The Best of Illinois Racing in 2014

It’s that time again. With the Eclipse Awards in the books, I am happy to shine the spotlight on the home team. Whether they were running at Arlington Park, Hawthorne Race Course, Fairmount Park, or racetracks outside the state, I always enjoy keeping track of those bred in the Land of Lincoln, and led by a big win in the Breeders’ Cup, it was a great year for the Illini breds. Who were the top thoroughbred horses bred in Illinois in 2014? Here are my selections...

Two-Year-Old Male:

Recount, Dom the Bomb, Giantstepsbdancing

He only ran three times, but all three were very good, culminating with a hard-fought victory in the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity. His success against solid open company makes this a simple decision in favor of the son of Limehouse. Dom the Bomb gets a chance to start off 2015 in a big way in tomorrow’s Holy Bull Stakes.

Two-Year-Old Filly:

Timeaday, Tizgorgeous, Razamajazil

Another pretty clear cut decision here, as the John Cox trained filly compiled an excellent 5-4-0-1 record last year. She easily defeated her closest competition for the award in the Showtime Deb Stakes, and her only defeat came in a race against the boys.

Three-Year-Old Male:

I Got It All, Afortable, Urban Cool

Highlighted by a win against open company in the Straight Line Stakes at Arlington, I have little doubt that this gelded son of Tiz Wonderful was the best three-year-old in the state last year. He won 4-of-7 in 2014, including a nice win late in the year at Keeneland. I’m looking for even better things from the Tom Swearingen runner in 2015.

Three-Year-Old Filly:

Lovely Loyree, Brazen Appeal, Pistols Drawn

If you are wondering about the weakest division in Illinois last year, hands down it was the sophomore fillies. No one scared Untapable here, but in the end I landed on a capable enough turf filly who did win 4-of-9, and held her own against older state-breds, and open three-year-old fillies, in a pair of stakes races.

Older Male:

Work All Week, The Pizza Man, Suntracer

With all the good Illinois-bred turf horses, it should not have been easy to to take the award away from them, but there can be doubt that is exactly what the gelded, sprinting son of City Zip did with five wins, and a second, in only six starts in 2014 … and oh yeah, he won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint!

Older Female:

La Tia, Lion D N A, Diva’s Diamond

This one is a slam dunk. Her top competition for this award may have won three stakes in New York and Maryland this year, but when La Tia capped off her excellent year with a win in the Grade 1 Matriarch, the fat lady had sung. She raced all over and she ran well everywhere. By the end of the year, which saw four stakes wins, she was on a short list of the best turf mares in America.

Male Sprinter:

Work All Week, Luv Bandit, I Got It All

Dominant. It’s interesting to note that the Midwest Thoroughbreds' star was undefeated in every state but Illinois in 2014.

Female Sprinter:

Lion D N A, My Option, Royal Posh

She did not race in Illinois this year, and may not have been the most consistent mare out there, but the daughter of Lion Heart gets the nod over My Option thanks to three stakes wins in 2014: The Interborough and Correction at Aqueduct, and the Skipat at Pimlico.

Male Turf Horse:

The Pizza Man, Suntracer, Coalport

With Arlington's very best racing coming coming on the grass, it should come as no surprise that many of the state's best horses are turf specialists, and none were better than The Pizza Man. He may have lost a few tough ones to close the year, but the son of English Channel proved once again to be a top notch turf runner. His seasonal highlight was an impressive win over Dandino in the $400,000 American St. Leger. The Pizza Man’s lifetime turf record is 19-12-1-2.

Female Turf Horse:

La Tia, Alette, I O Ireland

Local fans had little doubt, especially after her coming with 1 ½ lengths in the Grade 1 Beverly D., but when La Tia went to New York to win the Grade 3 Athenia, and then to California to score in the Grade 1 Matriarch, she happily demonstrated her class and ability to a national audience.

Horse of the Year:

Work All Week, La Tia, The Pizza Man

I'm a big fan of The Pizza Man, and the way La Tia closed the season was strictly top notch, but there can be no denying the excellence of Work All Week. He is the Illinois-bred Horse of the Year.