NTRA release

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Monday night announced the winners of the 2008 Eclipse Awards at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach in Miami Beach, Fla. The 38th annual Eclipse Awards are voted on and presented by the NTRA, Daily Racing Form (DRF) and the National Turf Writers Association (NTWA). The votes are tabulated and certified by Ernst & Young LLP.  Below are the winners in all categories (horse age in parentheses where applicable):

(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif. – Johnny Eves, winner of a single stakes race in nine attempts since taking Santa Anita’s Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26, 2007, rediscovered his winning groove Sunday with a dominant wire-to-wire triumph in Santa Anita’s 57th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Palos Verdes Handicap at six furlongs.

(Edited Gulfstream Park report)

Rolando Rodriguez had made up his mind.

Emotionally drained and concerned for the long-term health of his young horse, Rodriguez was prepared to end the suffering.

(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif. – Artiste Royal, whose fortunes veered off course when eleventh in last month’s $2.5-million Hong Kong Cup, got back on track in a hurry on Monday when storming from last to nail Medici Code on the money in Santa Anita’s 57th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 San Marcos Handicap at 1¼ miles on turf.

(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif. – Following in the initial footsteps of her brilliant stablemate Zenyatta, Life Is Sweet stormed from behind Sunday to dominate Santa Anita’s Grade 2, $150,000 El Encino Stakes for 4-year-old fillies with a 2½ length triumph over 6-5 favorite Country Star.

(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Pamplemousse, with only a maiden victory to his credit, not only resisted a challenge by Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up Square Eddie, but drew away again Saturday to capture Santa Anita’s Grade 3, $100,000 San Rafael Stakes, the track’s first major preparatory event for 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail.

(Edited Gulfstream Park report) 

Edmund Gann’s 4-year-old colt Ikigai had won four of his last five starts for trainer Marty Wolfson, but was taking a big step up in Saturday’s $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes (Grade 3) at Gulfstream Park, facing Grade\Group 1 winners Kelly’s Landing and Black Seventeen in the field of seven going six furlongs.

Edited Gulfstream Park report)

Lael Stable’s Nicanor, the 3-year-old full-brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby (Grade 1) and Florida Derby (Grade 1) winner Barbaro, is doing “terrific” and has trainer Michael Matz hoping he will be able to make his career debut on Donn Handicap (Grade 1) weekend, Jan. 30-Feb. 1.

The Kentucky homebred son of Dynaformer breezed a half-mile in company with fellow Matz-trainee Hennigan in :50.40 on Saturday, Jan. 17. The two finished together with Nicanor getting the wider,…

(Edited Hawthorne Race Course report)

Stickney, Ill. – Hawthorne Race Course, racing beyond the 31st of December for the second straight year, was able to escape the brunt of the unusually harsh weather (even by Chicago standards), and finish the 2008/2009-fall/winter-meet on an uplifting note.

(Edited Tampa Bay Downs report)

Fierce Wind, who captured last year’s rendition of the Sam F. Davis Stakes, returned to form today an after a 9½ month layoff in the featured overnight handicap. Under jockey Daniel Centeno, Fierce Wind rebuffed a challenge from second-place finisher Wayzata Bay midstretch to win the 1 1/16 miles main track event for owner Halsey Minor. 

Fierce Wind is trained by William Phipps, who is now three-for-three at the Tampa Bay Downs meet after conditioning…