No filly or mare got closer to Untapable in 2014 than Sweet Reason, who was beaten just one length in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes. Such was the versatility of Sweet Reason that she also is an Eclipse Award finalist among female sprinters. On dirt, she was the only filly in the nation to win two Grade 1 stakes at distances up to a mile.
Though his stable boasted the smallest roster of the three Eclipse Award finalists for outstanding owner, Kaleem Shah’s runners made their starts count, highlighted by a trip to the Santa Anita winner’s circle by star colt Bayern following his Breeders’ Cup Classic score.
Joel Rosario played a key role in the most important upset of 2014, guiding Tonalist to victory over Triple Crown hopeful California Chrome in the Belmont Stakes. Rosario’s season also included teaming with the top-class Close Hatches and notching a Breeders’ Cup win with Bobby’s Kitten. For his year, Rosario is a finalist for the Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey of 2014.
Fittingly for a filly with royal bloodlines, Crown Queen was perfect in four starts in 2014, earning a nomination for the Eclipse Award as champion turf female.
Less meant slightly more during Hawthorne Race Course’s fall-winter meeting that ended Saturday, as a reduction in racing days compared with the previous year was accompanied by an increase in all-sources average daily handle.
Chad Brown didn’t win the most money among North American trainers in 2014, or the most graded stakes races. But on racing’s championship days at the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, Brown won more of those prestigious races than any other trainer.
Angel Cruz ranked among North America’s leading first-year riders in 2014, with 119 wins from 781 starts for mount earnings of $2,586,378. On the strength of such numbers, he is an Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding apprentice jockey. The recognition is not lost on Cruz, a 19-year-old native of Puerto Rico.
There could not possibly have been many three-race winning streaks in 2014 as enthralling as the one compiled by Artemis Agrotera during a two-month summer period.
Condo Commando’s primary niche in racing history could have been based on being the answer to a trivia question: Who won the last race called by legendary New York Racing Association announcer Tom Durkin?
From Lexington to Baltimore, England to France, and finally Southern California, Hootenanny racked up more frequent-flier miles in 2014 than perhaps any horse based in North America.
