ECLIPSE AWARD FINALIST

RUFFIAN

Horse of the Year candidates California Chrome, Bayern and Main Sequence led a talented group of horses, jockeys, trainers and owners as finalists named Wednesday for the 2014 Eclipse Awards that recognize excellence in thoroughbred horse racing.

The winners will be announced at the 44th annual Eclipse Awards dinner and ceremony Saturday evening, Jan. 17, at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino in Hallandale Beach, Fla. The Stronach Group and Daily Racing Form sponsor the event and Eclipse Awards.

California Chrome, who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, also is a candidate for top 3-year-old along with Shared Belief and Bayern.

The results showed that 265 of the 280 eligible voters too part in this year’s voting, representing a 94.6 percent participation. 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 2014 Eclipse Awards finalists (in alphabetical order) are:

Horse of the Year: Bayern, California Chrome, Main Sequence

Two-Year-Old Male: American Pharoah, Hootenanny, Texas Red

Two-Year-Old Filly: Condo Commando, Lady Eli, Take Charge Brandi

Three-Year-Old Male: Bayern, California Chrome, Shared Belief

Three-Year-Old Filly: Stopchargingmaria, Sweet Reason, Untapable

Older Male: Main Sequence, Palace Malice, Wise Dan

Older Female: Close Hatches, Dayatthespa, Don’t Tell Sophia

Male Sprinter: Goldencents, Private Zone, Work All Week

Female Sprinter: Artemis Agrotera, Judy the Beauty, Sweet Reason

Male Turf Horse: Karakontie (JPN), Main Sequence, Wise Dan

Female Turf Horse: Crown Queen, Dayatthespa, Stephanie’s Kitten

Steeplechase Horse: Demonstrative, Divine Fortune, Makari (GB)

Owner: Kaleem Shah, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Ken and Sarah Ramsey

Breeder: Adena Springs, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Winchell Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Bob Baffert, Chad Brown, Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Javier Castellano, Joel Rosario, John Velazquez

Apprentice Jockey: Angel Cruz, Taylor Rice, Drayden Van Dyke

Several Eclipse Awards already have been announced. Longtime New York Racing Association track announcer Tom Durkin, who retired last year, will receive the Eclipse Award of Merit. Old Friends Farm will be recognized for its work with retired racehorses by receiving an Eclipse Special Award. And Jose Arias, who is based at Surfside Race Place at Del Mar, will receive an Eclipse Award as Handicapper of the Year. Arias, a 37-year-old environmental safety engineer from Bell Gardens near Los Angeles, won $750,000 by taking the 15th National Handicapping Championship last January.

The Eclipse Awards will be televised on HRTV. They’re named for 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. The Eclipse Awards are given to horses and individuals whose outstanding achievements in North America have earned them the title of Champion in their respective categories.