How Many Eclipse Awards for Team American Pharoah?
How many Eclipse Awards will the connections of American Pharoah receive when the envelopes are opened on Saturday? From trainer Bob Baffert to jockey Victor Espinoza to Ahmed Zayat, they are finalists for six of the Eclipse categories. It will be interesting to see the impact of the Triple Crown victory on this year’s Awards.
Here are the six categories listed in order according to how likely I see Team American Pharoah taking down that particular Award.
1) Three-Year-Old Male
Finalists: American Pharoah, Dortmund, Runhappy
This should be a unanimous decision.
2) Horse of the Year
Finalists: American Pharoah, Beholder, Runhappy
Again, no suspense here, this Award was locked up when Pharoah crossed the finish line at Belmont Park on June 6th.
3) Outstanding Trainer
Finalists: Bob Baffert, Chad Brown, Todd Pletcher
Even though Baffert’s stats for money won and graded stakes victories did not measure up to those of Pletcher and Brown, the Triple Crown momentum will be tough to overcome in this case. Historically, Lucien Laurin and Billy Turner did not win the Eclipse with Secretariat and Seattle Slew. Laz Barrera won the Award in 1978 with Affirmed, but he also won the Eclipse in 1976, 1977, and 1979. Baffert had a good year, maybe not one of his best, with the rest of his stable.
4) Outstanding Breeder
Finalists: Darley, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Zayat Stables
This is the last Award that I feel confident that Team Pharoah will win. In the 1970’s, Christopher Chenery, the breeder of Secretariat, and Harbor View Farm of Affirmed fame both won the Eclipse. Seattle Slew, who was a bargain $17,500 yearling purchase, did not take the Breeder Award for Ben Castleman.
This year, in terms of money won the Ramseys were on top with Darley in second position. Zayat Stables was in fourth, but their earnings came from only 15 wins during the year, which was far below the others.
5) Outstanding Jockey
Finalists: Javier Castellano, Victor Espinoza, and Irad Ortiz Jr.
Victor Espinoza was enormously popular this past year. His face was all over the media after the Triple Crown win whether on the television talk show circuit, Dancing with the Stars, or the social media platforms. However, Javier Castellano dominated the jockey earnings list and he compiled an amazing list of graded stakes victories. Javier is a formidable opponent and he will likely win a third straight Eclipse. Keep in mind that Ron Turcotte, Jean Cruget, and Steve Cauthen did not win the Award in their Triple Crown year.
6) Outstanding Owner
Finalists: Midwest Thoroughbreds, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Zayat Stables
Zayat Stables headed the Leading Owner stats by earnings for 2015. They won more than $10,000,000 for the year topping the Ramseys. The Ramseys are going for a third straight Eclipse in this category and may be hard to beat.
There was no Eclipse given in 1973 and the owners of Seattle Slew, Tayhill Farm and Karen and Mickey Taylor, did not own many horses. In 1978 Harbor View was named Outstanding Owner.
At the end of the Eclipse Award ceremonies at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Team Pharoah is a lock to win three Awards, a good chance to take home four, and a longshot to collect a fifth or sixth.