The 2017 Eclipse Award finalists for champion Three-Year-Old Male have come down to Always Dreaming, West Coast, and Battle of Midway. It was an interesting year for the three-year-old colts, as they seemed to take turns when it came to leading the division. Many people see the votes coming down to West Coast as the best in his class in 2017, but I think there’s more to it than that. West Coast was certainly the most consistent three-year-old colt of 2017, and I would find no fault with him taking home an Eclipse award. However, all three of the finalists accomplished big things last year, so I think we should take a look back at what all three of these young thoroughbreds achieved to become finalists for such a coveted prize.
Always Dreaming, photo by Eric Kalet
The first horse we will review is Always Dreaming. The nimble, bay son of Bodemeister started off 2017 with a bang when he trounced his competition in a maiden race at Tampa Bay Downs. Always Dreaming had never won a race prior to his seasonal debut last winter, but you would have never guessed that when the gates burst open and he took flight. When Always Dreaming reached the stretch, he decided to finish the race solo, romping away by nearly twelve crushing lengths. It was an eye-catching performance for sure, but if Always Dreaming wanted to really make his name known, he would have to do more since many of his peers were already stakes winners and holders of those coveted Kentucky Derby qualifying points.
Always Dreaming followed up his sublime maiden score with yet another win. This time is was in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park. After he breezed through that test without a problem, his connections knew he was ready to step it up and take on fiercer competition.
Always Dreaming took a bold step into stakes competition when he entered the Grade 1 Florida Derby to challenge his more experienced and at the time, more accomplished peers. It was no easy task, but Always Dreaming appeared undaunted as he marched to post for a race that would either end any Derby dreams, or bring them to life.
Winning a stakes race on your first try is a huge accomplishment. But winning a $1 million dollar, Grade 1 race on your first try is a tremendous feat that defines the true class of any young athlete. Not many can claim to have pulled it off, but for Always Dreaming, it was nothing but another walk in the park. The brazen colt tracked the hot pace in the Florida Derby set by Three Rules for the majority of the race, pushing him through rapid fractions as they went. When the stretch loomed ahead, Always Dreaming could not hold back any more. With complete confidence and courage, Always Dreaming blew past Three Rules like he was standing still. From there the young horse began pouring it on, opening up on his competition and leaving them in the dust as he bolted for the wire. The others could only watch him disappear from sight as he claimed an elusive spot in the Kentucky Derby.
Always Dreaming looked like the real deal when he cruised over the finish line. He stopped the clock in a blazing time of 1:47.47, leaving the fans at Gulfstream Park in a frenzy. It was the fastest Florida Derby time since 1978, when the great Alydar rose to victory on the very same track. Always Dreaming was the first horse in thirty-nine years to equal the speed that Alydar carried that day.
Despite only having one stakes victory to his name, Always Dreaming entered the illustrious Kentucky Derby as the favorite, and he did not disappoint his backers. The bold and spirited colt loaded into the starting gate on the first Saturday in May, ready to make headlines everywhere.
Always Dreaming tracked the pace in the Kentucky Derby, set by State of Honor. The track was wet, a condition that Always Dreaming had never competed on before, but he appeared unflappable as he galloped along, never taking his eyes off of the leader. Always Dreaming was fired up and ready to strike and by the time they reached the half-mile mark, he drew even with State of Honor. It didn’t take long for the vivacious colt to take the lead and once he did, Always Dreaming took it to his competition, fully prepared to show the rest of the way around the legendary oval of Churchill Downs.
Things were heating up when the field reached the turn for home and Always Dreaming found himself surrounded by a mob of horses trying to engage him in battle. Unfortunately for his competition, Always Dreaming was still loaded. With brazen determination and tenacity, Always Dreaming exploded into the stretch, fending off all challengers as he began pulling away. With the Twin Spires standing tall and proud above, he kicked for home and never looked back. Always Dreaming ended the day showered in roses.
After his dominating win in the Kentucky Derby, Always Dreaming went off form. He finished eighth in the Preakness Stakes but came back with a better effort in the Jim Dandy Stakes to be third. However, a shocking ninth-place effort in the Travers Stakes later in the summer left his connections wondering what happened to their champion. The young colt was sent to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital for an evaluation where it was discovered that he was suffering from a horrendous case of stomach ulcers, which likely contributed to his poor efforts on the track. Always Dreaming has since recovered and will make his comeback as a four-year-old.
Although the second half of Always Dreaming’s 2017 season was less than glorious, it is important to remember all that he did when he was healthy. When this colt was well, no one could catch him. He accomplished a lot of major things in such a short amount of time. To go from a maiden winner to a multiple Grade 1 winner in a matter of four months in an enormous feat that should not be forgotten. Not many horses can say that they became a Kentucky Derby winner after only being in one stakes race prior to wearing the roses. The colt was short on experience but big on heart, and that is exactly what earned him his spot in history.
When I watch the replay of Always Dreaming winning the Kentucky Derby, I am always left in awe at the sight. To bring together twenty of the world’s finest thoroughbreds and see one rise above all is a sight that words cannot articulate. The Kentucky Derby is one of the biggest races in the world. It is the one race that every person longs to win. Qualifying for the race alone is an accomplishment, as running with the elite in this sport is a challenge so arduous that most can only dream of it. But to go on and win it is a feat that goes against all the odds. To win the Kentucky Derby a horse has to be great enough to make the gate, swift enough to maneuver through the traffic, strong enough to go the distance, and fast enough to hold the lead as he powers through the testing, final fifth-quarter of a mile that awaits at the end of the stretch. On the first Saturday in May, Always Dreaming took on the best of his class in one of the biggest races in the world, and not a single foe could catch him.
Always Dreaming heading to the track, photo by Eric Kalet
It’s true that Always Dreaming couldn’t carry his momentum through his entire three-year-old season. But in 2017 he did win four consecutive races, including two Grade 1s, with one of them being the prestigious and historical Kentucky Derby. With his two Grade 1 wins, Always Dreaming is tied with West Coast for the most Grade 1 wins in their age division in 2017. Always Dreaming made history by setting the track ablaze in Florida and by achieving the near impossible task of winning the Kentucky Derby in what was only his second stakes race ever. With earnings of $2,320,600 Always Dreaming took home more money than his peers and is ranked fourth in terms of year-end earnings for 2017.
West Coast, photo by Eric Kalet
The next horse we will take a look at is West Coast. This bay son of Flatter is an athlete that you can truly depend on to run his race. This gritty youngster raced nine times in 2017, taking home the gold in six of those races, with four of them being stakes races.
West Coast made his stakes debut in the Grade 3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. He ran a game second that day. He then rebounded with a win in an allowance race at Santa Anita before going on to romp to glory in the Easy Goer Stakes at Belmont Park. His winning streak continued from there and the speedy colt went on to score in the Los Alamitos Derby. It was an easy win for this rising star and he was now ready to venture into deeper water and take on a higher level of competition.
West Coast traveled to Saratoga to compete in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes. A salty field of elite thoroughbreds assembled for the historical race, including the Kentucky Derby winner, the Preakness winner, and the Belmont winner, setting the stage for a showdown for the ages. But despite the deep talent that resided in the field, West Coast proved best that day. He roared to victory in a solid time of 2:01.19 for the mile-and-a-quarter race, showing all who witnessed it that he was a force to be reckoned with.
West Coast, photo by Eric Kalet
West Coast’s tour de force was not done after his mighty score in the Travers Stakes. The stouthearted colt headed to Pennsylvania for his next start in the $1 million dollar, Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby. When the starting gates opened, West Coast would show no mercy. His rivals gave it their all, but when they reached the final bend, West Coast waltzed by each and every one of his rivals without a care in the world. When he straightened out in the stretch he continued to turn things up, distancing himself from his competition in the blink of an eye. He sailed over the wire, 7 ¼ lengths the best.
West Coast made his last start of 2017 in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. The steadfast colt gave it his all, but could do no better than third. He was simply no match for Gun Runner and Collected, who finished first and second respectively that day. However, there is no shame in losing to a horse of Gun Runner’s level, and hitting the board in such a major race is nothing to hang your head over.
West Coast competed in every race with dignity and valor. He showed up and ran his heart out each and every time it was asked. He was the model of consistency in a year where many of his peers struggled to string together back-to-back wins. While he didn’t win a race that carries the glory and prestige of one of the Triple Crown or Breeders’ Cup races, he did claim victory in the Travers Stakes, which will always be a historical and important race in the sport.
Last but not least we have Battle of Midway. The regal son of Smart Strike made his first start ever in January of 2017, and that first start was a winning one. His strong start to racing encouraged his connections to take on stakes competition, so Battle of Midway entered the San Vicente Stakes where he ran a game third.
Battle of Midway, photo by Eric Kalet
After his run in the San Vicente Stakes, Battle of Midway triumphed in an allowance race at Santa Anita. From there he went to the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby to pursue points for the Kentucky Derby.
Battle of Midway showed nothing but pure determination and spirit in the Santa Anita Derby. The tenacious colt tried to lead the field the whole way around, but in the stretch his rivals began bearing down on him. Unwilling to accept defeat, Battle of Midway dug in and charged on, running his heart out as he desperately strained for the wire. As Battle of Midway neared the finish, Gormley found just enough to spoil the party. He streaked up to steal victory from Battle of Midway just in time for the wire. Battle of Midway was as graceful and dignified in defeat as he was in victory, going down as valiantly as they come. If we learned anything from the gallant colt that day, it was that he has the heart of a lion and a fighting spirit that could not be tamed.
After his gritty defeat in the Santa Anita Derby, Battle of Midway finished third in the Kentucky Derby, which is pretty good considering the sheer size and depth of the race. He then went back to Santa Anita where he won the Affirmed Stakes with ease. Fresh off his win, Battle of Midway journeyed to Monmouth Park to compete in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational Stakes. However, the bay colt could do no better than a shocking and disappointing sixth that day.
Battle of Midway soon returned to form and went right back to the winner’s circle in the Shared Belief Stakes. He then ran second in the Oklahoma Derby before training for a start in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, where he would take on one of the toughest fields of his young life.
Battle of Midway tracked behind the leaders in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, but never let them out of his sight. The race was intense, but the fearless youngster was fully prepared to run the race of his life. Sharp Azteca, the immensely talented older horse, was leading a hot pace around the turn into the stretch, and Battle of Midway was more than ready to take him on. With a powerful turn of foot, Battle of Midway swiftly hustled up on the outside to challenge Sharp Azteca for the lead. The pair hooked up and the fight was on. They hightailed it around the turn, matching each other stride for stride as they sprinted as fast and as hard as their legs could carry them. The determined duo battled each other tooth and nail with every desperate kick of their legs. Neither horse was giving an inch as they stormed for the wire with their unyielding speed on full display for the world to see. They ran flat out down the stretch in a heart-pounding race for the wire. It looked like it would be a desperately close finish that could go either way, but right as they came down to the wire, Battle of Midway found something more. He somehow found the courage and the might to pull forward, and in thrilling and dramatic fashion the intrepid colt threw his neck in front and kept it there. Battle of Midway emerged victoriously.
Battle of Midway took home five wins in 2017 with three of them coming in stakes races, the last one being a Grade 1. Winning a Breeders’ Cup race is a big deal for any horse. Battle of Midway took on the best dirt milers around and managed to come out on top. His will to win was undeniable when he stormed down the stretch with Sharp Azteca on that fateful day. Battle of Midway may not have won as many Grade 1 races as Always Dreaming or West Coast, but he is a horse that always gave it his best shot, and unlike Always Dreaming and West Coast, Battle of Midway will forever be known as a Breeders’ Cup champion.
Always Dreaming has the Kentucky Derby win on his side, West Coast has the Travers Stakes, and Battle of Midway has the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. In my opinion, the most important and hardest race to win out of the three is hands down the Kentucky Derby, so that puts Always Dreaming pretty high on the list. However, West Coast carried consistency throughout the entire year, winning or placing in all of his races. Battle of Midway was a gallant runner in 2017 and ended the year on a high note, but to me, the Eclipse Award will come down between Always Dreaming and West Coast. They both have the same amount of Grade 1 victories, but had very different years. So, who will it be? The Kentucky Derby champion or the Travers winner? I think either colt will be a deserving winner, and I am eager to see which one will walk away with the honors of being crowned as the champion Three-Year-Old Male.
Thank you to Eric Kalet for providing the beautiful images for this article! You can find more of his pictures at this link http://erickalet.zenfolio.com/
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