An Eclipse sweep in the offing

It has been more than 20 years since an Eclipse Awards sweep for Horse of the Year plus that horse’s jockey, trainer, and owner, but that scenario stands a very good chance of occurring on Thursday night at the 49th annual Runhappy Eclipse Awards dinner at Gulfstream Park.

Bricks and Mortar, who is expected to be named Horse of the Year as well as champion male turf horse, could lead a parade of his human connections to the podium, too. Trainer Chad Brown – who is seeking his fourth straight title – jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., and owners Seth Klarman and William Lawrence all are finalists in their respective divisions and stand excellent chances of winning.

If that comes to pass, it might be appropriate to light a celebratory cigar. The last time there was a sweep among horse, trainer, jockey, and owner was in 1996, when for the second straight year Cigar was Horse of the Year, and his trainer Bill Mott, jockey Jerry Bailey, and owner Allen Paulson also received Eclipse Awards.

:: Full list of 2019 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

The coattails could even extend to the breeder of Bricks and Mortar, George Strawbridge Jr., whose achievement will have to overcome voters who preferred the cash haul of Calumet Farm. A title for Strawbridge, coupled with the other awards tied to Bricks and Mortar, would mark only the second time a horse and his trainer, jockey, owners, and breeder all prevailed at the Eclipse Awards. In 1981, John Henry, trainer Ron McAnally, jockey Bill Shoemaker, the Dotsam Stable of owners Dorothy and Sam Rubin, and breeder Golden Chance Farm made it a clean sweep for the John Henry team.

The top three receiving votes in all 12 equine and five human categories were revealed earlier this month. A total of 241 voters representing Daily Racing Form, the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association, Equibase, and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association cast ballots, and the horse or person receiving the most first-place votes in each category is declared the winner.

Bricks and Mortar was unbeaten in six starts in 2019 and won five Grade 1 races, including the Breeders’ Cup Turf. His fellow finalists for Horse of the Year are Maximum Security, who is a finalist for champion 3-year-old male against Code of Honor and Omaha Beach, and sprinter-miler Mitole, who is a finalist for both champion male sprinter and champion older dirt male for a year in which his victories included the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and Met Mile. His main rival for older dirt male is Vino Rosso, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Like Mitole, Covfefe has a strong chance to take home Eclipse Awards in two divisions. She is a finalist for both champion 3-year-old filly and champion female sprinter, with her biggest win coming in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Also to be recognized Thursday night are previously announced winners in the media categories, plus the Horseplayer of the Year. The NTRA Moment of the Year will be announced earlier Thursday and acknowledged at the dinner, too.

Acacia Courtney, Britney Eurton, and Gabby Gaudet are the co-hosts this year.