While I feel Rapid Redux should be recognized at the Eclipse Awards for his accomplishment, I do not believe that he deserves HOY because of the level of competition/races he has participated in. My vote would go for Havre de Grace. This year she won 5 races--3 GI and 2 G2 that included a win in the Woodward against the boys. Her only defeats were in the G2 Delaware Handicap by a nose to the great Blind Luck and a fourth place finish in the BC Classic. In the Classic, she overcame traffic problems, being bumped and was still finishing strongly in the end, so her loss was respectable. Curlin won HOY honors in 2008 with a similiar record: 5 wins/4 GI and one ungraded race in Dubai, a second in the Man o' War and a fourth place finish in the BC Classic. Now, I realize that one of Curlin's wins came in the Dubai World Cup--a race that adds extra points to ones resume when reviewing championship honors, but we have to keep in mind the type of year it has been in 2011. Havre de grace's record has been solid and consistent ALL year, so I hope the voters recognize this and give her the year end honors.
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