ZATT’s Midseason Awards
Never one to wait until the end, before anticipating what might come to be, I offer ZATT's Midseason Awards of 2014 to the horses that would win the hardware if the season ended today...
Three-Year-Old - California Chrome - He may have lost the Belmont and his Triple Crown bid, but with five stakes wins, including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, there can be no doubt that he is the Chrome standard of this glamour division.
Three-Year-Old Filly - Untapable - The Kentucky Oaks winner has been nothing short of dominant in all three starts this year; looking forward to her return in the Mother Goose.
Older Male - Palace Malice - Four starts, four graded stakes wins; I don't think I am walking too far out on the limb to call him the best horse in America right now.
Older Female - Close Hatches - Unbeaten this year, and the winner of the showdown, she deserves the top spot in a strong division so far, but Princess of Sylmar and Beholder will have more to say before it is all said and done.
Turf Male - Wise Dan - The champ is off to a good start in hopes of joining Round Table as the only other horse to win three consecutive Champion Turf Horse awards.
Turf Female - Coffee Clique - It hasn't been easy, but she is perfect in three starts this year, including two exciting wins on big race days at Churchill Downs and Belmont Park.
Sprint Male - Bayern - Undefeated in two starts at under a mile, his Woody Stephens victory was spectacular enough to put him on top of a division that is just getting going in 2014.
Sprint Female - Midnight Lucky - The retirement of Groupie Doll has left a void among the female sprinters, but this one's lone race of 2014 has me believing that it is her championship for the taking.
Yes, I know it’s a little early for these, but let’s get an early start …
Two-Year-Old - Governmentshutdown - The son of Exchange Rate might be only a placeholder, but with two impressive wins in Maryland, he holds the top spot for now.
Two-Year-Old Filly - Fashion Alert - Electrifying winner of today's Astoria Stakes, the daughter of Old Fashioned certainly made a splash in her first career start.
They may not be categories of the Eclipse Awards, but maybe they should be …
Marathon Man - Charming Kitten - You have to respect the horse who can come home powerfully at two miles, like this one did in the inaugural edition of the Belmont Gold Cup Invitational.
Most Mismanaged Horse - Ria Antonia - Do I really need to explain this one?
Drumroll please …
Horse of the Year - California Chrome - Palace Malice might be primed to roll on by, but to this point of the season, no horse has done more in 2014 than California Chrome