Stellar Wind got a late start to her 2016 campaign, raced just four times, but accomplished enough to be an Eclipse Award finalist as older dirt female, following a 2015 campaign in which she was named champion 3-year-old filly.
Beholder's final season was outstanding – six starts, three wins, three seconds and a thrilling victory over previously undefeated Songbird in the BC Distaff to cap a spectacular career. She is an Eclipse Award finalist as 2016 champion older dirt female.
Cavorting set the bar high her entire career – from a runaway maiden victory in her debut as a 2-year-old in 2014 through a highly rated Grade 1 in 2016 that was her final start.
In a span of 65 days, Classic Empire gave trainer Mark Casse one his most impressive wins and one of his most bizarre moments in racing. In the end, Classic Empire may give his trainer an Eclipse Award as well.
Luis Ocasio's life has changed in many ways during the past year, and now he finds himself one of three Eclipse Awards finalists for the leading apprentice rider of 2016.
Maryland horsemen steadily named Kevin Gomez on their horses throughout 2016, and his accomplishments have made him a finalist for the Eclipse Award as leading apprentice rider.
If Lane Luzzi is voted the leading apprentice rider of 2016, Mike and Lane Luzzi will be the first father and son to win the award since the Eclipse Awards were founded in 1971. Mike Luzzi was the leading apprentice of 1989.
B. Wayne Hughes's decision to keep Lord Nelson in training in 2016 paid big dividends. Lord Nelson was perfect on the racetrack in four 2016 starts, and he closed his career with three consecutive Grade 1 wins and is now an Eclipse Awards finalist in the male sprinter category.
At age 6, A. P. Indian was finally able to realize the potential he had hinted at during his previous four seasons of competition. He went 6 for 7 on the year, swept the two Grade 1 sprint stakes at Saratoga, and won the top races in his division at both the Belmont Park spring meet and the Keeneland fall stand.
Trainer Mark Casse has long been a fixture at the Sovereign Awards ceremony for Canada's leading trainer, winning eight times. Now, he joins the Eclipse Award ceremony as a finalist for North American's outstanding trainer of 2016.
