Curlin, Zenyatta head Eclipse Award finalists

Many consider Curlin one of the contenders for Horse of the Year (Charles Pravata/Horsephotos.com) The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), National Turf Writers Association (NTWA) and Daily Racing Form (DRF) announced Thursday the finalists for the 2008 Eclipse Awards, as voted on and presented by the three organizations, in recognition of excellence in Thoroughbred racing. The Eclipse Awards are named after the great 18th-century racehorse and foundation sire Eclipse, who began racing at age five and was undefeated in 18 starts, including eight walkovers. Eclipse sired the winners of 344 races, including three Epsom Derbies. CURLIN (Smart Strike), voted 2007 Horse of the Year, is in the running for champion older horse honors this year following victories in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), Stephen Foster H. (G1) and Woodward S. (G1) as well as a repeat score in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). The chestnut finished out the season, and his career, with a fourth-place finish as the defending champion in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

Undefeated
ZENYATTA
(Street Cry [Ire]) is considered a lock for older female honors, having racked
up wins in the Apple Blossom H. (G1), Vanity H. (G1) and Lady’s Secret S. (G1)
during her unblemished career. She rounded out the year with an easy victory in
the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) against defending winner and 2007 champion older
mare
GINGER PUNCH (Awesome Again), who is a finalist once again for the Eclipse.

Zenyatta has been unbeatable so far (Benoit Photo) Also likely to win Eclipses in their divisions are MIDSHIPMAN (Unbridled’s Song) and STARDOM BOUND (Tapit). Midshipman, who is currently wintering in Dubai while preparing for a Triple Crown bid, captured the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and Del Mar Futurity (G1) last year. Up for champion juvenile honors, the chestnut’s only loss came as a close second in the Norfolk S. (G1). Stardom Bound, also under consideration for the Kentucky Derby (G1), recorded victories in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), Del Mar Debutante S. (G1) and Oak Leaf S. (G1). The gray lass, who is residing in trainer Bobby Frankel’s barn after being conditioned by Christopher Paasch last year, is up for champion juvenile filly honors. Winners in all categories will be announced at the 38th annual Eclipse Awards ceremony, to be held January 26 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach in Miami Beach, Florida.

The Eclipse Awards finalists (in alphabetical order) are:

Two-Year-Old Male: Midshipman,
OLD
FASHIONED (Unbridled’s Song),

VINEYARD HAVEN (Lido Palace [Chi])

Two-Year-Old Filly:
DREAM
EMPRESS (Bernstein),
MARAM
(Sahm), Stardom Bound

Three-Year-Old Male:
BIG BROWN
(Boundary),
COLONEL
JOHN (Tiznow),
RAVEN’S
PASS (Elusive Quality)

Three-Year-Old Filly:
EIGHT
BELLES (Unbridled’s Song),
MUSIC
NOTE (A.P. Indy),
PROUD
SPELL (Proud Citizen)

Older Male:

COMMENTATOR (Distorted Humor), Curlin,
EINSTEIN
(Brz) (Spend a Buck)

Older Female:
COCOA
BEACH (Chi) (Doneraile Court), Ginger Punch, Zenyatta

Male Sprinter:
BENNY
THE BULL (Lucky Lionel),

MIDNIGHT LUTE (Real Quiet),
STREET
BOSS (Street Cry [Ire])

Female Sprinter:

INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie),

INTANGAROO (Orientate),
VENTURA
(Chester House)

Male Turf Horse:
CONDUIT
(Ire) (Dalakhani), Einstein,

GRAND COUTURIER (GB) (Grand Lodge)

Female Turf Horse: Cocoa Beach,

FOREVER TOGETHER (Belong to Me),
GOLDIKOVA
(Ire) (Anabaa)

Steeplechase Horse:
BE
CERTAIN (Thunder Gulch),
GOOD
NIGHT SHIRT (Concern),

SOVEREIGN DUTY (Kingmambo)

Owner: Godolphin Racing, IEAH Stables, Stronach Stables

Breeder: Adena Springs, Stonerside Stable, WinStar Farm

Trainer: Steve Asmussen, Richard Dutrow Jr., Bobby Frankel

Jockey: Robby Albarado, Rafael Bejarano, Garrett Gomez

Apprentice Jockey: Inez Karlsson, Pascacio Lopez, Abel Mariano

Finalists for Horse of the Year will be announced at the Eclipse Awards
ceremony. NTRA President and CEO Alex Waldrop will present the Horse of the Year
trophy to the winning connections at the conclusion of the ceremony.

For hotel accommodations and Eclipse Awards dinner reservations, contact
Michele Ravencraft at 1-800-792-6872, or e-mail mravencraft@ntra.com.