When it comes to the Eclipse Awards, one race does indeed have the power to make or break you. Such a scenario may end up applying to Moonshine Memories, who was voted an Eclipse Award finalist in the 2-year-old filly division.

The Eclipse Award for champion 2-year-old filly has been the exclusive property of dirt performers. This is understandable. Dirt racing is still the big game in U.S. Thoroughbred racing. But there has been a shift in recent years in the philosophy of the Eclipse Award electorate to one that is bound less by tradition, is more inclusive, and, as a result, is more accepting of turf performers.

From the auction ring in Saratoga to the farm in Montana to the racetracks in Southern California, Bolt d’Oro rarely failed to impress in 2017.

He won 3 of 4 starts, including Grade 1 victories in the Del Mar Futurity and FrontRunner Stakes, with his one hiccup a third-place finish as the favorite in the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar. For his achievements, Bolt d’Oro was voted a finalist for the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male.

Good Magic lost his first two races. But trainer Chad Brown never lost confidence in Good Magic.

Solomini didn’t exactly endear himself to trainer Bob Baffert early in his 2-year-old season. By the end of it, however, he gave Baffert a good feeling heading into 2018 that he has a Kentucky Derby contender.

A maiden victory and placings in three consecutive Grade 1 stakes earned Solomini a spot as a finalist for the Eclipse Award as North America’s top 2-year-old male horse of 2017.

It was a rainy, chilly day in Louisville, Ky., but the sun shone bright for Abel Tasman. The filly splashed home to her signature Kentucky Oaks victory on a sloppy track to score the first of three Grade 1 wins on the year, earning a spot as an Eclipse Award finalist in the 3-year-old filly division.

“We ruined our shoes and our sport coats, but it was well worth it,” trainer Bob Baffert said.

Before the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint was run Nov. 4 at Del Mar, absolutely no one was talking about Bar of Gold as a potential Eclipse Award winner.

But when Bar of Gold pulled a 66-1 upset, she leapfrogged numerous other would-be candidates by capturing easily the most important race in the filly-and-mare sprint category.

If Eclipse Award voters focused solely on the spring and summer campaigns of candidates for the top filly-and-mare sprinter of 2017, there is no doubt who would be most deserving of the award.

In three starts from April to July, Paulassilverlining reeled off victories in major divisional stakes, stamping herself as the one to overtake as the year unfolded. It was a terrific start to her campaign under new silks, with the worldwide powerhouse Juddmonte Farms having negotiated a private purchase of Paulassilverlining in March from her breeder and original owner, Vince Scuderi.

An off-the-pace victory by Unique Bella on Dec. 26 in the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita not only erased some of the disappointment of her loss as a heavy favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint but also validated the promises she had made earlier in the year as a blossoming superstar.

Forever Unbridled’s first start of 2017 was postponed until June, and her entire campaign was just three starts. Perfect.

A late-runner in her races, Forever Unbridled employed the same come-from-behind style in her 5-year-old season – she stormed from behind to the top of her division.

Forever Unbridled went 3 for 3, won two Grade 1’s including the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff, and became an Eclipse Award finalist for the first time, as outstanding older filly or mare.

“It was a championship campaign,” trainer Dallas Stewart said.