Best of the Decade

All Decade Eclipse Award Winners

2009-12-30T20:00:00Z

Steve Haskin's Look Back at the Decade

Editors of The Blood-Horse challenged senior correspondent Steve Haskin to fill in the blanks on several “best of” lists for the decade of 2000-2009. While several of them appear in the Dec. 26/Jan. 2 combined issue of the magazine (mailing on Dec. 29), there wasn’t space for them all.

Over the coming days until the end of the year, all of Steve’s lists will be posted here with readers of BloodHorse.com encouraged to comment.

All Decade Eclipse Award Winners

2-year old male

Vindication

2-year old female

Tie: Indian Blessing and Sweet Catomine

3-year old male

Tie: Point Given and Curlin

3-year old female

Rachel Alexandra

Older male

Tie: Invasor and Ghostzapper

Older female

Zenyatta

Sprinter

Midnight Lute

Grass Male

English Channel

Grass Female

Ouija Board

Horse of the Decade

Curlin with 4 Eclipse Awards and
2 Horse of the Year Awards

Curlin
	Horse of the Decade.

Previous Lists:

12/21/09 - Most Physically Impressive Horses
12/22/09 - Most Memorable Triple Crown Performances
12/23/09 - Most Memorable Breeders' Cup Performances
12/26/09 - Greatest Training Achievements
12/27/09 - Best Losing Performance in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race
12/28/09 - Most Memorable Two-Horse Stretch Battles
12/29/09 - Best Goosebump Moments / Favorite Breeders' Cup Experiences

Best Goosebump Moments / Favorite Breeders' Cup Experiences

2009-12-29T18:06:00Z

Steve Haskin's Look Back at the Decade

Goosebump Moments of the Decade:

1-- Zenyatta being steered to the outside in the stretch of the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic. Trevor Denman's call reached a glorious crescendo at the exact moment the entire crowd let out a roar for the ages. That split second when Zenyatta hit her favorite part of the racetrack and everyone knew she was going to win still brings on the goosebumps. After nearly two months, they have not subsided in the slightest, and I am convinced they never will.

2-- Rachel Alexandra returning after winning the 2009 Woodward Stakes to the deafening cheers from the crowd. Nothing like that had ever been heard at historic Saratoga, or most likely anywhere for that matter. To be on the racetrack, engulfed by such a wall of noise, was an unforgettable moment. And Rachel's return after winning the Haskell is not far behind.

3-- Zenyatta returning after the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic. This is getting repetitious, but this moment and Rachel's Woodward experience are virtually identical and equal on the goosebumps chart. What made this moment so memorable was the love that came pouring out for not only the horse, but the connections, as well as the race's historical significance. But on the noise meter, nothing has ever topped the Woodward, and for me, Saratoga has always been the most magical place on Earth.

4-- Tiznow turning certain defeat into victory in the 2001 Breeders' Cup Classic. His courageous victory and its impeccable timing have already been discussed on another list, but it was that instant that you knew he still had fight left in him and was battling back that stirred the emotions. If ever a horse won a race for America it was Tiznow in the '01 Classic. Mention must also be made of the previous year's Classic when Tiznow refused to let Giant's Causeway pass him.

5-- The replay of Afleet Alex's stumble in the 2005 Preakness. It wasn't the actual incident, which was amazing, yet horrifying to watch, but the constant replays that gives me chills. Although I still cringe during the seconds leading up to it, watching Alex nearly go down, knowing he is going to miraculously pull himself up, makes this an enduring moment that never ceases to amaze me, even after 4 1/2 years.

6-- Listening to and watching the crowds of over 5,000 and 10,000 at Philadelphia Park cheer wildly for Smarty Jones as he galloped down the stretch in his two public appearances during the 2004 Triple Crown. Watching the look of wonderment on the faces of the young children wearing their Smarty Jones T-shirts and hats as they sat atop their father's shoulders was something no one had ever seen before and likely never will. Neither had anyone ever seen hundreds people lined up outside a racetrack at 5 a.m. to watch a horse gallop...or charging through the doors to the apron in waves to get a good spot on the rail. These truly were the most surreal moments I have ever experienced at a racetrack.

7-- Over 100,000 rain-soaked fans pouring into Belmont Park to see Funny Cide attempt to sweep the 2003 Triple Crown. The one goosebump moment was the deafening (yes, deafening again) roar that went up when Funny Cide entered the tunnel leading to the racetrack. It actually hurt my ears.

8-- The heartfelt ovations given to Big Brown following his victories in the Haskell and Monmouth Stakes. It was the Monmouth crowd that supported Big Brown and cheered loudly for him in his first start back following his Belmont Stakes fiasco, when the rest of the racing world all but deserted him. They cheered again when he returned following his gutsy victory in the Monmouth Stakes against older horses. Being there, you had to feel good for the horse.

9-- The farewells to Smarty Jones (at Philly Park), Funny Cide, and Commentator (both at Saratoga). The one indelible image was Smarty's long walk up the stretch after the ceremony had concluded, knowing his true greatness would never be realized. (I was not at Zenyatta's Hollywood and Santa Anita farewells).

Favorite Breeders’ Cup Experiences:

Slide Show
	2009 Breeders' Cup.

1-- Santa Anita (2009) – Beautiful weather, invigorating mornings, magnificent backdrop, no fires, excellent hotel, good restaurants, great outdoor auxiliary press box, Rosie's breakfasts at Clocker's Corner, several memorable performances and safe races…and Zenyatta’s unforgettable Classic. The previous year at Santa Anita was almost as good, but Raven's Pass' Classic was not in the same stratosphere as 2009.

2-- Arlington Park (2002) – This says a lot for the Arlington experience, considering the dreadful weather on race day – well organized, first-rate traffic control, convenient parking, great backstretch layout with easy access to the BC horses, best auxiliary press box ever, easy drive into Chicago, good races…and hitting Volponi didn’t hurt.

3-- Churchill Downs (2000) – Churchill is Churchill, but excellent weather, good international atmosphere, monster longshots to start the day, and terrific Classic field culminating with epic stretch battle between Tiznow and Giant’s Causeway.

4-- Belmont Park (2001) – The most surreal Breeders’ Cup ever, coming less than two months after 9/11. Dogs searching cars, snipers on the roof, emotional ceremony prior to the races, the deepest and most talented European contingent ever, and domination by Euros, who won three straight races and nearly made it four when Sakhee was beaten a nose by Tiznow in the Classic in one of the most emotional results in BC history.

5-- Lone Star Park (2004) – Overall a fun experience; good show put on by the first-time Breeders’ Cup track, despite its smaller size. Not much of a view of training from the backside, and Breeders’ Cup horses were spread out pretty far. Biggest negative was the lack of security at the barns on race day -- virtually no monitoring of the horses. Excellent media hotel, efficient shuttle service, fun party with Willie Nelson performing, and I finally got to Dealey Plaza. Good races and excellent conclusion with Ghostzapper nailing down Horse of the Year in the Classic.

6-- Belmont Park (2005) – Pretty uneventful, but at least no bad memories, other than the brutally cold weather, which left fans who paid big money for seats huddled up inside. The bars did good business this year.

7-- Santa Anita (2003) – It was a great day for fans and followers of Dick Mandella, who saddled an unprecedented four winners. But it wasn’t as good if you didn’t like 105-degree temperatures every day and ash falling on you from the fires several miles east of the track. The racing, however, was excellent, with the first BC dead-heat (in the Turf).

8-- Churchill Downs (2006) – Invasor’s Classic was a tremendous conclusion to the event, in which he defeated one of the deepest Classic fields ever assembled, but the horrific breakdown of Pine Island and the injury to Fleet Indian (the two favorites in the Distaff) put a damper on the afternoon.

9-- Monmouth Park (2007) – I haven’t looked forward to a Breeders’ Cup more than I did Monmouth Park, which worked feverishly and spent millions in renovations to put on the best show possible. It was the first ever two-day event, the backstretch setup was excellent, and few Classics were as highly anticipated as this one. But the weather could not have been worse, with heavy rains and wind both days. Traffic was abominable, and although the weather finally cleared on Saturday afternoon during the Distaff, the day ended tragically with the fatal injury to George Washington, who had to be euthanized just up the stretch from the winner’s circle.

Previous Lists:

Most Memorable Two-Horse Stretch Battles

2009-12-28T18:02:00Z

Steve Haskin's Look Back at the Decade

Most Memorable Two-Horse Stretch Battles

1. Tiznow - Giants Causeway 2000 BC Classic

2. Tiznow - Sakhee 2001 BC Classic

3. You - Carson Hollow 2002 Test

4. Rags to Riches - Curlin 2007 Belmont

5. Read the Footnotes - Second of June 2004 Fountain of Youth

6. Ghostzapper - Saint Liam 2004 Woodward

7. Lava Man - A P Xcellent 2007 Hollywood Gold Cup

8. Curlin - Lawyer Ron 2007 JC Gold Cup

9. Proud Spell - Music Note 2008 Alabama

10. Milwaukee Brew - Congaree 2003 Santa Anita Handicap

11. Tiago - Heatseeker 2008 Oaklawn Handicap

12. Ginger Punch - Hystericalady 2007 BC Distaff

13. Invasor - Sun King 2006 Whitney

14. Buddha - Medaglia d'Oro 2002 Wood Memorial

15. Hard Spun - First Defence 2007 King's Bishop

16. Tiago - Awesome Gem 2007 Goodwood

17. Toccet - Kafwain 2002 Hollywood Futurity

18. Unshaded - Albert the Great 2000 Travers

19. Hal's Hope - High Yield 2000 Florida Derby

20. Street Sense - Any Given Saturday 2007 Tampa Bay Derby

Previous Lists:

12/21/09 - Most Physically Impressive Horses
12/22/09 - Most Memorable Triple Crown Performances
12/23/09 - Most Memorable Breeders' Cup Performances
12/26/09 - Greatest Training Achievements

Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

2009-12-27T22:15:00Z

Steve Haskin's Look Back at the Decade

Best Losing Performances in a Breeders’ Cup or Triple Crown race

Due to a major mix-up, Presious Passion's 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf should have been No. 1 on this list, but was regrettably ommitted.

1.	Smarty Jones	2004 Belmont Stakes


2.	Rock of Gibraltar	2002 Breeders' Cup Mile


3.	Thunderello	2002 Breeders' Cup Sprint


4.	Hard Spun	2007 Kentucky Derby


5.	Lookin at Lucky	2009 Breeders' Cup Juvenile


6.	Medaglia d'Oro	2003 Breeders' Cup Classic


7.	Congaree	2001 Kentucky Derby


8.	Giant's Causeway	2000 Breeders' Cup Classic


9.	Dunkirk	2009 Belmont Stakes


10.	Cloudy's Knight	2009 Breeders' Cup Marathon

Honorable Mention:

Point Given - 2000 BC Juvenile

The Cliff's Edge - 2004 Kentucky Derby

Honest Lady - 2000 BC Sprint

Xtra Heat - 2001 BC Sprint

Octave - 2007 BC Distaff

Previous Lists:

12/21/09 - Most Physically Impressive Horses
12/22/09 - Most Memorable Triple Crown Performances
12/23/09 - Most Memorable Breeders' Cup Performances
12/26/09 - Greatest Training Achievements

Greatest Training Achievements

2009-12-26T22:34:00Z

Steve Haskin's Look Back at the Decade

Greatest Training Achievements (Individual Horse)

1-- John Shirreffs and Zenyatta; 14 for 14. What made this a truly extraordinary feat was keeping her undefeated despite her come-from-behind running style, which left her at the mercy of the pace every race.

2-- Rick Dutrow winning 2008 Ky. Derby with Big Brown in only the colt’s fourth career start and third as a 3-year-old, while battling foot issues and Big Brown having virtually no serious training in the month of January.

3-- Jay Robbins bringing Tiznow back from a severe back injury to win his second straight Breeders’Cup Classic in 2001.

4-- John Shirreffs giving a textbook lesson on how to get a horse to peak on Derby Day, using every prep race as a small step forward. The result was Giacomo running the race of his life in the 2005 Run for the Roses at odds of 50-1, for his first victory of the year.

5-- Graham Motion keeping Better Talk Now competitive at the highest level (grade I stakes) for six straight years until the age of 10.

6-- Tim Ritchey’s unusual two-a-day training regimen for Afleet Alex and his focus on building up the colt’s stamina, which enabled him to romp in the 2005 Belmont Stakes. Also, getting him to win the Preakness following two lung infections that spring.

7-- Doug O’Neill getting his $50,000 claim, Lava Man, to win three consecutive Hollywood Gold Cups at ages 4, 5, and 6, and becoming the first horse ever to win the Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup, and Pacific Classic in the same year.

8 -- Tim Ice winning the 2009 Belmont, Travers, and Jockey Club Gold Cup with Summer Bird in his first year as a trainer.

.9-- Nick Zito’s management of Commentator’s career.

10 tie-- Bobby Frankel outsmarting everyone by getting Intercontinental to wire her field in the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at 1 1/4 miles, despite the filly never having previously won farther than 1 1/16 miles.

10 tie-- Bob Baffert getting Midnight Lute to win the 2008 BC Sprint off only a 10th-place finish in the Pat O’Brien Handicap in the previous 11 months, and for having him sharp enough to win the Sprint two years in a row.

Honorable Mention

Laura De Seroux’s handling of Azeri, who won 14 of her first 15 starts, including the BC Distaff and a Horse of the Year title.

Jonathan Sheppard bringing the 9-year-old Cloudy's Knight back off a one-year layoff to win two consecutive graded stakes in 2009 and missing by a nose in the Breeders' Cup Marathon. In addition, Sheppard won the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in back-to-back years (2008-09) with Forever Together and Informed Decision. The former has already won an Eclipse Award and Informed Decision likely will join her.

Carla Gaines getting Cal-bred Nashoba’s Key to win her first seven starts, including two grade Is and two grade IIs, after making her career debut as a 4-year-old.

Kiaran McLaughlin winning 2006 BC Classic with Invasor off a two-month layoff and missing the Jockey Club Gold Cup with a virus.

John Salzman getting Xtra Heat, who ran for a $25,000 claiming tag first time out, to win 17 of her first 20 starts, 16 of them stakes, and then getting narrowly beaten in the 2001 BC Sprint.

Greatest Training Achievements (Overall)

1-- Richard Mandella winning four Breeders’ Cup races (4-for-4) in 2003 – Juvenile Fillies, Juvenile, Turf, and Classic.

2-- Bobby Frankel winning 25 grade I stakes in one year (2003)

3-- Todd Pletcher winning a record 93 stakes in a single year (2006)

4-- Linda Rice becoming the first female trainer to capture the Saratoga training title in 2009.

5-- Todd Pletcher setting a single season earnings record of $28,576,097 (2007)

6-- Steve Asmussen winning a record 622 races in one year (2008) and breaking own record the following year.

7-- Todd Pletcher winning the Saratoga training title five years in a row (2002-06)

8-- Bob Baffert winning his seventh straight Del Mar Futurity in 2002, then again in 2009.
.
9-- Allen Jerkens winning the Suburban Handicap 45 years apart (with Beau Purple in 1962 and Political Force in 2007).

10-- Humberto Ascanio winning two grade I stakes on the same weekend only 10 days after taking over the horses trained by the late Bobby Frankel.

Previous Lists:

12/21/09 - Most Physically Impressive Horses
12/22/09 - Most Memorable Triple Crown Performances
12/23/09 - Most Memorable Breeders' Cup Performances

Most Memorable Breeders' Cup Performances/Races

2009-12-23T21:39:00Z

Steve Haskin's Look Back at the Decade

Most Memorable Breeders' Cup Performances/Races

1.	Zenyatta	2009 Breeders' Cup Classic


2.	Tiznow	2001 Breeders' Cup Classic


3.	Tiznow	2000 Breeders' Cup Classic


4.	Invasor	2006 Breeders' Cup Classic


5.	Midnight Lute	2007 Breeders' Cup Sprint


6.	High Chaparral/Johar dead-heat	2003 Breeders' Cup Turf


7.	Goldikova	2009 Breeders' Cup Mile


8.	Azeri	2002 Breeders' Cup Distaff


9.	Midnight Lute	2008 Breeders' Cup Sprint


10. (tie)	Ouija Board	2006 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf

10. (tie)	Goldikova	2008 Breeders' Cup Mile

Previous Lists:

12/21/09 - Most Physically Impressive Horses
12/22/09 - Most Memorable Triple Crown Performances

Most Memorable Triple Crown Performances

2009-12-22T20:00:00Z

Steve Haskin's Look Back at the Decade

Most Memorable Triple Crown Performances (Videos Below):

1. Afleet Alex winning the 2005 Preakness – Watching his remarkable recovery after nearly falling and then going on to a comfortable victory still is one of the most amazing feats I’ve ever witnessed.

2. Rags to Riches winning 2007 Belmont Stakes – Considering who she beat and how she did it, after stumbling badly at the start, this gut-wrenching performance has to rank as one of the great moments in Triple Crown history.

3. Rachel Alexandra winning 2009 Preakness Stakes – She broke new ground by coming back two weeks after her Kentucky Oaks demolition and switching barns and winning the Preakness, despite battling on the lead through swift fractions.

4. Big Brown winning 2008 Kentucky Derby – Winning the Derby in a romp in only his fourth career start and breaking from post 20 makes this one of the greatest and most under-appreciated performances of the decade. The magnitude of his achievement was overshadowed by the Eight Belles tragedy.

5. Curlin winning 2007 Preakness – After being passed by Street Sense at the top of the stretch and seemingly beaten, he rallied to catch the Kentucky Derby winner right on the wire in only his fifth career start. This race proved to be his springboard to a Horse of the Year campaign.

6. Smarty Jones winning 2004 Preakness – His 11-length romp was one of the most dominating victories seen in a Triple Crown race. His acceleration after turning for home and the way he drew off at will from a talented field made this the most jaw-dropping victory of the decade.

7. Birdstone winning 2004 Belmont Stakes – Although it wasn’t the result everyone was hoping for, it was the most electric atmosphere experienced in a long time, and by a record Belmont crowd of over 120,000. Smarty Jones’ :22 4/5 third quarter, the dubious tactics by rival jockeys, and Birdstone’s relentless charge made this one for the history books.

8. Point Given winning 2001 Belmont Stakes – His 12-length runaway also ranks right up there for total domination, and along with his Preakness score, had everyone scratching their heads how he failed to sweep the Triple Crown. Unlike Smarty Jones, he just out-stayed his foes and steadily ran them into the ground with those huge strides.

9. Barbaro winning 2006 Kentucky Derby – Very few were expecting such a blowout in what was perceived to be a strong Derby field. Immediately after the race, many were all but conceding the Triple Crown to this exciting, undefeated colt.

10. Fusaichi Pegasus winning 2000 Kentucky Derby – People forget just how spectacular this grand-looking colt was, and he, too, looked like a sure-fire Triple Crown winner after his authoritative victory. He was quite a character, and physically, was as magnificent-looking a Derby winner as I've ever seen. This was a much better horse than people think, but didn’t get a chance to show it because of physical issues.

10. Tie Monarchos Winning the 2001 Kentucky Derby -- What made this effort so remarkable was not only the fact that it was the second-fastest Derby ever run, but the power demonstrated by Monarchos as he came from far back and demolished a top-class field that included Point Given and Congaree.

Most Memorable Triple Crown Performances - Videos

1.	Afleet Alex	2005 Preakness Stakes


2.	Rags to Riches	2007 Belmont Stakes


3.	Rachel Alexandra	2009 Preakness Stakes


4.	Big Brown	2008 Kentucky Derby


5.	Curlin	2007 Preakness Stakes


6.	Smarty Jones	2004 Preakness Stakes


7.	Birdstone	2004 Belmont Stakes


8.	Point Given	2001 Belmont Stakes


9.	Barbaro	2006 Kentucky Derby


10.	Fusaichi Pegasus	2000 Kentucky Derby

Previous Lists:

12/21/09 - Most Physically Impressive Horses

Most Physically Impressive Horses

2009-12-21T18:45:00Z

Steve Haskin's Look Back at the Decade

Most Physically Impressive Male Horses

Slide Show
Most Physically Impressive Male Horses.

Bernardini
Rock Hard Ten
Point Given
Fusaichi Pegasus
Tiznow
Curlin
Midnight Lute
Medaglia d'Oro
Bellamy Road
Quality Road

Honorable Mention

Strong Hope
Mineshaft

Most Physically Impressive Female Horses

Slide Show
Most Physically Impressive Female Horses.

Zenyatta
Cesario
Beautiful Pleasure
Rachel Alexandra
Sweet Catomine
Rags to Riches
Eight Belles
Fleet Indian
Six Perfections
Halfbridled