Championships on the line at the 2014 Breeders’ Cup
Not only does the 2014 Breeders’ Cup weekend at Santa Anita offer the biggest two days in American racing, but by my count, ten of the eleven Eclipse Awards, available to the thoroughbreds running of the flats, are still very much up for grabs. What happens on Friday and Saturday at Santa Anita in the World Championships could decide them all.
Champion two-year-old male: If this division were decided today, there would be little doubt that the two impressive Grade 1 victories by American Pharoah in the Del Mar Futurity and FrontRunner would be enough to secure a championship, but of course, the season is not over yet. The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is full of talented young colts ready to give the favorite their best shot, and wins by almost any would move them to the head of the class.
Champion two-year-old filly: With no clear cut leader of the division, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies should go a long way in deciding things, especially if a previous stakes winner like Angela Renee carries the day. If nothing impressive happens on the dirt, there are a few in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, such as Sunset Glow, who could become the first winner of the race to earn an Eclipse Award.
Champion three-year-old male: California Chrome and his five stakes wins in the first five months of the season, including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, still leads the pack, but with two out of the money performances in his only starts since, his lead is tenuous, and he cannot afford another poor finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The unbeaten Shared Belief, as well as, Tonalist and Bayern are ready to swoop in and earn the award with a win on Saturday. In fact, Shared Belief could win the award with a good loss in the Classic, while finishing ahead of California Chrome.
Champion three-year-old filly: Untapable is the one horse who I believe, no matter how she does on Friday, already has clinched the award as the best sophomore filly in the land. She’s 5-for-5 against her peers this year, and she’s done it with absolute flare in many of the division’s most important races. A victory in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff would only be a cherry on top of an outstanding 2014.
Champion older male: Palace Malice and Wise Dan have been the two best older males in the country this year on dirt and turf respectively. Neither is around to run in the Breeders’ Cup, though, so the Classic and the BC Turf offer one more chance for someone to step up and surpass the leaders. If no older horse wins the Classic, or no American wins the Turf, my choice for this award would go to Palace Malice, as Wise Dan has the Male Turf award to collect.
Champion older female: With four graded stakes wins, including three of the Grade 1 variety, to begin the year, Close Hatches is close to clinching the top honors, especially with the two-time champion Beholder on the sidelines. However, another defeat like she suffered in the recent Spinster, and the door would be wide open for one of the, as others to run through. Don’t Tell Sophia, Iotapa, and Belle Gallantey all have done enough this year to move to the top spot with a win in the Distaff.
Champion turf male: This one should come down to one of two horses. Undefeated in four starts this year, the two-time defending Horse of the Year, Wise Dan is on the verge of collecting his third consecutive Turf Championship, and despite not running in the Breeders’ Cup, he would be a sentimental choice to do just that. However, the season Main Sequence is having cannot be ignored. If he can add victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, he would match Wise Dan’s perfect record in 2014, plus he would have one more Grade 1 win, and a victory in America’s most important turf race, as well.
Champion turf female: Another division still very much up in the air as we descend upon Santa Anita. Stephanie’s Kitten would be my choice as the best turf female in the nation this year, but with only win in 2014, the only way she wins a championship, would be with a victory in the Filly & Mare Turf. While that race looms vital for deciding the Eclipse Award, the Turf, Mile, and even Turf Sprint could have a say in which way this division is decided when the awards are presented.
Champion male sprinter: The most successful American sprinter so far this year has been Palace, with three graded stakes wins. Those wins will not get him very far towards a championship if he is beaten in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, though. In fact, with no clear leader of this division, the winner of the Sprint will have a great chance to carry the trophy all the way to am Eclipse Award as Sprint Champion.
Champion female sprinter: There is no Groupie Doll in this division this year. What we do have is a wide open Filly & Mare Sprint that likely will decide a championship. Sweet Reason, Judy The Beauty, Artemis Agrotera, and Leigh Court might be the most likely candidates, but this race is setting up to be a crapshoot. As an alternative to the Filly & Mare Sprint winner, watch out for Free as a Bird in the Turf Sprint. A sixth straight stakes win would certainly make her an interesting candidate.
Horse of the Year: While the two turf stars, Wise Dan and Main Sequence, are still in the race, it is the three-year-old stars running in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, who have the inside track to America’s biggest award. If anyone of the big four of California Chrome, Shared Belief, Tonalist, or Bayern can win the richest race in the United States on Saturday, it is my belief that they would pair up their Three-year-old Championship with the Horse of the Year award.