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Voters take a shine to Chrome for Horse of the Year

California Chrome put away the competition entering the stretch and rolled home in the Kentucky Derby (Jim Tyrell/Horsephotos.com) CALIFORNIA CHROME (Lucky Pulpit) rose from humble beginnings to become Thoroughbred racing's biggest star last year, captivating national audiences with his Triple Crown pursuit, and the dual classic winner was recognized with the sport's highest honor during Saturday evening's 44th annual Eclipse Awards ceremony at Gulfstream Park, earning the 2014 Horse of the Year title. He won by a wide margin, receiving 143 first-place votes compared to 53 for runner-up Main Sequence (Aldebaran) and 36 for third-placer Bayern (Offlee Wild). The Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1) winner also garnered the Eclipse Award for champion three-year-old male in a landslide, winning by a 193-56 margin over runner-up Bayern. Owned and bred in California by Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, California Chrome is trained by Art Sherman. Victor Espinoza serves as the colt's regular rider, guiding California Chrome to six wins from nine starts in 2014.

Based at Los Alamitos in Southern California, the striking chestnut completed his juvenile campaign with a victory over state-bred rivals in the December 22 King Glorious at Hollywood Park. He opened 2014 with another restricted tally in the January 25 California Cup Derby, strolling away to a 5 1/2-length decision at Santa Anita.

California Chrome made a seamless transition to open company in the March 8 San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita, rolling to a dynamite 7 1/4-length triumph, and followed with another sublime performance in the April 5 Santa Anita Derby (G1), posting a 5 1/4-length victory in the $1 million event.

California Chrome striding to the Preakness finish line (Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos) Next came the Triple Crown and California Chrome justified his 5-2 favoritism at Churchill Downs, scoring comfortably by 1 3/4-length margin in the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby. He stretched his win streak to six two weeks later at Pimlico, recording an authoritative 1 1/2-length triumph in the Preakness Stakes. California Chrome became just the third horse in history to sweep the San Felipe-Santa Anita Derby-Kentucky Derby-Preakness, joining Hall of Famers Affirmed and Sunday Silence. His bid for Triple Crown immortality fell short in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 7, with a dead-heat fourth, and California Chrome received nearly a 3 1/2-month freshening afterward. He came back a little rusty, checking in a subpar sixth to Bayern in the September 20 Pennsylvania Derby (G2) at Parx Racing, but rebounded notably in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), finishing a neck back of Bayern in third after just missing with a courageous rally.

After exiting the Breeders' Cup Classic in top order, California Chrome's connections elected to experiment with the top-class performer four weeks later, trying him on turf in the November 29 Hollywood Derby (G1). The gamble paid off handsomely, with California Chrome winning as he pleased by a two-length margin, and the victory opened up avenues in terms of his four-year-old campaign, with Sherman mentioning the grassy Arlington Million (G1) next August as a likely target.

California Chrome earned a 106 BRIS Speed rating for his eye-catching Santa Anita Derby win (Benoit Photo) He concluded 2014 with four Grade 1 victories, earning $4,007,8000 from his nine starts. Overall, California Chrome has bankrolled $4,222,650 from a 16-9-1-1 ledger. California Chrome was also honored with the Secretariat "Vox Populi" (Voice of the People) Award on January 10 and his Kentucky Derby victory was recently named the NTRA Moment of the Year. He is the first foal from the mare Love the Chase, a daughter of Not for Love who posted her only victory in an $8,000 maiden claiming race at Golden Gate Fields in 2009. Coburn and Perry acquired her privately for $8,000. She was bred to the California-based stallion Lucky Pulpit, a son of the successful sire Pulpit who posted his only stakes win in the 2005 Smile at Arlington Park, a five-furlong turf sprint. Lucky Pulpit stood for a $2,000 stud fee when mated with Love the Chase.

California Chrome's extended female family includes Cascapedia, the champion older mare of 1977, but his immediate bloodlines are easily labeled "blue-collar" given the high-priced, well-bred competition he regularly defeated during his Horse of the Year season.

"Everyone loves a Cinderella story, and this one was no exception," said Penny Chenery, owner of 1973 Triple Crown champion Secretariat and founder of the Vox Populi Award. "California Chrome, a proven champion and formidable competitor, reminded us that it doesn't matter from whence we came but rather how we dance when we get to the ball.

"Furthermore, his inspiring story and engaging popularity reached beyond the racetrack stands and into the conversation of a nation."

California Chrome is the first three-year-old Horse of the Year winner since the filly Rachel Alexandra in 2009 and the first California-bred since Tiznow in 2000.

Main Sequence - Champion Older Male & Turf Male

Main Sequence, the ultimate rally artist, has taken over Wise Dan's mantle as champion older male and champion turf male (NYRA/Adam Coglianese/Lauren King) At this time last year, MAIN SEQUENCE (Aldebaran) was convalescing as a new arrival at trainer Graham Motion's barn at Fair Hill, sick with pneumonia upon his repatriation from England. His form had deteriorated, his career at a crossroads. Few could have foreseen that a spectacular renaissance was on the horizon -- a perfect 2014 campaign, all in Grade 1 events, culminating in Eclipse Awards as champion older male and champion turf male and ranking as a finalist for Horse of the Year. Main Sequence thus supplanted Wise Dan (Wiseman's Ferry), the 2012-13 champion older male and turf male, while not duplicating his sweep of the Horse of the Year title. He has nevertheless staked out a unique place in the record book: Main Sequence is the only U.S. champion turf horse to have gone unbeaten for the season, albeit over a brief four-race span. A homebred campaigned by the Niarchos Family's Flaxman Holdings, Main Sequence was among Europe's leading three-year-olds in 2012. He won his first four starts for trainer David Lanigan in England, including the Lingfield Derby Trial (Eng-G3) that had been switched to the Polytrack. Main Sequence went off as a 9-1 chance in the Derby (Eng-G1) at Epsom, and although he couldn't get within five lengths of Camelot, he did garner runner-up honors. The chestnut traveled like the winner in the Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-G1), only to be stymied in traffic and end up a bitterly unlucky fourth at Longchamp. He had misfortune of a different sort in the Great Voltigeur (Eng-G2) at York, in the form of a slow early pace, and he failed by a neck to catch the thieving Thought Worthy. Main Sequence concluded his classic campaign with a fifth in the St Leger (Eng-G1) at Doncaster.

His 2013, however, did not live up to that standard. Winless in six outings, Main Sequence came closest when second, beaten a half-length, by the high-class Mukhadram in the Brigadier Gerard (Eng-G3) at Sandown. He posted a trio of thirds -- in the Buckhounds at Ascot, the September S. (Eng-G3) on Kempton's Polytrack and the misnamed Arc Trial (Eng-G3) at Newbury -- along with a remote fourth in the Pontefract Castle S. After trudging home eighth in the Champion S. (Eng-G1) at Ascot, the Kentucky-bred was sent back home to the United States.

Motion credits then-trainer Lanigan for that inspired decision. Interestingly, Lanigan and Motion had spent time together in the summer of 2013, when Lanigan's yard was hosting Motion's Animal Kingdom in advance of the Queen Anne (Eng-G1). While Animal Kingdom was a bust at Royal Ascot, his English adventure would have a happy side effect. Motion had the opportunity to see Main Sequence, a foreshadowing of their future partnership.

Lanigan was convinced that Main Sequence would thrive in U.S. conditions. But before Main Sequence could vindicate his judgment, he needed time -- plenty of time to recover fully from the pneumonia he contracted in quarantine.

Main Sequence rose from European disappointment to American glory (Breeders' Cup Ltd. Photo) Motion brought him along carefully, until the gelding was training so well that an ambitious plan was hatched: a comeback in the July 6 United Nations (G1), a Breeders' Cup "Win & You're In" event at Monmouth. Main Sequence broke tardily, had little in the way of pace support, but unleashed a ferocious late kick to get up by a neck over Twilight Eclipse (Purim). A turf star was born in his U.S. debut off an eight-month layoff. The August 16 Arlington Million (G1) was mooted as a possible target, but the Niarchos Family had another colorbearer, French-based Smoking Sun (Smart Strike), penciled in for Chicago. Smoking Sun failed to fire in the Million, winding up sixth, and inviting thoughts about whether the right Niarchos horse lined up. Main Sequence instead headed to Saratoga for the August 17 Sword Dancer Invitational (G1), and he served up another thriller in nearly carbon-copy fashion. Slowly away after hitting the gate, he still had a three-length deficit in midstretch. But Main Sequence finished like the proverbial freight train to deny front-running Imagining (Giant's Causeway) by a head, with archrival Twilight Eclipse third. His final time for 1 1/2 firm-turf miles was a sharp 2:24 3/5.

Facing the same duo in the September 27 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1) at Belmont Park, Main Sequence showed his usual laxity at the break, and his now trademark zest in the stretch, to make it three in a row. He bumped with Twilight Eclipse in the final strides, prompting a stewards' inquiry and an objection from Jose Lezcano. But Main Sequence survived the review and kept his trophy.

As Main Sequence was ascending in the turf ranks, reigning two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan was still in a position to retain his crown. The six-time Eclipse Award winner was in the midst of a perfect season, despite undergoing emergency colic surgery in May. The $7.5 million earner successfully defended his titles in the April 11 Maker's 46 Mile (G1) and May 3 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) prior to his health scare, and he later returned victorious in the August 30 Bernard Baruch H. (G2) and October 4 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1).

Unfortunately, Wise Dan was ruled out of a three-peat bid in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) due to a fractured fetlock. The door was opened for Main Sequence, if he could deliver in the November 1 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at Santa Anita. 

Jockey Rajiv Maragh expertly dealt with Main Sequence's idiosyncrasies before missing the BC ride due to injury (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) With regular rider Rajiv Maragh sidelined by injury, would the "quirky" Main Sequence respond as well to Hall of Famer John Velazquez? And even so, could the horse who had fallen from grace in Europe cope with such high-class internationals as Flintshire (Dansili) and Telescope (Galileo)? Main Sequence answered every question, turning in his most professional effort on the biggest stage to clinch a championship. Flintshire could not resist his late charge, and Twilight Eclipse was beaten by a more convincing margin in third. As it turned out, his Breeders' Cup heroics clinched more than the turf male championship. With the most accomplished older male on dirt, Palace Malice (Curlin), sidelined for the second half of the season, and no other divisional performer stepping up to take over his mantle, the Eclipse electorate honored Main Sequence as champion older male as well. Having bankrolled $2,610,000 from his perfect four-race season, Main Sequence has compiled an overall mark of 18-8-3-3, $3,298,311. Main Sequence is a Niarchos product, top and bottom. He is by the Niarchos' champion sprinter Aldebaran (who is himself a son of Mr. Prospector and the Niarchos' multiple Group 1-winning mare Chimes of Freedom). Main Sequence's dam, the Group 3-placed Pivotal mare Ikat, likewise descends from a maternal line cultivated by the Niarchos family. Ikat is a half-sister to the aforementioned Smoking Sun.

Main Sequence's second dam is Group 2-placed stakes victress Burning Sunset (Caerleon), herself a half-sister to 2007 Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1) winner Light Shift (Kingmambo) and English highweight mare Shiva (Hector Protector). Main Sequence's fourth dam is French champion and classic winner Northern Trick (Northern Dancer), who was brought into the Niarchos fold when purchased for $530,000 as a Keeneland July yearling in 1982.

Plans call for Main Sequence to kick off his six-year-old campaign in the February 21 Mac Diarmida (G2) at Gulfstream Park, a springboard to a Dubai tilt on March 28.

Close Hatches -- Champion Older Female

Close Hatches continued the championship tradition of her family when honored as top older female of 2014 (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) CLOSE HATCHES (First Defence) lost out on champion three-year-old filly honors in 2013 after running second to Beholder (Henny Hughes) in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), but Saturday night's Eclipse Award ceremony saw the dark bay mare given due credit for her talent when named champion older female of 2014. Close Hatches garnered 155 first-place votes to beat out Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) queen Dayatthespa (City Zip). That mare earned 64 first-place votes for champion older female but was easily the choice as champion turf female on the night with 260 votes. Close Hatches was unable to complete her four-year-old season on the same glowing note as her sophomore campaign, which saw her go 5-2-0 from eight starts. Her 2013 Distaff second followed another second in that year's Acorn S. (G1) and a seventh-placing, her first off-the-board run, in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Returning for 2014, Close Hatches immediately began racking up the wins. She wired both the Azeri S. (G2) and Apple Blossom H. (G1) at Oaklawn Park before trainer Bill Mott gave her the rest of the spring off.

The Juddmonte Farms colorbearer returned in the Ogden Phipps H. (G1) in early June and found herself facing off against rivals Beholder and Princess of Sylmar. Close Hatches had beaten Princess of Sylmar in the Gazelle S. (G2) prior to that one going on to take the Kentucky Oaks. Princess of Sylmar ended up well back of both Beholder and Close Hatches in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Distaff and was looking for a little revenge in the Phipps.

Close Hatches began her Grade 1 hat trick in the Apple Blossom... (Oaklawn Park/Coady Photography) It wasn't to be though, as Close Hatches prevailed following a thrilling stretch duel. Close Hatches and Beholder kept each other company in the third flight while Princess of Sylmar was in the rear of the Phipps field. Stakes debuter Antipathy (A.P. Indy) had tracked the leader and tried to take over when that one faded, but Close Hatches just to her outside was quickest to gain command. Beholder wasn't far behind and Princess of Sylmar closed fast down the lane, setting up for a great stretch battle. Close Hatches maintained a small lead over the stubborn Antipathy while Princess of Sylmar inched away from Beholder. Princess of Sylmar just ran out of room as Close Hatches got her head down on the line. Given another freshening following her gutsy Phipps victory, Close Hatches returned in August to wire the Personal Ensign S. (G1) by five lengths. It was her sixth win from her last seven starts, with the only interruption coming in the 2013 Distaff, but alas the Kentucky-bred would be unable to continue in that vein. Close Hatches was expected to utilize the Spinster S. (G1) at Keeneland in early October as her final prep for the Breeders' Cup Distaff, and did show up for the contest but threw in a puzzling fourth-place run that day. It turned out to be a harbinger, as the filly faded to last in the Distaff on October 31.

"It was a good trip," jockey Joel Rosario explained his Distaff ride on Close Hatches. "I was on the outside. We were wide but looking good on the first turn; very calm and relaxed. Everything was fine. On the backside she was very comfortable until I hit the three and a half and she just didn't move forward. She just kind of wasn't herself."

...and wrapped it up with a five-length romp in the muddy Personal Ensign (NYRA/Chelsea Durand/Adam Coglianese Photography) "I didn't like her position around the first turn, but I wouldn't say that's why we ran so dismal," Mott added after the race. "At the three-eighths pole, we had a length on Untapable. Our intent was to try to get the first run on her and we had no run at all. I can't offer any excuse other than she looks like maybe she's had enough." Close Hatches still closed out 2014 with a 6-4-0-0 scorecard and $1,340,000 in season earnings. Bred in Kentucky by Millsec Ltd., she is the first registered foal out of Rising Tornado (Storm Cat), who is herself a daughter of the listed-placed Silver Star (Zafonic). Close Hatches' third dam is Group 3 heroine Monroe (Sir Ivor), from whom is descended the likes of English, Irish and French highweight sire Xaar (Zafonic) and multiple Grade 1-winning stallion Senure (Nureyev). Most notably, Close Hatches' fourth dam is the blue-hen mare Best in Show (Traffic Judge), who was honored as the 1982 Broodmare of the Year. She is the dam of 1982 Kentucky Oaks queen Blush With Pride (Blushing Groom), who is the granddam of champion Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy), Jazil (Seeking the Gold) and Man of Iron (Giant's Causeway). Rags to Riches captured the 2007 editions of the Belmont S. (G1) and Kentucky Oaks, Jazil was king of the 2006 Belmont S. and Man of Iron proved victorious in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Marathon. Best in Show is the ancestress of numerous champions and highweights, including top sires Aldebaran (Mr. Prospector), Spinning World (Nureyev), Redoute's Choice (Danehill) and El Gran Senor (Northern Dancer).

Close Hatches has now continued the championship tradition of her family. She will try to pass it on to her progeny, beginning her broodmare career by visiting leading sire Tapit.

Untapable -- Champion Three-Year-Old Filly

Rosie Napravnik celebrates as Untapable takes the Breeders' Cup Distaff (Breeders' Cup Ltd.) UNTAPABLE (Tapit) was the unanimous choice for champion three-year-old filly of 2014 following an unbeaten season against the girls, earning 265 first-place votes to beat out finalists Sweet Reason (Street Sense) and Stopchargingmaria (Tale of the Cat) at Saturday evening's Eclipse Awards ceremony. In fact, the bay filly's only loss from seven starts on the year came when taking on the boys in the Haskell Invitational (G1). She quickly got back to the winner's circle in her subsequent efforts to close out her sophomore campaign with a resounding triumph in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) on October 31, posting a 7-6-0-0 mark and banking $2,808,600 in earnings for the year. Untapable's Breeders' Cup win will go down in history, thanks to popular jockey Rosie Napravnik's sudden retirement announcement, disclosing her pregnancy, in the winner's circle to a national audience. Trained by Steve Asmussen for owner/breeder Winchell Thoroughbreds, Untapable and Napravnik were a stellar team throughout 2014. They kicked off the season with a 9 1/2-length win in the Rachel Alexandra S. (G3) followed by a 7 3/4-length victory in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), both at the New Orleans track.

Next up Untapable returned to the site of her career opening wins at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 2. The heavy even-money favorite lived up to the hype with a pulling-away, 4 1/2-length score, which earned her a career-best 108 BRIS Speed rating.

Untapable was given a brief rest before traveling to the Northeast for the Mother Goose S. (G1) at Belmont Park. Another romping win, this time by 9 1/4 lengths, cemented her status as the top three-year-old filly in the nation and gave her connections enough confidence to test her against the boys.

Showing up in the Haskell, Untapable bumped with Social Inclusion (Pioneerof the Nile) leaving the gate and found herself running three wide in fifth. She managed to advance to fourth while still wide rounding the turn, but could make no headway on the front-running Bayern (Offlee Wild), who went on to score by 7 1/4 lengths. Untapable wound up fifth on the wire, just headed by Irish You Well (Broken Vow) to deny her a top-four placing.

Asmussen gave his Kentucky-bred charge a two-month break after that tough beat, and she returned better than ever on September 30 to take the Cotillion S. (G1) by a length at Parx Racing.

Making her seventh start of the year at her sixth different track, Untapable showed up for the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Not many were willing to pick against the Kentucky Oaks romper despite her never having faced older runners, sending her off as the 8-5 favorite against 10 rivals.

Untapable sporting the lilies after her Kentucky Oaks romp (Matt Wooley/EquiSport Photos) Untapable was forced to go three wide rounding the first turn once the gates opened on the Distaff as Tiz Midnight (Midnight Lute) and Iotapa (Afleet Alex) hooked up on the front end. The sophomore miss dropped back a bit to run in midpack as the leaders battled it out through splits of :22 4/5, :46 3/5 and 1:10 4/5, but stayed in good position to pounce. Tiz Midnight and Iotapa were still going at it as they entered the final turn, but the former was beginning to fade. Untapable moved up to engage Iotapa, exchanging a bump with her rival entering the lane, and managed to inch out a miniscule advantage in the stretch. While Iotapa continued to dig down on the inside, Don't Tell Sophia (Congaree) suddenly burst free from the rest of the pack and came flying down the center of the track. Untapable refused to yield to either of those opponents, though, and crossed under the wire 1 1/4 lengths in front while finishing 1 1/8 miles on the fast main track in 1:48 3/5. "I can't say enough about her and how proud I am of her," Asmussen beamed after the win. "I'm proud of the whole team, Rosie, (assistant trainer) Scott (Blasi) and everyone. She's an amazing mare to put us on this stage and to perform like she did. Rosie and she are a great combination and they have had a tremendous season. "Today, definitely makes her a champion and that's enough said. She's had a great year and she's a great filly. We had faith her. But, we've all been to the races, so you never know the outcome. She proved she's a champion."

Untapable is out of Grade 2 winner Fun House (Prized), making her a half-sister to Grade 1-scoring millionaire and 2010 Kentucky Derby (G1) third-placer Paddy O'Prado (El Prado). Her third dam is Carols Christmas (Whitesburg), from whom a whole slew of black-type runners are descended. Among that group are Grade 1-winning millionaires and sires Olympio (Naskra) and Pyro (Pulpit); 2012 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) victor Tapizar (Tapit); and Grade 1-scoring stallion Cuvee (Carson City).

Others of note in this female family include Fun House's half-brother Early Flyer (Gilded Time), a Grade 2-winning sire, and Grade 1 vixen On Fire Baby (Smoke Glacken).

Untapable will enter her four-year-old season bearing an 8-0-1 mark from 11 career starts and $2,996,725 in career earnings. She arrived at Fair Grounds in December to begin preparations for 2015 following a brief respite with fellow Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred Tapiture (Tapit).

"They wintered great," Winchell Thoroughbreds Racing Manager David Fiske said. "They both got to the farm after the Breeders' Cup and took about 30 days off. Neither were a problem and they looked like they were happy to be doing something different.

"Everyone at the farm really enjoyed having them, too; they're both characters. I don't think they really lost all that much weight, either. Tapiture probably came in at about 1,200 pounds and Untapable about 1,150.

"We'll see how quickly they get ready," Fiske continued. "We'll let them tell us, obviously, but it's really not hard for either one to get fit. We'll start at the Breeders' Cup and work backwards in five-week intervals and hopefully have them ready to go at the end of March or beginning of April.

"I could envision (Untapable) doing the same sort of campaign. She does better when you space her races out and will probably run no more than seven times. It would be nice to run her at Saratoga. She was supposed to run in the Adirondack (G2) as a two-year-old there, but colicked the day before. We'll focus on Grade 1s with her."

American Pharoah -- Champion Two-Year-Old Male

American Pharoah's win in the FrontRunner proved to be the title-clinching performance (Benoit Photos) In the tightest race in the equine categories, Zayat Stables' homebred AMERICAN PHAROAH (Pioneerof the Nile) edged Texas Red (Afleet Alex) by a vote of 126-111 in the race for juvenile male honors. The one time the two raced each other the outcome was less close, a result that undoubtedly influenced a plurality of voters to side with him. A tiring fifth as the 7-5 favorite in his August 9 at Del Mar going 6 1/2 furlongs, American Pharoah was ambitiously spotted in the September 3 Del Mar Futurity (G1) in his next start. Running without blinkers, the son of Pioneerof the Nile showed good speed once again but this time kept going. The 3-1 chance extended his lead in the stretch and crossed the wire 4 3/4 lengths in front, giving Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his 12th victory in Del Mar's signature event for juveniles, contested over the Polytrack at seven furlongs. A heavy 1-2 favorite in the FrontRunner S. (G1) at Santa Anita on September 27, American Pharoah again ran his rivals off their feet with a wire-to-wire, 3 1/4-length score going 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. Five lengths behind the eventual champion was Texas Red, who would go on to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) in scintillating fashion by 6 1/2 lengths after trailing by as much as 11 lengths.

American Pharoah was expected to be the favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile at Santa Anita, but was forced to withdraw a couple of days beforehand due to lameness. An earner of $361,500, he remains in training this year to pursue the classics.

American Pharoah was bred in Kentucky and produced by Littleprincessemma, a Yankee Gentleman half-sister to Grade 2 winner Storm Wolf and Grade 3 Misty Rosette, both full siblings by Stormin Fever.

Take Charge Brandi -- Champion Two-Year-Old Filly

Take Charge Brandi ended her juvenile season with three top-class wins to take the Eclipse Award (Breeders' Cup Ltd.) TAKE CHARGE BRANDI (Giant's Causeway) wasn't even considered an Eclipse-worthy candidate early in 2014, but following victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) the D. Wayne Lukas pupil stamped herself a legitimate contender as champion two-year-old filly. That was borne out on Saturday as the chestnut miss was honored as 2014's top juvenile filly following an 8-4-1-0, $1,620,126, season. She earned 236 first-place votes as compared to the 23 garnered by undefeated Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) heroine Lady Eli (Divine Park). Take Charge Brandi showed promise early, breaking her maiden first out at Churchill Downs by 2 1/2 lengths and running second in the Schuylerville S. (G3) at Saratoga a month later in mid-July. However, the Kentucky-bred was well-beaten in her next three by double-digit lengths. First she ran fifth in the Adirondack S. (G2) at the Spa, filled that same spot under the Twin Spires in the Pocahontas S. (G2), then faded to eighth in the Alcibiades S. (G1) at Keeneland on October 3. That was one month before the Breeders' Cup, and few expected much from Take Charge Brandi on the big day. Sent to post the 61-1 longest shot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Take Charge Brandi took command from the start and never looked back. Jockey Victor Espinoza guided the filly through fractions of :22 1/5, :45 4/5, 1:10 and 1:35 1/5 while chased on the backstretch by fellow 52-1 longshot Hennythelovepenny (Henny Hughes). That one faded after six furlongs, leaving the way clear for By the Moon (Indian Charlie) to take up pressing duties after stalking in third while three wide early.

Take Charge Brandi was still in command entering the lane, with By the Moon putting in her bid before weakening in the stretch. A wall of horses advanced on Take Charge Brandi nearing the wire, but the Lukas trainee dug deep and prevailed while stopping the clock in 1:41 4/5 over the fast Santa Anita dirt.

Even with the Breeders' Cup win, Take Charge Brandi wasn't a shoe-in for the Eclipse Award. At that point, Lady Eli looked a more viable candidate following her Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf victory to remain perfect in three starts.

While most connections would have put their two-year-old on the shelf for the rest of the season in anticipation of a three-year-old campaign, Lukas and owner Willis D. Horton continued on with Take Charge Brandi, possibly with an eye on the Eclipse Award.

At first the November 29 Golden Rod S. (G2) at Churchill was being bandied about as her next start, but instead the filly showed up in Louisiana just 21 days after her Breeders' Cup upset and this time was sent off the 2-1 favorite against nine rivals in the Delta Downs Princess S. (G3).

Willis D. Horton (right) proudly leads his eventual champion into the Starlet winner's circle (Benoit Photos) With Paco Lopez in the saddle, Take Charge Brandi settled just outside of the early pacesetter through blistering splits of :22 1/5 and :46 2/5 before taking over as the early leader faded nearing the final turn. Meanwhile, Skipalute (Midnight Lute) rallied from just off the pace to engage Take Charge Brandi around the turn, but could not keep pace as the Kentucky-bred pulled away in the lane to score by 1 1/2 lengths. "Her class carried her," Lukas asserted after the race, adding that his filly really hadn't taken to the Delta Downs track leading up to the race. Take Charge Brandi had one more start left on the year. Shipping back to California, the chestnut wired the Starlet S. (G1) at Los Alamitos just three weeks later on December 13 with Espinoza back in the irons. She was a half-length clear on the wire while completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.18, not far off the track mark of 1:41.62 set a week earlier. "The whole purpose of coming here was to take the doubt out of it (the Eclipse Award) if we could," Lukas admitted. "I told Willis that if we ran 1-2-3 we would still be very much in the picture.

"It's completely changed her since we decided just to leave her alone and let her run her race," the Hall of Fame trainer added after the Starlet. "We tried to get too cute with her during the summer and finally, I woke up and said I'll just leave her alone. We made that decision and it's worked."

Indeed it has, leading all the way to an Eclipse Award.

Take Charge Brandi's connections aren't happy to just sit on their laurels, though. Lukas has already mapped out a game plan for Kentucky Oaks (G1) glory in the spring, pointing his filly for the $150,000 Honeybee S. (G3) on March 7 and $400,000 Fantasy S. (G3) on April 4, both at Oaklawn Park.

Dayatthespa -- Champion Turf Female

Dayatthespa, who nearly retired after the 2012 Matriarch, enters her new life as a broodmare on a high note (Breeders' Cup Ltd. Photo) After a brief interlude in 2013 courtesy of the British-based Dank, Chad Brown resumed his role as trainer of the champion turf female with DAYATTHESPA (City Zip), who emulated former stablemates Stacelita (2011) and Zagora (2012). Unlike those European imports, Dayatthespa spent her whole career in Brown's care, a New York-bred like her trainer. The speedy chestnut competed at the highest level in her division for four consecutive years. At two in 2011, Dayatthespa finished second in the Natalma (Can-G3) at Woodbine and ninth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G2) over a rain-affected Churchill course. On her preferred firm ground, she reeled off a five-race winning spree in 2012, comprising the Sweetest Chant and Herecomesthebride (G3) at Gulfstream, the Riskaverse at Saratoga, and the Appalachian (G3) and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at perhaps her favorite haunt, Keeneland. Dayatthespa looked to crown her sophomore season in the Matriarch (G1) at Hollywood, only to endure a frightening experience on the clubhouse turn. Hopping and bobbling when trying to jump the rail, she lost her action before recovering to finish fifth. It was almost a career-ending mistake, for she cut her right foreleg in the vicinity of the tendon, a gash that required stitches.

Her ownership group -- Jerry Frankel, Ronald Frankel, Steve Laymon and Bradley Thoroughbreds -- considered retiring her. But Dayatthespa maintained her enthusiasm for the game, and she was brought back for a four-year-old season.

Although she scored two stakes wins versus New York-breds in 2013, the Yaddo and You Go West Girl, Dayatthespa's most memorable performance that year came back at Keeneland in the First Lady (G1). A sudden downpour turned the ground against her, and she went down fighting to Better Lucky (Ghostzapper) by a head. Her campaign was also marked by a runner-up effort in the Eatontown (G3) at Monmouth and a fourth in a less eventful Matriarch.

In 2014, Dayatthespa didn't resurface until the Spa. Tiring to second in the August 2 De La Rose at Saratoga, the five-year-old clearly needed the race off the eight-month holiday. She never lost again. Dayatthespa roared right back to repeat in the August 24 Yaddo by 2 1/2 front-running lengths. That set her up for another crack at the First Lady, where she had the pleasure of avenging herself on Better Lucky.

Connections decided to give her a chance at staying 1 1/4 miles in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). Untried past nine furlongs, Dayatthespa was a query at the trip, especially against the likes of stablemate Stephanie's Kitten (Kitten's Joy) and an accomplished European team. But the biggest weapon throughout her career -- her early speed -- carried her at Santa Anita. Under a well-judged ride by regular pilot Javier Castellano, she controlled a tepid pace and quickened decisively. Stephanie's Kitten, her old conqueror from the Juvenile Fillies Turf, had to settle for second. Dayatthespa had now come full circle at the Breeders' Cup.

Dayatthespa thus took final command of a filly and mare turf division that had been in search of a clear leader throughout the season. In addition, she garnered enough support to become a finalist for champion older female as well, ranking second in the balloting to Close Hatches.

With little time to rest on her laurels at Santa Anita, Dayatthespa dashed off to Lexington for the Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings went to $2.1 million to purchase the champion, who will begin her new career as a broodmare in 2015.

Dayatthespa retires with a scorecard of 18-11-4-0, $2,288,892. Bred by Castellare DiCracchiolo Stable, Cracchiolo and Goldsher, she was a bargain $50,000 yearling at Fasig Tipton's New York-bred Sale at Saratoga. She is out of the Doc's Leader mare M'Lady Doc, who is in turn a full sister to Grade 3 victor Phi Beta Doc. This is the family of Clev Er Tell (Tell), the Louisiana Derby (G2) and Arkansas Derby (G2) winner of 1977; New Zealand Group 1 sprint star Gold Trail (Hussonet); and Grade 2 victress Tricky Code (Lost Code), the dam of Japanese champion sprinter and sire Hat Trick (Sunday Silence).

Work All Week -- Champion Male Sprinter

Sprint champion Work All Week is only the second Illinois-bred ever to win an Eclipse Award (Keeneland/Coady Photography) The unheralded WORK ALL WEEK (City Zip) registered a 19-1 upset in the November 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita, bringing to a close a sprint championship season that saw him go five-for-six while maintaining his perfect 10-for-10 career mark on dirt. A homebred campaigned by Midwest Thoroughbreds, Work All Week kicked off 2014 with an allowance victory at Oaklawn Park going 5 1/2 furlongs on January 19, and then returned to take the $100,000 Hot Springs S. by 1 1/2 lengths on March 8 going six furlongs. Following a 3 1/2-month break, Work All Week returned to action in the six-furlong, $125,000 Iowa Sprint at Prairie Meadows in late June, posting a mild upset win over Delaunay (Smoke Glacken) by a half-length in the mud. Work All Week's lone reversal of the season occurred next in the $85,000 Addison Cammack H. at Arlington on July 26, an Illinois-bred stakes he had also run second in the previous year. His 1 1/4-length defeat was over the Chicagoland track's synthetic Polytrack surface.

Work All Week found the return to dirt for the October 3 Phoenix S. (G3) at Keeneland agreeable as the son of City Zip opened up a significant lead in the stretch and then held on to win by a length. Next dismissed by bettors in the Breeders' Cup, the Roger Brueggemann trainee was away alertly from post 13, pressed the early pace, seized control approaching the eighth pole and held off 2013 Sprint winner Secret Circle (Eddington) by a half-length in the division's definitive showdown of the year.

Work All Week finished the season with $1,357,571 in career earnings, $1,131,173 of it earned in 2014 alone. His overall record now stands at 15-12-2-0.

Work All Week is the most recent Eclipse Award winner bred in Illinois, the last being 1998 turf male champion Buck's Boy. His two previous stakes wins both occurred against Illinois-breds in 2013: the Tex's Zing S. at Fairmount Park and the Lightning Jet H. at Hawthorne.

The now six-year-old champion was reared by Danzig Matilda, a stakes-placed daughter of Repriced.

Judy the Beauty -- Champion Female Sprinter

The Las Flores was one of four stakes won by Judy the Beauty during her championship campaign (Benoit Photos) JUDY THE BEAUTY's (Ghostzapper) gutsy head victory over longshot Better Lucky (Ghostzapper) in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) on November 1 secured a female sprint championship that had eluded her a year earlier when she finished second to dual champion Groupie Doll in the same race. Owned and trained by Wesley Ward, a former Eclipse Award-winning apprentice jockey, Judy the Beauty started and ended her championship campaign at Santa Anita. Kicking things off in the March 9 Las Flores S. (G3), Judy the Beauty cruised to a 4 1/2-length win in that six-furlong test. Next out, in the April 12 Madison S. (G1), Judy the Beauty ran her record to four-for-four over the old Keeneland Polytrack with a 2 1/2-length victory over Better Lucky going seven furlongs. Ward subsequently regretted bringing Judy the Beauty back on short rest for the May 3 Humana Distaff (G1) at Churchill Downs, where the Ghostzapper mare suffered her lone defeat of the season. Steadily losing ground through the stretch, Judy the Beauty crossed the wire fourth, six lengths behind Midnight Lucky who did not race for the remainder of the year.

Out of action for more three months, Judy the Beauty returned a winner in the August 17 Rancho Bernardo H. (G3) at Del Mar, taking that 6 1/2-furlong dash by 1 1/4 lengths on Polytrack. That was her final prep for the seven-furlong Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, where she raced wide down the backside, seized control approaching the eighth pole, and gamely hung on.

Judy the Beauty earned $896,365 in 2014. She had two prior stakes wins to her credit -- the 2013 Thoroughbred Club of America S. (G2) and 2011 Shady Well S. -- and had placed in past editions of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Princess Rooney H. (G1), Prioress S. (G1), Spinaway S. (G1), Gallant Bloom H. (G2), Presque Isle Downs Masters S. (G2), and Winning Colors S. (G3). The now six-year-old's career mark stands at 18-9-7-1, $1,662,122.

Bred in Ontario by Adena Springs, Judy the Beauty was produced by the stakes-winning Holy Blitz, a daughter of Holy Bull. This extended family includes Grade 1 scorer In the Gold (Golden Missile) and Grade 3 winner Fan the Flame (Island Whirl).

Demonstrative -- Champion Steeplechaser

Demonstrative started a three-race win streak in the New York Turf Writers Cup at Saratoga (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) Having won three of U.S. steeplechasing's six Grade 1 events, and finishing a nose away from a fourth, DEMONSTRATIVE (Elusive Quality) did plenty to deserve accolades as the nation's best hurdler in 2014. A distant sixth to 2013 champion Divine Fortune (Royal Anthem) in his season debut, the three-mile Iroquois (NSA-G1) at Percy Warner Park in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 10, Demonstrative zoomed to the head of the division over his next four starts. Second by a nose to the ill-fated Makari in the July 31 A.P. Smithwick (NSA-G1) at Saratoga next out, the seven-year-old gelding made amends by winning the August 25 New York Turf Writers Cup (NSA-G1) by a half-length while Makari suffered a fatal fall in the stretch. Demonstrative next carried his good form downstate to Belmont Park, where he captured the September 18 Lonesome Glory (NSA-G1) by a length, and then captured the division's most lucrative event, the October 18 Grand National (NSA-G1) at Far Hills, New Jersey, by 3 3/4 lengths over Divine Fortune.

With Demonstrative scoring three top-level wins and possessing a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over Divine Fortune, the season-ending Colonial Cup (NSA-G1) at Camden, South Carolina, on November 15 was unlikely to have much impact on the divisional championship. In the event, Divine Fortune rebounded from earlier losses in the Smithwick, Lonesome Glory, and Grand National with a nine-length victory. Demonstrative settled for third.

A gelded son of Elusive Quality, Demonstrative concluded 2014 with a season record of 6-3-1-1, $362,500. Earlier career highlights include wins in the 2012 New York Turf Writers Cup and Colonial Cup, and the 2013 Iroquois. He also won three novice stakes from 2010-12. Demonstrative's career record now stands at 39-12-8-6, $835,074.

Demonstrative is owned by Mrs. George L. Ohrstrom Jr. and is trained by Richard Valentine. Bred in Kentucky by Gainsborough Farm, he was produced by the French Group 3 winner Loving Pride, a Quiet American half-sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Hula Queen (Irish River).

Also hailing from this family are English champion miler Zilzal (Nureyev) and Canadian champion filly Negligee (Northern Afleet).

Todd Pletcher -- Champion Trainer

Todd Pletcher parlayed another banner season into the Eclipse Award for leading trainer, extending his record to seven. He passed the late Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel last year and also earned trainer of the year in 2004-07, and 2010.

The 47-year-old native of Dallas led all North American trainers by earnings for the fifth consecutive year, with stable earnings of $22,476,736.

Pletcher concluded last year more than $7 million ahead of runner-up Chad Brown ($15,383,930), who also finished second in the Eclipse Award voting by a 100-64 margin. Art Sherman, who conditioned Horse of the Year California Chrome and became the oldest trainer to capture the Kentucky Derby at age 77, came in third with 45 votes.

Pletcher won 240 of 999 starts in 2014, a stellar 24 percent win rate. He was the leading trainer at Saratoga, the Gulfstream Park Championship meet and Belmont Park spring/summer meet, and the co-leader at the Keeneland fall session.

His top runners in 2014 included Grade 1 winners Carpe Diem, Competitive Edge, Constitution, Danza, Daredevil and Stopchargingmaria.

In late May, Pletcher passed his mentor, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, for first on the all-time earnings mark. His horses have bankrolled more than $281 million during his career.

Javier Castellano -- Champion Jockey

After leading all North American riders by earnings for the second straight year, Javier Castellano easily garnered his second consecutive Eclipse Award for champion jockey. He received 203 first-place votes, 131 more than runner-up John Velazquez.

Castellano's mounts earned $25,056,464 in 2014 as the 37-year-old native of Venezuela  won 315 of 1,365 starts, producing a gaudy 23 percent win rate. He captured riding titles at Saratoga and Gulfstream Park's championship meet, and tied for the top spot during the Belmont Park spring/summer meet.

His major horses included champion turf mare Dayatthespa; and Grade 1 winners Coffee Clique, Constitution, Daredevil, Hard Not to Like, Real Solution, Stopchargingmaria, The Big Beast and V.E. Day.

In 2013, Castellano established a single-season earnings mark of $26,213,507. He serves as a go-to rider for many top stables, including leading trainers Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher.

Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey -- Champion Breeder and Owner

Voters continued to recognize Ken and Sarah Ramsey for their contributions as breeders and owners in 2014, awarding them a second consecutive Eclipse Award in both categories.

The couple received 129 first-place votes for leading breeder, besting Adena Springs and Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, who tied for second with 43. The Ramseys bred the winners of 264 races from 1,771 starts, topping the individual breeders list for a second straight year with $10,412,411 in earnings, and they ranked second among breeders including partnerships.

They earned their first Eclipse Award as breeders last year.

Homebred champion Kitten's Joy, the leading sire of 2013, has been a big part of the Ramseys' success. He stands for a $100,000 fee at Ramsey Farm in Nicholasville, Kentucky.

The Ramseys easily repeated as champion owner after dominating the standings by earnings, bankrolling $10,544,148 in 2014. They finished 158 votes ahead of runner-up Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc., with Kaleem Shah another vote back in third.

With primary trainers Chad Brown, Mike Maker, Todd Pletcher and Joe Sharp, the Ramseys nearly doubled the earnings of Shah, who finished second with $5,977,978.

Top performers for the Ramsey Stable included Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Bobby's Kitten; Louisiana Derby (G2) and Super Derby (G2) hero Vicar's in Trouble; and Manhattan (G1) winner Real Solution.

Now a four-time winner, Ramseys were also named leading owner in 2011 and 2004.

Drayden Van Dyke -- Champion Apprentice Jockey

Drayden Van Dyke received the Eclipse Award for leading apprentice jockey. The 20-year-old, who led all North American-based apprentices by wins and earnings in 2014, collected 225 first-place votes, with the late Juan Saez finishing second with 11.

After growing up in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Van Dyke went to work at the racetrack. Trainer Tom Proctor met him early on and has served as a mentor for Van Dyke, who won his first race on November 21, 2013 at Hollywood Park. The up-and-coming youngster went on to capture a pair of titles in Southern California last year, leading all riders during the summer and fall meets at Los Alamitos.

Van Dyke captured 192 races from 1,178 starts in 2014, a 16 percent win rate, and his mounts earned $6,074,102. He ranked 23rd by wins and 31st by earnings among all North American jockeys, earning his first graded stakes victory aboard Sistas Stroll in September's Pucker Up (G3) at Arlington Park.

His father, Seth Van Dyke, was also a jockey who worked in the Thoroughbred industry until his death last August.

Award of Merit

The winner of the Award of Merit, voted on by a panel of representatives from the three presenting organizations and previously announced, is Tom Durkin. The Award of Merit is presented to honor outstanding lifetime achievement in the Thoroughbred industry.

Special Award

The winner of the Special Award, voted on by a panel of representatives from the three presenting organizations and previously announced, is Old Friends Farm. The Special Award honors extraordinary service, individual achievements in, or contributions to the sport of Thoroughbred racing.

Media Eclipse Awards

Given in the categories of photography, audio and multi-media Internet, news/enterprise writing, feature/commentary writing, national television-feature and national television-live racing programming to recognize members of the media for outstanding coverage of Thoroughbred racing. The 2014 Media Eclipse Awards winners, determined by a judges' panel for each category and previously announced, are:

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