By Brian Mulligan

For years, I took for granted the privilege of voting for Eclipse champions. I really have never been a Grade 1 kind of guy since when I was setting the line for the Daily Racing Form no matter how big the race, whether it was the Kentucky Derby or Breeders’ Cup Classic, I was back putting morning line numbers on $5,000 claimers at Turf Paradise within minutes.

With maturity, my attitude changed. I finally understood how much was at stake for owners, breeders, and all of those involved with the champs. To be rewarded for the hard work was really all that mattered so here is how my Eclipse Award Ballot this year shaped up vs. the eventual winners, which were announced on Jan. 22.

Street Sense was pretty much a no brainer for all involved as he beat Circular Quay, so I started out with the juvenile cold-duck exacta.

Same deal with Dreaming of Anna and Octave. Bernardini, Barbaro and Discreet Cat were my trifecta for the Award and that’s how it shook out but the sophomore fillies were a bit different. Since Wait a While did her best racing on grass, I opted for Pine Island, but the voters overall reversed that decision.

I had the older filly Eclipse turned around also as Fleet Indian beat Round Pond. My older colt, Invasor, sprinter Thor’s Echo and female older turf horse Ouija Board all concurred with the voters but once again I had the exacta transposed in the male turf as Miesque’s Approval beat The Tin Man by only a few votes. I had half of the owner ticket as Darley and Lael Stables dead heated for the win. But I was fortunate enough to sweep the next categories as McDynamo was king of the hurdlers, Todd Pletcher, Edgar Prado and Julien Leparoux the tops among trainers and riders and Adena Springs the top breeder.

Of the special Awards, Dr. Dean Richardson, who is the prime mover in saving Barbaro’s life, was presented with the Big Sport of Turfdom Award. Also John Nerud, 93, who trained arguably the fastest horse ever, Dr. Fager, received the Eclipse Award of Merit honoring a lifetime of outstanding achievement in the Thoroughbred industry.

A couple of things jump out about the results. The most awkward is the Pletcher honor in the frame that he is currently suspended for a medication violation. Another issue that comes to mind is maybe another special Award for what a horse, or human has done to promote the game should be started. In light of the way people from around the world were taken by Barbaro, he really didn’t need to get stiffed.

One Award should be added for the ‘little guy’. The groom or backstretch worker that did something above and beyond during the year that can be rewarded with style, honor, class and maybe even a monetary grant for a worker that struggles in the fiscal world.

All in all the Awards are deserving. The people in the industry work damn hard to achieve any success that comes. Very few in other lines of work, and we are talking from the top of the line to the bottom feeder, works 7 days a week, 12 or more hours a day, literally 12 months of the year.

CARRYOVER FEVER

It’s possible the synthetic surface has already paid dividends in California. There have been full fields at Anita pretty much across the board, a ton of Pick Six carryovers and great racing overall.

How tough has that made the exotics? The Pick Six result from Jan. 24 tells the answer as it was a life changer of over $400,000.