Stars of 2015: Where Are They Now

California Chrome is among the stars of 2015 that are returning for 2016. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire unless noted)
While 2016’s New Year’s bells rang in a new career for American Pharoah, who has retired to life as a breeding stallion, many talented horses return to the track for another season of racing.
Listed alphabetically are some of the horses that finished in the top 45 in earnings in 2015 who are expected to return to the racetrack this year. 
Beholder

Age: 6
Gender: Mare
Pedigree: Henny Hughes – Leslie’s Lady, by Tricky Creek
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Owner: Spendthrift Farm
Notable 2015 achievements: Unbeaten in five starts. Won Grade 1 TVG Pacific Classic, Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes, Grade 3 Adoration Stakes
Early 2016 plans: TBD
Fun Facts: Beholder is the probable 2015 champion older female, giving her Eclipse Awards wins in three different age divisions. The mare is also one of only a handful of horses to win two different Breeders’ Cup races and looks to be in contention for a third if she attempts to run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic next year. Beholder has only finished off-the-board twice in her 20 race career, with those being a pair of fourths, and defeated males in the Pacific Classic in 2015.

Big Blue Kitten

Photo by Equi-Photo
Age: 8
Gender: Ridgling
Pedigree: Kitten’s Joy - Spent Gold, by Unaccounted For
Trainer: Chad Brown
Owner: Ken and Sarah Ramsey
Notable 2015 achievements: Won Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, Grade 1 United Nations, Grade 3 Fort Marcy Stakes, second in the Grade 1 Knob Creek Manhattan Stakes and Arlington Million and third in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf
Early 2016 plans:  TBD
Fun Facts: Big Blue Kitten has won or placed in a stakes race every year since 2011, a stat that includes four Grade 1 victories. The 8-year-old has won two editions of the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes and made a big comeback in 2015 after only winning one race in 2014. Big Blue Kitten is expected to be a finalist in the Eclipse Awards turf male division after hitting the board in all six of his 2015 starts, including three graded stakes victories.
 
California Chrome

Age: 5
Gender: Horse
Pedigree: Lucky Pulpit - Love the Chase, by Not For Love
Trainer: Art Sherman
Owner:  Perry Martin and Taylor Made Farm
Notable 2015 achievements: Finished second in Group 1 Dubai World Cup and Grade 2 San Antonio Invitational Stakes
Early 2016 plans: Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes on Jan. 9 at Santa Anita followed by a possible prep at Meydan Racecourse and a run in the Dubai World Cup on March 26.
Fun Facts: California Chrome won the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in addition to three other early season races and the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on turf to be named the 2014 Horse of the Year. California Chrome only raced twice last year due to injury but was second in both those races.

Dortmund

Photo by Benoit Photo
Age: 4
Gender: Colt
Pedigree: Big Brown - Our Josephina, by Tale of the Cat
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: Kaleem Shah
Notable 2015 achievements: Won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes, third in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby
Early 2016 plans: Possible start in the San Antonio Stakes on Feb. 6 as a prep for the March 12 Santa Anita Handicap
Fun Facts: Dortmund won the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity in his third career start before winning all three of his 3-year-old Kentucky Derby prep races. He was third and fourth, respectively, in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Grade 1 Preakness Stakes. After a post-Triple Crown layoff, Dortmund won his last two races of 2015. 

Effinex

Age: 5
Gender: Horse
Pedigree: Mineshaft - What a Pear, by E Dubai
Trainer: Jimmy Jerkens
Owner: Tri-Bone Stables
Notable 2015 achievements: Won Grade 1 Clark Handicap, Grade 2 Suburban Handicap, Grade 3 Excelsior Stakes, second in Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic and third in Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup
Early 2016 plans: Potential starts in the Donn Handicap on Feb. 6, Haynesfield Stakes on Feb. 13 or Gulfstream Park Handicap on March 6 with a possible start in the March 26 Dubai World Cup.
Fun Facts: A quirky horse, Effinex earned his first Grade 1 in the Clark Handicap at the end of November after running second to American Pharoah in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He won or placed in six of his eight starts last year with his only bad races coming due to the horse’s antics. 

Exaggerator

Age: 3
Gender: Colt
Pedigree: Curlin - Dawn Raid, by Vindication
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Owner: Big Chief Racing
Notable 2015 achievements: Won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes and Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes, second in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity
Early 2016 plans: San Vicente Stakes on Feb. 15
Fun Facts: Exaggerator is trained by Keith Desormeaux, who also trained 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Texas Red. Purchased for $110,000 as a yearling, Exaggerator has earned nearly $1-million on the racetrack after six starts as a 2-year-old. He is second on the Road to the Kentucky Derby points list with 16 points and looks to continue his sire’s record of having a classic-placed horse in each of his four crops of 3-year-olds if he can win or hit the board in one of the Triple Crown races. 

Firing Line

Photo by Coady Photography
Age: 4
Gender: Colt
Pedigree: Line of David - Sister Girl Blues, by Hold for Gold
Trainer: Simon Callaghan
Owner: Arnold Zetcher
Notable 2015 achievements: Won Grade 3 Sunland Derby, second in Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes
Early 2016 plans: TBD
Fun Facts: Firing Line finished second to Dortmund twice in Kentucky Derby preps before setting a new, 1 1/8-mile track record when winning the Sunland Derby by 14 ¼ lengths. Firing Line was the only horse to get within two lengths of American Pharoah in any of the Triple Crown winner’s winning races, finishing second to American Pharoah by a length in the Kentucky Derby. 

Found

Age: 4
Gender: Filly
Pedigree: Galileo (IRE) - Red Evie (IRE), by Intikhab
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Owner: Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier and Derrick Smith
Notable 2015 achievements: Won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf and the Group 3 Royal Whip Stakes, second in the Group 1 Irish One Thousand Guineas, Group 1 Coronation Stakes, Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes, Group 1 QIPCO Champion Stakes and Group 3 Athasi Stakes
Early 2016 plans: TBD
Fun Facts: Found is one of only three fillies to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf. She ran nearly every month from June through October, running in the biggest fall races in four different countries and only missing the board in one of those races. Found ran against Golden Horn three times, finishing second to him once and beating him in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Her win in the Turf gave her trainer his 10th Breeders’ Cup victory and jockey Ryan Moore his eighth at the event.
 
Frosted

Age: 4
Gender: Colt
Pedigree: Tapit - Fast Cookie, by Deputy Minister
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Owner: Godolphin Racing
Notable 2015 achievements: Won the Grade 1 Wood Memorial Stakes and Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby, second in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes, Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes and third in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes.
Early 2016 plans: A possible prep at Meydan Racecourse for the Dubai World Cup on March 26.
Fun Facts: Frosted was one of the top 3-year-olds of 2015, winning or hitting the board in six of his nine starts last year, all in graded stakes. The colt was also consistent as a 2-year-old, winning in his third start and hitting the board in the rest of his four races. After trying to stay with American Pharoah for most of the running in the Travers, the colt dropped back but still finished third, three lengths behind winner Keen Ice. 

I’m a Chatterbox

Age: 4
Gender: Filly
Pedigree: Munnings - Chit Chatter, by Lost Soldier
Trainer: Larry Jones
Owner: Carolyn and Fletcher Gray
Notable 2015 achievements: Won Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes, Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks, Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra Stakes, second in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes and Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks and third in the Grade 1 Longines Kentucky Oaks
Early 2016 plans: TBD
Fun Facts: I’m a Chatterbox crossed the finish line first in the Coaching Club American Oaks but was disqualified for interference in the stretch, with Curalina promoted to first. I’m a Chatterbox completed a first-third placing in the Kentucky Oaks for Larry Jones, and she is the first Grade 1 winner for her young sire, Munnings. 

Keen Ice

Age: 4
Gender: Colt
Pedigree: Curlin - Medomak, by Awesome Again
Trainer: Dale Romans
Owner: Donegal Racing
Notable 2015 achievements: Won Grade 1 Travers Stakes, second in Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, third in Grade 1 Belmont Stakes and Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes.
Early 2016 plans: Possible start in the Dubai World Cup on March 26.
Fun Facts: Keen Ice finished third and second, respectively, to American Pharoah before beating him in the Travers Stakes. Finishing third in the Belmont Stakes, he continued sire Curlin’s roll of siring at least one classic-placed horse in each of his three crops of 3-year-olds (Palace Malice won the Belmont in 2013 and Ride On Curlin finished second in the Preakness in 2014). 

Lady Eli

Age: 4
Gender: Filly
Pedigree: Divine Park - Sacre Coeur, by Saint Ballado
Trainer: Chad Brown
Owner: Sheep Pond Partners
Notable 2015 achievements: Won Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational, Grade 3 Appalachian Stakes
Early 2016 plans: TBD
Fun Facts: Lady Eli is undefeated in six career starts. The filly is expected to make a return in 2016 after successfully battling laminitis following her Belmont Oaks victory. She is the first Breeders’ Cup winner and runner for Sheep Pond Partners, whose co-owner Jay Hanley was inspired to enter the sport after watching Zenyatta in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Because of her successful 2-year-old season, Lady Eli was named as a finalist for the 2014 Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old female. 

Nyquist

Age: 3
Gender: Colt
Pedigree: Uncle Mo - Seeking Gabrielle, by Forestry
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Owner: Reddam Racing
Notable 2015 achievements: Won Grade 1 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes, Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes
Early 2016 plans: San Vicente on Feb. 15
Fun Facts: Nyquist followed in his sire’s hoofsteps by winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and is the probable winner of the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male. He is owned, trained and ridden by the team that produced 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner I’ll Have Another. He is the early favorite for the 2016 Kentucky Derby.
 
Private Zone

Age: 7
Gender: Gelding
Pedigree: Macho Uno - Auburn Beauty, by Siphon (BRZ)
Trainer: Brian Lynch
Owner: Good Friends Stable
Notable 2015 achievements: Won Grade 1 Priority One Jets Forego Stakes, Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes, Grade 3 Belmont Sprint Championship Stakes, second in Grade 1 TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap and third in Grade 1 NYRA.com Metropolitan Handicap
Early 2016 plans: Possible start in the Dubai Golden Shaheen on March 26
Fun Facts: Private Zone has been one of the top horses in his division since his breakout Grade 1 win in the 2013 Vosburgh Invitational Stakes. The gelding has won five graded stakes since that win and has only missed the board in two of his 11 starts in 2014 and 2015. He earned more than $1.3-million in 2015, the most he’s made in any of his five years on the racetrack. 

Runhappy

Age: 4
Gender: Colt
Pedigree: Super Saver - Bella Jolie, by Broken Vow
Trainer: Laura Wohlers
Owner: James McIngvale
Notable 2015 achievements: Won Grade 1 Twinspires Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Grade 1 NYRA.com King’s Bishop Stakes, Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, Grade 3 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes
Early 2016 plans: Metropolitan Handicap on June 11
Fun Facts: Runhappy is by 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and has won seven of his eight starts. The colt is the probable champion sprinter of 2015 and is a probable finalist for the 3-year-old male category after winning three Grade 1 races in 2015, the most of any 3-year-old other than American Pharoah.

Songbird

Age: 3
Gender: Filly
Pedigree: Medaglia d'Oro - Ivanavinalot, by West Acre
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Owner: Fox Hill Farms
Notable 2015 achievements: Won Grade 1 14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes, Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante States
Early 2016 plans: Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 6.
Fun Facts: The probable champion 2-year-old filly for 2015, Songbird is owned by Fox Hill Farms, which campaigned 2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace. Her Hall of Fame trainer was recently the trainer of 2013 champion 2-year-old male Shared Belief and 2010 champion 3-year-old filly and Kentucky Oaks winner Blind Luck, among many others.

Stopchargingmaria

Age: 5
Gender: Mare
Pedigree: Tale of the Cat - Exotic Bloom, by Montbrook
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Town and Country Farm
Notable 2015 achievements: Won Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Grade 3 Allaire DuPoint Distaff Stakes, Grade 3 Shuvee Handicap, second in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes
Early 2016 plans: TBD
Fun Facts: Stopchargingmaria was a finalist for 3-year-old filly Eclipse Award in 2014 with two Grade 1 wins and also won two graded stakes races as a 2-year-old. She raced for Repole Stables early in her career and was sold privately in 2014 after she left the ring unsold at Fasig-Tipton for $3.15-million.

Tepin

Age: 5
Gender: Mare
Pedigree: Bernstein - Life Happened, by Stravinsky
Trainer: Mark Casse
Owner:  Robert Masterson
Notable 2015 achievements: Won Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile , Grade 1 First Lady Stakes, Grade 1 Just a Game Stakes and Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes.
Early 2016 plans: TBD, but the filly is back in Casse’s Florida barn after a break.
Fun Facts: Tepin was the first filly to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile since Goldikova’s three-peat from 2008 through 2010. Tepin came within about half a neck of an undefeated season with her two losses coming at margin of a head and a nose. Tepin has won or placed in a graded stakes in each of her three seasons. In 2013, the filly won the Grade 3 Delta Downs Princess Stakes, and in 2014 she was second in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap.

The Pizza Man

Age: 7
Gender: Gelding
Pedigree: English Channel - I Can Fan Fan, by Lear Fan
Trainer: Roger Brueggemann
Owner: Midwest Thoroughbreds
Notable 2015 achievements: Won the Grade 1 Arlington Million, the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup and Grade 3 Stars and Stripes Stakes, second in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile
Early 2016 plans: Possibly Grade 2 San Marcos on Feb. 6 or Feb. 20 Fair Grounds Handicap before the Dubai Sheema Classic on March 26
Fun Facts: The Pizza Man completed the American St. Leger/Arlington Million double in 2014-2015. In 2015, he was only a nose away from a second Grade 1 win when Grand Arch beat him by a head in the Shadwell Turf Mile. The gelding has won the Stars and Stripes Stakes each of the last two years. He was the first Illinois-bred to win the Arlington Million, joining a winner’s list that includes notable horses like John Henry, Awad and Chester House. 

Untapable

Age: 5
Gender: Mare
Pedigree: Tapit - Fun House, by Prized
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Notable 2015 achievements: Won Grade 1 Apple Blossom, second in Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes, Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, Grade 2 Azeri Sakes, Grade 3 Shuvee Handicap, third in Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes
Early 2016 plans: TBD, jogging in preparation for a return
Fun Facts: Untapable was a dominant filly in 2014, winning six of her seven races, including the Kentucky Oaks and Breeders’ Cup Distaff. The win led to Eclipse honors as champion 3-year-old filly that year. In 2015, she finished on the board in all six of her starts. She is her sire, Tapit’s, highest earner based in North America with $3,816,725 in earnings. 

Wavell Avenue

Age: 5
Gender: Mare
Pedigree: Harlington - Lucas Street, by Silver Deputy
Trainer: Chad Brown
Owner: M. Dubb, D. Simon, Head of Plains Partners and Bethlehem Stables
Notable 2015 achievements: Won Grade 1 TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, second Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap
Early 2016 plans: Madison Stakes on April 9
Fun Facts: According to the Thoroughbred Daily News, part-owner Michael Dubb named a street after Wavell Avenue in one of his subdivisions after this filly. Her sire Harlington is a son of the great mare Serena’s Song. Wavell Avenue didn’t make her debut until late August of her 3-year-old year and has only run in four stakes races, including two ungraded stakes.