2015 Racing Recap from A to Z
The calendar is about to turn its last page, but before 2016 begins let’s take a look back at some of the horses, people, and controversies of 2015; A to Z style.
A – American Pharoah – The Triple Crown winner and his owner Ahmed Zayat provide the best A to Z choices ever. The American Pharoah team did so much to make it clear that thoroughbred racing is very much alive and well in 2015.
B – Bob Baffert – All of the pieces came together for the white haired, west coast based, Hall of Fame trainer. After failing to win the Triple Crown in the past, Baffert made history when American Pharoah erased 37 years of Triple Crown frustration.
C – Colic – Racing fans were once again reminded of the fragile nature of thoroughbreds when the talented champion Shared Belief succumbed to the unpredictable ailment, colic.
D – Dortmund – If asked, many experts would say that Dortmund was the second best three-year-old of the year. After all, his only two losses were to American Pharoah in the Derby and Preakness. Dortmund would return to impressively record two stakes wins in California.
E – Events – Racing’s biggest events produced very big crowds in 2015. Arkansas Derby 72,484; Kentucky Derby 170,513; Preakness 131,680; Belmont Stakes capped at 90,000; the Haskell 60,983. Where American Pharoah went; racing fans turned out in force.
F – First-Time Starters – The 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra produced only two foals as a broodmare. In 2015, first Rachel’s Valentina and then Jess’s Dream would win in their initial starts at Saratoga.
G - Grand Slam - When American Pharoah added the Breeders’ Cup Classic to his Triple Crown victory; racing was able to claim its very first Grand Slam winner.
H – Honor Code – There is nothing more exciting in racing than a deep closer coming from far back to rally to victory. Honor Code did that twice in spectacular fashion, first in the Met Mile rallying from 14 lengths behind to beat Tonalist and then in the Whitney from 19 ¼ lengths to catch Liam’s Map by a neck.
I – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Ortiz is the leader of the next generation of American jockeys. At a young age, he knows how to combine finesse with aggression to get to the winner’s circle. In 2015, he is currently second in overall earnings. Winning this year’s title at Saratoga was quite an achievement for the 23-year-old.
J – Javier Castellano – Castellano is at the top of American jockeys. He has won the last two Eclipse Awards and the most graded stakes races for the past two years. In 2015, he won the most money and 17 grade one stakes.
K – Keeneland – The Breeders’ Cup went back on the road to make its first appearance at Keeneland Race Course. Fears that the small track would create an uncomfortable setting were unfounded as the 2015 World Championships were a wild success.
L – Liam’s Map – This Todd Pletcher runner remains the focal point of discussion about the merits of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Racing fans talked about whether there is a need for the race, and why Liam’s Map should have run in the Classic. Debate aside, the grey son of Unbridled’s Song won the Dirt Mile in courageous fashion and now is a leading candidate for the Eclipse Award for Older Dirt Male.
M – Ryan Moore – From his record setting performance at this year’s Royal Ascot meeting, to the Breeders’ Cup, to Hong Kong, jockey Ryan Moore was hard to beat in the biggest races all around the world.
N – John Nerud – The elder statesman of thoroughbred racing died at the age of 102 in August. An Eclipse Award winner and a member of the Hall of Fame, he is most famous for being the trainer of the great Dr. Fager. He was also one of the founders of the Breeders’ Cup.
O – Aidan O’Brien – Trainer Aidan O’Brien continued to show European trainers how to win at the Breeders’ Cup. With Found and Hit It a Bomb, O’Brien upped his career BC victories to ten.
P – The Pizza Man – This Illinois-bred grass specialist rose from his Chicago roots to national prominence and a likely Eclipse Award as the Top Turf Male after big wins in the Arlington Million and the Hollywood Turf Cup.
Q – Queen of the Turf - In 2015, Lady Eli resumed her winning ways with three spectacular stakes wins and the Chad Brown-trainee upped her unbeaten record to six. After stepping on a nail, Lady Eli successfully fought off laminitis and has returned to training in Florida.
R – Runhappy – With his most recent win in the Malibu (G1), Runhappy put together one of the best campaigns of the year. His Eclipse Award as best Male Sprinter will cap a year that was filled with headlines of success and controversy.
S - Sports Illustrated – America’s leading sports magazine was at center of controversy in the world of thoroughbred racing. After his Triple Crown victory, American Pharoah shared the cover of SI with a grandstand full of fans who were capturing the historic moment with their electronic devices. Of course, the year ended with SI’s controversial decision for Sportsman of the Year.
T – The Three-Year-Olds – At the start of 2015 this crop of three-year-olds was hyped as one of the best in many years. It began with Dortmund, Firing Line, and American Pharoah and it continued with Frosted, Keen Ice, Texas Red, and Runhappy. One does not need to say much more than Triple Crown to give this class of sophomores a very high rating.
U – Uncle Mo – Uncle Mo has transferred his talent as a runner to his offspring. The former Repole Stable runner is the leading first year sire with 37 wins from his first 70 runners, including Nyquist, the unbeaten Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champion.
V – Victor Espinoza– If you were part of the Triple Crown winner’s team, be it as assistant trainer, owner, groom, or jockey; you became a celebrity. Nobody enjoyed the spotlight more that rider Victor Espinoza, who made many mainstream television appearances, including a spot on Dancing With the Stars.
W – War Emblem – War Emblem joined Silver Charm to retire at Old Friends in Georgetown, KY. Both of the former Baffert runners won the first two jewels of the Triple Crown and returned to the USA from stallion duty in Japan. Silver Charm won just under $7,000,000 in his career compared to $3,500,000 for War Emblem.
X – Xtra Heat – Champion three-year-old filly Xtra Heat was part of the 2015 Hall of Fame class that included Lava Man, Chris Antley, and King Leatherbury.
Y – You’re Out – Those were the words that stirred up one of the year’s biggest controversies and it certainly is one that I would rather not get started again. The day after Runhappy’s Breeders’ Cup victory trainer Maria Borell was told that she was out as conditioner of the country’s best sprinter.
Z – Mr. Z – Mr. Z started the year on the Kentucky Derby trail while running for trainer D. Wayne Lukas and Zayat Stables. After a 13th place finish in the Derby, it took a change of ownership to allow the horse to make a start in the Preakness. An eighth place finish in the Nov. 27 Clark Handicap would bring his 2015 stats to 12: 1-1-3 for $660,652.