Shanghai Bobby: heads the three finalists in the two-year-old male division
PICTURE: Jessie Holmes/EquiSport PhotosNo place for Europeans among Eclipse finalists
USA: There was no room for Europe's two Breeders' Cup winners, Flotilla and George Vancouver, among the finalists for 2012 Eclipse Awards revealed on Saturday.
France's Flotilla, winner of the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Juvenile Turf hero George Vancouver failed to make the shortlist in either two-year-old category at the 42nd year of the prestigious awards.
Instead, unbeaten Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Shanghai Bobby heads the three finalists in the two-year-old male division, joined by Uncaptured and Violence.
Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another is unsurprisingly in-line for the horse of the year accolade but faces still opposition from Breeders' Cup Classic victor Fort Larned and top miler Wise Dan, who defeated challengers from Europe and America last year.
After seven Grade 1 wins from their select US string, Godolphin have been shortlisted for the Eclipse Award for outstanding owner. The Dubai team, who have won it once before in 2009, are in the running for the award with Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. and Reddam Racing LLC.
Representatives from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers and Broadcasters will decide the winners of the 17 categories, which recognise outstanding achievements by horses and individuals on the track in North America, at the Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach on January 19.
The 2012 Eclipse Awards finalists (in alphabetical order) are:
Two-Year-Old Male: Shanghai Bobby, Uncaptured, Violence
Two-Year-Old Filly: Beholder, Dreaming of Julia, Executiveprivilege
Three-Year-Old Male: Bodemeister, I'll Have Another, Union Rags
Three-Year-Old Filly: Believe You Can, My Miss Aurelia, Questing (GB)
Older Male: Fort Larned, Little Mike, Wise Dan
Older Female: Groupie Doll, Include Me Out, Royal Delta
Male Sprinter: The Lumber Guy, Shackleford, Trinniberg
Female Sprinter: Contested, Groupie Doll, Mizdirection
Male Turf Horse: Little Mike, Point of Entry, Wise Dan
Female Turf Horse: Marketing Mix, Tapitsfly, Zagora (FR)
Steeplechase Horse: Demonstrative, Divine Fortune, Pierrot Lunaire
Horse of the Year: Fort Larned, I'll Have Another, Wise Dan
Owner: Godolphin Racing LLC, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc., Reddam Racing LLC
Breeder: Adena Springs, Darley, Brereton C. Jones
Trainer: Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher, Dale Romans
Jockey: Javier Castellano, Ramon Dominguez, John Velazquez
Apprentice Jockey: Jose Montano, Irad Ortiz, Jr., Angel Suarez
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