tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post8226291912465029483..comments2008-12-30T00:11:25.925-05:00Thoroughbred Timeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505501317110881454noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post-37024723462064879432008-12-29T22:49:00.000-05:002008-12-29T22:49:00.000-05:00love your choices.proud spell has earned it.curlin has earned.blessing is a great filly but spell did take herbelles forevernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post-47394500053638732432008-12-29T18:22:00.000-05:002008-12-29T18:22:00.000-05:00UPDATE: I am voting for Indian Blessing as champion female sprinter.Pete Denkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06989887522791571581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post-65135317688658620062008-12-29T14:32:00.000-05:002008-12-29T14:32:00.000-05:00Hi Julie. I have not voted yet, as I wanted to wait for all the G1s to be run.<BR/><BR/>Indian Blessing looked great in the La Brea, didn't she? I'm going to post a short blog entry about that race later today.Pete Denkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06989887522791571581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post-63487141092312542582008-12-29T14:00:00.000-05:002008-12-29T14:00:00.000-05:00Have you actually voted yet? If not, does Indian Blessing's grade I win over the weekend affect your thinking at all?Julie C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post-78455822507202579662008-12-23T09:47:00.000-05:002008-12-23T09:47:00.000-05:00Hey Pete! Well done for the blog. I thought a lot of your pieces are very interesting. Great thoughts on the year end awards. I agree with you 100%! Carrie BrogdenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post-16776669845149307212008-12-19T16:48:00.000-05:002008-12-19T16:48:00.000-05:00I thought the Classic made sense for Zenyatta since it was on her home circuit and she was 7-for-7 on the synthetics. But had she won the Big Cap or the Pacific Classic that would have worked too.<BR/><BR/>Would the racing world be better off if Zarkava had been kept in races restricted to fillies? Goldikova? Rags to Riches?!<BR/><BR/>A Curlin Vs. Zenyatta matchup in the BC Classic would have been HUGE for racing.<BR/><BR/>As for Eclipse eligibility, the Dubai races are included. A horse needs only run one race in North America.Pete Denkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06989887522791571581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post-21030212131296616502008-12-18T17:43:00.000-05:002008-12-18T17:43:00.000-05:00You say that Zenyatta needed to race in the Breeders' Cup Classic in order to be seriously considered for HOY, whereas when you talked about Curlin, you downplayed his relatively poor performance in the Classic by saying that the race's impact is lower this year due to its being on a synthetic surface. Either the Classic is really important in determining whether a horse should be HOY, or it isn't. Also, aren't the Eclipse awards supposed to only take into account races run in North America?Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150784544949254610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post-41151738744989297402008-12-18T15:50:00.000-05:002008-12-18T15:50:00.000-05:00Peppers Pride is not a contender for an Eclipse Award because she never ventured out of statebred company in New Mexico. A horse has to win a graded stake, and in most cases a Grade 1, to be included in the Eclipse past performances.Pete Denkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06989887522791571581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post-26971597805364069842008-12-18T13:13:00.000-05:002008-12-18T13:13:00.000-05:00There should be no question in giving Forever Together an Eclipse Award. For North American earnings, she has more than Curlin!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post-87686811762052352202008-12-18T12:45:00.000-05:002008-12-18T12:45:00.000-05:00Jones DID earn the Big Sport of Turfdom Award for many of the reason, mibredclaimer, so it's not as though he will be closing out 2008 without taking home at least some hardware.<BR/><BR/>But you're right. He's legitimately in the mix. I don't think it's likely he'll win, but it will be interesting to see how the voting shakes out.imascreamerhttp://imascreamer.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post-91644578458929729592008-12-18T12:36:00.000-05:002008-12-18T12:36:00.000-05:00Peppers Pride broke the record for races won in a row by 3! A record previously held by other horses of the year, and a triple crown winner, and he is not even in contention? Maybe I am missing something in this whole award thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post-56288213468429132242008-12-18T12:21:00.000-05:002008-12-18T12:21:00.000-05:00Is Larry Jones getting any buzz for the trainer award?<BR/><BR/>He nearly pulled off the Kentucky Derby/Oaks double and has one of the early hot juveniles in Old Fashioned.<BR/><BR/>He may not have the number of G1 or Breeders' Cup wins as the other contenders, but to do everything he did under the scrutiny he had to deal with ought to at least earn him a seat at the table.mibredclaimerhttp://mibredclaimer.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post-16184499393183736112008-12-17T23:05:00.000-05:002008-12-17T23:05:00.000-05:00Belles Forever- The Alabama really showed Proud Spell's heart. That was one of the great races of the year.<BR/><BR/>To the poster who asked about Midnight Lute...<BR/><BR/>Midnight Lute would be favored, but I don't approach the Eclipse Awards like I'm picking the morning line favorite in a virtual race between the contenders.<BR/><BR/>I think both horses would be worthy winners.<BR/><BR/>(Just to clarify, ML and BtB did not face each other in 2008.)Pete Denkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06989887522791571581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post-76068633958705884552008-12-17T22:06:00.000-05:002008-12-17T22:06:00.000-05:00yeah for proud spell..i just love the little filly with the great big heart..eight belles..has done things for the other horses that never would have happened if she didn't give her life at the derby..she was my derby pick..and a great champbelles foreverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04687137913892256495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post-6058824211077349462008-12-17T13:57:00.000-05:002008-12-17T13:57:00.000-05:00The award is "Champion". Midnight Lute is the "Champion" Sprinter. Who on earth would you bet on to beat him, with your hard earned cash? Plus, Benny could not get close to Lute the 2 times they met head to head,,,,unreal...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post-13138057365550657852008-12-17T13:45:00.000-05:002008-12-17T13:45:00.000-05:00What about Peppers Pride?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post-47000455279258277232008-12-17T12:47:00.000-05:002008-12-17T12:47:00.000-05:00I am a HUGE Kip Deville fan, and I would not have a problem with him as champion turf male. But I could not vote for him with his record of two wins from five starts, and losses in the three most important races he ran. It's too bad he didn't handle the ship to Hong Kong and the right-handed course.<BR/><BR/>As for Conduit, I think he's a wonderful horse. See Eagle Mountain's victory in Hong Kong for some indication of what Conduit beat in the BC.Pete Denkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06989887522791571581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599312760559393858.post-39421008359873686612008-12-17T12:41:00.000-05:002008-12-17T12:41:00.000-05:00Isn't Kip Deville just as worthy a choice for turf male? He was the top American horse from 8-10 furlongs, and his second to Goldikova would have won the Mile most years. Conduit beat an exceptionally weak field. It seems strange to give Conduit an Eclipse off one race but not the superior Goldikova.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com