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2013 TURF AWARDS
JANUARY 3, 2014
by Kellie Reilly
If you like your Reilly Turf Awards, you can keep your Reilly Turf Awards --
but with a twist for this seventh annual edition. Under the terms of my "Reader
Protection and Feature Digestibility Act," my offbeat year-in-review will be
divided into three installments, to try to bend the word curve.
Rather than including all of the honorees in one giant, ever-expanding piece,
the Turf, Filly & Mare Turf and International divisions will now receive
separate treatments. The categories will remain largely the same across the
three divisions, but since I possess unilateral rulemaking authority, I will
grant waivers for certain special cases.
But one thing remains perfectly clear: as the Empress/Kaiserin/Tsarina of
these awards, I still decree that a horse may be honored in only one category.
First up, the honorees deserving recognition for exploits on the North
American turf (with links to the Equibase Racing Yearbook for charts and race
videos).
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| The Apache (right) battled back to edge Real Solution in the Arlington Million, but lost the race in the stewards' room
(Four Footed Fotos) |
Toughest DisqualificationTHE APACHE was all heart as he came again to repel Real Solution in
the
Arlington Million. Unfortunately, The Apache bumped his rival and pushed him
out a few paths, and despite his valor, the stewards had to strip him of the
victory. Although jockey Christophe Soumillon said that The Apache shied from
the big Jumbotron screen in the infield, the Mike de Kock trainee was also under
left-handed urging. In any event, I prefer to think that The Apache was carried
away by his fighting spirit in the heat of battle.
Least Predictable Development
Who could have foreseen that the world record for 1 1/2 miles on turf, owned
by Hawkster since October 14, 1989, would fall twice within a week? BRIGHT
THOUGHT improved beyond all recognition after switching to turf early in the
year, and announced his arrival on the stage with a record-breaking time of
2:22.72 in the
San Luis Rey at Santa Anita. But his dazzling accomplishment would be
eclipsed exactly seven days later, courtesy of TWILIGHT ECLIPSE, who scorched in
2:22.63 in the
Pan American at Gulfstream.
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Biggest Upset
LONDON LANE's 50-1 shocker in the
Colonial Turf Cup was more inscrutable than Mucho Mas Macho's 41-1 upset in
the Ft. Lauderdale, Skyring's 24-1 theft of the Dixie under a masterful Gary
Stevens, and Potomac River's apt surprise in the River City at 45-1. Unlike
those three, who all had at least something going for them, London Lane had
little to recommend him, even in hindsight. Worse still, he was already under
the whip at the back of the pack on the far turn. Yet the Lawrence Murray charge
somehow got up late to steal the spotlight from Hyper. At this writing, that's
his only on-the-board finish in his last 10 starts.
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| Joshua Tree topped the charts in the Canadian International for a history-making third time, with an assist from Ryan Moore
(WEG/Michael Burns Photography) |
Most Inspired Ride That Made a DifferenceRyan Moore played no small part in JOSHUA TREE's unprecedented third victory
in the
Canadian International, his every move informed by an acute understanding of
his mount. When the six-year-old son of Montjeu got off a beat slow, Moore
rousted him along to get early position -- an imperative for a grinding stayer. He sensibly steered over to a ground-saving spot on the inside, observed
that the front-running Stormy Len was getting out, and likely anticipated that
the seam would widen further turning for home. Seizing the opportunity at just
the right instant, Moore sent Joshua Tree through and opened up an
insurmountable lead, relying on his superior stamina to carry him the rest of
the way. Hyper flew belatedly, but Joshua Tree held by a diminishing
three-quarters of a length, thanks to an ideal trip for a horse of his profile.
Corey Nakatani also deserves a plaudit for his gutsy rail ride aboard SEEK AGAIN
in the last-ever running of the
Hollywood Derby. By saving all of the ground on the far turn, and threading
the needle without losing momentum in the stretch, the John Gosden-trained
invader was able to capitalize.
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Most Frustrating Trip
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| Animal Kingdom (right) roared prematurely in the GP Turf, an early move that played right into the hands of Point of Entry
(Adam Coglianese Photography) |
ANIMAL KINGDOM warrants a mention in this dubious
category for the second year in a row, but for an entirely different reason. In
2012, he was hemmed in traffic in the Breeders' Cup Mile before bursting free
too late. This time around in the
Gulfstream Park Turf, the Team Valor International colorbearer made a
premature move for new rider Joel Rosario. Instead of a sit-and-sprint nine
furlongs that would have put a premium on his superb turn of foot, the injection
of pace at that juncture played right into the hands of the long-winded
Point of Entry. Animal Kingdom's trademark burst was consumed too early, leaving
him vulnerable to Point of Entry late. Point of Entry was ridden by none other
than John Velazquez -- who had guided Animal Kingdom to victory in the 2011
Kentucky Derby -- and the Hall of Famer expertly dissected what happened. "I
know Animal Kingdom well," Velazquez said afterward. "If he would have waited
behind me, he probably would have beaten me from the quarter-pole home. He made
a move so big that he changed his style to my horse's style, so it worked out to
my advantage." Rosario made amends, however, in the Dubai World Cup, giving
the victorious Animal Kingdom a textbook ride from post 12.
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Most Mysterious Fizzle to a Promising Campaign
RYDILLUC flashed star quality when crushing his first three turf
starts, capped by a 3 1/2-length victory in the
Palm Beach in his stakes debut. After fading to fourth in the Blue Grass
over Keeneland's Polytrack, the handsome son of Medaglia d'Oro bounced right
back in the inaugural Penn Mile to remain perfect on the grass. But the bubble
was burst next time in the Virginia Derby, where he retreated to a dead-heat
eighth. Trainer Gary Contessa believed that the rain-softened ground was the
culprit. Scratched from the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame when it was
rained off the turf, Rydilluc was rerouted to the Secretariat, only to
disappoint again in 11th. Now back
from vacation and training sharply at Palm Meadows, he'll try to reach his
potential in 2014. I'm not giving up on him yet.
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| Amira's Prince was sidelined after a perfect winter campaign for Bill Mott
(Courtney Heeney/Adam Coglianese Photography) |
Most Tantalizing What-Might-Have-BeenAMIRA'S PRINCE looked primed for the big leagues after compiling a
perfect four-for-four mark in the United States, but the Bill Mott charge hasn't
been seen since March. The Irish import was utterly dominant from off the pace
at Gulfstream, most notably in the 1 3/8-mile
Mac Diarmida, and he showed tactical versatility to take the about 1
1/8-mile
Mervin H. Muniz Jr. in front-running fashion at Fair Grounds. Had he stayed
healthy, the well-bred son of Teofilo could have livened up a division weakened
by the injury to Point of Entry and the slowness of Little Mike to round back
into form from his Dubai misadventures. Happily, we don't have to bid this sweet
prince good night. Currently gearing up at Payson Park for his comeback, he
could still rule over some major prizes in the new year.
Most Crushing Piece of News
TURALLURE, the
2011 Woodbine Mile hero who came within a whisker of winning that year's
Breeders' Cup Mile, broke down irremediably in a routine gallop at Keeneland.
While he had fallen off form over the past couple of seasons, the dashing gray
will be remembered as Charlie LoPresti's first big miler, before a certain
chestnut gelding rose to the top. His name evokes memories of the Irish lullaby
sung at the conclusion of the classic film
Going My
Way, and maybe that old racing fan Bing Crosby is crooning it to
Turallure in the heavenly pastures. The loss of DULLAHAN came as a cruel blow
just a few days after his retirement, after he safely navigated all of the risks
of racing. The Dale Romans trainee saved his best for Polytrack, but he ran a
few fine races on turf as well, including a terrific, if slightly troubled,
third to the ageless Rahystrada in the
Arlington Handicap this summer. There will be no baby Dullahans to inherit
his striking good looks, but he will live on in the mythology of racing fans.
INDY POINT's suspensory injury isn't life-threatening, thankfully, but
it might put an end to this Argentinean star's enormously-promising U.S. career.
His smashing win in the
John Henry Turf Championship and third in the Breeders' Cup Turf, faring
best of the U.S.-based runners, implied that a Northern Hemisphere Grade/Group 1 prize was
within his reach.
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Most Heartwarming Story
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| Big Blue Kitten was part of the Kitten's Joy armada for the Ramseys
(NYRA/Adam Coglianese/Chelsea Durand) |
When Ken and Sarah Ramseys' CHARMING KITTEN won the Gulfstream stakes named
for his sire, the Ramseys' homebred champion
Kitten's
Joy, Ken had the pleasure of presenting the trophy to his wife. Although
that alone would have been a warm and fuzzy moment, it was a foreshadowing of
one of the year's most compelling story lines: the raging success of Kitten's
Joy's progeny for the Ramseys. Their biggest single day came on August 17, with
a Grade 1 triple courtesy of BIG BLUE KITTEN in the
Sword Dancer Invitational, ADMIRAL KITTEN in the
Secretariat and REAL SOLUTION in the Arlington stewards' room following the
Million. High-flying youngster BOBBY'S KITTEN, who flaunted his raw
ability in the
Pilgrim, promises to prolong the trend into 2014. As an added element of
poignancy, he is named for the late Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel and trained by
his protege Chad Brown. Not that he can emulate the Frankel, but Bobby's
Kitten could turn out to be another worthy namesake.
Comeback Player of the Year
FORTE DEI MARMI's career appeared to be in tatters when he was pulled up
early in the Elkhorn, but dual Hall of Famer Roger Attfield conjured up a
magnificent turnaround from the seven-year-old gelding. Better than ever during
the Woodbine summer, Forte Dei Marmi romped by 6 1/4 lengths in the
Singspiel, set a 1 1/4-mile course record when defending his title in the
Sky Classic, and slugged it out tenaciously to register his only Grade 1
coup in the
Northern Dancer Turf.
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Good Citizenship Award
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| Up with the Birds soared to his fourth stakes win of the year in the Jamaica
(Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos) |
With better luck, UP WITH THE BIRDS might have been unbeaten in all
six starts this season. His wings were clipped only twice, and just barely. Up
in time despite the boggy conditions at Fair Grounds in the
Black Gold, the Malcolm Pierce sophomore came up an agonizing neck short in
the
Transylvania. He switched to Polytrack back home at Woodbine, thrashing his
foes in the
Marine but leaving himself far too much to do off a slow pace in the
Queen's
Plate. Still, Up with the Birds closed furiously to miss by only a
half-length in the Canadian classic. Reverting to turf for his final two
outings, he was an emphatic winner of the
Breeders'
Stakes, and plundered the
Jamaica against a solid field at Belmont Park. The beautifully-bred
representative of Sam-Son Farms is sure to be honored at next spring's Sovereign
Awards, and should soar even higher in 2014.
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Most Daring Front-Running Tour de Force
OBVIOUSLY takes this honor for the second straight year. The Choisir gelding
won three stakes in his trademark, take-no-prisoners fashion -- the
American Handicap,
Shoemaker Mile and
Del Mar Mile -- but he created the best visual impression in the Shoemaker.
With ears pricking back and forth, for the sheer joy of running, Obviously
opened up five lengths early. Regular rider Joe Talamo let the field creep
closer on the far turn, but delivered the coup de grace in the stretch. Unlike
in the American, where his margin was reduced to 2 1/2 lengths at the wire, and
in the Del Mar Mile, where he held on by a workmanlike half-length, the Mike
Mitchell veteran actually extended his advantage to 3 1/4 lengths late in the
Shoemaker. Honorable mention goes to SILVER MAX, not for his opportunistic upset
of Wise Dan in the
Shadwell off-the-turf Mile, nor for his more straightforward wire job in the
Bernard Baruch, but for his eye-catching exhibition in the
Oceanport. After Robby Albarado rationed out his early speed, the Romans
trainee bounded away to a 5 3/4-length triumph.
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| Even traffic trouble couldn't stop Dandino in the American St Leger
(Four Footed Fotos) |
Best Escape from TrafficEnglish shipper DANDINO was by far the class of the field in the
American St
Leger, and he needed to be to overcome bad luck in running. Finding himself
in a pocket as the field bunched up into the stretch, Moore tried to go for a
gap, only to have it closed peremptorily in his face. Dandino had to tap on the
brakes and got shuffled back at a crucial stage. Unflustered, Moore righted the
ship and switched around horses, and Dandino went into overdrive, as though
annoyed that lesser opponents could inflict this sort of indignity upon him.
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Most Amazing Rally
JERANIMO is capable of deep-closing theatrics in the right circumstances, and
both the
San Gabriel and
Eddie Read set up for his show-stopping, last-to-first finishes. The
seven-year-old came from 10 lengths back to regain his San Gabriel crown, first
won in 2010, and swooped from nearly 15 lengths off the pace in the Eddie Read.
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| Little Mike (center) repelled challengers from all sides in the Joe Hirsch
(NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) |
Most Riveting Stretch DriveThe
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational served up a pulsating contest
on several levels. LITTLE MIKE recaptured his sparkling old form for new rider
Mike Smith, who said that he simply copied how the now-retired Ramon Dominguez
handled him. Settled within comfortable striking range of the Ramsey rabbit,
Little Mike pounced turning into the stretch, then withstood a double-barreled
attack from the principal Ramsey runners. First he was accosted by Real Solution
on the outside. When holding him safe, Little Mike was accosted by the
rail-skimming Big Blue Kitten, who unluckily had to wait for room briefly behind
tiring rivals. It was a case of Ramsey to the right of him, Ramsey to the left
of him, but Little Mike never wavered. Big Blue Kitten appeared to get his nose
in front right before the wire, and one stride after the wire. On the line when
it counted, though, Little Mike got the bob, to record his only win of the year.
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Best Campaign Without a Grade 1 Score
ZA APPROVAL won a trio of Grade 3s -- the
Appleton,
Red Bank and
Knickerbocker -- but displayed his true quality with three commendable
runner-up efforts at the highest level. The half-brother to 2006 turf champ
Miesque's Approval vainly chased Obviously in the Shoemaker, played second
fiddle to Wise Dan in the Woodbine Mile, and came much closer to upsetting the
Horse of the Year in the Breeders' Cup Mile. A credit to trainer Christophe
Clement, Za Approval maintained his form over a long campaign that stretched
from the fall of 2012 right through to November. Considering that Miesque's
Approval won the BC Mile, and Eclipse Award, as a seven-year-old, and another
millionaire half-sibling, Revved Up, was a geriatric success story himself, the
best might be yet to come for the newly-turned six-year-old Za Approval.
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| Magician (left) pulled a
rabbit out of the hat, leaving The Fugue with another Breeders' Cup heartbreak
(Breeders' Cup Ltd.) |
Most Heroic Performance in DefeatTHE FUGUE turned in several memorable efforts in 2013, from her
brilliant victories in the Irish Champion Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks to her
frustrating second in the Hong Kong Vase, but the most enduring image is of her
near-miss in the
Breeders' Cup Turf. With her nightmare-trip third in the 2012 Filly & Mare
Turf emblazoned in racing's collective mind, she swept to the front in a
majestic rally, as if to set the record straight at last. But her triumphant
chord suddenly lurched into the ominous minor mode, thanks to the Aidan O'Brien-trained MAGICIAN,
whose unwelcome apparition came from the clouds. Did William Buick move a bit
too soon on The Fugue? One could argue that in hindsight, but the fact remains
that Magician
simply produced a spellbinder in his comeback from a summer injury, and his
first attempt at 1 1/2 miles.
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Bravest Performance in Victory
POINT OF ENTRY encountered an unsuitably yielding turf course in the
Manhattan Handicap, but like a true champion, he worked gallantly through it
to prevail. Yet it turned out to be a Pyrrhic victory: the next morning, his
left hind "ankle was blown up," according to Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.
X-rays revealed a non-displaced condylar fracture of his cannon bone, and Point
of Entry underwent surgery to insert screws into his leg. While he made a swift
recovery in time to try the Breeders' Cup Turf, and checked in a remarkable
fourth off the bench, he clearly would have benefited from more time, and a prep
race. The blueblood son of Dynaformer now enters stud, to transmit both his high
talent and his mettle.
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| Wise Dan was once again untouchable on turf in 2013
(WEG/Michael Burns Photography) |
Most Arrogant DominanceReigning Horse of the Year WISE DAN often exuded an air of
sublime leisure, even as he was pummeling his foes senseless. This was best
exemplified in his course record-setting title defense in the
Woodbine Mile, where he deceptively looked to be taking a casual stroll down
the lane, but was in fact blazing in 1:31.75. His Woodbine Mile alone would have
been enough to clinch this honor for the second year running, but it was hardly
unique. Morton Fink's homebred was not unduly pushed to score in the
Maker's 46 Mile, posted
his biggest margin of the year in the
Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, lumbering home by 4 3/4 lengths, and told
King Kreesa the equine equivalent of "nice try" when giving him 12 pounds and a
beating in the
Fourstardave Handicap. His rough passage in the
Firecracker Handicap momentarily delayed, but could not prevent, his
assertion of superiority. Wise Dan still overcame a 128-pound impost, a
yielding course, repeated buffeting, and being shoved into the hedge, to win
with authority. Nor could a stumbling start in the
Breeders' Cup Mile derail him, and once the LoPresti star got his big engine
fired up, there was only going to be one outcome.
Next episode: Filly & Mare Turf Awards.
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