Older horses are nominated in the Eclipse awards representing some professional race horses as well as a couple that captured the public’s attention. Nominees for the older male include Einstein (BRZ) Gio Ponti and Kodiak Kowboy while the females are Life is Sweet, Music Note and Zenyatta.
Life is Sweet is a royally bred lady by Storm Cat out of the Kris S mare Sweet Life. She won the Lady’s Classic after what could be deemed a sketchy year of second in the Milady G2, third in the Hollywood Gold Cup G1 before two fourths. However, three of those four “not wins” were against winter Zenyatta.
Music Note, third to Life is Sweet in the Ladies Classic also stamps an impressive pedigree, by A.P. Indy out of Note Musicale by Sadler’s Wells. She won two of three outs other than the Ladies classic including the G1 Beldame and G1 Ballerina.
The older mare division is unquestionably dominated by Zenyatta. The daughter of Street Cry also out of a Kris S mare Vertigineux, Zenyatta strung together an impressive perfect record including being the first female to win the Breeders Cup Classic.
I think most put Zenyatta easily the best older female and, as she beat Gio Ponti in the Classic she’s proved on the track she’s faster when called on. Still, the Classic runner up son of Tale Of The Cat out of the Alydar daughter Chipeta Springs had started the year with a 5th place run in the G2 Strub before four G1 wins across the country, a second in the G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. Winning both on the turf and synthetic lifetime but his wins this year all came on the turf, for which he’s also nominated in the Turf division.
Kodiak Kowboy, by Posse out of Kokadrie by Coronado’s Quest could be criticized for inconsistency in placings being first in the G1 Carter at Aqueduct before a 7th at Churchill then a win in the Donald Levine Memorial, a couple ‘off’ races including a second to Pyro in the G1 Forego then finishing with two wins. The five year old definitely hits the mark and pays his way, but against the competition is it enough for top older male?
Top older male consideration must be heavily considered for Einstein (BRZ). An 8 year old son of Spend a Buck out of Gay Charm he’s as professional of horse as is running, beginning the year with a G1 third and two G1 wins. Third in the Stephen Foster before a turf third to Gio Ponti in the G1 Arlington Million he was far up the track in the Classic, finishing 11th to Zenyatta and Gio Ponti in the Classic before a third place effort in the G2 Clark Handicap 20 days later.
TURFGio Ponti was nominated in Turf as well as older horses, but his top class record of wins on the turf would make him seem an easy winner for male turf horse. However his co-nominees Conduit and Presious Passion aren’t without consideration.
In a year of outstanding fillies it shouldn’t be a surprise the ladies get serious looks in this division also. Goldikova, Midday, Ventura all with serious credentials to win.
