The National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s final poll shows no drama for Horse of the Year, with the star recently retired Flight route unanimous choice of 36 voters. But there’s clearly a tight race for the Eclipse Awards in the 3-year-old male category.
Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Epicenter won the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on November 6 due to injury, taking seventh place in the poll against eighth place Taiba by only a margin of two votes. The poll is based on the race through November 6.
Zedan Racing Stables’ Taiba, coached by Bob Baffert, has led Epicenter 2-1 in this year’s 1st place wins, winning the Pennslyvania Derby (G1) and Santa Anita Derby (G1), and he’s the winner. 3rd place finish in the Longines Breeder’s Cup Classic (G1) November 5 at Keeneland when he was third behind the older horses Flightline and Olympiad .
Taiba galloping November 3 at Keeneland
Epicenter won the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1), the most prestigious race for 3-year-olds outside of the Triple Crown events. Epicenter also placed second for coach Steve Asmussen in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), a race in which Taiba finished 12th.
The Eclipse Awards are determined by year-end ballots from voters from the NTRA, Daily Racing Form, and National Turf Writers and Broadcasters. The champions were named at the Eclipse Awards on January 26 at The Breakers Palm Beach in South Florida.
TOP DELICIOUS DOLL
| HORSE | PLAIN | STATISTICAL | THE POINT | PVS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| first | FLIGHT (36) | 4-C | 3-3-0-0 | 360 | first |
| 2 | MALATHHAAT | 4-F | 6-4-2-0 | 286 | 6 |
| 3 | OLYMPIAD | 4-C | 8-6-1-0 | 237 | 5 |
| 4 | MODERN GAMES | 3-C | 7-3-2-1 | 178 | 13 |
| 5 | LIFE IS GOOD | 4-C | 6-4-0-0 | 168 | 2 |
| 6 | CONGRATULATIONS OF CODY | 4-C | 5-4-1-0 | 138 | 27 |
| 7 | EPICENTER | 3-C | 8-4-3-0 | 96 | 3 |
| 8 | TAIBA | 3-C | 6-3-1-1 | ninety four | 7 |
| 9 | GOODNIGHT OLIVE | 4-F | 4-4-0-0 | seventy three | 28 |
| ten | NEST | 3-F | 8-5-2-0 | sixty seven | 4 |
More information regarding the NTRA’s Top Thoroughbred Poll can be found here Online.
