Test S. | Horse Racing Free Tips

2023 Media Eclipse Awards Winners Include TDN Writers’ Room Podcast

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters have announced the winners of the 2023 Media Eclipse Awards in six categories.

The 2023 Media Eclipse Award winners are as follows:

Multimedia – TDN Writers' Room Podcast – “Wade and Carson Yost,” Sept. 20, 2023; Thoroughbred Daily News

Gulf War veteran Wade Yost and his son, Carson, joined TDN Writers' Room podcast hosts Bill Finley, Randy Moss, and Zoe Cadman on Sept. 23 for an in-depth and emotional discussion of Carson, a 31-year-old stricken with Wolf-Hirschorn Syndrome and a Grade I-winning 2-year-old, Carson's Run, named in his honor.

“I was watching the NYRA show the day that Carson's Run made his first start at Saratoga, and Maggie Wolfendale interviewed Terry Finley in the winner's circle after he won, and they talked about the story behind the naming of the horse,” said Susan Finley, Thoroughbred Daily News Publisher. “Bill Finley contacted Terry and wrote a story for that day's TDN, and when Carson's Run won the GI Summer S., Bill decided to invite Wade Jost onto the Writers' Room. We were all very moved by his openness and honesty, and his willingness to discuss Carson's situation and struggles, and what Terry's friendship and the naming of the horse has meant to him.”

“All the credit to Wade Jost, and the incredible team that combines to produce the TDN Writers' Room every week; our hosts Bill Finley, Randy Moss, and Zoe Cadman, to our producers, the TDN's Katie Petrunyak and Anthony LaRocca, and our editors Alia LaRocca and Nathan Wilkinson from the PW Media Group.”

Wade Jost added, “It's phenomenal. Overwhelming is the only word I can use. It makes us feel good that people look at this and hear this type of story and say, 'you know what, we have a story we want to tell, too.' That's awesome. It's about Carson, but also the stories written about him and, of course, your podcast. You did a great job with that and I appreciate the opportunity to have had that conversation. We continue to grow with Carson's Run and the whole horse racing industry and can't wait to see where it takes us and where it takes Carson. All the stories that go along with him are pretty phenomenal.”

Writing – Feature/Commentary – Tim Layden, NBCSports.com – “Maple Leaf Mel and the long arc of a horse racing tragedy,” Nov. 1, 2023

Tim Layden, a writer-at-large for NBC Sports, won his fourth Media Eclipse Award for “Maple Leaf Mel and the Long Arc of a horse racing tragedy.” Layden related the story of Melanie Giddings, the trainer and cancer survivor of undefeated 3-year-old filly Maple Leaf Mel–named after Giddings–who suffered a fatal injury while leading the GI Test S. at Saratoga Aug. 5.

Writing- News/Enterprise – Sean Clancy, The Saratoga Special – “The Worst Test,” Aug. 6, 2023

Sean Clancy was not originally assigned to cover the Test S. at Saratoga on Aug. 5, but sprang into action and wrote a news account of the race of the tragic consequences of the fatal accident to Maple Leaf Mel and the reactions of individuals surrounding the event.

Clancy is the co-editor and publisher of The Saratoga Special along with his brother, Joe, which they co-founded in 2001. This is the second Eclipse Award for Clancy.

Live Television Programming – NBC Sports – “The Breeders' Cup World Championships,” Nov. 3-4, 2023; Lindsay Schanzer, Senior Producer

For the fourth consecutive year, NBC Sports has won the Eclipse Award for Live Television Programming for its broadcast on NBC, Peacock, and the USA Network, of the two-day coverage of the 40th Breeders' Cup World Championships from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

Feature Television Programming – Woodbine Entertainment: “SECRETARIAT The Last Race,” – Oct. 8, 2023. Airing on TSN (The Sports Network) in Canada. Tammy Gillanders, Producer

“In SECRETARIAT The Last Race,” the Woodbine Entertainment broadcast team produced a retrospective of the last race of the 1973 Triple Crown winner's career in the Canadian International on the turf at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. The feature aired on Oct. 8, 2023, on TSN (The Sports Network) during the 2023 running of the Canadian International.

Photography – Carolyn Simancik – “Trading Horse Paint,” (Cody's Wish/National Treasure battle in Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile) The Press Box, Nov. 4, 2023

Carolyn Simancik, who has been photographing for Eclipse Sportswire since 2018, captured the most dramatic finish of the 2023 Breeders' Cup World Championships in “Trading Horse Paint,” which appeared on the Press Box website on Nov. 4, 2023.

Media Eclipse Award winners will be presented their trophies at the 53rd Annual Eclipse Awards Ceremony and Dinner at The Breakers Palm Beach in Florida on Thursday, Jan. 25.

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In Tragedy’s Aftermath, Humanity, Humility Rule the Day

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — With a simple but poignant salute Sunday morning, trainer Brendan Walsh honored Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic) the ill-fated standout of the GI Test S., by giving the winner's blanket of flowers for the race to her trainer she was named for: Melanie Giddings.

The flowers were placed as a memorial at the front of the filly's vacant stall.

Maple Leaf Mel, unbeaten in her five-race career, was on her way to victory Saturday afternoon when she suffered the injury about 10 yards from the finish. A moment or two later, Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), trained by Walsh for Godolphin, reached the wire first. While people wept in the suddenly hushed season-high crowd of 43,788–a record attendance for a Whitney Day crowd–Maple Leaf Mel was euthanized on the track just past the finish line.

Although it was bright and sunny at historic Saratoga Race Course Sunday, the palpable grief lingered.

While the program continued after the tragic incident in the Test, there was no ceremony after the 98th running of the $500,000 seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies.

“We didn't feel it was right to go back to the winner's circle,” Walsh said. “Nobody wanted to.”

Sunday morning, Walsh's assistant, Charlie Lynch, was able to locate the white floral arrangement from the New York Racing Association and he and Walsh took it to Giddings.

“We weren't sure whether it'd be a nice thing or not to do it,” Walsh said, “but the team and Godolphin, they were all for it as well. And I think Melanie liked it. So, it was nice.”

Walsh and Giddings are stabled close to each other near the Oklahoma training track. He said she thanked him for giving her the flowers.

“I can't imagine what she's gone through in the last 12 hours,” Walsh said softly. “It's just devastating.”

Walsh said it was right to credit Maple Leaf Mel for how well she ran in what would have been her first Grade I victory for Giddings and owner Bill Parcells. She quickly took the lead out of the gate and posted early fractions of :22.28 seconds, :44.58 and 1:09.34.

“She was the best horse in the race,” Walsh said. “It was just horrible that happened. When I think about it, if it happened to (Pretty Mischievous), I'd be in an absolute mess.”

Maple Leaf Mel's injury came at the end of a gallant effort under jockey Joel Rosario and instantly changed the mood at the track. Rosario, who was unseated and fell hard on the track, was taken to Albany Medical Center to be checked for injury. The NYRA press office reported Sunday that he was body sore and needed some stitches to his lip. He took off his mounts Sunday.

Giddings took to Twitter early Sunday morning to express her thanks for the outpouring of support. Later in the day, she spoke with the NYRA notes team.

“She was my little traveling buddy. It's a sad day,” she said. “It's what she loved to do. She never looked worse than when she came in from two months at the farm. She just loved running and she loved being here at the track. That's what she loved the most.”

Walsh said he does not know the longtime exercise rider and first-year trainer well. Just after the accident, as her New York-bred filly was being tended to, Walsh tried to support and console Giddings.

“She was out in the track yesterday and I went over and gave her a hug, because she was just stood there crying,” he said. “I felt so bad.”

Parcells named the filly for Giddings, a native of Canada who was an exercise rider for his trainer Jeremiah Englehart. When Giddings, a cancer survivor, opened her own stable earlier this season, Parcells moved the filly to her stable. He also supported her by sending her some other horses.

The compelling story of the Maple Leaf Mels quickly provided the fledgling trainer with an identity in the racing, which Walsh noted is important.

“Certain horses, they take you from starting off and nobody takes any notice of you,” he said. “And then you win a graded stake with a horse and then a certain horse, like we say, Maxfield, took us to the next step. Now this filly has taken us to where we won a Classic with her. They do so much for us. I can't describe how much you appreciate them for it.”

The Whitney program is the second-biggest day on the Saratoga calendar. With good weather and a strong card loaded with stakes it attracted a big, joyous crowd. The early racing was very exciting. The atmosphere changed when Maple Leaf Mel was injured.

“There was a buzz about the place when I was walking down to the paddock. Nice crowd,” Walsh said. “I came back up to the test barn and I went back down again, an hour later, and it was like somebody had stuck a pin in the balloon. The place was just deflated.”

After a slight pause, Walsh punctuated his thoughts.

“It just kind of tore the heart out,” he said. “It's the last thing that we needed.

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Background Check: Test

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is the GI Longines Test S., a prestigious 3-year old filly event on the Saratoga calendar for the past century.

Ah, the Test, the glorious Test. Remember the scintillating call–already 20 years ago–by Tom Durkin during the epic stretch battle between You and Carson Hollow? This race has been so good for so long. At seven furlongs since its second edition, it has delivered pulsating stretch drives year after year and a number of top fillies–both sprinters and routers–have won it. With a few years skipped since it was inaugurated in 1922 and multiple divisions other years, history has recorded 109 individual winners of the Test. How have they fared as broodmares?

Following are the most compelling Test winners in reverse chronological order. They are not reviewed here by their own pedigrees or race records, but simply by what impact they have delivered through their sons and daughters.

Cavorting (2012, Bernardini–Promenade Girl, by Carson City): Normally, we wouldn't have such a young mare with so few foals on this list, but the sky is clearly the limit for Cavorting. Her first foal is Stonestreet's MGISW Clairiere, who put herself atop the mares in the country in the July 24 GII Shuvee S. at the Spa and is headed next to the Aug. 27 GI Personal Ensign S. Cavorting is by the nation's current leading broodmare sire and her second foal, 3-year-old La Crete, was a stakes winner before suffering a condylar fracture in February. She's got one more waiting in the wings, a 2-year-old Curlin full-brother to Clairiere named Judge Miller. She was also bred back to Curlin for 2023.

Dream Rush (2004, Wild Rush–Turbo Dream, by Unbridled): This is another still-active Stonestreet mare who has done enough to merit a mention. Her first foal was 2012 GI Frizette S. winner Dreaming of Julia, who in turn produced last year's 3-year-old filly champion and MGISW Malathaat. Dream Rush has also added three more stakes performers to her tally, including MGSW Dream Pauline.

November Snow (1989, Storm Cat–Princess Alydar, by Alydar): Although she didn't produce a stakes winner herself, her daughters and granddaughters have already produced Irish champion Anthony Van Dyck (Ire), New Zealand champion Bounding (Aus), and U.S. GISWs Morning Line and Express Train.

Gold Beauty (1979, Mr. Prospector–Stick to Beauty, by Illustrious): From her four starters, Gold Beauty hit home runs with multiple European champion Dayjur and MGISW Maplejinsky. Among her descendants are champion Sky Beauty; MGISWs Tale of Ekati, Point of Entry, and Pine Island; Breeders' Cup winner Pleasant Home; and a number of other top-notch GSWs.

Blitey (1976, Riva Ridge–Lady Pitt, by Sword Dancer): Mares don't come grander than this Phipps matriarch. Among the top runners in her dynasty are champion Heavenly Prize; MGISWs Dancing Spree, Finder's Fee, Good Reward, and Flightline; and GISWs Furlong, Fantastic Find, Oh What a Windfall, Dancing Forever, Persistently, and Instilled Regard.

More Than Ready is a product of the 1977 Test winner's son | Louise Reinagel

Northern Sea (1974, Northern Dancer–Sea Saga, by Sea-Bird {Fr}): Although the Grade I winners tracing to her include General Challenge, Notable Career, and Evening Jewel, it's her MGISP son, Southern Halo, who is cemented in many pedigrees of today. The Argentinean sire sensation's biggest contribution to American and Australian racing is his own son, the eternally youthful WinStar stallion More Than Ready.

Ivory Wand (1973, Sir Ivor–Natashka, by Dedicate): If she had done nothing else than produce the unraced dam of 2004's leading U.S. sire Elusive Quality–in turn the sire of current leading U.S. sire Quality Road–she would have been a success. However, Ivory Wand also had other notable descendants including U.S. champion Anees, Irish champion Rossini, and MGISW Grand Couturier (GB).

Numbered Account (1969, Buckpasser–Intriguing, by Swaps): Like Blitey (above), Numbered Account will forever be labeled as a Phipps blue hen. Her foals included MGISW Private Account (also sire of Phipps champion and eventual Broodmare of the Year Personal Ensign) and GISW Dance Number (dam of champion Rhythm). Numbered Account's tail-female descendants include Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and GISWs Imagining, Girolamo, Bluegrass Cat, Frost Giant, and Got Lucky. In addition to Private Account, sires tracing to her range from Maryland sensations Not for Love and Polish Numbers to Dramedy, sire of 2020 Canadian Horse of the Year Mighty Heart.

Ta Wee (1966, Intentionally–Aspidistra, by Better Self): This stellar handicapper produced four stakes winners from her five named foals, including Great Above, most appreciated as sire of Horse of the Year Holy Bull, and Tweak, great-granddam of GSW Miss Macy Sue. The latter has produced four stakes winners from five foals to race, including runaway leading third-crop sire Not This Time and current top five fourth-crop sire Liam's Map.

Not This Time's dam traces to 1969 Test winner Ta Wee | Jon Siegel

Moccasin (1963, Nantallah–Rough Shod II {GB}, by Shimmer): Although she didn't launch quite the dynasty of her full-sister, Thong, without whom there would be no Sadler's Wells, Galileo (Ire), Frankel (GB), or even Nureyev, Moccasin was no slouch in the breeding shed. Her seven–yes, seven–stakes winners from eight starters included English and Irish champion Apalachee and Irish champion Belted Earl. Among the next generation out of her daughters and granddaughters are GISW Hail Atlantis, dam of sire Stormy Atlantic and granddam of GISW Bandini, and Australian G1SW and ill-fated young sire sensation Northern Meteor (Aus).

Discipline (1962, Princequillo {GB}–Lady Be Good, by Better Self): A slew of nice horses trace to this Wheatley Stable/Phipps mare, including champion Finest City, MGISWs Goodbye Halo and Val's Prince, and GISWs Squander and Burning Roma.

Glamour (1953, Nasrullah {GB}–Striking, by War Admiral): The matriarch Numbered Account (above) is a granddaughter of Glamour, as is Playmate, dam of Irish champion and influential sire Woodman. Her son, Poker, is best remembered as broodmare sire of both Horse of the Year/breed-shaping sire Seattle Slew and champion Silver Charm. A number of other top horses trace to her, including GISW Lady Shirl, who has started her own legacy in the last two decades with GISW descendants Lady Speightspeare (also a Canadian champion), Shakespeare, Perfect Shirl, and Shirl's Speight.

Blue Banner (1952, War Admiral–Risque Blue, by Blue Larkspur): Her daughter, Key Bridge, was Broodmare of the Year in 1980 after producing 1970 Horse of the Year Fort Marcy, 1972 champion and stellar stallion Key to the Mint, and two other stakes winners. Among those tracing to Blue Banner is current European sire phenomenon Wootton Bassett (GB).

Vulcania (1948, Some Chance–Vagrancy, by Sir Gallahad III {Fr}): It's partially her doing that Vagrancy (below) is regarded as a top-flight broodmare. Vulcania is responsible for a number of outstanding tail-female performers, in particular through her daughter, Legato, who was a heck of a producer. Tracing to her is Broodmare of the Year Banja Luka, Horse of the Year Ferdinand, Breeders' Cup winner Artie Schiller, and MGISWs Tallahto, Prince True, and Hidden Light.

Candy Ride's sire is inbred 4×3 to the 1948 Test winner | Lane's End

Alablue (1945, Blue Larkspur–Double Time, by Sir Gallahad III {Fr}): The dam of Spinaway winner Alanesian and Bernard Baruch winner Middle Brother, as well as great-granddam of champion Revidere, Alablue has a number of top-class stakes winners and highly influential sires among her descendants. They include Boldnesian (grandsire of Seattle Slew) and Cryptoclearance (grandsire of Candy Ride {Arg}). Candy Ride's sire, Ride the Rails, is actually inbred 4×3 to Alablue.

Miss Disco (1944, Discovery–Outdone, by Pompey): The 1958 Broodmare of the Year gave us a giant of the breed: Horse of the Year and eight-time leading sire Bold Ruler.

Vagrancy (1939, Sir Gallahad III {Fr}–Valkyr, by Man o' War): She is responsible for English champion Black Tarquin and important broodmare Vulcania (above); her daughters and granddaughters produced Broodmares of the Year Banja Luka and Natashka, as well as Ivory Wand (above); and champions Ferdinand, Distant Relative (Ire), and Questing, among others, all trace to her.

Imperatrice (1938, Caruso–Cinquepace, by Brown Bud): In addition to her six stakes winners, Imperatrice is the dam of Broodmare of the Year Somethingroyal, who produced two-time Horse of the Year Secretariat and excellent sire Sir Gaylord. She is also an influence in the Quarter Horse breed through her Coaching Club American Oaks-winning daughter, Scattered, whose great-grandson, Dash for Cash, is the Northern Dancer of racing Quarter Horses.

Speed Boat (1930, Man o' War–Friar's Carse, by Friar Rock): Take a look at this mare's pedigree if you'd like to see some really interesting inbreeding, which must have worked because the female lineage she left was responsible for Horse of the Year Sword Dancer (who sired not only Damascus, but also Lady Pitt, who was a big part of the Phipps breeding empire through her daughter, Blitey {above}), Belmont/Travers winner Hail to All, champion Level Best, and a number of other high-caliber winners.

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Jockey Miguel Mena Dies

Journeyman jockey Miguel Mena was struck and killed as a pedestrian on Interstate 64 near Louisville the evening of Oct. 31, according to a tweet from Daily Racing Form's Marty McGee, who confirmed the information with Mena's close friend, trainer Al Stall, Jr.

Mena, 34, began riding in this country in 2003, posting his first victory at Gulfstream Park that September. According to his biography on the Keeneland website, Mena's father Jose was also a jockey, while his uncle was a trainer.

“I used to go to the race track all the time,” he said. “I was watching my dad ride and I wanted to do what he was doing. I got the idea in my head when I was a kid that I'm going to be a jockey.”

According to the Keeneland bio, Mena was grooming horses by the age of 11 and at 14, he started at the Jorge Bernardini Yori Jockey School in his native Peru, whose graduates also included Edgar Prado and Rafael Bejarano.

According to Equibase statistics, Mena rode the winners of 2,079 races, earning his first graded success aboard Go Between in the 2007 GII Fayette S. at Keeneland. His first Grade I winner came aboard Champagne d'Oro for Eric Guillot in the 2010 GI Test S. at Saratoga and he also won the 2011 GI Stephen Foster H. atop longshot Pool Play for Mark Casse. Mena's most productive year in the saddle was in 2012, when his mounts earned better than $6.2 million. Mena had two rides on Keeneland's closing day program Oct. 30.

More to follow

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