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Sunday, January 21, 2001

There are very few surprises on the list of finalists for the 11 equine and five human categories of Eclipse Awards to be presented in New Orleans Jan. 30.

But among them is one stunner: Bob Baffert, winner of the past three outstanding trainer Eclipses, is not among the three top vote-getters in that category this year. Usually the nation's top money-winning conditioner is a shoo-in finalist, especially when the bulk of his purses have been earned in big-time stakes.

Instead, the three finalists are Bobby Frankel, second leading money-winner, Scott Lake, top trainer by wins, and Joe Orseno. All are good choices. My vote went to Orseno for winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Filly and Mare Turf, plus the Preakness for owner Frank Stronach.

But it's also obvious that Baffert now is experiencing the fickle, flip side of celebrity. Pretty much all of racing, from fans to track executives to the media, embraced the flippant mop-haired trainer when he and Silver Charm burst onto the scene. Since then, his habit of sticking his foot in his mouth with mean-spirited, wisecracks about others in thoroughbred racing have worn thin. His very public affair with a TV talk show personality while still married also left a bad taste in people's mouths.

Neither of those personality traits should be used to measure a man or woman's achievements. But the racing secretaries, Daily Racing Form employees, chart callers and members of the National Turf Writers Association who vote are only human. If they're torn between a couple different candidates, personalities tend to enter the equation. The voters also have a bit of a "you've won enough" attitude.

Another surprise is the presence of Giant's Causeway among the finalists for 3-year-old colt champion. It was a season in which no colt dominated until Tiznow came along in the summer, but one would think the winner of the Preakness (Red Bullet), Belmont (Commendable)or Travers (Unshaded) might hit the board ahead of a horse that raced just once in the States.

Kona Gold won the Sprint category unanimously, also a bit of a surprise. It is not often that the three voting blocks form a consensus. And there were a number of good sprinters with credentials good enough to be voted a finalist:

The voters tend to take their duty pretty seriously. In fact, the NTWA makes its members ballots public.

For the record, here are most of the remaining categories of finalists, followed by my vote and reason for my vote (outstanding owner, trainer, apprentice jockey and steeplechaser have been omitted because of space limitations):

2-year-old filly finalists: Caressing, Raging Fever, She's A Devil Due. I voted for Caressing, because her two graded stakes wins included the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

2-year-old colts & geldings: City Zip, Flame Thrower, Macho Uno and Point Given. I went with Macho Uno, for his three consecutive stakes victories, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

3-year-old fillies: Jostle, Spain, Surfside. I voted for Jostle, because she was consistently first or second much of the season.

3-year-old colts & geldings: Fusaichi Pegasus, Giant's Causeway, Tiznow. The vote here was for Tiznow, though I prefer champions to have a whole year of racing behind them.

Male turf: John's Call, Kalanisi, War Chant. I voted for Breeders' Cup winner War Chant, whose only bad race was the Kentucky Derby, in which he was injured.

Female turf: Gaviola, Perfect Sting, Tout Charmant. I chose Breeders' Cup champ Perfect Sting, who had five firsts and one second in six races.

Older male: General Challenge, Kona Gold, Lemon Drop Kid. Lemon Drop Kid was a no-brainer to me; he put in a full championships campaign before he tailed off. But the fact that Kona Gold was unanimous sprint champion makes me think this could be a close vote.

Older female: Beautiful Pleasure, Heritage of Gold, Riboletta. Riboletta the other top fillies, leaving nothing for the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Horse of the Year: Kona Gold, Lemon Drop Kid, Tiznow. I went with Tiznow because he beat all the challengers.

Outstanding jockey: Jerry Bailey, Russell Baze, Pat Day. I voted for Day, who led the money list, but one of these years, maybe this one, Baze is going to get the recognition he deserves for dominating Northern California.