Many of the year’s most memorable races took place at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course, and beginning today and through January 15, 2012, fans can choose from among five thrilling races and cast their ballots for The New York Racing Association, Inc.’s (NYRA) “Race of the Year.”
The five nominees, in chronological order, are:
In his 19th career start, the 6-year-old Tizway earned his first career Grade 1 victory in dazzling fashion, running the 2nd fastest Met Mile in the race’s 118-year history. Trained by Jim Bond and ridden by Rajiv Maragh, the dark bay son of Tiznow stopped the clock in 1:32.90 with a 2 ¾-length victory at Belmont Park over nearest rival Rodman. Tizway would go on to capture the prestigious Whitney at Saratoga.
Royal Delta turned in one of the most dominant Grade 1 performances of the year in the TVG Alabama at Saratoga. Patiently ridden on the backstretch by Jose Lezcano, the 3-year-old daughter of Empire Maker looked like she was shot out of a cannon for the stretch run, catapulting past Grade 1 winners Plum Pretty and It’s Tricky. Conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, Royal Delta parlayed her 5 ½-length Alabama victory into a Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic triumph.
In one of the closest finishes of the Saratoga meet, Caleb’s Posse defeated juvenile champion Uncle Mo by a nose in the Grade 1, Foxwoods King’s Bishop at Saratoga. Both horses ran incredible races, with Caleb’s Posse coming off a win in the Grade 2 Amsterdam and Uncle Mo making his first start in five months after recovering from a liver illness. Caleb’s Posse, trained by Donnie Von Hemel and ridden by Rajiv Maragh, used his closing style to perfection later in the year to win the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
With a definitive 1 ¼-length score Havre de Grace became only the second filly or mare to win the storied Woodward at Saratoga, joining Rachel Alexandra in accomplishing that feat. Trained by Larry Jones and ridden by Ramon Dominguez, the imposing daughter of Saint Liam defeated Flat Out, who went on to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Havre de Grace followed up her Saratoga triumph by rolling to an 8 ¼-length romp in the Beldame over Royal Delta.
Trapped behind a wall of horses in midstretch, Winter Memoriesunleashed a breathtaking last-to-first run on the far outside through the final yards to win the Grade 1 Garden City at Belmont Park. The robust grey daughter of El Prado became a fan favorite with the astonishing stretch kick that she displayed throughout the course of the year for trainer Jimmy Toner.
