Shared Belief Defies History to Win Eclipse
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Undefeated Shared Belief became the rare non-Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner to be awarded an Eclipse Award in the 2-year-old male division when the Candy Ride gelding rode late season success to top the balloting.
Trained by Hall of Fame Jerry Hollendorfer and owned by Jungle Racing, KMN Racing, Hollendorfer, Litt, Solis II, and Todaro, Shared Belief was three-for-three in 2013, including victories in the Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III) and the post-Breeders' Cup CashCall Futurity (gr. I). He won those three races by a combined 19 1/2 lengths.
Produced from the Storm Cat mare Common Hope, Shared Belief was bred in Kentucky by Pam and Marty Wygod. He was purchased privately out of a seven-length debut win going six furlongs at Golden Gate Fields Oct. 19.
New Year's Day , the Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner who has since been retired, finished second in the voting. From 2003 to 2012, eight winners of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile went on to be named champion 2-year-old male. In 2009 European shipper Vale of York won the Juvenile, but Lookin At Lucky was the champion; in 2004 Wilko won the Juvenile, but Declan's Moon bagged the Eclipse Award.
Shared Belief remains in training as a 3-year-old of 2014 and missed a scheduled workout Jan. 12 because of an abscess on his right front foot.
The votes below represent only first-place votes from members of the consolidated voting entities, NTRA, Daily Racing Form, and National Turf Writers And Broadcasters:
Shared Belief, 115; New Year's Day, 99; Havana, 24; Honor Code, 5; Outstrip (GB), 4; Tamarando, 1; No Vote 1.