Curlin Grabs Second Horse of the Year Award
2008 Eclipse Winners Included Zenyatta, Big Brown, Benny the Bull
Feb 4, 2009
All Thoroughbred horse racing eyes follow the annual Eclipse Awards, held this year in Miami Beach, Florida at the Fontainebleau, and followers of the greatly accomplished golden chestnut Curlin, last year's pick as Horse of the Year, were not disappointed as the Steve Asmussen-trained Dubai World Cup champion captured his second straight HOY vote. Curlin did the honors handily as it turned out, garnering 153 votes to highly regarded competitor filly Zenyatta's 69.
Big Brown's Triple Challenge
Starred-crossed Triple Crown challenger Big Brown followed with 13 votes in the HOY race. Zenyatta wowed in the Breeders' Cup last October, storming from last place to a four-length victory in the filly Classic to top an unbeaten season, while Big Brown won the first two jewels of the Triple Crown, lost at Belmont, then rebounded to win the Haskell Invitational and on grass at Monmouth. A career-ending hoof injury prevented him from meeting Curlin at the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Benny the Bull Pulls Upset
Benny the Bull gave IEAH Stables, also owner of Big Brown, an extra lift by being voted the Male Sprinter Champion. Undefeated in four starts in 2008, Benny the Bull had to be withheld from the Breeders' Cup Sprint. He retired in July with a slight leg fracture.
Midnight Lute gave a commanding repeat performance in the BC Sprint that many thought would hold up for Eclipse Award voting. And it was close, but Benny the Bull got the nod, 107 to 86, with Street Boss chasing the duo with 40 votes.
Zenyatta Eclipsed All Equals
Zenyatta won Older Female Eclipse honors almost unanimously, as just two votes went to her nearest challenger, Ginger Punch. Big Brown was rewarded with the Three-Year-Old Male Champion Eclipse.
Curlin Takes Over Money Title
Curlin also grabbed the Older Male Champion Eclipse. The four-year-old, handled by majority owner Jess Jackson, traveled the world and won most of the year's prestigious races, including the Woodward Stakes and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, as he took over the all-time leading money earner title from Cigar, who had held it for twelve years.
Curlin's legacy over just two racing seasons (he was unraced at age two) stretches the imagination, as well as the reality of its grandeur. He placed first 11 times from 16 starts, won the 2007 Breeders' Cup after five victories that included the Preakness Stakes and the Jockey Club Gold Cup at age three, and brought home World Cup Classic honors from Dubai in 2008 at age four, as well as becoming the richest racing Thoroughbred in history with earnings of $10,501,800.
Lane's End Gets Curlin
The son of prolific winning-producer Smart Strike, Curlin stands at stud for the fee of $75,000 at Lane's End Farm. Deputy Minister fathered Curlin's dam, Sherriff's Deputy.
