Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) began 2009 as a filly with a future, but, by the time the dust had settled in September, she had rolled a hard eight, completed a campaign that sets a new standard for her division and outpointed the great Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}) as Horse of the Year. She became the first three-year-old filly ever named Horse of the Year, and just the fourth distaffer to be so honored in the 39 years since the Eclipse Awards were unveiled in 1971. For Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables and trainer Steve Asmussen, it was an unprecedented feat as well--the first time connections have won three consecutive Horse of the Year awards with two different horses, with Rachel Alexandra following in the hoofsteps of Stonestreet's 2007 and 2008 hero Curlin (Smart Strik

Zenyatta Champion Older Female

Undefeated Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}–Vertigineux, by Kris S.) received all but one vote in the champion older female division, earning those honors for the second consecutive year. Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, Zenyatta opened her five-year-old season with victories in the GII Milady H. and GI Vanity H., then got up in the last stride in the GI Clement Hirsch S. Following a victory in the GI Lady's Secret S., connections decided to face males in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Their gamble paid off as the behemoth made a strong rally on the grandstand side to post her 14th-consecutive victory. Bred by Maverick Productions, Zenyatta is trained by John Shirreffs and will race in 2010 as a six-year-old.

Gio Ponti Named Champion Male Turf Horse, Older Male

Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat–Chipeta Springs, by Alydar) won four consecutive Grade I races on turf in 2009 and finished second in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, en route to being named champion turf horse and champion older male. The Castleton Lyons colorbearer got up late to nip Ventura (Chester House) by a nose in the GI Frank E. Kilroe H., then went east to annex the GI Manhattan H. on the Belmont S. undercard. A 1 3/4-length winner of the Man O' War S., the Christophe Clement protege prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths in the GI Arlington Million, despite stumbling at the start. He ended his campaign with runner-up efforts in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational over soft turf and in Breeders' Cup Classic on Santa Anita's Pro-Ride surface. Gio Ponti won at distances ranging from one mile to 11 furlongs during his 2009 season. Gio Ponti was bred by Kilboy Estate In

Steve Asmussen Annexes Outstanding Trainer Honors

Is it the start of another trainer dynasty? Laz Barrerra earned theEclipse four straight years, from 1976-79; D. Wayne Lukas took it from1985-87 (ana again in 1994); Bob Baffert garnered the trophy from1997-99; Bobby Frankel, who had earned his first championship in 1993,was the Eclipse winner from 2000-03; and Todd Pletcher ruled the roostfrom 2004-2007. Now it may be Steve Asmussen's turn to start a streak.Asmussen, who guided Curlin (Smart Strike) to Horse of the Year titlesin 2007 and 2008, was honored with his first Eclipse in 2008. He madeit two in a row last night. Rachel Alexandra and top sprinter KodiakKowboy (Posse) became his second and third Eclipse winners. The Texasnative continues to set the standard among conditioners. Asmussen, 44,earned his first North American single-season win record in 2004, andhe broke the mark last season, accounting for a whopping 650 victorieswhile scoring with 22 percent of his starters. Those winners came at 37tracks in the U.S. and Canada, and included seven Grade Is, three GradeIIs and 10 Grade IIIs.

Julien Leparoux Named Outstanding Jockey; Santiago Reyes Outstanding Apprenctice

Julien Leparoux, the outstanding apprentice of 2006, won 10 Grade I races in 2009, en route to his first Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey. Hailing from Senlis, France, Leparoux swept the first two $1-million races of 2009, taking the Jan. 24 OBS Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park with It's a Bird (Birdonthewire) and the Mar. 7 GI Santa Anita H. aboard Einstein (Brz) (Spend a Buck). His success continued throughout the season--Leparoux posted a trio of victories in the Breeders' Cup, taking the GI Grey Goose Juvenile Fillies with eventual two-year-old champion She Be Wild (Offlee Wild), the GI Sentient Jet Filly and Mare Sprint with champion female sprinter Informed Decision and the GI Dirt Mile with upsetter Furthest Land (Smart Strike). He won riding titles during the Churchill Downs and Keeneland spring meets, and shared top honors with Calvin Borel at Churchill in the fall.

Christian Santiago Reyes, who last year moved to the mainland from his native Puerto Rico, picked up his first career victory at Gulfstream Park Apr. 12 when riding for trainer and the 1984 outstanding apprentice Wesley Ward. Later in the spring, he shifted his tack to Churchill Downs, where he posted 12 wins from 110 mounts. Then 19-years-old, he relocated to Southern California in the summer, finishing sixth in the rider standings at Del Mar with 24 victories. Only bullring kingpin Martin Pedroza finished ahead of Santiago Reyes at Fairplex, as the apprentice tallied 20 wins from 105 mounts during the brief meet. His first black-type victory came courtesy of Bench the Judge (Benchmark) in the Cal Cup Juvenile at Oak Tree Oct. 3. Reyes led apprentice jockeys in earnings, holding a $507,784 over runner-up and Eclipse finalist Luis Batista.

Godolphin Grabs Outstanding Owner

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum picked up his first Eclipse Award, a special award, in 2001, and a second when his Darley Stable was the co-champion owner in 2006, but it was the operation's elite Godolphin Racing that prevailed in 2009. The stable had an exceptional season, winning at a 27-percent clip, and no less than eight of its 18 victories this year came in Grade I company. Godolphin also annexed three Grade IIs and one Grade III. The Godolphin fleet was led by GI Ballerina S. and GI Beldame S. heroine Music Note (A.P. Indy), a homebred, and GI Apple Blossom H. and GI Go for Wand H. winner Seventh Street (Street Cry {Ire}), a $1 million FTFFEB juvenile purchase. Gayego (Gilded Time), a private purchase, may have come within a neck of taking the Eclipse as champion sprinter; the winner of the GI Ancient Title S., the dark bay was beaten that margin when fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprin

No Surprise: Rachel Alexandra Champion Three-Year-Old Filly

Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro–Lotta Kim, by Roar), undefeated in eight starts in her unprecedented 2009 campaign, was the unanimous winner in the champion three-year-old filly category. The bay was unchallenged in her first four starts of the year--including a 20 1/4-length score in the GI Kentucky Oaks–and was subsequently acquired privately by Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables. Facing males for the first time in the GI Preakness S., she dictated the pace from post 13 and held off GI Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird (Birdstone) to become the first filly since 1924 to win the second leg of the Triple Crown. Following a facile success over three opponents in the GI Mother Goose S., she dusted GI Belmont S. winner Summer Bird (Birdstone) by six lengths in the slop in the GI Haskell Invitational. Connections took a shot against older males in the GI Woodward H., and the sophomore dug in after setting a brisk pace to prevail by a head following a lengthy stretch battle. Rachel Alexandra was given a break following the Woodward, and is currently training with Steve Asmussen's string at the Fair Grounds. She was trained by Hal Wiggins through the Kentucky Oaks.

Champion Three-Year-Old Male Goes to Summer Bird

Summer Bird (Birdstone–Hong Kong Squall, by Summer Squall), who this year became the first horse to sweep the GI Belmont S., GI Travers S. and GI Jockey Club Gold S. since Easy Goer in 1989, was named champion three-year-old male. A maiden in March, the Jayaraman homebred was a closing third in the GII Arkansas Derby and passed tiring horses to finish sixth in the GI Kentucky Derby. He overcame early trouble to post an 11-1 upset in the Belmont, then chased home Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) to be runner-up in the GI Haskell Invitational. The Tim Ice trainee regained the winning thread in the Travers S. and wore down Quality Road (Elusive Quality) to take the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He concluded his sophomore season with a creditable fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

Kodiak Kowboy Wins Champion Sprinter

Kodiak Kowboy (Posse–Kokadrie, by Coronado's Quest) was named champion sprinter over Zensational (Unbridled's Song) in a 118-54 vote. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Kodiak Kowboy posted his first victory of the year in the GI Carter H. before he disappointed as the favorite in the GII Churchill Downs S. He got back on track with an easy score in the Donald Levine Memorial H. at Philadelphia Park, then was third in the GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt S. and runner-up in the GI Forego S. He edged Fabulous Strike (Smart Strike) by a half-length in the GI Vosburgh S., and punctuated his season with a 3/4-length decision over Bribon (Fr) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}) in the GI Hill ‘n' Dale Cigar Mile H. Kodiak Kowboy is owned by Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farms.

Informed Decision Named Champion Female Sprinter

After defeating the classy Ventura (Chester House) for a second time in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, it became quite an easy decision to vote for Augustin Stable's Informed Decision (Monarchos) in the female sprinter category. A remarkable six-for-seven in 2009, Informed Decision began the year with a narrow victory over the aforementioned Juddmonte colorbearer in Keeneland's GI Vinery Madison S., and she weaved her way through traffic to make it two straight wins at the highest level in the GI Humana Distaff S. over a sloppy Churchill Downs main oval on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Given a slight breather, the gray continued her winning ways with an easy tally in Arlington's GIII Chicago H. July 4, but couldn't keep up with five-time Grade I winner Music Note (A.P. Indy) when a distant third over a saturated track in Saratoga's GI Ballerina S. Aug. 29. Back on the all-weather in the Sept. 12 Presque Isle Downs Masters S., Informed Decision made her disappointing effort at the Spa a distant memory, drawing off to a 2 1/2-length win over a salty bunch, and coming within .06 of the track record. She kicked it into gear late to enter the Filly & Mare Sprint off a narrow victory in Keeneland's GII Thoroughbred Club Of America S. Oct. 10. Seeking to remain perfect in seven career attempts on man-made surfaces, Informed Decision sat a dream trip on Day 1 of the Breeders' Cup. With regular pilot Julien Leparoux aboard, the $320,000 FTMMAY juvenile forced the early issue through easy early fractions of :23 1/5 and :45 4/5, hit the front at the top of the lane and had a comfortable 1 1/4 lengths on the imposing Ventura at the wi

Juddmonte Farms Receives Champion Breeder Honors

Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms earned its first Eclipse Award as top breeder in 1995, then took the prize in three straight years, from 2001-03. Adena Springs had a stranglehold ever since, but Juddmonte was back on top in 2009. It was a bittersweet season for the operation. "We had such a tremendous year with Ventura, Midday and Champs d'Elysees, and the sad part was losing Bobby Frankel, who was such tremendous part of all the success that we had over the year," Juddmonte Racing Manager Garrett O'Rourke said. "It was a great year tinged with a lot of sadness as well." Longtime trainer Bobby Frankel passed away just days after Juddmonte's Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), conditioned by Henry Cecil, captured the
GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf. Ventura, who beat the boys in the GI Woodbine Mile and second behind champion Informed Decision (Monarchos) in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint, capped off a stellar career with a victory in the GI Matriarch S. The mare was the runner-up for the Eclipse as both top female sprinter and top female turf horse; Middday was third in the latter category.

Two-Time Breeders' Cup Mile Heroine Goldikova Named Champion Female Turf Horse

The stylish Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) may have missed out on a divisional title after scoring impressively in the 2008 GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita, but history would not repeat itself in 2009 following another decisive victory on Breeders' Cup day. Sent off the 7-5 choice while attempting to defend her title in the Mile Nov. 7, Goldikova looked every bit the part of a champion as she rolled to the front in the final furlong to win, giving trainer Freddie Head the rare jockey/trainer double/double in the event (video). Head partnered champion miler Miesque (Nureyev) to victories in the 1987 and 1988 Mile.

She Be Wild Awarded Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Honors

GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine She Be Wild (Offlee Wild–Trappings, by Seeking the Gold) was named champion two-year-old filly. A 7 1/2-length winner on debut when dangled for a $40,000 tag at Arlington, the Mazzoni homebred scored by 5 1/4 lengths in the Top Flight S. She earned her first graded success when she captured the GIII Arlington-Washington Lassie by 5 3/4 lengths. Second by a half-length to Negligee (Northern Afleet) after leading in the stretch of the GI Darley Alciabiades, she rebounded to prevail in the Breeders' Cup. She Be Wild is trained by Wayne Catalano.

Lookin at Lucky Named Champion Two-Year-Old Male

Three-time Grade I winner Lookin at Lucky (Smart Strike–PrivateFeeling, by Belong to Me) was named champion two-year-old male. Ownedby Karl Watson, Michael Pegram and Paul Weitman, the $475,000 KEEAPR juvenile won by 3/4 of a length on debut. He captured the GII Best PalS., GI Del Mar Futurity and GI Norfolk S. in succession, then wasdenied by a head by Vale of York (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in theGI Breeders' Juvenile following a wide trip. The Bob Baffert traineeconcluded his two-year-old season with an easier-than-looked score inthe GI CashCall Futurity. Lookin at Lucky was bred in Kentucky by GulfCoast Farms.