THE WOODFORD SUN, Versailles, Ky. January 12, 2012 13

2011 Award fi nalists announced BY RICK CAPONE WOODFORD SUN SPORTS EDITOR The fi nalists for the 41st annual Eclipse Awards were announced on Thursday, Jan. 5. News and notes in The awards are voted for by members of the National Racing Association, National Turf Writ- ers and Broadcasters and the Daily Racing Form. Of the 267 eligible voters, 248 responded this year to help select champions in 17 categories. There were not many surprises, as many of the horses Rapid Redux earns his just reward after 22nd that were expected to be fi nalists were on the list. Among others, the fi nalists include Havre de Grace, and Awesome Maria for Older Female Champion; consecutive victory; wins Special , Plum Pretty and It’s Tricky for Three-Year-Old BY RICK CAPONE Champion; Hansen, Union Rags and Creative Cause WOODFORD SUN SPORTS EDITOR for Two-Year-Old Male Champion and , Stephanie’s Kitten and Grace Hall for Two-Year-Old CThe only thing missing from the list were the fi nalists for Horse The loveable six-year of the Year, which are not announced until the night of the old chestnut gelding, Rapid award show. Redux, had an award winning The Eclipse Awards will be handed out in a ceremony on week last week. Jan. 16 at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, Calif. It began last Wednesday, Here is a listing of the 2011 Eclipse Award fi nalists. Jan. 4, when he went wire-to- wire in a starter allowance race * Two-Year-Old Male: Creative Cause, Hanson, at Laurel Park in Maryland and Union Rags. held off Awesome Rhythm * Two-Year-Old Filly: Grace Hall, My Miss once again to win his 22nd Aurelia, Stephanie’s Kitten. consecutive victory. * Three-Year-Old Male: , With that win, he extended Caleb’s Posse, . his Northern American record * There-Year-Old Filly: It’s Tricky, Plum Pretty, for consecutive wins to 22, Royal Delta. while increasing his career * Older Male: , , . record to 28 wins in 42 starts, * Older Female: Awesome Maria, Blind Luck, with one second, one third and Havre de Grace. $361,609 in earnings. * Male Sprinter: Amazombie, Caleb’s Posse, Last year, he broke the Regally Ready. consecutive win mark of 19 set * Female Sprinter: Hilda’s Passion, Musical by and , Romance, Sassy Image. while also matching ’s * Turf Male: Acclamation, Cape Blanco (Ire), modern U.S. record of 19 wins St Nicholas Abbey (Ire). in a calendar year. * Turf Female: Dubawi Heights (GB), Perfect Then it was announced that RAPID REDUX held Shirl, Stacelita (Fr). Rapid Redux would receive a off Awesome Rhythm * Steeplechase Horse: Black Jack Blues (Ire), Special Eclipse Award at the on Wednesday, Jan. 4, Decoy Daddy (Ire), Tax Ruling (Ire). Eclipse Award ceremonies at to capture his 22nd-con- * Owner: Midwest , Kenneth and the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly secutive race, this one at Sarah Ramsey, Team Valor International. Hills, Calif., on Jan. 16. Laurel Park. With the win * Breeder: , Brereton C. Jones, “It’s a top award in this sport he extended his modern Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey. and a dream come true,” said North American record for * Trainer: , Bill Mott, . Rapid Redux’s owner Robert * : Javier Castellano, Ramon Dominguez, L. Cole Jr., in the Thursday, consecutive races to 22. In addition, it was announced John Velazquez. Jan. 5 issue of Thoroughbred * Apprentice Jockey: Due to an error in the data pro- Times Today. “Rapid Redux that he would be given a Special Eclipse Award at vided to voters, voting for the apprentice jockey has to has shown the greatest in du- redone. As a result, according to a Monday, Jan. 9, article rability and consistency. He the Eclipse Award dinner, which will be held at the in the Thoroughbred Times Today, “It was subsequently hasn’t thrown in a bad race. To determined that statistics (in the category) provided to vot- win like this over a 13-month Beverly Wilshire in Bev- erly Hills, Calif., on Jan. ers were incorrect. The statistics did not accurately refl ect period is nearly impossible. when one of the eventual fi nalists, Montanez, lost his ap- He’s Maryland home-grown 16. Then on Sunday, Cara- prentice allowance during 2011. As a result, his statistics, running in Maryland. We cortado, with jockey riding, outran Victory Pete to win the Grade as presented in the voting guide and online, included wins wanted him to stay close to III, $100,000 Daytona Stakes, Sunday, Jan. 8, at , Arcadia, Calif. (Top and earnings accomplished after he became a journeyman home as he relates so well to photo by Jim McCue / Maryland Jockey Club; bottom photo by Benoit Photos) rider.” Because of that, a new vote will take place next the average fan. It’s not like week, prior to the awards ceremony. going to the sales and paying The custom-made Vox began to challenge as they who stands at Lane’s End, Rap- a million dollars. He’s a blue- Populi trophy will be given to came down the stretch, but id Redux is out of the collar horse.” Radid Redux’s owner, Robert in the end, as he had done in mare Thiscatsforcaryl. healthy.” to the bar … I knew he would There had been some talk Cole Jr. and trainer, David his previous race on Dec. 13 Rapid Redux was claimed In other racing news… fl y home.” that Rapid Redux should have Wells, at a public ceremony at at Laurel, Rapid Redux held by Cole for $6,250 in Octo- Caraortado let go with an Finishing in a dead-heat been nominated for the Horse Santa Anita Park on Sunday, off Awesome Rhythm for a ber 2010, and began his win explosive burst of speed to for third was Mr Gruff and of the Year honors, but since Jan. 15. three-quarter length victory. streak on Dec. 2, 2010. Since win the Daytona Stakes (G3) Regally Ready, a fi nalist for the that did not happen, it is good to All-in-all, it was a very He completed the one-mile that time, he’s won at seven by 1-1/4 lengths over Victory Eclipse Award for Champion see that he will earn some rec- good week for Rapid Redux, dirt race in 1:38.24. different tracks and in races Pete on the downhill turf course Springer. ognition at the Eclipse Awards which began back on Wednes- Finishing third was Gold ranging from fi ve furlongs to at Santa Anita on Sunday. He Out of Cat Dreams-Mons for all that he has accomplished day with the race he won at Casing, who broke slowly, 1-1/8 miles. In addition, he’s completed the six-and-a-half Venus, by Maria’s Mon, the so far in his career. Laurel Park. then recovered and steadily had seven different riders dur- furlong race in 1:11.59. fi ve-year-old chestnut gelding Finally, it was also an- In that race, Rapid Redux, advanced on the top two down ing the streak. “I knew I had a lot of horse, now has nine wins in 19 career nounced that Rapid Redux won with J.D. Acosta riding, broke the stretch, but could never get Interestingly, there was so I didn’t want to use him too starts, along with two seconds, the second annual from gate three, took the lead close. He ended up fi nishing some question as to whether early,” said winning jockey, there thirds and $864,105 in Vox Populi Award, which is in the race in just a few steps, 4-3/4 lengths behind Awesome Rapid Redux would even run Rafael Bejarano in a Monday, earnings. voted by fans online, the them moved clear near the Rhythm. in the race, as Wells revealed Jan. 9, Thoroughbred Times Also, on Saturday, in one of Secretariat Vox Pupuli com- three-quarter pole and set the “He was getting out a little the day before the race that Today article. “I just tried to the early three-year-old con- mittee, and , pace toward the inside. big down the lane with me,” his gelding had “grabbed a follow instructions. … As tests on the Derby Secretariat’s owner. Meanwhile, Awesome said Acosta, who has been on quarter” in his right front soon as I closed the door, my trail, Out of Bounds rallied According to Secretariat. Rhythm, with jockey Dyn board Rapid Redux for eight foot a few days earlier during horse was fl ying. This it eh fi rst late down the stretch to win the com, “The Secretariat Vox Panell on board, broke from wins during the streak. “I was training. He and Cole made the horse that I’ve rode that has one-mile Sham Stakes (G3) at Populi Award recognizes gate one, then settled outside of really concerned because I decision to run him the day of this kind of fi nishing speed. Santa Anita. Secret Circle fi n- the horse whose popularity Rapid Redux and prompted the had that other horse right next the race, and everything turned He showed me a big kick – it ished second, while Longview and racing excellence best pace from Rapid Redux. to me the whole time. I knew out okay as he came home with was unbelievable.” Drive took third. resounded with the American At the quarter pole, Rapid he was the horse to watch. his 22nd win. Added his trainer, Mike The three-year old chestnut public and gained recognition Redux responded to some When he turned for home, he “The math is unbelievable Machowsky, who also bred and colt out of Discreet Cat-Un- for .” urging by Acosta, drifted out really started running the way when you think about it,” Cole co-owns , about bridled Elaine, by ’s Rapid Redux is the sec- a little on the track, then dug he always does. He picked up said. “It is tough to win this his horse “He’s got that turn Song, completed the race in ond recipient of the award. in and bared down on the fi n- the bridle and he started really many in a row. The durabil- of foot that’s really unbeliev- 1:34.56. Out of Bounds now Zenyatta won the fi rst one ish line. strong.” ity is his greatest trait. He’ll able. When the horses hit the has two wins in three starts and last year. Then, Awesome Rhythm Sired by , keep running as long as he’s quarter pole, I started walking $89,700 in earnings.

Woodford lacrosse team improves skills at clinic ultimate goal, is to get these BY RICK CAPONE guys to Division I. Right now, WOODFORD SUN SPORTS EDITOR we’re in Division III and we want to get them into Division I. And, by having guys like The athletes on the Wood- this come down and showing ford County lacrosse team got these kids the right way of the opportunity to improve doing things and the ways to their playing skills at a two- get into the higher divisions, day clinic held week at the it does nothing but help our high school. program.” The clinic, which was the According to McCormack, fi rst one run and coached by he enjoys doing these types a non-profit organization, of clinics because of his love Flip Lacrosse, was held on for the game and of trying Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. to spread the word about the 4 and 5. sport. It was run by a number of “I’ve always been spreading top national lacrosse players, (the word about) the game and including Tim McCormack, a giving kids the opportunity that senior, two-time captain and I had,” he said. “I knew that it LEARNING FROM THE BEST. Woodford lacrosse three-year starting goalie at the was kind of bare down here (in athletes had the opportunity to participate in a clinic University of Massachusetts, Kentucky) with the exposure at Woodford County High School last week. It was pre- Art Kell, current senior and aspect of lacrosse. So, it was sented by a number of top national collegiate lacrosse four-year starting attackman a great chance to come down players, who are part of Flip Lacrosse, a non-profi t at UMass, and Karl Feltkamp, and show these kids what it’s organization that is trying to spread the word about who used to play lacrosse at about and give them tips on the game. Shown in the photos are: top, Flip Lacrosse Division III at Susquehanna, how to get to the next level coach Karl Feltkamp giving Woodford’s James Taylor, and is now a junior at UMass and play there. So, that’s kind No. 10, some pointers, while some other teammates and plays ice hockey of how it got started.” look on; top right, Tim McCormack giving instruction they defeated the visiting clinic) a great opportunity for McCormack’s brother, Things got rolling when to Woodford goalie Corey Rush, who won the Division Dixie Heights Colonels of these kids.” Gavin, a former defenseman Tim Tracey, who runs the busi- 3 goalie title last year; and, bottom right, Woodford head Edgewood, Ky., 8-5. Woodford lacrosse will and national champion at ness side of Flip Lacrosse, sent coach William “Dusty” Wethington shouting encour- According to McCormack, begin practice around the CW Post, is also part of the a mass e-mail to the coaches in agement to one of his players, Jose Chavez. (Photos by for only having played for one middle of February. Their fi rst program, but could not make the Lexington area, and Megan Steve Blake/MultiExposures.com) season, the athletes at Wood- game is scheduled for March 9 it to this clinic. McFarland, the president of ford were very good. against Oldham County. They Having this level of player Woodford lacrosse, responded and everything thing like that; quick to get in touch with us “I think it is incredible,” he will be playing in Division 3 come down to Woodford and to it. hopefully, in the summer when and start us up. And, she got explained about the Woodford again this year against such teach the players, who will be “We were just trying to we fi nish our season at school us connected with some of lacrosse player’s level of abil- teams as Bryan Station, Lex- going into their second season meet as many coaches and (UMass). the coaches and we just came ity. “We’re I come from, ninth ington Christian and Anderson in March, is defi nitely a huge everything as possible,” he Added McCormack, “What down.” grade is probably about your County, which is a new team benefi t according to Woodford said. “I was sending out e- we did was get together and Woodford lacrosse was seventh year. And, to see kids this season. head coach William (Dusty) mails to everyone, and she said, ‘What areas should we created last year by Wething- that have only been playing two For more information about Wethington. (McFarland) responded back try to go and spread this game,’ ton, and the team played its years with these kind of skills Woodford Lacrosse, contact “(This) is absolutely great,” to me with a lot of interest. and Lexington was one of our fi rst season last spring and and athletic abilities is pretty Wethington at 859-270-8373 said Wethington. “We want … We’re trying to get lacrosse areas. We emailed just about fi nished 1-7. unbelievable. It’s something or email him at woodfordla- to grow it (the sport) here in popular here in Kentucky with every coach in the county and The team’s one victory special, and it can only get [email protected]. Woodford County, and, my a travel team and some clinics Megan McFarland was very came on May 16, 2011, when better every year. So, it’s (the