Eclipse Awards Feature Oaklawn Stars
Tomorrow night in Miami Beach, Florida a who’s who of owners, trainers, jockeys, and even celebrities will be in attendance for the 38th annual Eclipse Awards. Oaklawn has always been well represented with nominees and this year will be no different. Oaklawn knows a thing or two about Eclipse Awards; having taken home an Award of Merit in 2005.
It can definitely be said that Oaklawn has produced some nice horses that have taken such awards for horse racing. Azeri, famous for her triple Apple Blossom wins, took home Horse of the Year honors in 2002 and also won Older Female horse titles in 2002, 2003, and 2004. Remember also that three-year-olds have done well with the likes of Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, and Curlin, who is back at the fore-front for Horse of the Year for 2008.
Two horses that will battle it out for the Horse of the Year title this year are Zenyatta (pictured), who won the Grade I Apple Blossom, and Curlin, who in 2007 won the Grade II Arkansas Derby. It has become a great debate among the horsemen at Oaklawn. “Curlin was the top horse in 2008. He had the best speed figures,” mentioned trainer Lynn Whiting, “There is a reason there is a filly division at the Eclipse Awards. Zenyatta will take home those honors. Curlin traveled to the Dubai and all around the United States.”
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who has won the four Eclipse awards for trainer honors, reported his pick. “Curlin should win Horse of the Year honors. You need to look at a horse’s body of work over the year,” commented Lukas, “Zenyatta had only raced outside of California, where-as Curlin traveled all over North America and to Dubai.”
It seems as if a couple of trainers have made up their minds when it comes to Horse of the Year honors. Curlin, who made a name for himself at Oaklawn in 2007, looks to be the heavy favorite. If only the Eclipse Awards allowed a dead-heat for Horse of the Year, then Zenyatta and Curlin would both shine brightly.
Lukas Has Silver Edition
Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas (pictured) has no shortage of talent in his barn for Oaklawn. He currently sits in a three way tie for top trainer with Steve Asmussen and Steve Hobby.
A horse to be looking forward to will be that of the Lukas trained Silver Edition, a possible starter in the King Cotton next Saturday. Silver Edition ran a beaten eighth in his last start in the Kings Bishop at Saratoga. “He’s built like a linebacker, and is a real knockout. He’s coming of a lay-off, but has been doing well. He’s got good muscle to him,” commented Lukas about the son of Silver Deputy.
Co-Owned by the Thomas Van Meter and the Maloof Brothers, who own the Sacramento Kings and Palms Casino in Las Vegas, Silver Edition seems to be another horse to look for as Lukas goes for his second training title here at Oaklawn.
A Little Bit More
Work-outs this morning at Oaklawn featured a who’s-who of stakes bound horse. Gary Thomas (pictured) sent out his stakes combo of Golden Yank and Greeley’s Conquest. Golden Yank, who will make his next start in the Essex Handicap, covered five panels in 1:03.2. Greeley’s Conquest worked the same distance in 1:02.2. Long term plans for Greeley’s Conquest well be that of the Count Fleet on April 10th. Another horse that will be making a trip to the starting gate is Telling for Steve Hobby. Telling also worked the five-eighths distance in a time of 1:04.3.
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