My Favorite Races of 2010

1) Breeders’ Cup Classic - As if there was any doubt. The Epic race played out by Blame and Zenyatta was an instant classic. Despite the fact that the far more popular Zenyatta lost the photo by a short head to her male competitor, the 2010 edition of the BC Classic was the race of the year, and one of the greatest races I have ever seen.

2) Travers Stakes - If not for the unforgettable drama in the Classic, this year’s Travers would have made for a worthy race of the year. In Saratoga’s most important race, two proud colts hooked up late and battled nose to nose to the wire leaving the rest of the field far behind. Afleet Express would win the photo and the Travers, but Fly Down ran huge and only lost by an eyelash.

3) Fleur de Lis Handicap - It was a tough season for my favorite horse, Rachel Alexandra, but not on this day. Looking like the same filly who had the greatest season of any three-year-old filly in history the year before, Rachel’s performance in the Fleur de Lis allowed this admiring onlooker one last thrilling moment with the filly I loved.

4) Whitney Handicap - It became the changing of the guard when the leader of the handicap division, Quality Road was challenged by the up and coming Blame. It was a challenge that Quality Road could not handle, as Blame took his place as the best male horse in the nation with a thrilling stretch drive in the Whitney.

5) Breeders’ Cup Mile - Goldikova and Gio Ponti. The all-time great French mare against the excellent American challenger. It was set to be a showdown, but it turned into a coronation. Goldikova is an incredible mare, and she was never finer than in this year’s BC Mile. In the process, she became the first horse ever to win three Breeders’ Cup races.