America #2: Bricks And Mortar cavallo dell'anno 2019. Irad Ortiz Jr e Chad Brown ancora al top!

America parte seconda. Si, perchè giovedì notte si sono tenuti gli Eclipse Awards in una cerimonia organizzata a Gulfstream Park, con grandissima elite americana presente di fronte ad un accadimento piuttosto particolare. 

Si, perchè nella terra del "Dirt", è stato eletto cavallo dell'anno uno specialista del "Turf", che in America sta crescendo tantissimo. A vincere la palma dell'Horse Of The Year 2019 è stato Bricks And Mortar (Giant's Causeway), imbattuto nel 2019. Di proprietà della Klaravich Stables Inc. and William H. Lawrence, allevato da George Strawbridge Jr., ha chiuso la carriera con 11 vittorie e 2 piazzamenti in 13 corse disputate per complessivi $7,085,650. Nel suo palmares, a 5 anni, saltando la stagione dei 4 anni: Breeders' Cup Turf G1, Pegasus World Cup Turf Inv. G1, Manhattan Stakes G1, Arlington Million Stakes G1, Turf Classic G1. Sei vittorie su 6 nel 2019.

Si tratta di un soggetto che ha cementato lo status di uno come Chad Brown il quale, da quando ha iniziato nel 2008, ha continuato a macinare record ed ammassare guadagni. 

Ecco i voti per il titolo di Cavallo dell'Anno: Bricks and Mortar, 204; Mitole, 19; Maximum Security, 14; Midnight Bisou, 1; Vino Rosso, 1; Omaha Beach, 1; abstention, 1.

Bricks And Mortar è stato venduto per fare lo stallone alla Shadai Farm in Giappone, ma la sua vittoria come cavallo dell'anno gli ha permesso (o meglio, ai suoi proprietari), di guadagnare un altro milioncino di dollari come d'accordo tra acquirente e venditore al momento della conclusione della trattativa. 

Beautiful video sent to us of the 2019 Horse of the Year, Bricks and Mortar. #EclipseAwards pic.twitter.com/0BBtRBLmZY

— NTRA (@NTRA) January 24, 2020

Tra le altre premiazioni: Chad Brown ha vinto per la quarta volta consecutiva il titolo di allenatore dell'anno (Chad Brown, 204; Steve Asmussen, 19; Brad Cox, 5; Jason Servis, 5; Karl Broberg, 2; Mark Casse, 1; voter abstentions, 5), mentre tra i fantini Irad Ortiz Jr si è confermato il jockey più forte d'America. Ecco i voti: Irad Ortiz Jr., 205; Javier Castellano, 21; Flavien Prat, 5; Joel Rosario, 3; Mike Smith, 3; Jose Ortiz, 1. voter abstentions, 3. 

Congratulations to Chad Brown on earning a remarkable 4th (!) straight leading trainer Eclipse Award. He also conditioned Horse of the Year/champion male turf horse Bricks and Mortar and female turf champion Uni.

Chad's parents Jerome and Patti are great supporters of their son. pic.twitter.com/U9O8qJSbU5

— Barbara Livingston (@DRFLivingston) January 24, 2020

Congratulations to the brilliantly talented @iradortiz , who won his second consecutive Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey. Irad is not only an excellent rider but also a positive role model and goodwill ambassador for racing.

Here's wishing Irad much continued success! pic.twitter.com/uKOlkfzSR5

— Barbara Livingston (@DRFLivingston) January 24, 2020

ECCO GLI AWARDS COMPLETI:

Horse of the Year: Bricks and Mortar
Trainer: Chad Brown
Owners: Klaravich Stables Inc. and William H. Lawrence
2019 record: 6 starts – 6 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
2019 earnings: $6,723,650
Signature wins: Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, Arlington Million XXXVII Stakes, Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes

Champion Older Dirt Male: Vino Rosso
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owners: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable
2019 record: 6 starts – 3 firsts – 1 second – 1 third
2019 earnings: $3,960,625
Signature wins: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes

Champion Older Dirt Female: Midnight Bisou
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Owners: Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, and Allen Racing
2019 record: 8 starts – 7 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
2019 earnings: $2,185,000
Signature wins: Personal Ensign Stakes Presented by Lia Infiniti, Ogden Phipps Stakes, Apple Blossom Handicap

Champion Male Turf Horse: Bricks and Mortar
Trainer: Chad Brown
Owners: Klaravich Stables Inc. and William H. Lawrence
2019 record: 6 starts – 6 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
2019 earnings: $6,723,650
Signature wins: Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, Arlington Million XXXVII Stakes, Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes

Champion Female Turf Horse: Uni
Trainer: Chad Brown
Owners: Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta, and Bethlehem Stables
2019 record: 4 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
2019 earnings: $1,455,000
Signature wins: TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile, First Lady Stakes Presented by UK HealthCare

Champion 3-Year-Old Male: Maximum Security
Trainer: Jason Servis
Owners: Gary and Mary West
2019 record: 8 starts – 6 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
2019 earnings: $1,791,100         
Signature wins: TVG.com Haskell Invitational Stakes, Xpressbet Florida Derby, Cigar Mile Handicap

Champion 3-Year-Old Filly: Covfefe
Trainer: Brad Cox
Owner: LNJ Foxwoods
2019 record: 6 starts – 5 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
2019 earnings: $1,052,425
Signature wins: Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, Longines Test Stakes

Champion 2-Year-Old Male: Storm the Court
Trainer: Peter Eurton
Owners: Exline-Border Racing, David A. Bernsen, Susanna Wilson, and Dan Hudock
2019 record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
2019 earnings: $1,172,951
Signature win: TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly: British Idiom
Trainer: Brad Cox
Owners: Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group (Stuart Grant), Madaket Stables, and Bethlehem Stables
2019 record: 3 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
2019 earnings: $1,381,250
Signature wins: Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Darley Alcibiades Stakes

Champion Male Sprinter: Mitole
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Owners: William and Corinne Heiligbrodt
2019 record: 7 starts – 6 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
2019 earnings: $2,756,200
Signature wins: Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap, Forego Stakes Presented by Encore Boston Harbor, Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by Twinspires.com.

Champion Female Sprinter: Covfefe
Trainer: Brad Cox
Owner: LNJ Foxwoods
2019 record: 6 starts – 5 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
2019 earnings: $1,052,425
Signature wins: Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, Longines Test Stakes

Outstanding Trainer: Chad Brown
2019 wins: 222
2019 earnings: $31,112,144
Leading horses: Bricks and Mortar, Uni, Sistercharlie, Guarana, Cambier Parc, Structor, Rushing Fall, Dunbar Road, Annals of Time, Valid Point

Outstanding Owner: Klaravich Stables Inc. and William H. Lawrence
2019 wins: 17
2019 earnings: $8,178,845
Leading horses: Bricks and Mortar, Annals of Time, Focus Group

Outstanding Breeder: George Strawbridge Jr.
2019 wins: 26
2019 earnings: $7,505,233
Leading horse: Bricks and Mortar

Outstanding Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
2019 wins: 324
2019 earnings: $34,109,019
Signature wins: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes, Arlington Million XXXVII Stakes.     
Leading horses: Bricks and Mortar, Vino Rosso, Four Wheel Drive, Perfect Alibi

Outstanding Apprentice Jockey: Kazushi Kimura
2019 wins: 148
2019 earnings: $4,746,556
Leading horses: Gun Society, Theregoesjojo, Hell N Wild, Broadway Bonnie


Steeplechase Horse: Winston C
Trainer: Jonathan Sheppard
Owner: Hudson River Farms
2019 record: 8 starts – 5 firsts – 0 seconds – 1 third
2019 earnings: $246,393
Signature wins: $150,000 A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase Stakes, $150,000 New York Turf Writers Cup Handicap

Vote Totals:
Two-Year-Old Male
Storm the Court, 147; Structor, 51; Maxfield, 12; Independence Hall, 8; Tiz the Law, 6; Four Wheel Drive, 4; Dennis’ Moment, 3; Anneau d’Or, 2; Eight Rings, 2; Thousand Words, 2; Basin, 1; Nucky, 1; Voter Abstentions, 2.

Two-Year-Old Filly
British Idiom, 222; Bast, 12; Sharing, 6; Alms, 1.

Three-Year-Old Male
Maximum Security, 217; Omaha Beach, 16; Code of Honor, 8.

Three-Year-Old Filly
Covfefe, 189; Guarana, 19; Serengeti Empress, 11; Iridessa, 9; Concrete Rose, 6; Dunbar Road, 6; Cambier Parc, 1.

Older Dirt Male
Vino Rosso, 129; Mitole, 108; McKinzie, 3; Voter Abstention, 1.

Older Dirt Female
Midnight Bisou, 210; Blue Prize, 31.

Male Sprinter
Mitole, 236; Maximum Security, 5.

Female Sprinter
Covfefe, 235; Belvoir Bay, 4, Mia Mischief, 1; Serengeti Empress, 1.

Male Turf Horse
Bricks and Mortar, 241.

Female Turf Horse
Uni, 126; Sistercharlie, 61; Got Stormy, 33; Iridessa, 15; Concrete Rose, 3; Vasilika, 2; Cambier Parc, 1.

Steeplechase Horse
Winston C, 158; Brain Power, 44; Scorpiancer, 3; Voter Abstentions, 36.

Owner
Klaravich Stables, Inc. and William H. Lawrence, 184; Gary Barber, 18; Peter Brant, 11; Calumet Farm, 6; William and Corrine Heiligbrodt, 3; Gary and Mary West, 3; Joseph Besecker, 2; End Zone Athletics, Inc., 2; Hronis Racing, 2; Madaket Stables LLC, 2; LNJ Foxwoods, 1. Voter Abstentions, 7.

Breeder
George Strawbridge, Jr., 122; Calumet Farm, 94; Godolphin, 8; Edward A. Cox, Jr., 2; Gary and Mary West, 2; WinStar Farm, 2; William S. Farish, 1; Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, 1; Stonestreet Thoroughbreds, 1; Voter Abstentions, 8.

Trainer
Chad Brown, 204; Steve Asmussen, 19; Brad Cox, 5; Jason Servis, 5; Karl Broberg, 2; Mark Casse, 1; Voter Abstentions, 5.

Jockey
Irad Ortiz, Jr., 205; Javier Castellano, 21; Flavien Prat, 5; Joel Rosario, 3; Mike Smith, 3; Jose Ortiz, 1. Voter Abstentions, 3.

Apprentice Jockey
Kazushi Kimura, 74; Julio Correa, 60; Angel I. Diaz, 53; Cristian A. Torres, 19; Jorge I. Velez, 3; Reylu Gutierrez 1; Keimar Trotman, 1; Voter Abstentions, 30.