Half of Private Zone’s races in 2014 resulted in Grade 1 victories, which is outstanding by any measure. It was a relatively light campaign for the Ontario-bred gelding – just four starts – but he capitalized by winning the Grade 1 Vosburgh and Grade 1 Cigar Mile for the Good Friends Stable headed by Hilton Gordon and former jockey Rene Douglas.
In what has become a yearly tradition, Todd Pletcher topped all North American trainers in three key categories in 2014: earnings, stakes wins, and graded stakes victories.
What’s not to like about a precocious 2-year-old who wins a classic at age 3 and then goes on at 4 to dominate older runners and rise to the top of the American rankings? That is Palace Malice in a package.
Richard and Karen Papiese’s Midwest Thoroughbreds has long been known as a leader among blue-collar racing operations, but the Dyer, Ind., residents broke through on the biggest stage in 2014 with Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Work All Week.
Main Sequence won Monmouth Park's Grade 1 United Nations, the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga, the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont, and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita. It was a wonderful campaign, and one that has propelled Main Sequence into consideration for an Eclipse Award as both the champion turf horse and older male of 2014.
It’s not as if the Eclipse Award electorate has ignored turf specialists when it comes to the 2-year-old filly division. Since the advent of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2008, four of the seven winners of that race have gone on to become finalists for the 2-year-old filly Eclipse Award.
One year after coming within a half-length of winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, Judy the Beauty followed through in the 2014 renewal to put herself in a prime position to reign atop her division in Eclipse Award balloting.
As the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile unfolded at Santa Anita on Oct. 31, the most optimistic supporter of Goldencents had to doubt whether the 4-year-old colt could win.
At a time in her life when many racemares have been retired to become broodmares, Don’t Tell Sophia is getting better with age. A 6-year-old in 2014, she produced her best campaign yet.
Champions, Hall of Famers, all-time greats. Jonathan Sheppard has trained all kinds of steeplechasers during a career now in its sixth decade. But he’s never had a horse like Divine Fortune, who proved his talent and resiliency with another championship-level campaign at age 11.
