January, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Eclipse Award Finalists Announced

Knicks Go (Paynter) was one of a dozen winners at the 2021 Breeders' Cup meeting at Del Mar in early November to be named Eclipse Award finalists, as the candidates in 11 equine and five human categories were announced Saturday morning on TVG.

While the finalists for 2021 were not revealed–they will be announced at the conclusion of the Eclipse Award ceremony at Santa Anita Feb. 10–it is a fait accompli that Knicks Go will take home the evening's most coveted award. The grey, winner of the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, capped his 5-year-old season in style with a powerhouse victory in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, easily accounting for 3-year-old Eclipse Award finalists Medina Spirit (Protonico) and 'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit). He was undefeated at two turns in 2021, which also included a pillar-to-post tally in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational and in the GI Whitney S. at Saratoga, where he had older male finalist Maxfield (Street Sense) 4 1/4 lengths behind him.

The sophomore male division will prove one of the biggest cliffhangers at this year's awards ceremony, as voters will have been forced to choose between the season-long consistency of Essential Quality and Medina Spirit, whose Kentucky Derby 'win' remains an open question and whom many will have opposed on non racing-related grounds, but whose resume features a defeat of elders in the GI Awesome Again S. and a superior finish in the Classic. The brilliant 'Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) earned a spot on the ballot courtesy of his towering score in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Knicks Go and Life Is Good are headed towards a highly anticipated clash in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational in two weeks' time.

The Sprint divisions should prove for more interesting theater. In the male sprint category, Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) was routinely the fastest horse over the course of the season, but stubbed his toe on championship day, finishing well behind Aloha West (Hard Spun). There may also be a smattering of support for 'Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit), smashing winner of the GI Runhappy Malibu S. in his graded stakes debut in December.

The same cloud hanging over Medina Spirit looms a factor in whether 'Rising Star' Gamine (Into Mischief) earns a second consecutive female sprint statuette. Not nearly as dominating as she was in 2020, she nevertheless was the only member of the divisional heavies to score multiple times at Grade I level, though she was beaten on the square by Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) on Breeders' Cup Saturday. Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) is a decided outsider.

'Rising Star' Corniche (Quality Road) will be heavily favored–despite some opposition–to give his sire another juvenile champion, and 'Rising Star' Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) looms one of the night's unanimous picks in the fillies' division.

Other Breeders' Cup winners to garner spots on the ballot include GI Juvenile Turf hero Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), one of three BC-winning finalists for his remarkable sire; Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), GI Juvenile Fillies Turf; Space Blues (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}, Mile; Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Turf; and Japan's first Eclipse finalists Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

Noteworthy in the human categories are Godolphin, who are finalists in both the champion owner and breeder categories, and trainer Brad Cox, who conditioned Knicks Go and Essential Quality in a season in which his stable earned record prize money. The same can be said for Joel Rosario, who will be favored to pick up the Eclipse for champion jockey.

2yo Male

Corniche (Quality Road)

Jack Christopher (Munnings)

Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})

2yo Filly

Echo Zulu (Gun Runner)

Juju's Map (Liam's Map)

Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus})

3yo Male

Essential Quality (Tapit)

Life Is Good (Into Mischief)

Medina Spirit (Protonico)

3yo Filly

Clairiere (Curlin)

Malathaat (Curlin)

Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB})

Older Dirt Male

Knicks Go (Paynter)

Maxfield (Street Sense)

Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper)

Older Dirt Female

Letruska (Super Saver)

Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn})

Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil)

Male Sprinter

Aloha West (Hard Spun)

Flightline (Tapit)

Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music)

Female Sprinter

Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot)

Ce Ce (Elusive Quality)

Gamine (Into Mischief)

Male Turf Horse

Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB})

Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})

Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire})

Female Turf Horse

Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn})

Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB})

War Like Goddess (English Channel)

Steeplechase

Baltimore Bucko (GB) (Sholokhov {Ire})

Snap Decision (Hard Spun)

The Mean Queen (Ire) (Doyen {Ire})

Owner

Godolphin LLC

Juddmonte Farms Inc.

Klaravich Stables Inc.

Breeder

Calumet Farm

Godolphin LLC

Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC

Jockey

Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Flavien Prat

Joel Rosario

Apprentice Jockey

John Hiraldo

Charlie Marquez

Jessica Pyfer

Trainer

Steve Asmussen

Chad Brown

Brad Cox

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2021 Eclipse Awards Finalists Announced

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) today announced the finalists for the 2021 Eclipse Awards, recognizing excellence in Thoroughbred racing. Winners in 17 horse and human categories will be announced on TVG, and other outlets, during the 51st annual Eclipse Awards, on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. ET. The evening will culminate with the announcement of the 2021 Horse of the Year.

Of the 245 eligible voters represented by the NTRA, consisting of member racetrack racing officials and Equibase field personnel, the NTWAB, and Daily Racing Form, 235 (95.9%) took part in the voting. Finalists were determined in each category by voters' top three selections, using a 10-5-1 point basis. Eclipse Award winners are determined solely by first-place votes.

The 2021 Eclipse Awards Finalists, with the exception of Horse of the Year, listed (in alphabetical order) are:

Two-Year-Old Male: Corniche, Jack Christopher, Modern Games (IRE)

Two-Year-Old Filly: Echo Zulu, Juju's Map, Pizza Bianca

Three-Year-Old Male: Essential Quality, Life Is Good, Medina Spirit

Three-Year-Old Filly: Clairiere, Malathaat, Santa Barbara (IRE)

Older Dirt Male: Knicks Go, Maxfield, Mystic Guide

Older Dirt Female: Letruska, Marche Lorraine (JPN), Shedaresthedevil

Male Sprinter: Aloha West, Flightline, Jackie's Warrior

Female Sprinter: Bella Sofia, Ce Ce, Gamine

Male Turf Horse: Domestic Spending (GB), Space Blues (IRE), Yibir (GB)

Female Turf Horse: Loves Only You (JPN), Santa Barbara (IRE), War Like Goddess

Steeplechase Horse: Baltimore Bucko (GB), Snap Decision, The Mean Queen (IRE)

Owner: Godolphin LLC, Juddmonte Farms Inc., Klaravich Stables Inc.

Breeder: Calumet Farm, Godolphin LLC, Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC

Trainer: Steve Asmussen, Chad Brown, Brad Cox

Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr., Flavien Prat, Joel Rosario

Apprentice Jockey: John Hiraldo, Charlie Marquez, Jessica Pyfer

In addition to honoring the 17 winners in the horse and human categories, Justin Mustari will receive the Eclipse Award as the 2021 Horseplayer of the Year. Members of the media will be honored for outstanding coverage in six categories.

Eclipse Awards voting is conducted by the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB), the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), and Daily Racing Form. The Eclipse Awards ceremony is produced by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

Eclipse Awards ticket information is available at the NTRA website https://www.ntra.com/eclipse-awards/.

The Eclipse Awards are sponsored by Roberts Communications, Four Roses Bourbon, Daily Racing Form, Breeders' Cup, FanDuel Group, The Stronach Group, Santa Anita Park, TVG, Dean Dorton, Stonestreet Farm, Keeneland, Racetrack Television Network, Jackson Family Wines, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Hallway Feeds and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

The Eclipse Awards are named after the great 18th-century racehorse and foundation sire, Eclipse, who began racing at age five and was undefeated in 18 starts, including eight walkovers. Eclipse sired the winners of 344 races, including three Epsom Derbies.

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‘Family Comes First’: Fernando De La Cruz Wintering At Tampa To Aide In His Brother’s Recuperation

After winning 67 races last season at Indiana Grand, Fernando De La Cruz had planned to shift his winter base from Oaklawn Park, where he'd competed the last four years, to Fair Grounds.

But when younger brother Walter De La Cruz, also a jockey, suffered a concussion and a neck injury last fall, plans changed. With Walter out of action for an unspecified length of time, Fernando decided to return home to Tampa Bay Downs, where he excelled for seven seasons.

Fernando, 35, invited Walter to live with him and his family – wife Rosa and their children, Brian and Norma – at their Tampa home during his recuperation. Walter, who is single, hopes to return to action soon (“he is about 90-percent recovered,” Fernando said), but in the meantime, the unexpected family reunion is working to everyone's benefit.

“Walter is enjoying time with the kids, taking them to the beach, the movie theater, Busch Gardens,” said Fernando, whose return to Oldsmar has resulted in him winning the Salt Rock Tavern Jockey of the Month award. “I ride horses to make a living, but family comes first, no matter what. He is excited to start riding again, and hopefully he will get a release from the doctor to start soon.”

Trainers, owners and fans have welcomed the return of Fernando, who has climbed to fourth in the Tampa Bay Downs standings with 20 winners, raising his career mark to 2,170. Included in that total are back-to-back victories in the Grade 2 Woodford Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select with Bucchero in 2017 and 2018.

“He fits a lot of my horses, and I'm happy to have him on my team at Tampa,” said trainer Anthony Granitz, who also employs De La Cruz at Indiana Grand.

De La Cruz and Granitz have combined for six victories at the meet, including today's second race with Bellarific, a 5-year-old mare owned by Tri County Stables. “He can get a horse to rate and relax, and he's a strong finisher,” Granitz said. “He rides the turf course well, he's patient and he listens to my instructions. Fernando is a hard worker in the morning. He's willing to get on any horse and work with you, and if he doesn't like a horse he'll tell me, which is important because horses are smart and they can sense that.”

At Indiana Grand, where he worked with agent Mike Moran last season for the first time, De La Cruz's victory haul included four stakes races. On Sept. 8, he won both the $150,000 Indiana Grand Stakes with (then)-3-year-old filly Burning Ambition and the $150,000 Caesars Stakes with 3-year-old colt Royal Prince. Both were trained by Brad Cox, best known as the conditioner of Longines Breeders' Cup Classic winner and presumptive 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go.

De La Cruz also won a pair of stakes with trainer Tim Glyshaw's 3-year-old filly, Pearl Tiara: the $150,000 First Lady Stakes on Aug. 4 and the $100,000 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes on June 23. And the rider also won two stakes for Cox at Prairie Meadows in Iowa.

Moran, who also represents defending Oldsmar jockey champion Samy Camacho, said De La Cruz's versatility is a big reason he is successful everywhere he goes. That trait was on display in his two victories Wednesday, when he won a 7-furlong sprint in gate-to-wire fashion on Himelstein and captured a maiden claiming race on the turf with a come-from-behind rally on Golden Rocket.

De La Cruz has won two meet titles at Indiana Grand and one at Hoosier Park, and is showing signs he could contend in Oldsmar.

“Fernando is always focused on riding and goes out and performs to the best of his ability every day,” Moran said. “He's competitive, he likes to ride every race and he wants to contend for leading rider. He's a hard worker who does whatever you ask him to do, and he's a good family man.

“He's the total package for a jockey.”

When De La Cruz returns to the jockeys' room after a winning effort, he is uplifted by bettors and well-wishers who make him feel as though he never left.

“Thanks to God, they remember me. I'm healthy, I'm winning races and I'm competing against a lot of the same guys, so I can't ask for more,” he said. “Tampa is home, and this is such a nice place to live and to ride horses.”

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‘Nice Shoulder And Hip, Good Bone’: Vekoma’s First Foal A Filly At Crowning Point Farm

The first reported foal by Spendthrift Farm's Vekoma, the Met Mile (G1) and Carter Handicap (G1) winner by Candy Ride, is a filly that was born early Saturday at Crowning Point Farm in Paris.

“She's a nice filly, we thought she was a colt because of how big she was from a maiden mare. She has a nice shoulder and hip, good bone and appears to be correct. We are very happy,” said Julie Rini of Crowning Point.

Bred by Loren Nichols, the bay filly is the first foal out of the Bellamy Road mare Bella Alicita, who was stakes placed as a juvenile and is from the immediate family of graded stakes winner Blazing Fury.

Campaigned by trainer George Weaver for R. A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables, Vekoma was an undefeated graded stakes winner at two and four and captured a major Kentucky Derby prep race at three.

After winning on debut in 1:08 4/5, the fast son of Candy Ride earned his first graded win in the Nashua (G3) at Aqueduct to close out his juvenile season. Vekoma scored a decisive win in Keeneland's Blue Grass (G2) at three, and he proved to be one of the best horses in North America as a four-year-old, winning a pair of Grade One races in New York in 2020. Vekoma dominated the Carter (G1) before taking the prestigious Met Mile (G1), and he also captured the Sir Shackleford S. at Gulfstream. His –½ Ragozin number earned from his Carter performance remains the only negative number run on Ragozin this decade.

Vekoma retired to Spendthrift with earnings of $1,245,525 and proved popular among breeders, covering 222 mares in his first book in 2021. The 6-year-old chestnut is set to stand his second season at stud for a fee of $17,500 S&N.

For more information about Vekoma, please contact Des, Mark, or Brian at 859-294-0030, or visit SpendthriftFarm.com.

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