Yahoo Sports Eclipse Awards finalists for 2024 don’t include Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan
The finalists for the 2024 Eclipse Awards for thoroughbred horse racing were announced Sunday, and one notable name left off the list was Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan.
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters released the names of three finalists for its awards, except for Horse of the Year. The short list for that award will be announced along with the awards winners Jan. 23.
Mystik Dan was left off the list of finalists for Three-Year-Old Male, which instead included Belmont Stakes and Haskell Stakes winner Dornoch, Travers Stakes winner Fierceness and Blue Grass Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone.
Mystik Dan went on to finish second in the Preakness and eighth in the Belmont. His trainer, Kenny McPeek, is a finalist for that award along with Chad Brown and Brad Cox. McPeek, a graduate of Tates Creek High School, also campaigned Kentucky Oaks and Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Thorpedo Anna, a finalist for Three-Year-Old Filly.
Of the 240 eligible voters represented by the NTRA, consisting of racetrack racing officials and Equibase field personnel, the NTWAB, and Daily Racing Form, 208 took part in the voting. Finalists were determined in each category by voters’ top three selections, using a 10-5-1 point basis. Eclipse Award winners are determined solely by first-place votes.
Here is a complete list of the finalists announced Sunday:
Two-Year-Old Male: Chancer McPatrick, Citizen Bull, Gaming.
Two-Year-Old Filly: Good Cheer, Immersive, Lake Victoria.
Three-Year-Old Male: Dornoch, Fierceness, Sierra Leone.
Three-Year-Old Filly: Cinderella’s Dream, She Feels Pretty, Thorpedo Anna.
Older Dirt Male: Full Serrano, National Treasure, Straight No Chaser.
Older Dirt Female: Adare Manor, Idiomatic, Raging Sea.
Male Sprinter: Cogburn, Straight No Chaser, The Chosen Vron.
Female Sprinter: Society, Soul of an Angel, Ways and Means.
Male Turf Horse: Carl Spackler, Johannes, Rebel’s Romance.
Female Turf Horse: Cinderella’s Dream, Moira, She Feels Pretty.
Steeplechase Horse: Carloun, L’Imperator, Snap Decision.
Owner: Godolphin LLC, Juddmonte, Klaravich Stables Inc.
Breeder: Calumet Farm, Godolphin, Judy Hicks.
Trainer: Chad Brown, Brad Cox, Kenny McPeek.
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione, Irad Ortiz Jr., Flavien Prat.
Apprentice Jockey: Erik Asmussen, Gabriel Maldonado, J.G. Torrealba.
Why we will remember 2024 as Lexington’s greatest sports year ever
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Seize the Grey holds off Mystik Dan to give D. Wayne Lukas historic Preakness victory
Long shot Dornoch fends off Mindframe, Sierra Leone in unique running of Belmont Stakes
Raging Torrent steals Mystik Dan’s thunder as Derby winner falls short in Malibu Stakes
