Complete 2013 Eclipse Awards Roundup

Wise Dan, above winning the 2013 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga Race Course, won three Eclipse Awards on Saturday night at Gulfstream Park - Horse of the Year, older male, and turf male. He also swept the three divisions in 2012. (Photo courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire)
The 43rd annual Eclipse Awards on Saturday at Gulfstream Park was a celebration of the exploits of Wise Dan, who repeated as Horse of the Year and again walked away with three championships. Below is a complete roundup of the 2013 Eclipse Awards.
2013 Horse of the Year
Wise Dan

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Wise Dan swept the older male, turf male and Horse of the Year Eclipse Awards for the second straight year and became the only horse ever to accomplish that feat since the inception of the Eclipse Awards in 1971. In joining Curlin, Cigar, Affirmed, Forego and Secretariat as back-to-back winners of the Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year, Wise Dan cemented his legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats and a sure-fire Hall of Famer. The chestnut gelding will have a chance to add to his record in 2014 when he returns for his 7-year-old season.
Finalists:   Mucho Macho Man, Will Take Charge, Wise Dan 
Voting (Name, First-Place Votes): Wise Dan, 208; Mucho Macho Man, 21; Will Take Charge, 15; Dank (GB), 1; Princess of Sylmar, 1; Royal Delta, 1. Voter Abstentions,  2.

2013 Champion 2-Year-Old Male
Shared Belief

Benoit & Associates photo
Shared Belief earned the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male with a powerful finish to his juvenile season. He did not make his career debut until October and, after an easy win, he reeled off dominant victories in the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue Stakes and Grade 1 CashCall Hollywood Futurity. He is the first 2-year-old since Declan’s Moon in 2004 to win the Eclipse Award despite bypassing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Shared Belief is owned by a partnership that includes prominent sports personality Jim Rome's Jungle Racing.
Finalists: Havana, New Year’s Day, Shared Belief
Voting (Name, First-Place Votes): Shared Belief, 115; New Year’s Day, 99; Havana, 24; Honor Code, 5; Outstrip (GB), 4; Tamarando, 1; No Vote 1.  
2013 Champion 2-Year-Old Female
She’s a Tiger

Benoit & Associates photo
Every filly since 2000 who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies went on to win the Eclipse Award as division champion until She’s a Tiger broke the string. The runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup after she was disqualified from first to second for interference in the stretch, She’s a Tiger amassed three wins and three seconds in six starts in 2013 and earned $725,650. She won the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante and also finished second in the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes. 1999 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Chilukki was the last 2-year-old filly champion who did not win the Juvenile Fillies.
Finalists: Chriselliam (IRE), Ria Antonia, She’s a Tiger
Voting (Name, First-Place Votes): She’s a Tiger, 212; Chriselliam (IRE), 15; Ria Antonia, 10; Sweet Reason, 3; Stopshoppingmaria, 3; Streaming 3; My Conquestadory, 2; Artemis Agrotera, 1.  
2013 Champion 3-Year-Old Male
Will Take Charge

Photo By Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
Despite not showing his best in the 2013 Triple Crown races, Will Take Charge emerged as a champion with a powerhouse second half of his 3-year-old season. He won a pair of Grade 1 races – the Travers Stakes and the Clark Handicap – and the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby. He also finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Will Take Charge won five of 11 starts and bankrolled $2,960,148.
Finalists:  Orb, Palace Malice, Will Take Charge
Voting (Name, First-Place Votes): Will Take Charge, 231; Orb, 15; Palace Malice, 1; Goldencents, 1; Verrazano, 1. 
2013 Champion 3-Year-Old Female
Beholder

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Consistency was the key for Beholder in 2013 as she never finished worse than second in seven starts and maintained a level of excellence from her season debut in January through her runaway Breeders’ Cup Distaff triumph in November. She became the first Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner to take the Distaff at three and in the process vanquished familiar rival Princess of Sylmar, who defeated Beholder in the Kentucky Oaks. Beholder won five times, including four Grade 1s, and earned $1,860,000 in 2013.
Finalists: Beholder, Close Hatches, Princess of Sylmar 
Voting (Name, First-Place Votes): Beholder, 207; Princess of Sylmar, 42.
2013 Champion Older Male
Wise Dan

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
For the second year in a row, Wise Dan was named champion older male. He won five of six starts in 2013, including three Grade 1 wins, and earned $2,751,972 for owner-breeder Mort Fink and trainer Charlie LoPresti. He is the first horse since Skip Away in 1996, 1997 to repeat as champion older male and joins Skip Away, Cigar (1995, 1996) and Forego (1974, 1975, 1976, 1977) as the only horses to accomplish the feat since the Eclipse Awards began in 1971.
Finalists:  Game On Dude, Mucho Macho Man, Wise Dan  
Voting (Name, First-Place Votes): Wise Dan, 123; Mucho Macho Man, 93; Game On Dude, 31; Flat Out, 2. 
2013 Champion Older Female
Royal Delta

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Royal Delta secured her third straight Eclipse Award by bringing home the hardware in the older female division for the second year in a row. She also won the 2011 Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly. Royal Delta won three of seven starts in 2013 with Grade 1 victories in the Delaware Handicap and Personal Ensign Handicap.
Finalists: Joyful Victory, Royal Delta, Tiz Miz Sue 
Voting (Name, First-Place Votes): Royal Delta, 234; Dank (GB), 5; Joyful Victory, 3; Tiz Miz Sue, 2; Dance to Bristol, 1; Laughing (IRE),1; Brandy’s Secret, 1. Voter Abstention, 1. No Vote, 1.
2013 Champion Turf Male
Wise Dan

Keeneland photo
Wise Dan was an easy choice as a repeat winner of the Eclipse Award as champion turf male after winning six of seven starts and capping the year with a repeat victory in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. He was far and away the best grass horse in the U.S. in 2013 and you could make a case that Wise Dan was the best male turf horse in the world. He tied with Orfevre as the highest-rated male turf horse in the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities year-end rankings.
Finalists: Magician (IRE), Point of Entry, Wise Dan
Voting (Name, First-Place Votes): Wise Dan, 243; Magician (IRE), 4; Obviously (IRE), 1; Point of Entry, 1.
2013 Champion Turf Female
Dank

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Dank made two trips to the United States from her home base in England with Sir Michael Stoute and dominated her American opposition. Dank won the Beverly D. Stakes by 4 ¼ lengths in August and returned to the U.S. in November to win the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf and cement the Eclipse Award as champion turf female.
Finalists: Dank (GB), Laughing (IRE), Mizdirection 
Voting (Name, First-Place Votes): Dank (GB), 229; Laughing (IRE), 8; Mizdirection, 8; Alterite (FR), 1; Egg Drop, 1; Emollient, 1; Kitten’s Dumplings, 1. 
2013 Champion Male Sprinter
Points Offthebench

Benoit & Associates photo
Points Offthebench amassed four wins and one second in five starts in 2013, including consecutive Grade 1 wins in the Bing Crosby Handicap and the Santa Anita Sprint Championship. He earned $434,950 during a season that was cut short when he was euthanized after suffering a catastrophic injury while preparing for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Finalists: Points Offthebench, Sahara Sky, Secret Circle 
Voting (Name, First-Place Votes): Points Offthebench, 125; Secret Circle, 70; Sahara Sky, 45; Justin Phillip, 4; Private Zone, 2; Immortal Eyes, 1; Strapping Groom, 1. Voter Abstention, 1.  
2013 Champion Female Sprinter
Groupie Doll

Photo courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire
Groupie Doll is the first horse to win back-to-back Eclipse Awards in the female sprinter category since the award was created in 2007. She wrapped up the championship with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, a race she also won during her 2012 championship season. Groupie Doll won two of five starts in 2013 and earned $871,000.
Finalists: Dance to Bristol, Groupie Doll, Mizdirection
Voting (Name, First-Place Votes): Groupie Doll, 192; Mizdirection, 45; Cluster of Stars, 7; Dance to Bristol, 5. 
2013 Champion Steeplechaser
Divine Fortune
A 10-year-old in 2013, Divine Fortune won twice in seven starts with a career-defining victory in the Grand National Hurdle Stakes serving as his signature win during the championship campaign.
Finalists:  Divine Fortune, Gustavian, Italian Wedding
Voting (Name, First-Place Votes): Divine Fortune, 112; Italian Wedding, 27; Gustavian, 25; Alajmal, 21; Mr. Hot Stuff, 12. Voter Abstentions, 52.
2013 Outstanding Owner
Ken and Sarah Ramsey

Keeneland photo
Ken and Sarah Ramsey won the Eclipse Award as outstanding owner for the third time in 2013. The Ramseys also were honored as outstanding owner in 2004 and 2011, and last year the couple was simply dominant on the racetrack. The Ramseys $12,231,045 in purse earnings was $5 million more than their closest competitor. The Ramseys 42 stakes wins were 29 more than the nearest rival and their 17 graded stakes victories were eight more than Eclipse Awards finalist Juddmonte Farms, which ranked second with nine.
Finalists: Juddmonte Farms, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey 
Voting (Name, First-Place Votes): Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, 235; Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc., 4; Morton Fink, 3; Gary and Mary West, 2; Jungle Racing, 1; Maggi Moss, 1. Voter Abstentions 3.    
2013 Outstanding Breeder
Ken and Sarah Ramsey

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Ken and Sarah Ramsey secured their first Eclipse Award as outstanding breeder in 2013 after leading all North American breeders by purse earnings with $12,175,837 and stakes victories with 23.
Finalists:   Adena Springs, Morton Fink, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey
Voting (Name, First-Place Votes): Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey 221; Adena Springs, 17; Morton Fink, 4; Darley 1; WinStar Farm, 1. Voter Abstentions, 5. 
2013 Outstanding Trainer
Todd Pletcher

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Todd Pletcher established a new record with his sixth career Eclipse Award as outstanding trainer in 2013. He won the Belmont Stakes for the second time with Palace Malice and won the Kentucky Oaks with Princess of Sylmar. Pletcher’s 946 starters in 2013 earned $25,248,816 and won 224 races, including 73 stakes and 48 graded stakes.
Finalists:  Bob Baffert, Bill Mott, Todd Pletcher
Voting (Name, First-Place Votes): Todd Pletcher, 183; D. Wayne Lukas, 21; Jerry Hollendorfer, 9; Bill Mott, 7; Charles LoPresti, 6; Shug McGaughey, 6; Bob Baffert, 5; Steve Asmussen, 3; Chad Brown, 2; Kathy Ritvo, 2; Ollie Figgins, 1;  David Jacobson, 1; King Leatherbury, 1; Dale Romans, 1. Voter Abstention, 1.  

2013 Outstanding Jockey
Javier Castellano

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Javier Castellano earned his first career Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey in 2013 after a season in which he established a new record for purse earnings in a single season with $26,213,507. He also led all riders by victories with 362 and by stakes wins with 63.
Finalists:  Javier Castellano, Joel Rosario, Gary Stevens
Voting (Name, First-Place Votes): Javier Castellano, 134; Gary Stevens, 65; Joel Rosario, 21; Mike Smith, 19; John Velazquez, 8; Corey Nakatani 1. Voter Abstention, 1.   
2013 Outstanding Apprentice
Victor Carrasco

Photo by Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
Victor Carrasco, a Puerto Rico native, led all apprentice riders by wins with 204 and purse earnings with $4,287,019 in 2013 to secure the Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice.
Finalists: Victor Carrasco, Manuel Franco, Edgard Zayas
Voting (Name, First-Place Votes): Victor Carrasco, 172; Edgard Zayas, 18; Manuel Franco, 13; Emmanuel Esquivel, 8; Jose L. Ortiz, 4; Dylan Davis, 3; Trevor McCarthy, 2. Voter Abstentions, 29.
Eclipse Award of Merit
D. Wayne Lukas

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
D. Wayne Lukas has trained 25 champions, including three honored as Horse of the Year, and has four Eclipse Awards as outstanding trainer during his Hall of Fame career. In 2013, he added to his haul in the United States Triple Crown races when Oxbow gave him his 14th classic triumph in the Preakness. Oxbow’s win moved Lukas past James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons into first place all-time by classic victories in the U.S. Lukas also has trained a record 19 winners at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. He was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1999. Will Take Charge won the 2013 Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male for Lukas.
SPECIAL CONGRATULATORY VIDEO FROM HALL OF FAME COACH BOBBY KNIGHT

Special Eclipse Award
Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance

 
The Special Award honors extraordinary service, individual achievements in, or contributions to the sport of Thoroughbred racing. A 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Lexington, Ky., the TAA serves as both an accrediting body for aftercare facilities that care for Thoroughbreds following their racing careers and a fundraising body to support the approved facilities. Funded initially by seed money from Breeders’ Cup Ltd., The Jockey Club and Keeneland Association, the TAA is comprised of and supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, jockeys, aftercare professionals and other industry groups.

The 2013 Media Eclipse Awards winners, determined by a judges’ panel for each category and previously announced, are:

Photography – Jamie Radosevich-Hernandez. “Wise Dan Wins Firecracker Handicap,” USAToday.com; June 30, 2013 

Writing – Feature/Commentary: Marty McGee, “For Desormeaux, Conflicting Views on his Struggles,” Daily Racing Form; April 20, 2013

 Writing - News/Enterprise – Marcus Hersh, “Dubai World Cup: Douglas Back at Racetrack for First Time Since Being Injured,” Daily Racing Form;  March 26, 2013 

 Television - Live Racing: NBC Sports, “The Kentucky Derby,”  Rob Hyland, Coordinating Producer; May 4, 2013. 

Television - Feature: HRTV,  “HRTV Presents: Saratoga WarHorse,”  Stacie Clark-Rogers, Producer; November 2, 2013.

Audio and Multi-Media Internet – The New York Times (nytimes.com); “The Jockey,”  Written and Narrated by Barry Bearak; August 13, 2013.