With three totally different winners of the Triple Crown races and loads of parity, the race for champion 3-year-old Eclipse Award honors is on.
The trail to the highest of the nation’s most-watched division will contain the $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park July 20, the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) July 27 at Saratoga Race Course, the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 24 at Saratoga Race Course, and the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) Sept. 21 at Parx Racing.
Nobody, after all, can be shocked if this wide-open contest will not be determined till 3-year-olds take a look at their mettle in opposition to older horses within the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional (G1) Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
Here’s a take a look at the highest horses and the place they stand in pursuit of a coveted Eclipse Award, listed alphabetically.
Catching Freedom : The Louisiana Derby (G2) winner ran a good fourth within the Kentucky Derby (G1) and dealt with the swift two-week turnaround to take third within the Preakness Stakes (G1). That will have come at a value. He suffered an enormous setback when he may do no higher than fourth within the June 22 Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown as an awesome favourite. He can basically be dominated out since no races are on his schedule at this level.
Dornoch : This full-brother to Mage , final yr’s Kentucky Derby winner, was tenth with a heck of an excuse within the Kentucky Derby. He drew the dreaded rail at Churchill Downs and jockey Luis Saez discovered it unattainable to work out any type of journey from there, checking his mount arduous at one level. Dornoch rebounded to prevail within the Belmont Stakes (G1). He possesses excessive cruising velocity and should be reckoned with.
Dragoon Guard : He’s 3-for-3 this season and handed his first two-turn take a look at impressively within the July 6 Indiana Derby (G3). Coach Brad Cox thinks this son of the late Arrogate can show he belongs among the many finest in his class. When Cox talks, everybody listens.
Fierceness : The two-year-old champ and runaway winner of the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park failed to point out when it was most necessary, lagging in fifteenth within the Kentucky Derby. Whereas he has displayed brilliance, he’s maddeningly inconsistent for Corridor of Fame coach Todd Pletcher, alternating wins and losses all through his six-race profession.
Honor Marie : Distance is not any drawback, getting a superb journey is. He endured an terrible time within the Kentucky Derby and was lucky to flee unscathed. The Belmont Stakes was not significantly better. Honor Marie is in quest of a clear run within the Travers, however he’s being requested to deal with the 1 1/4-mile distance with out the good thing about a prep.
Mindframe : He produced lopsided victories in his first two begins. He confirmed inexperience but additionally great expertise when he missed by simply half-length when second to Dornoch within the Belmont Stakes, an enormous ask for him. He ought to solely enhance with every begin for Pletcher.
Mystik Dan : He needs to be considered because the chief within the division in the intervening time with a victory within the Kentucky Derby and a runner-up effort within the Preakness. He may do no higher than eighth within the Belmont Stakes and was despatched to the farm after making six begins by way of the primary six months this yr. There isn’t any timetable for his return. Do not count on it to be any time quickly.
Seize the Gray : Like Mystik Dan, he appeared to fall sufferer to his third race in 5 weeks when he got here in a lackluster seventh within the ultimate leg of the Triple Crown. Legendary coach D. Wayne Lukas acknowledged that he got here up “flat” after strong victories within the Pat Day Mile (G2) and Preakness. Lukas is satisfied Seize the Gray can comply with the trail of his late-blooming sire Arrogate. A whole lot of followers who invested in him by way of MyRacehorse certain hope so.
Sierra Leone : This $2.3 million yearling buy clearly has plentiful potential. Will he put all of it collectively? He contributed to his personal defeat when he lugged in in the course of the stretch run and missed by a nostril as a part of an exhilarating three-horse photograph within the Kentucky Derby. He seemed to be compromised by a speed-favoring Saratoga monitor when a belated cost left him third within the Belmont. If anybody can work out this exasperating son of Gun Runner , it is his coach, Chad Brown.
Stronghold : The Santa Anita Derby king faces an uphill climb. He ran seventh within the Kentucky Derby and couldn’t overtake Dragoon Guard within the Indiana Derby, ending 2 1/2 lengths behind in second.
Tuscan Sky : He is gained three of 4 begins and prepped for the Haskell in very best style, taking the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth. He completed a nonthreatening seventh within the April 6 Wooden Memorial Stakes (G2) in his solely graded stakes strive. He must step up significantly for Pletcher, however he’s in the proper fingers.
