Eclipse Hopefuls: 4 Year and up Open

The final category in this series is looking at the 4-year old and up Open category. This category could include both the men and women of our racing industry. As a reminder on the scoring, points are the equivalent to purse money earned in stake races when finishing in top three positions.

4-Yr Old and up Open Turf Sprint

DEFENSE WINS RACES holds the top spot by just under 10,000 points with a total of 1,275,000. This colt has had an incredible 2015 season. In six starts, he has been flawless with wins in each appearance. He started the year with a win in an allowance and listed stakes. From here, it has been grade level racing with subsequent wins in the G3 Shakers Town, G2 Duke of Mork and G1 wins in the King’s Fall and the Cup of July.

With 1.266,500 KING OF THE OASIS resides in second. He started the season off with a win and second in listed stake races which promoted him to the grade level. He’s earned a pair of seconds in the G2 Powerful Sun and G1 Cup of July. Wins have been earned in the G1 Sydney Spirit and the G1 MGD Special.

ZABRATHAN is posing as a threat in the third position with 975,000 point total. He’s had fewer starts than the top two but all have been at the G1 level where he has won the Teleprompter Cap and Golden Goose Sprint. He finished third in the Ye Ole Shopping Exchange.

4-Yr Old and up Open Turf Route

CAPE CADET has top honors currently in this class with 2,047,500 point total. A pair of early season wins contribute to the points that were delivered in the G2 Nakayama Handicap and G1 Sand Castle Fee Duty.

SHAMEFUL is stalking the leader with 2,025,000 points with a perfect 6 for 6 record this year. He fired off the first two wins in an allowance and listed stakes race before grade level success in the G2 Victoria Cup, G1 Sydney Cup, G1 Prince of Whales and the long named G1 King Geoff and Queen Beth’s Emerald Stakes.

PREDICTABILITY is in competition with 1,890,000 that has earned him the third spot. He kicked off the year with a listed stakes win and a G1 Aussie Queen victory. These were followed by a pair of seconds in G1 races that include Tattersalls Gold and Karkarazuka Kinen Cup.

4-Yr Old and up Open Turf Long Route

3,135,000 points is one of the highest totals so far and puts filly LONDON GUILDHALL in competition for Horse of the Year honors and leads the boys. A trio of G1 wins are responsible for this nice total that came in the San Francisco Captain Handicap, the Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic and the Yolkshire Oaks. He was also second in the G1 Grand Brazilian.

SEACASTLE CALL is in the chase with 2,831,250 point tally. He also has a trio of wins at the grade level that include G3 Gary Trent Stakes, G1 New Zealand Derby and rounded off with a win in the G1 Kakarazuka Kinen Cup.

4-Yr Old and up Open Dirt Sprint

One win is the major contributor that put SHADES OF SUMMER on top of this category with 922,500 and that came in the G1 Sand Castle Golden Sprint. It should be noted that this colt has competed in a mix of dirt and turf during the 2015 season.

With 911,500 points and within striking distance of the leader is OUT OF SHAPE. This filly leads in the similar division in the girls category. Three grade wins have come her way this year to earn this top position which came in the G1 Everclear Handicap, G2 Vagabond Handicap and the G2 Best Flight.

A bit further back with 641,250 is TODAY WE FIGHT. The colt has only one win this season which was a listed stakes event. He has been on the board in each start with third place finishes in the G1 Three Bender along with a listed stakes. He finished second in three straight grade races early in the year which included G3 Counter Fingers Sprint, G1 Sand Castle Goldent Sprint and the G2 Bluegrass Sprint.

4-Yr Old and up Open Dirt Route

I WON’T LOOK BACK, winner of the 2014 Horse of the Year, is looking to grab that honor again with a huge 4,800,000 point total. Two early season wins in G1 Glenn Handicap and the G1 Sand Castle Classic contributed heavily to the total which was also nudged up by a third in the G1 Movieland Shiny Cup.

4,110,000 can’t be ignored for the top spot either, which is what RHQEGAR’S FURY currently has and is also in the running for Horse of the Year. Listed stake races netted a win and a second but the point tally was greatly enhanced with a win in the Hit Me Handicap and seconds in the Sand Castle Classic and Movieland Shiny Cup, all G1 races.

With 3,300,000 points, INCULPATE resides in the third seat. G1 wins in the California Handicap and Movieland Shiny Cup have given a nice boost and a third in the G1 Sand Castle Classic contributed to the tally.

4-Yr Old and up Open Dirt Long Route

EXBOURNE’S KATRIN not only leads in this category but also heads the similar category with the fillies & mares. She has 1,080,000 points come from a flawless 7 wins in 7 starts this season. She has a pair of allowance race wins but the rest are all grade level. G3 wins came in the Water Cube Stayer and Long Walk Home, G2 victories were in the Old Lady and the Breakdown and a G1 victory was picked up in the Thumb Route.

LITTLE COLUMN B, the only male in the top three in this category with 832,500 points. He has finished first or second in each of his 2015 starts with a pair of wins in listed stakes. One grade level win came in the G1 Desert Stamina Cup. The remaining three were second place finishes in the Cowboy Handicap (G3), Razorback Route (G1) and the Europe Stayer (G3).

LOCO COLONY, another filly makes the top three in the open company with 637,500. Lightly raced with only three starts, all in G1 competition, she has hit the board each time. In the Thumb Route she came in second. She was third in Before This Please and a winner in the Little Rock Stayer.