Wrapping Up 2016
Race of the Year: BC Distaff – Beholder and Songbird, throwing it down from the top of the lane to the wire, with Hall of Famers Gary Stevens and Mike Smith pushing the buttons, and quite a bit on the line. Songbird’s undefeated record and Beholders legacy hung in the balance and at the wire, nobody really knew who won. Turned out to be Beholder by a nose, but in the end, everyone involved was richer for the race. As for the jocks, with Stevens undergoing hip replacement surgery this week, that might have been the last time those rivals battled it out. If so, quite the sendoff for one of the all-time greats who was at his best when it counted the most.
Performance of the Year: A tie. Arrogate in the Travers and Frosted in the Met Mile. Both races looked pretty competitive on paper, but once the gates opened, that story was re-written. The pair were simply dominant, blowing out their opposition with disdain. Honorable mention - California Chrome in the Dubai World Cup and Pacific Classic and Arrogate again in the BC Classic, running down the aforementioned ‘Chrome in the shadow of the wire.
Ride of the Year: BC Turf – Seamus Heffernan taking the big RISK by going for broke on the backstretch with the brilliant Highland Reel and getting the ultimate REWARD by blowing the race open and cruising home an easy winner, thanks to a move most jocks are too scared to try, let alone in a race of that magnitude.
Grinder of the Year: Gun Runner. Danced every major 3yo dance from January through October, hit the board more often than not, then ran 2nd to his elders in the BC Mile, and closed the year by beating a solid group of older horses in the Clark. Hell of a training job by Steve Asmussen and here’s to a lot more of Gun Runner in 2017.
Forgotten Hero: Nyquist! Remember when the Derby hero was heading into the Preakness with a shot to join Seattle Slew as an undefeated Triple Crown winner?! You should, because he was the talk of racing at the time and for good reason……then the rain fell at Pimlico, he went a little speed crazy and it was all downhill from there……but still, quite a job by Doug O’Neill and his team…..
Move of the Year (aka "The Arazi") – Exaggerator in the Santa Anita Derby. Don’t remember? Go to YouTube or Calracing.com and watch the replay.
Surprise of the Year: The success of the upcoming "Pegasus" on Jan 28 @Gulfstream. Crazy Uncle Frank Stronach took a big swing and so far, so good. Thanks to Uncle Frank’s "vision," we’re set to see a BC Classic rematch between California Chrome and Arrogate, and that’s more than anyone could have imagined. Throw in all the wheeling and dealing going on the past month or so and in the next few weeks by the 12 interests that jumped in for a million bucks and this has been some great fun. Who knew?!
Mismanagement of the Year: James "Mattress Mac" McIngvale and Laura Wohlers for the "job" they did trying to turn the brilliant sprinter Runhappy into a two-turn horse. Uh, no.
International Moment of the Year: Tepin winning the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot. Now that was something. Full credit to the ownership and training crew led by Mark and Norman Casse for taking the champion to unfamiliar territory, without Lasix, and getting the job done…….runner-up: California Chrome, smoking the field in the Dubai World Cup while the saddle slipped….incredible horse, incredible ride by Victor Espinoza.
Loss of the Year: Garrett Gomez succumbing to his demons at age 44. RIP "Go-Go."
Sportsman of the Year: B. Wayne Hughes for racing Beholder at age 6, Perry Martin and Taylor Made for running California Chrome at 5, Rick Porter and Jerry Hollendorfer for sending three year-old filly phenom Songbird to Saratoga, and many more……………….if 2016 showed us anything, it was how great the sport is when owners run their horses where they are supposed to, even if another great horse is pointing for the same race. Thanks to an unprecedented level of sportsmanship, we saw top-class matchups all year long and it was thrilling.
Here’s to more sportsmanship and a great 2017!
Whether you agree with Jason or not, he wants to hear from you, and you can reach him at feedback@racingjason.com
|
