Curlin is selected horse of year at Eclipse Awards

Preakness and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Curlin was named horse of the year Monday night at the 37th Eclipse Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel in front of a black-tie crowd and a national TVG audience.

Southern California jockey Garrett Gomez earned jockey of the year and Joe Talamo won the award for apprentice jockey.

Maggi Moss, the Iowa lawyer profiled in Monday’s Times, finished third in the balloting for owner of the year. That award went to Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, of Dubai, who owns Shadwell Stable.

Finishing second in the owner category was Frank Stronach, but he won the Eclipse Award for top breeder for the sixth time.

Curlin continued a trend in winning horse-of-the-year honors. The last three Breeders’ Cup Classic winners -- Ghostzapper, Saint Liam, and Invasor -- also won the Eclipse for horse of the year.

Curlin won an Eclipse as top 3-year-old and became the first 3-year-old to be named horse of the year since Charismatic, Tiznow and Point Given in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

The Eclipse for top trainer went to Todd Pletcher, who easily beat out finalists Steve Asmussen and Kiaran McLaughlin.

larry.stewart@latimes.com

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The winners

Horse ages in parentheses where applicable:

* Horse of the Year: Curlin

* 2-Year-Old Male: War Pass

* 2-Year-Old Filly: Indian Blessing

* 3-Year-Old Male: Curlin

* 3-Year-Old Female: Rags to Riches

* Older Male: Lawyer Ron (4)

* Older Female: Ginger Punch (4)

* Female Sprinter: Maryfield (6)

* Male Sprinter: Midnight Lute (4)

* Male Turf Horse: English Channel (5)

* Female Turf Horse: Lahudood (4)

* Steeplechase Horse: Good Night Shirt (6)

* Owner: Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Shadwell Stable

* Breeder: Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs

* Jockey: Garrett Gomez

* Apprentice Jockey: Joe Talamo

* Trainer: Todd Pletcher