It’s January, which means it’s almost time for the Eclipse Awards, the most prestigious awards in American horse racing. A large number of Eclipse Award finalists made their way through Saratoga this year, as well as Keeneland and Belmont where I visited, In this post, I will share photos of some of them.
Just F Y I is a finalist for Two-Year-Old Filly. The Bill Mott trainee was unbeaten in three starts last year, which included a pair of Grade I wins in the Frizette Stakes at Belmont at the Big A and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita Park. She is pictured above just after breaking her maiden at Saratoga.
Pretty Mischievous is a finalist for Three-Year-Old Filly. The Brendan Walsh trainee’s biggest win this year came in the Grade I Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. She also won the Grade I Acorn Stakes at Belmont and is acknowledged as the winner of the Grade I Test Stakes at Saratoga. She never finished worse than second in all her starts last year and was her sire Into Mischief’s highest earner, with earning of over $1.7 million.
Randomized is also a finalist for Three-Year-Old Female. Last year she won the Wilton Stakes and the Grade I Alabama Stakes at Saratoga, the Grade II Beldame Stakes at Belmont at the Big A, and was second in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
Arcangelo is a finalist For Three-Year-Old Male. Last year his historic wins in the Grade I Belmont Stakes and the Grade I Travers Stakes made his trainer, Jena Antonucci, the first female to saddle a classic winner and the second to saddle a Travers winner.
Mage is another finalist for Three-Year-Old Male. He had two wins this year, one being the Kentucky Derby. He also finished second in both the Grade I Haskell Stakes and the Grade I Florida Derby and third in the Grade I Preakness Stakes. He is pictured above at the Oklahoma Track at Saratoga, being held by assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado, Jr.
Maple Leaf Mel is a finalist for Female Sprinter. The Melanie Giddings trainee won the East View Stakes at Aqueduct, the Grade III Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, and the Grade III Victory Ride Stakes at Belmont Park. Sadly, Maple Leaf Mel was taken from us before she could reach her full potential, but in my book, she proved herself a champion.
Echo Zulu is another finalist for Female Sprinter. The Steve Asmussen trainee was undefeated in three graded stakes last year, including the Grade I Ballerina Handicap. Sadly, the filly suffered a career-ending injury at Santa Anita Park while training for the Breeders’ Cup. She underwent life-saving surgery and is reported to be recovering well.
Goodnight Olive is the third finalist for Female Sprinter and also a finalist for Older Dirt Female. The Chad Brown trainee never finished off the board in five graded stakes last year, capping it all off with a repeat win in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
Elite Power is a finalist for Male Sprinter and Older Dirt Male, and is a possible finalist for Horse of the Year. The Bill Mott trainee won four graded stakes this year and finished second in a fifth, ending with a repeat win in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Cody’s Wish is a finalist for Male Sprinter and Older Dirt Male, and a likely finalist for Horse of the Year. The Bill Mott trainee won four graded stakes this year and finished third in a fifth, ending with a repeat victory in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
Gunite is the third finalist for Male Sprinter. The Steve Asmussen trainee won three stakes races last year, including the Grade I Forego Stakes at Saratoga, and never finished off the board in any of his starts.
In Italian is a finalist for Female Turf Horse. The Chad Brown trainee won two Grade Is, the Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland and the Just a Game Stakes at Belmont Park. She finished second in another pair of Grade Is, the Diana Stakes at Saratoga and the First Lady Stakes at Keeneland.
Up to the Mark is a finalist for Male Turf Horse. The Todd Pletcher trainee won three Grade Is this year: the Turf Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs, the Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park, and the Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland. He also finished a very close second to Auguste Rodin in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, and finished third in the Grade I Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland.
Idiomatic is a finalist for Older Dirt Female and a likely finalist for Horse of the Year. The Brad Cox trainee won seven of her eight starts last year, including five graded stakes: the Grade III Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs, the Grade II Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park, the Grade I Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga, the Grade I Spinster Stakes at Keeneland, and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita Park.
Clairiere is the third finalist for Older Dirt Female. The Steve Asmussen trainee won a pair of Grade Is last year: the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park and the Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park. The also finished second in a pair of Grade IIs: the Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park and the Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga.
White Abarrio is the third finalist for Older Dirt Male. The Rick Dutrow trainee won a pair of Grade Is last year: The Whitney Stakes at Saratoga and the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park. He also finished third in the Grade I Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park.
Irad Ortiz, Jr. is a finalist for Outstanding Jockey, with earnings of over $39 million. Some of his Grade I wins last year include the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, the Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita Park.
Tyler Gaffalione is another finalist for Outstanding Jockey, with earnings of nearly $30 million. Some of his Grade I wins last year include the Jaipur Stakes at Belmont Park, the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, and the Forego Stakes at Saratoga.
Flavien Prat is the third finalist for Outstanding Jockey, with earnings of over $26 million. Some of his Grade I wins last year include the Diana Stakes, the Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes and the Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga, and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita Park. Prat also tried his hand at driving last year when he competed in a charity match race against driver Brett Beckwith at Saratoga Harness.
Jaime Torres is a finalist for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. He was also NYRA’s leading apprentice jockey last year.
Bill Mott is a finalist for Outstanding Trainer. He has three finalists in Cody’s Wish, Elite Power, and Just F Y I. Some of his other top horses last year included Channel Maker, Art Collector, Casa Creed, and War Like Goddess.
Chad Brown is another finalist for Outstanding Trainer. He has three finalists in Goodnight Olive, In Italian, and Randomized. Some of his other top horses last year included Zandon, Program Trading, and Hard to Justify.
Brad Cox is the third finalist for Outstanding Trainer. He has one finalist in Idiomatic. Some of his other top horses last year included Wet Paint, Angel of Empire, West Will Power, and Saudi Crown.
Klaravich Stables is a finalist for Outstanding Owner. Some of their top horses last year included Randomized (pictured), Program Trading, and Marketsegmentation.
Juddmonte is another finalist for Outstanding Owner. Some of their top horses last year included Idiomatic (pictured), Elite Power, and Set Piece.
Godolphin is the third finalist for Outstanding Owner and also a finalist for Outstanding Breeder. Some of their top horses last year included Cody’s Wish (pictured), Proxy, and Pretty Mischievous.
Stonestreet is another finalist for Outstanding Breeder. Some of their top horses last year included Clairiere (pictured), Goodnight Olive, and Pauline’s Pearl.
The Eclipse Awards are on January 25, and will air on FanDuel.
To see more of my equine photography, be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and X. All photos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
One thought on “2023 Eclipse Awards Finalists at Saratoga and Beyond”
Comments are closed.
Nice post!