2022 Eclipse Award Ballot

[cj]

Most pretty easy calls this year, struggled more with picking 3rd than 1st in many.

[Andy Asaro]

[GMB@BP]

In the end riding dangerous like Irad pays off!

[PaceAdvantage]

What are you going to do? NOT vote for him?

Be serious.

[BarchCapper]

I'll quibble with not giving Beverly Park a 3rd for Horse of the Year or at least Older Dirt Male!!!

But you get a pass on that one from me because you took the time to do the steeplechase category!

[v j stauffer]

I would put Taiba 1st over Epicenter and Cyberknife.

Agree with all others.

[PaceAdvantage]

Given how uninspiring the 3yos were this year on dirt, I would have no problem putting Modern Games in the top spot for 3yo of the year.

[cj]

Originally Posted by GMB@BP

In the end riding dangerous like Irad pays off!

I didn't want to vote for him, but I try to be fair and he was the overwhelming choice.

[cj]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

Given how uninspiring the 3yos were this year on dirt, I would have no problem putting Modern Games in the top spot for 3yo of the year.

That was a tough call for me, almost 1 and 1A. Since it was so close, I went with the horse that ran here the most.

[cj]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

I would put Taiba 1st over Epicenter and Cyberknife.

Agree with all others.

Personally I didn't even consider Taiba for 1st. I thought his Santa Anita Derby was a terrible field in retrospect, and the Malibu was a G1 in name only. Had he held on for 2nd in the Classic I'd have given him serious consideration.

[Robert Fischer]

Originally Posted by cj

That was a tough call for me, almost 1 and 1A. Since it was so close, I went with the horse that ran here the most.

Nice ballot and is representative of knowledgeable players and fans.

Had pretty much the same question as PA , Modern Games winning male turf vs older but not 3yo. Don't disagree with your conclusion just a softball.

As far as Epicenter vs. Taiba; for me T was the better horse entering the Classic, while Epicenter had danced the dances and secured the award.
Malibu did nothing for either metric's needle.

Also was hopeful that Epicenter would be an Assmussen improving 4yo.

[classhandicapper]

It's a shame Epicenter is not going to run again this year because both he and Taiba might have put on a few very nice shows this year and ultimately settled it on the track.

I would have voted for Epicenter if I still had a vote.

[Tom]

Don't blame CJ. Blame yhe grossly incompetent stewards who allow tis menace to continue to ride when he puts other's lives at risk?

Irad should not be allowed on any track.

[v j stauffer]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

Given how uninspiring the 3yos were this year on dirt, I would have no problem putting Modern Games in the top spot for 3yo of the year.

It seems that recently people look for why a crop was subpar rather than good.

I think EPICENTER and TAIBA are both very good horses.

Putting Modern Games in this discussion is ridiculous.

ZERO chance our industry is going to crown a turf horse who ran one time in the U S.

As for rating the candidates and the strength of the fields they beat. I think that's completely irrelevant. Would they be better horses if they beat tougher fields? Of course. But there are only a handful of races that get used to decide.

They only run one Santa Anita Derby and Malibu each year. They are Grade 1's and used to compare and contrast.

EPICENTER running 2nd in two legs of the Triple Crown is a terrific achievement and winning the Travers a fabulous win.

But is it enough to defeat a horse that won three Grade 1's and was third to FLIGHTLINE in the BC Classic.

I read where someone said had he finished 2nd that would change his opinion. Two ways to look at that. Undoubtedly, he had more trouble than any horse in the race. So, is the 3rd an accomplishment or a failure?

I don't have a vote, wish I did. HOF yes, Eclipse no.

If I did my ballot would be...

1) TAIBA
2) EPICENTER
3) CYBERKNIFE

[PaceAdvantage]

Modern Games beat older horses twice in Grade 1s in North America...and he won the Breeders' Cup Mile

'nuff said