In this week’s edition of the Eclipse Award Discussion we will be going over the two sprint divisions and eventually deciding who deserves the Eclipse Award for Top Sprinters.
Scott Dick: The Eclipse Award for Top Sprinter in the Filly and Mare division seems to be a two horse race between Musical Romance and Turbulent Descent. Musical Romance is the dominating winner of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, but, her only other graded stakes victory was in the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes. Is her Breeders’ Cup victory enough to merit the Eclipse Award?
Chris Sorenson: Maybe. Once she was able to get out of Gulfstream, she turned things around and actually had a pretty good season, not missing the board in any of her remaining races. Two wins and two places in graded stakes races might be good enough.
SD: She is 5 for 14 on the year, yes she had a couple tough luck beats in the grade I Princess Rooney Stakes at Calder and the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland, but, can you really say she is the top of her division win she’s lost 60 % of her races this year?
CS: I do believe her credentials speak for themself, with that being said, I do not think she is the winner of this award.
SD: So which of these talented mares do you believe merits the award?
CS: Turbulent Descent, sir.
SD: Musical Romance and Turbulent Descent are definitely the class of this conversation, with that being said, both of them notched one grade I victory sprinting, Musical Romance’s grade I win was in the biggest race of the year in her division, what makes you believe Turbulent Descent deserves the award more than Musical Romance?
CS: The body of work. Turbulent Descent dominated the west coast earlier in the year, shipped east and continued to do well at Keeneland, Belmont, and Saratoga. Again, it was just an unfortunate start out of the gate at Churchill that prevented her from doing a lot better.
SD: Bad break or not, Musical Romance beat Turbulent Descent head to head. They both have a win and a second in grade I sprints. Shouldn’t Musical Romance’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint rank higher than Turbulent Descents win in the grade I Test?
CS: It wasn't a match race. There are other horses in the race and a different circumstance could have changed everything. When you look at the work done during the whole season, Turbulent Descent had the better run.
SD: So in your opinion the Eclipse Award for Top Filly or Mare Sprinter is Turbulent Descent?
CS: Yes she is.
SD: I will have to disagree with you here Mr. Dark Horse. Being the “Chicago Dark Horse” I thought you would go with the under-dog here. I don’t play by what if’s and what could have beens, the fact of the matter is Musical Romance won the toughest sprint race of the year for fillies and mares. Her Breeders Cup win along with 4 other wins this year is enough to earn the award in my opinion. Turbulent Descent did not win a race against older competition this year. Thus, Musical Romance has my vote for the Eclipse Award in the Filly and Mare Sprint Division.
SD: On to the boys. This is such a contentious group. Amazombie won back to back grade I races to finish of the season. He dazzled in the Ancient Title at Santa Anita, he was even more impressive in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Amazombie closed like a freight train to catch the “all but home” leader Force Freeze. How good was Amazombie this year?
CS: Well, Amazombie was certainly impressive this year. He never finished off the board in any of his 2011 starts and he had wins in several wins in graded stakes company, including the grade II Portero, the grade I Ancient Title, and of course the grade I Breeders' Cup Sprint.
SD: I’m going to bring up a name that we’re both very familiar with, Caleb’s Posse. Yes, Caleb is a strong contender for this award. He was undefeated around 1 turn, he won the grade II Amsterdam and the grade I King’s Bishop stakes. He also won the grade I Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Many people consider the 1 turn mile lay out at Churchill Downs an “elongated” sprint. What do you think about Caleb’s Posse in this division?
CS: He's the champ! I have believed all along that Caleb's Posse is the champ. I have mentioned this in our previous banter and in other circles. His performance this year has been impressive beyond any others.
SD: So you believe if Caleb’s Posse’s connections would have chosen to go in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint instead of the dirt mile he would of defeated Amazombie?
CS: That's really a tough call. However, the horse is so versatile, being able to win at 7 furlongs in the Kings Bishop to two turns in the Ohio Derby, that yes I think he could have beaten Amazombie.
SD: That is not the question Mr. Sorenson ... Do you think he WOULD have beaten Amazombie in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint?
CS: Yes. He would have beaten Amazombie in the sprint.
SD: What about Jackson Bend? He finally found his niche sprinting. He’s always been very classy, but boy did he show us how good he was when was allowed to sprint. His win in the grade I Forego stakes was EYE POPPING. His win in the non graded “graded” James Marvin Stakes was also dazzling. He made a huge move against the 2 year old champ Uncle Mo in the Kelso stakes eventually finishing second. Jackson Bend was just too far behind to make up the ground in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, but he finished a respectable third behind Amazombie and Force Freeze. What are you feelings on Jackson Bend?
CS: I have always been a fan of Jackson Bend and I was always happy that the connections finally found a distance at which he could succeed. With that being said, he won only one minor stake and one graded stake. The rest of the season was not very impressive.
SD: Who gets the Eclipse Award for Top Sprinter?
CS: Caleb's Posse
SD: I am extremely torn in making this decision. Both Amazombie and Caleb’s Posse are deserving, but, the fact Caleb’s Posse was undefeated in one turn races is going to sway me towards making him the Eclipse Award Winner in the sprint division.