Intraday News Archive

Juddmonte Farm? Close Hatches (First Defence) has been named Eclipse champion older female. The dark bay filly, winner of the GI Apple Blossom H. in April, recorded a narrow victory over Princess of Sylmar (Majestic Warrior) in an historic renewal of the GI Ogden Phipps S. The "TDN Rising Star" added a five-length win in the GI Personal Ensign S.

Main Sequence (Aldebaran) earned a second championship of the night and continued the trend set by Wise Dan (Wisemanís Ferry), as another turf star to take home the Eclipse statue as the countryís leading older male. The Flaxman Holdingsí homebred produced a perfect four-for-four campaign in 2014, capping his championship season with a half-length tally in the Nov. 2 GI Breedersí Cup Turf.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who earlier in the evening were named outstanding breeder, repeated again as Eclipse champions for outstanding owner. It was the Ramseys fourth Eclipse Award for outstanding owner, having won the title in 2004, 2011 and 2013. Topping the owners standings with over $10 million in earnings, the Kentucky-based couple was third in the wins category with 153 victories from 628 starts, 10 of those wins coming in graded stakes.

Trainer Todd Pletcher added a record seventh Eclipse Award for his work in 2014, his second consecutive year receiving the honor. The conditioner previously won this award in successive seasons from 2004 to 2007, 2010 and 2013. He topped the North American trainer standings in 2014, accumulating $22,476,736 in earnings and notching 240 wins.

Willis Horton captured his second straight Eclipse statue when the ìTDN Rising Starî Take Charge Brandi (Giantís Causeway) was named champion 2-year-old filly. Hortonís Will Take Charge (Unbridledís Song), out of a half-sister to Take Charge Brandi, was champion 3-year-old of 2013. Take Charge Brandi was a 61-1 longshot when she wired the field in the GI Breedersí Cup Juvenile Fillies. She cemented her championship status with subsequent wins in the Nov. 22 GIII Delta Downs Princess S. and Dec. 13 GI Starlet S.

Zayat Stablesí homebred American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) has been named Eclipse champion 2-year-old. The bay colt broke his maiden with an emphatic 4 3/4-length victory in the Sept. 3 GI Del Mar Futurity and added an equally impressive 3 1/4-length triumph in the Sept. 27 GI FrontRunner S. Forced to miss the GI Breedersí Cup Juvenile due to a bruised foot, the coltís championship credentials were bolstered when Texas Red (Afleet Alex), third in the FrontRunner, romped in his absence.

Winchell Thoroughbredsí homebred Untapable (Tapit), winner of four Grade I races in 2014, has been named unanimous champion 3-year-old filly. The bay filly was an authoritative winner of the May 2 GI Kentucky Oaks and dominated the June 28 GI Mother Goose S. The lone blemish on her 2014 campaign was a fifth-place effort against the boys in the July 27 GI Haskell Invitational. Back against her own sex, Untapable captured the Sept. 20 GI Cotillion S. and ended her championship season with a win in the Oct. 31 GI...

Steven Coburn and Perry Martinís GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. winner California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) has been named Eclipse champion 3-year-old male. The chestnut colt, a narrowly beaten third in the GI Breedersí Cup Classic, rebounded with a two-length victory over the lawn in the Nov. 29 GI Hollywood Derby.

Dual Classic winner California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit), who earlier in the evening was tabbed champion sophomore colt, was named 2014 Horse of the Year. The flashy chestnut became a fan favorite with wins in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S.

Dayatthespa (City Zip), who capped the season with a wire-to-wire victory in the GI Breedersí Cup F/M Turf, has been named champion turf female. The chestnut also captured last yearís GI First Lady S. Just days after her Breeders' Cup win, Dayatthespa sold for $2.1 million to Stonestreet Stables.

Flaxman Holdingsí Main Sequence (Aldebaran) produced a perfect four-for-four campaign in 2014 and was duly rewarded with the Eclipse Award as champion turf male. The chestnut gelding began the year with a win in the July 6 GI United Nations S. He added the Aug. 17 GI Sword Dancer S. and Sept. 27 GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic before capping his championship season with a half-length tally in the Nov. 2 GI Breedersí Cup Turf.