Godolphin poised for big night at the Eclipse Awards

It is expected to be another big night for Godolphin Racing when the Eclipse Awards for outstanding achievement in Thoroughbred racing in 2023 are announced Thursday night at the Breakers Palm Beach in South Florida.

In 2022, Godolphin, the racing arm of Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, won Eclipse Awards for outstanding owner and breeder and had its Modern Games recognized as champion male turf horse.

For 2023, Godolphin is again a finalist and favored to win outstanding owner and potentially breeder as well. Moreover, Godolphin’s Cody’s Wish is a leading contender in the older dirt male division and Horse of the Year and finalist in the male sprint division and Pretty Mischievous is favored to be honored as champion 3-year-old filly.

Mawj, another Godolphin homebred, is a finalist in the 3-year-old filly division and the female turf, the latter perhaps being the most wide-open division with the likes of In Italian and Inspiral also as finalists.

Godolphin also has Master of The Seas, who beat Mawj a nose in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, as a finalist in the male turf division, though Up to the Mark, a three-time Grade 1 winner, and Auguste Rodin, who beat Up to the Mark in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, are the front-runners for that award.

Finalists in 11 equine divisions and six human categories were announced Jan. 6 following a compilation of votes from three voting blocs – Daily Racing Form, the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association, and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, which consists of racing officials and Equibase field personnel.

Finalists for Horse of the Year will be announced throughout Thursday’s ceremony, which is hosted by Britney Eurton, Acacia Courtney Clement, and Nick Luck and broadcast live on FanDuel TV beginning at 6:30 p.m. Eastern with a red-carpet show. The event will be streamed live on several outlets, including DRF.com.

Cody’s Wish, a three-time Grade 1 winner in 2023, is a leading contender for Horse of the Year. Other potential finalists for that award include top sprinter Elite Power, Breeders’ Cup Classic winner White Abarrio – who are both finalists in the older dirt male category with Cody’s Wish – and the filly Idiomatic, who won 8 of 9 starts in 2023.

Success in the Breeders’ Cup typically brings success at the Eclipse Awards. In the juvenile division, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Fierceness and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Just F Y I are expected to earn championships in the respective divisions.

Elite Power, the 2023 champion sprinter after winning the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, is likely to win that award for a second straight year after again winning the BC Sprint.

Goodnight Olive was the 2022 champion female sprinter after winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. She won that race again in 2023, though could have a battle for championship honors with Echo Zulu, who went 3 for 3 in 2023 but missed the Breeders’ Cup due to injury.

Arcangelo, the Belmont Stakes and Travers winner, will be favored to be crowned champion 3-year-old male over Kentucky Derby winner Mage and BC Turf winner Auguste Rodin.

Pretty Mischievous, a three-time Grade 1 winner in 2023, is the favorite for the 3-year-old filly award over Randomized and Mawj.

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Idiomatic, who capped a brilliant campaign with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, is expected to be crowned champion older dirt female over Clairiere and Goodnight Olive.

In the human categories, Bill Mott, trainer of Cody’s Wish, Elite Power, and Just F Y I, is in line to win his fourth Eclispe Award as outstanding trainer, and his first since 2011. He is a finalist with Chad Brown and Brad Cox, who have combined to win six Eclipse awards.

Irad Ortiz Jr. is expected to win his fourth Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey in a category that includes Flavien Prat and Tyler Gaffalione as finalists.

Axel Concepcion, Jaime Torres, and Sofia Vives are the finalists for the Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey.

Awakened, Merry Maker, and Snap Decision are the finalists for outstanding steeplechase horse.

In addition to the 17 equine and human awards, Paul Calia will receive the Eclipse Award as the 2023 Horseplayer of the Year. Members of the media will be honored for outstanding coverage in six categories.

Stuart Janney, chairman of The Jockey Club, will be presented with the Eclipse Award of Merit, while Tom Hammond, the veteran racing host/analyst for NBC, will receive a Special Eclipse Award for career excellence.

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