Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Here’s a halfway look at Eclipse Awards

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.

When I worked as track announcer at Garden State Park, N.J. in 1985, a popular local watering spot used to throw a "Half a New Year's Eve" party on June 30. It was a great success. Looking back now, when the real New Year's Eve came what transpired in June seemed like more than just six months removed.

So with that theme in mind, here is a "Half a Year Eclipse Award" preview:

Horse of the year: Last year, Azeri won this award as well as the Older-Female trophy with a Breeders' Cup Distaff victory that capped 8 victories from 9 starts on the season. This year, Azeri has kept defense of her statue with a 3-for-3 record, stretching through a 10-race win streak. She, however, may be challenged for the Horse of the Year Eclipse by the two-thirds Triple Crown victor Funny Cide and whoever ends up as the leading handicap division winner. Right now, that includes Mineshaft, Medaglia d'Oro, Milwaukee Brew, Congaree and, oh yeah, last year's Breeders' Cup Classic winner Volponi.

Older male: See Horse of the Year category and add Kudos and Perfect Drift. Last year, Left Bank won this Eclipse but died before his trophy was awarded.

Older female: Azeri still leads the category as she unanimously garnered last year's title. However, Sightseek, Summer Colony, You and Take Charge Lady are still in the hunt for this year's Eclipse, if Azeri stubs her hoof late in season.

2-year-old, male or female: This category is still too early to gauge with real first-year runners waiting for Saratoga and Del Mar meetings. But where are last year's division winners now? Storm Flag Flying has flopped in her two starts this year and Vindication is said to be in training for his sophomore debut.

3-year-old colt: This year it is all Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Funny Cide along with Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker. They are set to settle their division bids this summer at Saratoga and Monmouth Park before taking on their elders in the fall. Like Vindication, Peace Rules, Atswhatimtalknbout, Kafwain and others are sitting on the sidelines waiting to get back into the game. Last year, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner War Emblem took the hardware. Now he is a disinterested stallion in Japan.

3-year-old filly: Composure started out on top, only to have her racing career cut short. Storm Flag Flying has been a bust. However, Bird Town is the "now" filly with two major stakes in tow as Lady Tak, Elloluv, Awesome Humor and Santa Catarina are set to make midyear moves. Last year, Farda Amiga won while other vote-getters in the category, Take Charge Lady and You, are still racing.

Turf male: This year, Storming Home is the list. He has been awesome while a host of others will sort themselves out in an effort to beat the category leader. Among them are Denon, Redatore, Requete and any invading European. Last year's winner High Chaparrel took the trophy with a single stateside victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf. With Anticipation is the only vote-getter from last year still in competition.

Turf female: Golden Apples took it last year and is in training to return for the second half of the season. But an exciting newcomer has just emerged. Ipi Tombe made her much-anticipated United States debut on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Under an ultra-confident ride by jockey Pat Day, the Zimbabwe-bred mare won the Locust Grove Handicap on the Louisville lawn. The African import stretched her lifetime record to 12 wins from 14 lifetime starts -- including a victory in the $2 million Dubai Duty Free against males in March -- and moves to the top of this class. Her next scheduled start is the July 26 Diana Handicap at Saratoga.

Sprinter: Last year's top three vote-getters are gone. Orientate won. This year, Congaree, Aldebaran, Avanzado, My Cousin Matt, Shake You Down, Captain Squire, Bluesthestandard and previous Eclipse winner Kona Gold are all in position, which means this category is wide open.

Jockey: Last year Jerry Bailey won his sixth trophy in the past eight years. This year, Bailey leads the money-earning list with more than $10 million, followed by Edgar Prado and Pat Valenzuela. Russell Baze has the most winners with 215.

Trainer: Bobby Frankel won last year with 14 Grade I wins. This year, Frankel leads the money-earning list with just under $9.5 million at the halfway point. He has an awesome collection of runners loaded for the second-half fall stakes and Breeders' Cup races. Top horses under the Frankel shedrow include Empire Maker, Madaglia d'Oro, Sightseek, Milwaukee Brew, Peace Rules, Denon, Tates Creek, Megahertz, Aldebaran and You. Scott Lake leads trainers in races won with 230.

Money: Last year 18 horses earned more than a million dollars with War Emblem leading the pack at $3.45 mil. Volponi, with the Breeders' Cup Classic victory, was one of three who climbed over the $2 million mark at $2.3 million. Medaglia d'Oro earned $2.2 million and Azeri $2.1 million. This year at the halfway point there are six horses with earnings topping $1 mil. Funny Cide leads the way at $1,863,200, followed by Empire Maker at $1,836,200, Harlan's Holiday with more $1.5 mil. State City at $1.2 mil., Peace Rules at $1.05 mil. and Mineshaft at just over $1 million in earnings.

Have a Happy Half New Year.

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