The Haiku Handicapper: 2010 Eclipse Award Predictions

Two-Year-Old Male
Eclipse voters will
Say “Mo money, Mo problems”
For the ’08 crop

Two-Year-Old Female
A well-rounded group
Cup win makes eclipse Awesome
Calder celebrates

Three-Year-Old Male
Uninspired crop
Lucky was the best last year
The title stays his

Three-Year-Old Female
Division runs deep
Blind Luck wins races by heads
Wins award by lengths

Older Male
Top two going in
Are the top two at the end
Blame swept the series

Older Female
One choice – Zenyatta
Nary a filly or mare
Could dent her armor

Turf Male
Two hit the wire
Cup effort gives Gio nose
Over Winchester

Turf Female
Her lone U.S. start
Is the tip of the iceberg
Goldi is solid

Male Sprinter
All worthy options
Majestic’s campaign cut short
Big Drama gets it

Female Sprinter
Champagne tailed off late
Rightly So checked out early
Dubai Majesty

Steeplechase
Each has a Grade One
Hard to top 25 lengths
Slip Away’s the champ

Jockey
Go-Go’s gutsy Cup
Earns honorable mention
But it’s Ramon’s year

Apprentice Jockey
The leader by wins
Also leader by earnings
Omar Moreno

Owner
Two classic winners
Three others on Derby trail
Winstar was loaded

Trainer
Derby demons quashed
Along with everyone else
The world is Pletcher’s

Breeder
If Stronach ran tracks
Like he runs Adena Springs
We’d be better off

Horse of the Year
Zenyatta or Blame?
Winning head-to-head won’t trump
Winning hearts and minds

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The Haiku Handicapper: 2009 Eclipse Award Predictions

Two-Year-Old Male
Derby cred in doubt
Not a dirt start among them
Lookin at Lucky

Two-Year-Old Female
What East-Coast bias?
Cup loss doesn’t dim campaign
Luck be the lady

Three-Year-Old Male
Big year for the Birds
Mine That Bird got the roses
Summer Bird gets this

Three-Year-Old Female
Rachel – No contest
Got bored clobbering the girls
Boys weren’t much harder

Older Male
Not a standout year
Gio was most consistent
In the biggest spots

Older Female
This one’s a slam dunk
Classic score removed all doubt
Zenyatta is queen

Turf Male
Conduit gets love
Not a fan of one-and-dones
Give it to Gio

Turf Female
A cause for debate
Tempting sentimental choice
But “Goldi” locks up

Sprint Male
A blanket finish
Kowboy’s road stands give the edge
Over Cal homer

Sprint Female
It’s a two-horse race
Get Informed – She gets the duke
In the head-to-head

Steeplechase
A stab in the dark
Eenie meenie miney moe…
Let’s go with Mixed Up

Owner
Godolphin grabs it
Sheikh Mo had strongest stable
Score one for Dubai

Trainer
Al Davis proclaims
“Just win baby.” Who won most?
Asmussen by lots

Breeder
Adena made bank
Juddmonte did more in less starts
That’s more impressive

Jockey
Who is the top jock?
Leparoux in small upset
Breeders’ Cup tipped scales

Apprentice Jockey
Not much knowledge here
Going by wins, earnings, class
Reyes should take this

Horse of the Year
The debate rages
Star filly or monster mare?
Rachel by a nose

The Haiku Handicapper: 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic & Sprint

Classic

Guest for Claire Novak
Click the link to check them out
Once you’re done below

Sprint

#1 – Zensational
The other “Zen” horse
Untouchable at one turn
They’ll have to catch him

#2 – Cost of Freedom
A Cal circuit vet
So-so after year-long break
Not gonna happen

#3 – Fatal Bullet
Last year’s runner up
Deadly in all-weather sprints
Could avenge his loss

#4 – Crown of Thorns
Ex-Derby dropout
Came back well from long layoff
Mark for exotics

#5 – Gayego
Godolphin purchase
Time in desert did him well
A serious threat

#6 – Dancing in Silks
A Cal-based sprinter
Lots of wins, but none graded
He’ll need to step up

#7 – Join in the Dance
Owner’s a baller
Bland on state derby circuit
Will need some magic

#8 – Capt. Candyman Can
Runs with heavy heart
Does best at seven panels
Can he scale it back?

#9 – Fleeting Spirit (IRE)
A Euro filly
Holds her own in open fields
An upset special?

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Who’s the top sprinter?
Bullet wins: Fatality
One, nine will follow