The 2015 Eclipse Awards are underway at Gulfstream Park. I’ll be continuously posting live on the Pedigree Power blog throughout the evening with news about the winners and quotes from horsemen and owners.

Two-Year-Old Filly

Songbird

Race Record: 4-4-0-0 ($1,502,000)

Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer

Owner: Fox Hill Farms, Inc.

Breeder: John Antonelli

2015 Career Highlights:

1st - Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies - Gr. 1

1st - Chandelier Stakes - Gr. 1

1st - Del Mar Debutante Stakes - Gr. 1

Quote: “Thank you to the Hollendorfer team, my Hall of Fame trainer has done such a remarkable job.” - Fox Hill Farms, Inc.

“I’m just grateful for the opportunity to train Songbird.” - Jerry Hollendorfer.

Voting: Songbird 260, Catch a Glimpse 1

Two-Year-Old Male:

Nyquist

Race Record: 5-5-0-0 ($1,613,600)

Trainer: Doug O’Neil

Owner: Reddam Racing LLC

Breeder: Summerhill Farm

2015 Career Highlights:

1st – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile - Gr. 1

1st - FrontRunner Stakes - Gr. 1

1st - Del Mar Futurity - Gr. 1

1st - Best Pal Stakes - Gr. 2

Quote: "This trophy really belongs to the horse and trainer Doug ONeil, who said, 'I have a plan to get to the Breeders’ Cup, and he executed that plan flawlessly.' ” – Paul Reddam.

Voting: Nyquist 255, Mohaymen 3, Voter Abstentions 3

Female Sprinter:

La Verdad

Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz

Trainer: Linda Rice

Owner: Lady Sheila Stable

Breeder: Eklektikos Stable LLC

2015 Career Highlights:

1st - Gallant Bloom Handicap - Gr. 2

1st - Distaff Handicap - Gr. 2

1st - Vagrancy Handicap - Gr. 3

2nd – Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint - Gr. 1

Quote: “Thank you everybody, one of the great sprinters, La Verdad made my dream come true. We have a passion, we have a great team, I love this mare, she’s one of a kind.” - Sheila Rosenblum

Voting: La Verdad 98, Wavell Avenue 90, Lady Shipman 41, Cavorting 19, Unbridled Forever 5, Ageless 1, Birdonthewire 1, Fantastic Style 1, Voter Abstentions 5

Male Sprinter:

Runhappy

Race Record: 8-7-0-0 ($1,481,300)

Trainer: Laura Wohlers

Owner: James McIngvale

Breeder: Wayne Lyster, Gray Lyster & Bryan Lyster

2015 Career Highlights:

1st - Breeders' Cup Sprint - Gr. 1

1st - Phoenix Stakes - Gr. 3

1st - King's Bishop Stakes - Gr. 1

Voting: Runhappy 255, Private Zone 2, Rock Fall 2, Mongolian Saturday 1, Secret Circle 1

Moment of the Year: American Pharoah’s Belmont Stakes victory. When he crossed the finish line at 6:55 PM on June 6, 2015, American Pharoah became the first Triple Crown Champion in 32 years.

Quote: "My personal favorite memory was the moment right before the moment in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, American Pharoah gave us a look to say, 'Don’t worry, we got this.' " - Ashley Zayat

Breeder of the Year:

Zayat Stables

Quote: “Extremely humbling, this is an award I never dreamed of winning. It’s a Cinderella story, I’m humbled and grateful." - Ahmed Zayat.

Voting: Zayat Stables 190, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey 39, Darley 13, WinStar Farm 5, Adena Springs 4, Spendthrift Farm 1, Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings 1, Voter Abstentions 8

Female Turf Horse:

Tepin

Trainer: Mark E. Casse

Owner: Robert E. Masterson

Breeder: Machmer Hall

Race Record: 15-7-3-1

2015 Career Highlights:

1st - Breeders' Cup Mile - Gr. 1

1st - First Lady Stakes - Gr. 1

1st - Just a Game Stakes - Gr. 1

1st – Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes - Gr. 2

Quote: "This is one of those times when I wish horses could talk, because Tepin would start off and she would tell you that she gave you everything she could give you all year long.” - Robert Masterson

Voting: Tepin 211, Found (IRE) 38, Stephanie’s Kitten 8, Lady Eli 2, Curvy (GB) 1, Voter Abstentions 1

Male Turf Horse:

Big Blue Kitten

Race Record: 30-14-8-4 ($2,936,830)

Trainer: Chad C. Brown

Owner: Ramsey, Kenneth L. and Sarah K.

Breeder: Kenneth L. Ramsey & Sarah K. Ramsey

2015 Career Highlights:

1st - Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes - Gr. 1

1st - United Nations Stakes - Gr. 1

2nd - Manhattan Stakes - Gr. 1

2nd - Arlington Million XXXIII Stakes - Gr. 1

3rd - Breeders' Cup Turf - Gr. 1

Quote: “We take a lot of pride and satisfaction in breeding a horse that ran the fastest mile and a half in the entire history of Belmont, either on the turf or on the dirt. Calumet Farm now owns the horse and you’ll see Big Blue Kitten again next (this) year.” – Ken Ramsey

Voting: Big Blue Kitten 134, Golden Horn (GB) 63, The Pizza Man 41, Flintshire 18, Chiropractor 1, Grand Arch 1, Voter Abstentions 3

Apprentice Jockey:

Tyler Gaffalione

The son of veteran rider Steve Gaffalione was the nation’s winningest bug boy with 1,137 starts and 182 wins. He was the second highest money earner in purse earnings with $4,855,732. Not bad for a 20 year old. He was leading rider for Gulfstream Park’s spring and summer meets and went head to head with the more experienced stars, winning five straight races on September 20, and a month later, on his first day as a journeyman, won four races.

Voting: Tyler Gaffalione 149, Eric Cancel 63, Angel Cruz 9, Ashley Broussard 6, David Lopez 3, Jorge Robles 1, Voter Abstentions 30.





Jockey:

Javier Castellano

His third consecutive award, Javier has been an Eclipse Award finalist for the past four years. He led all riders in wins for the last three years. In 2015, Javier won 17 Grade One races with horses such as Honor Code, Liam’s Map, Stopchargingmaria and Keen Ice. This is his third Eclipse Award.

Voting: Javier Castellano 184, Victor Espinoza 70, Joe Bravo 1, Pedro Monterrey Jr. 1, Irad Ortiz, Jr. 1, Joel Rosario 1, John Velazquez 1, Voter Abstentions 2

Three-Year-Old Filly:

Stellar Wind

Race Record: 8-5-1-1 ($913,200)

Trainer: John W. Sadler

Owner: Hronis Racing LLC

Breeder: Keswick Stables & Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC

2015 Career Highlights:

1st - Santa Anita Oaks - Gr. 1

1st - Summertime Oaks - Gr. 2

1st - Torrey Pines Stakes - Gr. 3

2nd - Breeders' Cup Distaff - Gr. 1

Quote: “Thank you very much this means the world to me.” - John Sadler

Voting: Stellar Wind 108, I’m a Chatterbox 47, Found (IRE) 46, Lady Eli 34, Lovely Maria 12, Curalina 11, Include Betty 2, Voter Abstentions 1

Three-Year-Old Male:

American Pharoah

Race Record:

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Owner: Zayat Stables

Breeder: Zayat Stables

2015 Career Highlights:

1st - Breeders' Cup Classic - Gr. 1

1st – Kentucky Derby – Gr. 1

1st – Preakness Stakes – Gr. 1

1st - Belmont Stakes – Gr. 1

1st - Haskell Invitational Stakes - Gr. 1

1st - Arkansas Derby - Gr. 1

1st - Rebel Stakes - Gr. 2

2nd – Travers Stakes – Gr.2

First Triple Crown Winner in 37 years

Eclipse Award 2014 Champion 2 Year Old Colt

Quote: "Wow, wow, wow, what a year. American Pharoah is a true example of team work… Bob (Baffert) did a suburb job. To complete the dream for us winning the Kentucky Derby, let alone 37 years breaking the jinx of the Triple Crown, unbelievable, what a year. I want to thank all the fans that came out and supported us.” - Justin Zayat

Voting: American Pharoah 261

Trainer:

Bob Baffert

It’s no easy feat to keep a horse in peak condition from March through October while facing the top horses in the country. All the while, said horse is posing for magazine covers and greeting his adoring public with the demeanor of royalty. Baffert had an open door policy when it came to American Pharoah and the fans thank him.

A seasoned hand with both horses and the media, Baffert is always ready with a quotable quip. He earned Eclipse Awards for three straight years from 1987 – 1989.

Bob Baffert earned nine Grade One wins in 2015 and finished third in stable earnings, with his horses bringing home more than $16.2 million dollars.

Quote: “I’m so excited to win this award, really. I never thought I’d get up here again. I want to thank everybody who voted to me. We had a phenomenal year.” - Bob Baffert.

Voting: Bob Baffert 200, Todd Pletcher 44, Chad Brown 12, Karl Broberg 1, Jerry Hollendorfer 1, Voter Abstentions 3

Owner:

Zayat Stables

This is the first year that Zayat Stables has been nominated for the award for outstanding owner.

Quote: “This is the one (trophy) I really wanted. I’m extremely proud. American Pharoah is the jewel of the crown, but we are not a one horse stable. We’re thankful to every single person who helped us build our stable.” - Ahmed Zayat.

Voting: Zayat Stables 220, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey 26, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc. 6, Reddam Racing 2, Godolphin Racing 1, Voter Abstentions 6

Older Female:

Beholder

Race Record: 20-15-3-0 ($4,436,600)

Trainer: Richard Mandella

Owner: Spendthrift Farm LLC

Breeder: Clarkland Farm

2015 Career Highlights:

1st - Zenyatta Stakes - Gr. 1

1st – Pacific Classic Stakes - Gr. 1

1st - Clement L. Hirsch Stakes - Gr. 1

1st – Adoration Stakes - Gr. 3

1st - Santa Lucia Stakes

Eclipse Award 2013 Champion 3 Year Old Filly

Eclipse Award 2012 Champion 2 Year Old Filly

Quote: “Bob mentioned what a great feeling it is to train a horse like he had and I have the same feeling with Beholder. These are two great horses, that it would take crops to replace them." - Richard Mandella

Voting: Beholder 256, Stopchargingmaria 4, Sheer Drama 1

Older Male:

Honor Code

Race Record: 11-6-2-2 ($2,518,260)

Trainer: Claude R. McGaughey III

Owner: Lane's End Racing, Dell Ridge Farm LLC and Teresa Viola Racing

Breeder: Dell Ridge Farm, LLC

2015 Career Highlights:

1st - Metropolitan Handicap - Gr. 1

1st - Whitney Stakes - Gr. 1

1st - Gulfstream Park Handicap - Gr. 2

3rd - Breeders' Cup Classic - Gr. 1

Quote: “A lot of thanks goes to Shug McGaughey, he’s one of the great trainers in the country, he’s a great friend, and we’re very, very proud of what he’s accomplished." - Will Farish, Spendthrift Farm.

Voting: Honor Code 126, Liam’s Map 95, Tonalist 14, Effinex 12, Shared Belief 9, California Chrome 3, Voter Abstentions 2

Horse of the Year

American Pharoah

Race Record:

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Owner: Zayat Stables

Breeder: Zayat Stables

2015 Career Highlights:

1st - Breeders' Cup Classic - Gr. 1

1st – Kentucky Derby – Gr. 1

1st – Preakness Stakes – Gr. 1

1st - Belmont Stakes – Gr. 1

1st - Haskell Invitational Stakes - Gr. 1

1st - Arkansas Derby - Gr. 1

1st - Rebel Stakes - Gr. 2

2nd – Travers Stakes – Gr.2

Eclipse Award 2014 Champion 2 Year Old Colt

First Triple Crown Winner in 36 years. The third three year old to win the Horse of the Year Eclipse Award since Curlin in 2007. The first horse to receive an unanimous vote for Horse of the Year since John Henry in 1981.

Quote: “American Pharoah is now Horse of the Year, to me, he is a horse of a lifetime. It’s the dream, we lived the dream, and thank you so much American Pharoah. This horse has meant so much for us as a family….we have a very close family, and the person who holds us all together…is my wife, Joanne Zayat. When we are getting this special award for Horse of the Year, I want my special wife to accept the award on behalf of the Zayats and the Bafferts.” - Ahmed Zayat.

Voting: American Pharoah 261