbaros life.
The new and improved Gulfstream Park opens, however some might consider this a
Lowlight
Perfect Drift competes in his record fifth straight breeder’s Cup Classic
The introduction of synthetic races surfaces to Keeneland and Hollywood Park, ushering in the era of poly track.
ESPN televises its first Breeder’s Cup, ending the run of NBC which had televised every Breeder’s Cup race prior to this year.
The reopening of the Fairgrounds after hurricane Katrina ravaged the track in 2005.
Apprentice Julian Leparoux leads the nation in wins.
Lowlights of 2006
Barbaro breaking his hind leg in the Preakness Stakes
Big name trainers Scott Lake, Steve Asmussen and Todd Pletcher all won tons of races, and all faced suspensions for drug positives.
Bernardini and Henny Hughes both retired prematurely for breeding purposes, good for owners, bad for race fans.
The Triple Crown series was broken up into different networks….The Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes were televised on NBC, while The Belmont Stakes. Don’t get it.
The sad ending of 2005 champion sprinter Lost In the Fog who lost his battle with cancer
Ouija Board in what was to be her final race in Honk Kong comes up lame forcing her to scratch.
Trevor Denman in his first shot at calling the Breeder’s Cup was not as sharp as one would hope.
Pine Island and Fleet Indian both breaking down in the Breeder’s Cup Distaff, Pine Island had to be euthanized.
The 16 million dollar buy Green Monkey has yet to make a start, word is he is not that fast.
Arlington Parks string of breakdowns this summer
Lion Heart
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