2021 Eclipse Awards: Modern Games

Amid the chaos that was the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar, Modern Games delivered a performance that afternoon worthy of being named a finalist for the Eclipse Award as North America’s outstanding 2-year-old.

Modern Games, an Irish-bred Godolphin homebred son of Dubawi, was prematurely scratched from the Juvenile Turf by the stewards on the advice of an ontrack veterinarian who had erroneously assumed Modern Games hit his head on the stall doors and broke through the starting gate after his stablemate Albahr acted up in the stall next to him and was scratched. It was ultimately determined that Modern Games had been let out of the gate by an assistant starter, was not injured, and was allowed to race for purse money only, much to the chagrin of the betting public.

In the race, Modern Games, breaking from the rail, saved ground early under William Buick before being tipped wide for the stretch. Once in the clear, Modern Games delivered a blistering closing kick to win by 1 1/2 lengths for trainer Charlie Appleby.

Buick said Modern Games was unencumbered by the confusion and Buick was unaware the horse had been scratched, albeit briefly.

“The horse took it really well, managed to refocus,” Buick said. “He’ a real pro and did what he had to do.”

:: Full list of 2021 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

Said Appleby: “He was a class horse coming into the race, an improving horse, a horse we felt had the right criteria to be a big contender and all the credit to him for what he had to go through.”

The victory in the Juvenile Turf capped a 2-year-old campaign that, before the Breeders’ Cup, had been done entirely in Great Britain. Modern Games won four of five starts in Great Britain including the Group 3 Tattersalls Somerville Stakes on Sept. 23 at Newmarket.

Modern Games did not have an auspicious beginning to his career, finishing fifth on debut on July 1 at Haydock. He made amends 23 days later with a two-length victory at Newmarket.

Modern Games had shown the ability to win from on or off the pace. He won the Somerville Stakes, where he faced only five horses, in front-running fashion.

“We spoke about tactics beforehand and I told William not to be scared of going forward because he leads all the gallops at home,” Appleby said following that race. “It was natural for him to do that job today.”

Following the Breeders’ Cup, Modern Games was shipped back to Appleby’s barn in Newmarket where he was to get a freshening and perhaps be pointed to the 2000 Guineas on the first Saturday in May at Newmarket.