The Top 10 Performances of 2014
by Brian DiDonato
#1 – GI Santa Anita H. – Game On Dude
Game On Dude (Awesome Again)’s career was one defined by jaw-dropping displays of speed and stamina, but also head-scratching clunkers, oftentimes in the biggest spots. He entered the GI Santa Anita H. in March as a horse that looked to have finally lost a step for good at age seven, having checked in fifth at 3-10 in the GII San Antonio S. on seasonal debut a month earlier. That he was let go at more than 7-2– which was double the odds he had been in any start since the 2011 GI Breeders’ Cup Classic– spoke both to public’s perception of his form and the competition that he was facing, which included the one-two finishers from the 2013 GI Breeders’ Cup Classic–Mucho Macho Man (Macho Uno) and champion 3-year-old Will Take Charge (Unbridled’s Song). Hard-sent early to his usual spot on the lead, Game On Dude was pressured by a very eager Hear the Ghost (Ghostzapper) through an ambitious opening quarter in :22.91 before zipping away down the backside through a half in :45.39. Pursued turning for home by the two favorites, the old pro quickly shut the door on the Classic winner before stiff-arming Will Take Charge to win his record third Big ‘Cap by a measured 1 3/4 lengths. The 117 Beyer Speed Figure Game On Dude earned was the highest of his career and for any horse in 2014. He went winless in his next three races before being retired, but the good Game On Dude was as talented as they come. Click for the brisnet.com chart or VIDEO.
#2 – GI Pacific Classic – Shared Belief
Shared Belief (Candy Ride {Arg}), who may very well have been a shoe-in for Horse of the Year if not for that unfortunate start in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, was never better than when he first tried 10 furlongs and older competition in Del Mar’s GI Pacific Classic S. Aug. 24. He tracked from midpack behind an extremely hot pace set by Game On Dude, and launched a powerful bid around the turn outside of subsequent BC Classic runner-up Toast of New York (Thewayyouare). He disposed of Toast of New York easily at the top of the lane, and while the stewards considered a disqualification for Shared Belief cutting off Toast of New York after passing him, there was no denying who was best and the result ultimately stood. Click for the brisnet.com chart or VIDEO.
#3 – GII New Orleans H. – Palace Malice
Remember when Palace Malice (Curlin) looked like a very strong favorite for Horse of the Year off big wins in the GII Gulfstream Park H., GII New Orleans H., GIII Westchester S. and GI Metropolitan H.? Things didn’t work out, but the hype was warranted. Either his New Orleans or Met Mile win was his best, and I gave the slight edge to the former due to trip. Palace Malice wasn’t even favored at the Fair Grounds, as fellow 4-year-old Normandy Invasion (Tapit) garnered that distinction off a track record-breaking comebacker in Florida. But Palace Malice proved superior on the day. He was hung three deep throughout, made his move to the lead way too soon, and still had plenty left in the tank to gallop away from his main foe by 4 3/4 lengths, good for a 114 Beyer. Click for the brisnet.com chart or VIDEO.
#4 – GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile – Goldencents
Goldencents (Into Mischief) has been on of the more brilliant dirt horses we’ve seen in the U.S. over the last couple of seasons, and flashed his immense talent once again when defending his GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile title on Halloween. Hustled right to the front from the rail as expected by Rafael Bejarano, the W C Racing colorbearer was pestered early by Vicar’s in Trouble (Into Mischief)–the dueling duo opened up some eight lengths on the rest of the field early through fractions of :22.06 and :44.80. While Vicar’s in Trouble soon checked out of it and back to last due to injury, Goldencents kept right on going. Tapiture (Tapit) cut the gap into the lane and looked like a major danger, but Goldencents refused to relinquish his edge and struck the line an ultra-game 1 1/4-length victor. Click for the brisnet.com chart or VIDEO.
#5 – GIII Belmont Sprint Championship S. – Clearly Now
Perhaps no horse this year was more frustrating to trip handicappers than Clearly Now (Horse Greeley). A break-out winner of last October’s GIII Bold Ruler H., the dark bay seemed to find a new way to lose in each of his next five outings. Despite those disappointments, he was favored over GII True North S. winner Palace (City Zip)–and that support proved plenty warranted. The Brian Lynch trainee rated in the pocket behind a slower-than-average pace, tipped out for clear sailing at the head of the lane and turned on the afterburners from there to trounce Palace by 6 1/4 lengths despite struggling with his leads while breaking Belmont’s seven-panel track record with a 1:19.96 clocking. Palace came back to take the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. and GI Forego S. at Saratoga. Clearly Now finished eighth in the latter. Click for the brisnet.com chart or VIDEO.
#6 – GII Woody Stephens S. – Bayern
“TDN Rising Star” Bayern (Offlee Wild) has several races worthy of this list, and the quality of his GI Breeders’ Cup Classic run will likely never get the credit it deserves because of all the controversy surrounding it. But his best effort in 2014 probably came sprinting in the GII Woody Stephens S. on the GI Belmont S. undercard. The dark bay was let go at in insane-in-hindsight 9-1 off a disastrous ninth in the GI Preakness S. as the money poured in for then-second coming Social Inclusion (Pioneerof the Nile). Breaking from the rail, the Bob Baffert pupil took over after a quarter in :21.96 and posted a half in :44.20 while under serious pressure. Social Inclusion challenged Bayern at the quarter pole, but Bayern kicked away straight and strong, airing by 7 1/2 lengths over 12 rivals while nearly breaking Belmont’s seven-furlong track record with a time of 1:20.75. Click for the brisnet.com chart or VIDEO.
#7 – GI United Nations S. – Main Sequence
It’s hard to really separate Main Sequence (Aldebaran)’s four wins this year, and the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf was obviously the toughest field he faced, but his GI United Nations S. was likely his most visually impressive outing. Off since the G1 Qipco Champion S. at Ascot the previous October, the Flaxman homebred was dismissed at 8-1 for this first start for Graham Motion and lagged at the back of the pack early. He came alive on the turn for home, picked off horses one by one and didn’t stop until he was a neck ahead of Twilight Eclipse (Purim), who hit the board in all four of Main Sequence’s Stateside wins. Main Sequence covered his final three furlongs in the U.N. in something like :34 flat–that’s quick.Click for the brisnet.com chart or VIDEO.
#8 – GI Santa Anita Derby – California Chrome
California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) had a few races to choose from this year, but his
GI Santa Anita Derby romp might have been his most impressive. The chestnut was away awkwardly, but attended the pace after that before galloping away under wraps to air by 5 1/4 lengths. Runner-up Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) was the GI Kentucky Derby second choice before scratching, and ran a solid race in his first start back off the bench Oct. 29. Third finisher Candy Boy (Candy Ride {Arg}) also flattered the race before and after. Click for the brisnet.com chart or VIDEO.
#9 – GI Ogden Phipps S. – Close Hatches
The match-up of “TDN Rising Star” Close Hatches (First Defence), four-time Grade I winner Princess of Sylmar (Majestic Warrior) and 2013 champion 3-year-old filly Beholder (Henny Hughes) in this $1-million event was billed as a race for the ages, and it didn’t disappoint. Close Hatches was the third choice off a victory in the GI Apple Blossom H., and the big question with her was whether or not she could successfully rate. The Bill Mott pupil had no problem biding her time early in fourth before taking over midway on the turn. Princess of Sylmar came with a late run, but Close Hatches found the wire with a head to spare. Next-out GIII Shuvee H. winner Antipathy (A.P. Indy) was third that day, while subsequent two-time Grade I winner Belle Gallantey (After Market) was fifth behind Beholder. Click for the brisnet.com chart or VIDEO.
#10 – GI Kentucky Oaks – Untapable
Untapable (Tapit)’s GI Kentucky Oaks was so good that many believed she was the best 3-year-old of either sex after Oaks/Derby weekend. That proved to be a bit of an overstatement as the year wore on, but her Oaks was quite devastating all the same. Tracking in the clear after breaking from the far outside, the Winchell homebred ranged up three deep outside of GII Gazelle S. romper My Miss Sophia (Unbridled’s Song) into the lane, and was quickly well in front of that rival in the blink of an eye before increasing her advantage to 4 1/2 lengths at the end. Click for the brisnet.com chart or VIDEO.