Horse of the Year Up for Grabs

While it's early in November, most of America's top Grade I races are in the books. The only remaining race that could impact "Horse of the Year" voting is the December 1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar. Unfortunately, no fillies or mares that might enter that race have the credentials for consideration of horse of the year.

Horseplayers have been through an amazing year that has seen a lot of balance throughout every division but one. The lone standout horse has been Thorpedo Anna, a 3-year-old filly who dominated her division and closed the year by capturing the coveted Grade I Breeders Cup Distaff.

In all fairness, the upper echelon of the Distaff was ravaged by key injuries to top mares like Idiomatic. With that said, there is no assurance that Idiomatic could have beat Thorpedo Anna on that day or any other.

It's the filly's dominance that has placed her firmly in the conversation for Horse of the Year. Of course, there is some competition for that title. The good news for supporters of the fairer sex is limited to a 3-year-old colts: named Sierra Leone. BTW: defending 2-year-old colt champion Fierceness might have been in the conversation if not for a bit of inconsistency early in the year.

Let's compare and contrast each horse's credentials and see if we can arrive at a definitive decision as to which one should win Horse of the Year Honors.

Thorpedo Anna

Thorpedo Anna entered her 3-year-old season lightly raced with a record of 3-2-1-0 as a 2-year-old filly. She quickly established herself as a filly to watch when she opened the season with a facile win in the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn. It was enough to set her up for a run of Grade I wins in the Kentucky Oaks, Acorn Stakes, and Coaching Club Stakes. After a head loss to Fierceness in the Grad I Travers Stakes against the boys, she resumed her Grade I winning ways with wins in the Coalition and the aforementioned Breeders Cup. She closed the year with a record of 7-6-1-0.

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is obviously a colt with immense talent. However, his deep closer running style has led him to several minor awards in some very important races. After starting his 3-year-old season with wins in the Grade II Risen Star and the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes, the trouble began. He finished 2nd with trouble in the Grade I Kentucky Derby with 2nd and 3rd place finishes in the Grade I Belmont Stakes, Grade II Jim Dandy, and Grade I Travers. It wasn't until he put it all together in the Grade I Breeders Cup Classic that he fulfilled the promise he had shown since his 2-year-old season.

Verdict: Based on the filly's complete body of work, Thorpedo Anna should be selected as Horse of the Year. If there are any naysayers, it's easy to point to the Travers Stakes where Thorpedo Anna beat Sierra Leone on the squares, finishing 2nd ahead of his 3rd place finish.