Making a Case for Daylami as the Horse of the Year

It will be difficult to argue against anybody’s selection for horse of the year in what has been a very strange 1999.

Three of the best cases can be made for Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Charismatic, Victory Gallop, even Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Artax, although some Californians can’t forget his finishing seventh, seventh and fifth in his last three starts last winter at Santa Anita.

However, Charismatic’s year ended more than five months ago, Victory Gallop was retired in August, and given how the Breeders’ Cup Classic went, Artax’s nose win over Behrens in the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga doesn’t look quite so magnificent. And despite his brilliance at Gulfstream Park on Nov. 6, he has lost 11 of 15 this year.

All that understood, Daylami seems the right choice. The 5-year-old gray was the most impressive winner on Breeders’ Cup Day, winning the Turf by 2 1/2 lengths. His campaign stretched from March to November, he won more than he lost, taking four of seven, and all four of the victories were Group or Grade I races.

He raced only once in North America but so what? Cigar’s exciting victory in the inaugural 1996 Dubai World Cup went a long way in his election as horse of the year for a second consecutive year, so why shouldn’t Daylami’s record be taken into account?

A career earner of nearly $3.6 million with 11 wins in 21 starts, the Irish-bred, besides the Breeders’ Cup Turf, won the Coronation Cup at Epsom in England, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in England and the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in Ireland. He turned in his only poor efforts on an extremely soggy turf course in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and when he tried the main track for the only time in the Dubai World Cup.

He has proven himself to be the best horse in the world, so he should be horse of the year.

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A look at one man’s choices for the other equine Eclipse Awards:

* 2-year-old--Anees. The son of Unbridled exploded at the right time, rallying from far down a track that favored speed to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He has improved with each race for trainer Alex Hassinger, and could very well be the first Juvenile winner to go on and win the Kentucky Derby. Greenwood Lake shouldn’t be considered because he didn’t show up for the Breeders’ Cup.

* 2-year-old filly--Chilukki. Despite her loss in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, the daughter of Cherokee Run deserves the honor for a campaign that included six victories in seven starts, two of them in Grade I races.

* 3-year-old--Charismatic. His upset victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and his gutty third in the Belmont Stakes were more than enough.

* 3-year-old filly--Silverbulletday. She clinched the division championship months ago. Owner Mike Pegram’s filly didn’t lose against her sex or age group in eight starts.

* Older male--Victory Gallop. Although he last raced Aug. 1, he did enough, thanks to his strong third in the Dubai World Cup and victories in the Stephen Foster and Whitney.

* Older female--Beautiful Pleasure. The Maudlin filly finished her year in style, winning the Personal Ensign, Beldame and Breeders’ Cup Distaff in succession, beating Silverbulletday and Banshee Breeze twice.

* Male turf horse--Daylami. He raced only once in the United States but showed his superiority with the dominant win of the day in the Breeders’ Cup.

* Female turf horse--Soaring Softly. Owners John and Joan Phillips’ filly capped an almost perfect year with a victory in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. The win was her seventh in eight 1999 starts.

* Sprinter--Artax. After losing his first three starts as a 4-year-old, the Marquetry colt broke Dr. Fager’s long-standing track record for seven furlongs at Aqueduct in the Carter Handicap on May 2 and is on a three-race roll for owner Ernie Paragallo’s Paraneck Stable.

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COUNTDOWN TO 8,833 / RIDING TO THE RECORD

Charting Laffit Pincay Jr. as he closes in on Bill Shoemaker’s record for victories by a jockey:

Friday at Hollywood Park

Mounts: 4

Victories: 1

Overall: 8,819

Wins needed for tie: 14