January 17th will officially bring to a close the 2010 racing calender. Miami Beach's Fontainebleu Hotel will host the 40th annual Eclipse Awards dinner. A night for American racing to showcase, and honor the stars of their sport, by awarding winners in seventeen equine, and human categories.
This year's presentation once again promises to have it's share of "locks", mixed with the usual drama surrounding the "Academy Awards" of racing. The true extent of this year's drama will not be played out until well into the evening when the final award, the 2010 Horse Of The Year award is handed out. All indications are that it will come down to a Blame vs. Zenyatta vote that once again promises to divide voters and fans alike.
There's no secret to any follower of "The Quarter Pole" about my fondness for the brilliant race mare Zenyatta. In fact, I've often stated that she should have been a two time Horse Of The Year winner already. Unfortunately, due to Politics, and "regionalism", she is still in search of her first HOY trophy.
This year (perhaps surprising to some), I feel could be her least deserving yet.
Blame is a magnificent race horse with a spectacular resume. My HOY arguments in the past have always centered around the Breeders' Cup. I'm a believer that, whenever possible, we should embrace the year end event, and reward horses that RUN, and are SUCCESSFUL on our championship day (sorry Mr. Jackson). For that reason, I found it easier to make a case for Zenyatta's two previous campaigns, as opposed to this year's.
Not to "re-hash" the last two votes, but an unbeaten 2008 campaign, culminating in a Breeder's Cup win, should have outweighed a "flawed" 2008 racing year, ending with a fourth place BC finish for Curlin.
At least he showed up! Last year's HOY winner was praised for greatness without ever having to show up to racing's championship event.
This year, the two finalists are deserving of their stature as they come in with a combined 11 starts, 8 Grade one wins, 2 Grade one seconds, and 1 Grade three win. Ultimately facing each other in the "race of the year, for horse of the year".
My "objective" brain finds it hard to deny a BC Classic winner, with the resume Blame has, a Horse Of The Year honor. That's not to say Zenyatta doesn't deserve it on her own merits. Unbeaten in five Grade one races prior to the Breeders' Cup, and performing like a true champion on championship day, Big Z has a feasible argument to the title as well.
This year's vote truly is one for the ages. As stirring as their "classic" Classic was on the track, their showdown off the track continues to excite and thrill us all.
Even though I'm a traditionalist, and wouldn't want a "sympathy" vote to sway the HOY results, my "subjective" mind leaves me torn. Does a win by Blame on Monday mean that for the first time in three years the voters "got it right"? Does that even matter at this point?
If Zenyatta were to lose the vote, and be runner up for the third straight year, what would that do to her legacy? We would see, quite possibly the greatest race mare in history, never take home a Horse Of The Year trophy. This after putting up three HOY worthy campaigns, two of them being flawless. A winner of nineteen of twenty, with only six inches separating her from perfection, and a close to unanimous vote for Horse Of The Year.
Perhaps that would be the greater injustice........
