The Eclipse Awards: Very Early Predictions
While the debates rage on over who will, and who will not, be voted in as the 2011 Eclipse Award winners, I’ve decided to take a somewhat different approach. I’ve fired up the ZATT time machine and jumped forward just a little bit. Call it a fool’s mission if you must, but I’m only trying to have a little fun with some reasonably well thought out projections for the 2012 racing season.
Clearly my juvenile picks are shots in the dark, but they represent a couple of yearlings that I was very impressed with at their respective sales…
Champion Two-Year-Old Colt – (Midnight Lute – Secret Liaison, by Housebuster)
Champion Two-Year-Old Filly – (Indian Charlie – Lu Ravi, by A.P. Indy)
I consider Union Rags to be the best two-year-old I saw this year and the grand looking youngster should only improve for trainer Michael Matz as he learns more about racing. Miss Netta is a dark horse, but I have a strong feeling that we have seen nothing close her best just yet…
Champion Three-Year-Old Male – Union Rags
Champion Three-Year-Old Filly – Miss Netta
PrePeg? Yes, PrePeg. This is a horse I loved this spring, and I believe a healthy 2012 for him could culminate with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita. I gave strong consideration to Royal Delta on the female side, but in the end, Grace is just too good…
Champion Older Male Horse – Premier Pegasus
Champion Older Female Horse – Havre De Grace
We are due for a three-year-old champion sprinter and who better than this talented Florida bred for trainer, Teresa Pompay. A healthy Turbulent Descent gets the job done next year…
Champion Sprinter – Currency Swap
Champion Female Sprinter – Turbulent Descent
Mr. Commons and Winter Memories are two horses of great potential that I have loved from the beginning. In 2012, they will realize that potential…
Champion Male Turf Horse – Mr. Commons
Champion Female Turf Horse - Winter Memories
You already know my early pick for the Breeders’ Cup Classic…
Horse of the Year – Premier Pegasus
There you have it, eleven predictions sure to entertain a least a ghost of a chance for 2012 glory. Don’t laugh, this was not easy … Have any very early predictions of your own?