Last updated: 12/15/11 2:10 PM
Many of the year’s most memorable races took place at Aqueduct, Belmont Park
and Saratoga Race Course, and fans can now choose from among five thrilling
races and cast their ballots for the New York Racing Association’s (NYRA)
“Race of the Year.”
The five races are highlighted by NYRA Handicapper Andy Serling in an
exclusive video available at
www.nyra.com,
www.facebook.com/thenyra and NYRA’s official YouTube channel,
www.youtube.com/nyravideo.
The five nominees, in chronological order, are:
Tizway earned his first career Grade 1 victory in dazzling fashion,
running the second fastest Met Mile in the race’s 118-year history. Trained
by Jim Bond and ridden by Rajiv Maragh, the dark bay son of Tiznow stopped
the clock in 1:32.90 with a 2 3/4-length victory at Belmont Park. Tizway
would go on to capture yet another prestigious Grade 1 event in the Whitney
at Saratoga.
Royal Delta turned in one of the most dominant Grade 1 performances of
the year in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga. Patiently ridden on the
backstretch by Jose Lezcano, the three-year-old daughter of Empire Maker
looked like she was shot out of a cannon for the stretch run, catapulting
past Grade 1 winners Plum Pretty and It’s Tricky. Conditioned by Hall of
Fame trainer Bill Mott, Royal Delta parlayed her 5 1/2-length Alabama
victory into a Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic triumph two starts later.
Caleb’s Posse defeated juvenile champion Uncle Mo by a nose in the Grade
1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga. Both horses ran incredible races, with Caleb’s
Posse coming off a win in the Grade 2 Amsterdam and Uncle Mo making his
first start in nearly five months after recovering from a liver illness.
Caleb’s Posse, trained by Donnie Von Hemel and ridden by Rajiv Maragh, used
his closing style to perfection later in the year to win the Breeders’ Cup
Dirt Mile. The son of Posse is now in the running for a possible Eclipse
Award as champion three-year-old.
Havre de Grace became only the second filly or mare to win the storied
Grade 1 Woodward at Saratoga, joining Rachel Alexandra in accomplishing that
feat. Trained by Larry Jones and ridden by Ramon Dominguez, the imposing
daughter of Saint Liam defeated Flat Out, who went on to take the Grade 1
Jockey Club Gold Cup. Havre de Grace followed her Saratoga triumph by
rolling to an 8 1/4-length romp in the Grade 1 Beldame over Royal Delta.
Winter Memories unleashed a breathtaking last-to-first run on the far
outside through the final yards to win the Grade 1 Garden City at Belmont
Park. The robust grey daughter of El Prado became a fan favorite with the
astonishing stretch kick that she displayed throughout the course of the
year for trainer Jimmy Toner.
Fans have until January 15 to cast their vote on the NYRA “Race of the Year.”