THOROUGHBRED RACING : Trainer Lukas, Holy Bull Picks to Win Eclipse

Looking to beat the Christmas rush, here is one man’s opinion on the Eclipse Awards for 1994:

2-Year-Old Colt or Gelding--Timber Country. Jockey Alex Solis raved about the son of Woodman after working him during the summer, and trainer Wayne Lukas also told anyone who would listen that the chestnut would make some noise before the year was out. Timber Country certainly did, completing the year with victories in the Champagne at Belmont Park and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Unquestionably, he was the most impressive winner on the Breeders’ Cup card.

2-Year-Old Filly--Flanders. A clean sweep for Lukas in this division. The daughter of Seeking The Gold was awesome in her 21-length victory in the Frizette, then showed grit when winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies despite an injury that has put her career on hold.

3-Year-Colt or Gelding--Holy Bull. He didn’t win the Kentucky Derby after being eliminated at the start, and he didn’t run in the Preakness, Belmont Stakes or Breeders’ Cup Classic. So what? Jimmy Croll’s superstar proved his superiority in several other races and is simply the best horse America has had since Sunday Silence. A strong case can be made for Tabasco Cat, but he finished about 17 lengths behind Holy Bull in the Travers. Please, no mention of Go For Gin, another of many mediocre horses who have won the Kentucky Derby.

3-Year-Old Filly--Lakeway. The daughter of Seattle Slew hasn’t been seen since August, so her accomplishments might be forgotten by some, but she was brilliant earlier this year. She won in New York and California, breaking stakes records in the Las Virgenes, Hollywood Oaks and Mother Goose. Heavenly Prize did beat her at Saratoga in the Alabama, but Lakeway came out of the race with a severe infection and nearly died.

Older Horse--Devil His Due. Somebody has to win this award, and why not the most consistent of a rather lackluster division. The recently retired 5-year-old won three times in 12 starts this year but was worse than third only twice.

Older Filly or Mare--One Dreamer. Besides her stunning upset in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, One Dreamer won three other races this year and was beaten by only 1 1/2 lengths by Hatoof in the Beverly D. Perhaps Sky Beauty, Hollywood Wildcat and Exchange all didn’t like the track at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5, but the bottom line is that when they all got together, One Dreamer was the winner.

Male Grass Horse--Paradise Creek. He closed out his career with two losses, but both of those races--the Breeders’ Cup Turf and Japan Cup--were at 1 1/2 miles, and that’s not his best distance. Before that, he won eight of nine and was second to Lure in his only loss.

Female Grass Horse--Hatoof. Flawlessly won only once before being retired and, on turf, the same held true for Hollywood Wildcat. Hatoof also had only one victory in America, but she made her two races here count. She beat Flawlessly and One Dreamer in the Beverly D., then finished second to Tikkanen in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Sprinter--Cherokee Run. No one could argue with the selection of Soviet Problem in this category, but the fact is that the California-bred filly got together once with Cherokee Run, and the 4-year-old Runaway Groom colt beat her in the Breeders’ Cup.

Trainer--Wayne Lukas. He has bounced back in a big way this year, having again assumed his perennial place on top of the money standings, and he came within a neck of winning three Breeders’ Cup races.

Jockey--Mike Smith. The regular rider of Holy Bull leads the money standings and is approaching 70 stakes victories for the year.

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Dramatic Gold, third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, will pass Sunday’s Native Diver Handicap and wait for the San Fernando Stakes next month at Santa Anita.

Trainer David Hofmans decided to give the 3-year-old, who would have been favored in the 1 1/8-mile Native Diver, a rest.

“He’s doing great, but he’s had a long campaign and we decided to give him some time off until January,” Hofmans said. “We’ll look at the Strub Series, and he’ll probably come back in the second leg (the San Fernando).”

Horse Racing Notes

The Wicked North had his first work since undergoing surgery on his right ankle in July. The 5-year-old went three furlongs in 36 3/5 Monday at Santa Anita. “I’m extremely encouraged,” said trainer David Bernstein. “He’s doing very well.” The Wicked North could return in the San Antonio Handicap on Feb. 14. . . . Kent Desormeaux, who leads the Hollywood Park rider standings, was off his mounts Wednesday because of flu. . . . Justin Vitek’s final day as an apprentice is Friday. . . . Afternoon Deelites, the probable favorite for the Hollywood Futurity on Dec. 18, worked five furlongs in 1:01 Wednesday morning.