2012 Eclipse Awards: The Selections

personally, i think Little Mike should get Champion Turf Male.

Singspiel

my favorite: what was the only Eclipse winner who never ran in the US?

rafirox, at the beginning of the season she was a dead closer. Her style didn't change until later

This is how it sometimes gets at Eclipse time; like reading about horses you've never heard of, but with the same names as your favorites.

Dani, I haven't read the argument, but I read your last post. I just want to point out that Royal Delta isn't a "Dead Closer" Did you watch her BC Ladies Classic? She set fast fractions, and won. And she is usually stalking the pace, not too far off it.????

Benji, one, i'm a girl just read the bio and look at the picture on my blog, there is nothing sir like about me. Two, not nearly old enough to be called anything close to sir. One reason i consider Groupie Doll well beaten by both is she had no reason to lose to RD, who ran her down over a very speed favoring track. If a horse is ahead of another by that much of a margin at Gulfstream and cannot hang on to a dead closer like Royal Delta, then yes i consider her well beaten. She had more conditioning at that point, the track bias in her favor and still could not hold off RD, who was far from her best that day. Also, I never said she was not a superstar. She is, as a sprinter, and your statement "when she wins every race boys/girls between 6 fir and a mile." She is a brilliant sprinter, and most likely a hall of famer. But your question was why is she not in the top three for older female. Simply because every time she stepped outside of her division as a sprinter or as a female she lost. She lost to Boys and Stay Thirsty, then to Royal Delta and AM. She had an awesome year. What she does next year remains to be seen. If they want more than top sprinter with her they will have to aim higher than just sprints.

Dani you sir are a moron. You said she was well beaten by both Awesome Maria And here is the kicker Dani "AND" Royal Delta. put you're pipe down and pay attention. She was wll beaten by Awesome Maria but not by Royal Delta. It may have even been a photo. let's see what you have to say next year when she wins every racy Boys/Girls between 6 fir and a mile. She is a superstar in the making even if you don't realise it. The only reason we're not discussing the outside chance at her being HOY is because Stay Thirsty ran the race of his life to win over her in a headbob, and she was tired after being the only horse to come from behind after a wide trip at Santa Anita to dominate her BC race....

What are all of these "agrees" about Beholder? Sorry, I'd like to see that case made. Also about My Miss Aurelia. If the answers are "I think she's the best, even though the record doesn't show that this year", I may as well take a nap. But seriously, interested in how this decision was made by anyone. Thanks.

I'm surprised that you didn't choose Wise Dan for Champion Older Male. I'm not sure that I agree with Zagora for champion turf female; Lady of Shamrock has more G1 wins, but Zagora did win the head-to-head match-up. I can't see the case for MMA as champion 3-year old filly, and I think Executiveprivilege should get the Eclipse over Beholder.

Id give little mike the turf... share the wealth

She was at the top of her game most days. She finished third and was well beaten. Last time i checked being beaten over 5 lengths is beaten soundly. You also cannot dispute the one major fact as to why she cannot be placed higher than IMO and IT. Every time she stepped outside of her division she lost.

Dani, Check your facts! Royal delta beat Groupie doll by a foot in the Sabin. Though i guess in your book a foot is well beaten??? Admittedly, Awesome Maria beat both of them badly, but she was at the top of her game that day.

Benji, those thirds were in two grade one races not some optional claimers. She has a valid argument and right to be where Brian has put her. One of the thirds, was the BCLC, arguably the toughest field assemble in this year's BC, easily in the top three toughest. Groupie Doll may have gone on a winning streak her first three starts were losses. When she did venture beyond a mile she was well beaten Awesome Maria and Royal Delta. While she has had a great season within her own division, whenever she ventured out of it, she was beaten. There is no argument. She did well in her own division, but lost whenever she stepped out. That makes her champion sprinter this year. Nothing else.

Include me out 3rd....3rd.... It's Tricky is a fair argument.

Vinery Madison at Keeneland grade 1, April 12,2012. Groupie Doll beat the 2011 Female Sprint Champion in that race. Aqueduct Distaff grade 2, 4/14/12. It's Tricky beat CC's Pal and Nicole H. That scheduling trade off doesn't work out.

benji, you asked. I gave you facts. You act as if they did nothing to deserve that when it couldn't be farther from the truth. She is deserving within her division. She did not step out and dominate. Her longest start was at a mile this year and she was beaten both times. She never went to face any of the two you taken down in order for her to be moved up, and yes there was one oppertunity for her to face It's Tricky, as that one competed at 7f ealier in the year. Also, while not impossible to win two eclipse awards it is highly unlikely that a sprinter would be voted top anything in any other division but their own. A versatile horse who can sprint and route can win more than one award easily, but a pure sprinter's chances at being voted anything other than champion sprinter are slim to none.

Dani your argument implies that a horse can't win 2 awards (wrong!) secondly since you seem to want to throw stats around. Groupie doll won 5 graded stakes in a row including three grade 1's and two grade 2's. I just respectfully disagree that a horse should be given acknowledgement when another horse ie" Groupie Dol"l is more deserving.

Beholder over EP.. I have to laugh. Beholder's G1, MSW and Allowance score above EP's 2 G1s and G3 and LS, as well as MSW? It isn't best horse, Brian, it is best season. Beholder got lucky at SA, at Churchill the results would've been VERY different

There is an award for female sprinter, that is what Groupie Doll will get seeing as how it is that division she dominated. It's Tricky won three graded stakes in a row and ran now worse than third in her other two starts this year. Include Me Out won four graded stakes and was also no worse than third this season. They deserve the position Brian has given them.