See Horse Racing Nation's 10 most searched horses of 2021
One of the most popular features at Horse Racing Nation is the information on individual horses. Readers looked at HRN's horse data almost as much as its news content.
Here are the 10 horses that you looked up the most in 2021.
1. Essential Quality. One of Brad Cox's superstars, he won five of seven starts this year, all in graded stakes. Yes, he came up short in the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup Classic, but his victories included gutsy wins in the Travers (G1) – by a neck over Midnight Bourbon – and the Belmont Stakes after a spirited challenge by Hot Rod Charlie.
2. Medina Spirit. So much happened in this star-crossed colt's brief career. Bought at auction for $35,000, his Kentucky Derby win for Bob Baffert remains in dispute. Winner of the Awesome Again (G1) and runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Classic, his Dec. 6 death at Santa Anita shocked the racing world.
3. Hot Rod Charlie. He was a fan favorite this year despite winning only two of seven starts. After finishing third in the Kentucky Derby, he set crazy-fast fractions in the Belmont before losing to Essential Quality. Then came the Haskell (G1), where he crossed the finish line first but was disqualified to seventh after clipping heels with Midnight Bourbon. He came back to win the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) before finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Look for him this weekend in the San Antonio (G2) and possibly in the Dubai World Cup (G1) in March.
4. Rock Your World. He started his racing career on New Year's Day this year and rode a 3-for-3 record, including a Santa Anita Derby (G1) victory, to the Kentucky Derby. That was a first for co-owners Kosta and Peter Hronis. He had a tough trip there and failed to win in his last four starts before being retired to stud duty.
5. Known Agenda. Hopes were high for this Curlin colt after his 2 3/4-length win in the Florida Derby. But a troubled trip resulted in a ninth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, and he then finished fourth in the Belmont Stakes. Word came in August that he would be retired.
6. Midnight Bourbon. It was mostly a close-but-not-quite year for Steve Asmussen's colt. He started the year with a win in the Lecomte (G3) and finished second or third in six of his eight subsequent starts. The other two were a sixth-place effort in the Kentucky Derby and a did-not-finish in the Haskell (see Hot Rod Charlie, above).
7. Life Is Good. After a 3-for-3 start, the Bob Baffert trainee was the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby but was sidelined by an ankle chip in March. He came back to finish second by a neck in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) and then won the Kelso (G2) and the Breeders' Cup Mile. You could see him next in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) in January.
8. Concert Tour. After starting his career in January and going 3-for-3 for Bob Baffert, he skipped the Kentucky Derby after a disappointing third-place finish in the Arkansas Derby and came back to finish ninth in the Preakness Stakes. Now with Cox, he is entered in Monday's Woodchopper Stakes at Fair Grounds, but he will not start unless it comes off the turf.
9. Knicks Go. The only horse on this list who is not 3 years old, Knicks Go is going strong as he is about to turn 6. He is the leading candidate for Horse of the year after winning the Pegasus World Cup (G1), Whitney (G1) and Breeders' Cup Classic. He will wrap up his career for Cox in the Pegasus World Cup next month.
10. Rombauer. He became a star for Mike McCarthy after winning the Preakness over Midnight Bourbon and Medina Spirit. Sidelined since running third in the Belmont Stakes, he resumed working last month at Santa Anita.