This past year has full of upsets and almost good enoughs. Thus making a complete mess of the ultimate title of Horse of the Year. In the older division the beat contender would be Harve de Grace, and dont get me wrong I love this fillie, but is winning the Woodward (her moat impressive victory) enough for HOTY title? If she won the Classic she would have been the obvious winner, but a mere 4th place, I'm just not sure she deserves the title. Tizway could have been a contender with wins in the Whitney and Met Mile, but then he was sidelines and never finished out the season. Game on Dude can be talked about but I've never liked him so he's not a contender in my book.
For the three year old division we really had no full season break out star. The Triple Crown was won by three different horses, Animal Kingdom, Shakleford, and Ruler on Ice. Our Derby winner had surgery and was sidelined and while the other two had competitive campaigns, niether have won a race since. This now brings us to Stay Thirsty (who I have always liked due to him always being stuck in Uncle Mo's shadow). He won the Jim Dandy and the Travers but then finished second to last in the Classic. Caleb's Posse is a horse I like. He beat Uncle Mo in the Kings Bishop and then won the dirt Mile but I don't think that is enough for HOTY title.
Which then has us look at the 2 year old division. I'm a HUGE Hansen fan, but his two prior races to the Breeders Cup were not against horses of his califer. Union Rags is the other potential two year old, but with his second place finish in the Juvinelle he lost his chance.
And now here is my choice for HOTY: My Miss Aurelia! She broke her maiden in July at Saratoga followed by victories in Andirondack and the Frizette and then won the Breedera Cup Juvenille Fillies. She is 4-4 this year and the only horse with a perfect record who deserves a shot at this title.
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