Florida-bred Musical Romance named champion Filly and Mare Sprinter:
Havre de Grace is Horse of the Year
Thoroughbred racing’s best were honored Monday night at the 41st annual Eclipse Awards ceremony at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. At the end of the nearly three-hour event, a female walked away from the ceremony with Horse of the Year honors for the third consecutive year as Havre de Grace earned the 2011 title, following in the footsteps of Rachel Alexandra in 2009 and Zenyatta in 2010.
A winner in 5 of 7 starts in 2011, Havre de Grace earned more than $1.6 million on the season for Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farms and trainer Larry Jones. She won the Azeri Stakes (G3) and the Apple Blossom Stakes (G1) at Oaklawn Park. She beat the boys in the prestigious Woodward Stakes (G1) at Saratoga over the summer and returned to her division to romp in the Beldame Invitational (G1) in October. She concluded her season with a game fourth-place finish against males in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
In her final race of 2011, she defeated Acclamation at the polls, receiving 166 first-place votes for Horse of the Year to runner-up Acclamation’s 26 votes.
“It is some kind of thrill to win an award I could only dream about 10 years ago,” said Porter. “As many of you in this room know, I’ve seen the lows and the highs of this game. Havre de Grace is the highest. There’s no question in my mind that she deserves this honor. I want to thank Larry and Cindy Jones for their horsemanship and for making this happen. I hope we can do it again in 2012.”
In addition to her Horse of the Year award, Havre de Grace was voted champion Older Female as well.
“I could talk a long time about all the thrills she gave us last year,” said Porter. “She gave us, our family, friends and all her fans a lot of excitement. It didn’t take me long to fall in love her at the sale. She had an incredible year in 2011. I’m blessed to own her. I will always cherish this award.”
The Sunshine State basked in the Eclipse spotlight Monday. Florida-bred Musical Romance, bred by Ocala Stud and sold at OBS, was honored as the Eclipse champion Female Sprinter for co-owner and trainer Bill Kaplan and Adam Lazarus’ Pinnacle Racing Stable.
The daughter of the late stallion Concorde’s Tune sold at OBS for $22,000. She enjoyed a banner season in 2011, capped off by an emphatic triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs. Also numbered among her scores was a dramatic victory in the rich Presque Isle Masters Stakes (G2) at Presque Isle Downs last September.
“This is for all the people in barn 50 at Calder,” said Kaplan from the podium. “It’s for all the unsung heroes—the grooms, exercise riders, blacksmiths and vets. I want to thank Ocala Stud for breeding a great horse and selling her to us. I also want to thank jockey Juan Leyva. This award is proof to the world that a little guy can invest a little and make it to the top.”
Lazarus also took time to acknowledge the founding father of Thoroughbred partnerships, Cot Campbell of Dogwood Stable, who received the Eclipse Award of Merit earlier in the evening.
“All of us in this room share common characteristics,” he said. “Number one, we love this game. Number two, we have to be gamblers. Without Cot’s idea of creating partnerships I would not be standing in front of you tonight.”
Musical Romance secured 131 first-place votes, comfortably turning back runner-up Hilda’s Passion, who received 53 votes.
Champion 3-year-old male, Animal Kingdom, also boasts Florida ties. The Team Valor International homebred is a son of Stonewall Farm Ocala stallion Leroidesanimaux (BRZ), who was Eclipse champion turf horse as a 5-year-old in 2005.
Animal Kingdom won the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (G3) at Turfway Park and captured the Kentucky Derby (G1) in his initial try over a traditional dirt track. He finished second in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and was injured in the Belmont Stakes (G1). He won the Eclipse by a narrow vote, edging Caleb’s Posse by a vote of 114-111. Mark Polivka of Team Valor accepted the award.
Royal Delta, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (G1), was named champion 3-year-old filly. She made seven starts last year at six different tracks. In addition to taking down top prize in the Ladies Classic, she also won the Alabama Stakes (G1) and the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2). Following her Breeders’ Cup win she was sold for $8.5 million to Florida’s Besilu Stables of Benjamin Leon.
Royal Delta’s trainer, Bill Mott, received the Eclipse Award as the leading trainer. Mott notched two Breeders’ Cup victories. In addition to saddling Royal Delta in the Ladies Classic, he lead over Drosselmeyer to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) 24 hours later. It was the third Eclipse Award for Mott, who also won it in 1995 and ’96.
Champion 2-year-old colt went to Hansen. The son of Tapit won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in November, beating the two other finalists in Union Rags and Creative Cause. Co-owner Dr. Kendall Hansen accepted the award.
Two-year-old filly honors went to undefeated My Miss Aurelia. Co-owner Barbara Banke, the widow of Jess Jackson, accepted the award along with George Bolton. My Miss Aurelia is named for Bolton’s mother, Aurelia.
“Jess loved this sport,” Banke said. “He pulled me in and hooked me. This is especially sweet for our family. We raised this filly and she has always been special to us. Jess named her.”
Bolton followed Banke to the microphone and addressed the gathering.
“This is such a tribute to Jess,” he said. “She was a star as a 2-year-old in training in Ocala. It’s rare to have a horse go the gate four times and get better each time. This is special. Thank you.”
Male Turf Horse went to Cape Blanco. Perfect in three U.S. starts in 2001, Cape Blanco won the Man o’ War Stakes, the Arlington Million and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational, all Grade 1 events for Mrs. Fitri Hay, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor.
Stacelita (FR) earned Female Turf Horse honors for owner Martin Schwartz. Trained by Chad Brown, Stacelita captured the Beverly D. Stakes (G1) and won 10 of 18 lifetime races before being retired at season’s end.
“It’s been a special experience to share this with my family,” said Schwartz. “She is a beautiful racehorse who took us on a magical carpet ride. She won six Grade 1 races in her career. She is one of a select few to have won Grade 1 races in three consecutive years.”
Male Sprinter went to Amazombie, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). The California-bred runner is a son of former Florida sire Northern Afleet. He won four graded stakes in 2011, including the Ancient Title Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita. Trainer and co-owner Bill Spawr accepted the award.
Fellow Cal-bred Acclamation took home honors for champion Older Male. The son of Unusual Heat reeled off five straight wins during the season, culminating with a win in the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar.
“After 55 years in the business, this is pretty great,” said Old English Rancho’s Bud Johnston. “This is a family business for us. My father started the business in 1938. It’s been a family affair for many, many years. This is an exciting moment. The greatest part of this business is the people. “
Nineteen-year-old Kyle Frey was named champion Apprentice Rider. Ramon Dominguez was named champion Jockey for the second consecutive year.
Outstanding Breeder for the 8th time and 7th time in the last eight years was Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs Farm. Adena Springs-bred runners won 455 races in 2011 and earned $14.6 million.
Owner of the year went to Ken and Sarah Ramsey. The Ramseys won the award in 2004.
Rapid Redux received a special Eclipse Award for his record-setting on the racetrack. In winning his 19th race of the year on Dec. 13, he equaled Citation’s all-time record. On Jan. 4 of this year he extended his remarkable win streak to 22 straight with a victory at Laurel. Owner Robert Cole accepted the award.
“I claimed him for $6,250,” Cole said. “I turned him over to trainer David Wells and he turned him into a priceless horse. David and Rapid Redux were perfect in 2011.”
The Eclipse Awards are voted on by Daily Racing Form, the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
Photo by Breeders' Cup LTD
