{jcomments on}With another Eclipse Awards ceremony behind us, it is now time to distribute our 2009 Herringswell Awards. Please note, that ‘The Herringswells’ are not actual trophies, they are given out strictly for bragging rights around the barn.

Jockey Of The Year:

Winner: Jeremy Rose, unanimous. Rose, of Icabad Crane fame, captured stakes aboard Bullsbay, Caprice, Kurbat, Sumo, Smart Bid, Cherokee Artist, Leamington and Turf Melody. He did not do it all in his backyard either. He won stakes at Churchill, Laurel, Saratoga, Delaware, Philadelphia, Santa Anita, Presque Isle, and Remington Park.

2-year-old filly:

Finalists: Check the Label, Smart Seattle, Zilva.

Winner: Smart Seattle. The Smart Strike filly sparkled in her debut win at Saratoga. She followed that up with a second in the P.G Johnson at Saratoga (to eventual BC Champion Tapitsfly) and a nose-defeat in the Jessamine at Keeneland. Smart Seattle is currently in training at Santa Anita as she awaits her 3-year-old debut.

2-year-old colt/gelding:

Finalists: Cat Park, Turf Melody.

Winner: Turf Melody. After humiliating rivals in his maiden-breaker at Colonial Downs, the Maria’s Mon colt went on to finish third in two consecutive stakes at Arlington and Woodbine respectively. He then beat winners at Laurel before traveling to Oklahoma to return to stakes company. The two-turn effort on dirt proved to be the key. The Priscilla Graham product captured the $200,000 Springboard Mile and sealed the Herringswell award for 2-year-old champ at the same time. Turf Melody is entered for the G III Lecomte at Fair Grounds on Saturday January 23.

3-year-old filly:

Finalists: Shared Account, Silver Reunion, Saucey Evening.

Winner: Shared Account. When the Pleasantly Perfect filly stepped on the grass for the first time, she showed her true calling. After finishing third in a small stake at Belmont, she went on to suffer heartbreak in the Virginia Oaks when she was narrowly-deafeated. She then moved up in class again, and responded smartly while capturing the G II Lake Placid at Saratoga. She finished her 3-year-old season with a second in the G I Garden City at Belmont and a third in the G I Queen Elizabeth at Keeneland. Shared Account has resumed galloping at Fair Hill after a well-deserved break.

3-year-old male:

Finalists: Smart Bid, Sumo.

Winner: Smart Bid. After a very promising spring, Smart Bid was forced to miss the entire Summer and Fall with an bone chip. He returned on a mission to capture the Damascus Stakes at Santa Anita off of a 7-month layoff. The Smart Strike now, 4-year-old has begun his 2010 with a second in the Grade II San Fernando.

Older female:

Finalists: Caprice, Leamington, Cherokee Queen

Winner: Caprice. The german-bred was our first 2009 stakes winner when she captured the La Zanzara at Santa Anita. She then won the G III Robert Dick Memorial at Delaware. The distance specialist is now enjoying retirement.

Older male:

Finalists: Bullsbay, Cherokee Artist.

Winner: Bullsbay. Winner of the Harrison Johnson, G III Alysheba and G I Whitney, the son of Tiznow broke out in a big way during his first full year in the Herringswell barn. Bullsbay is currently at Fair Hill and is in light training.

Horse Of The Year:

Winner: Bullsbay. Our first Grade I winner since Better Talk Now in 2007 and first ever on dirt. Bullsbay’s performance in the Whitney was as good as anyone’s at the historic meeting. His third to the magnificent Rachel Alexandra was just as impressive. Perhaps the most underrated aspect of his ’09 campaign was that it begun on opening weekend at Gulfstream and concluded the day after Thanksgiving. We are looking forward to the return of our 2009 Horse Of The Year.

Moment Of The Year:

Bullsbay’s Whitney.

The, “This Cannot Be Good For My Heart” 20 Seconds Of The Year:

Caprice edges rivals in the Robert Dick Memorial at Delaware and is immediately followed by Shared Accont’s unfortunate stretch duel at Colonial Downs in the Virginia Oaks, on neighboring televison monitors.

Sire Of The Year:

Smart Strike: Smart Bid, Smart Seattle, Apple Charlotte, Spring Party, Vamos A Ver.

Lifetime Achievement Award.

Better Talk Now. The veteran called it a career after a gallant second in the Grade I $500,000 Sword Dancer at Saratoga. For a horse that really cannot be written about because you fear you may sell him short. The effort this horse put in until the very end was absolutely inconcievable. The lanky black champion capped a career with stakes apperances in his final 39 starts. He earned more than $4.3 million dollars in 14 career wins. Starting in 2010, the Lifetime Achievement Award will be renamed to the “Better Talk Now”.

See you at next year’s ceremony.