To Honor And Serve Making Case For Horse Of Year Award
With the 2011 horse of the year award up in the air after one of the most exciting Breeders Cup sports betting events ever, many horses are making a case to be given the prestigious award. This past weekend, To Honor And Serve, one of the most highly touted three – year olds in the nation, captured the Grade 1 Cigar Mile. Today we’ll consider To Honor And Serve as the Horse Of The Year.
To Honor And Serve is a long shot at best to win the HOY award. Sunday’s victory at Ozone Park, New York was only the horse’s first Grade 1 Stakes win. However, despite finishing seventh at the NFL Breeders Cup Classic, To Honor And Serve has had an impressive 2011 campaign. In seven races in 2011, To Honor And Serve has only finished outside the money twice. As well, the colt has finished in first place, three times, including this past weekend and at the Pennsylvania Derby right before the Breeders Cup Classic.
For those new to the horse bookie software awards, it is important to know that the winning horse has as much to do with popularity and owner and trainer, as it does with the horse’s actual ability. That is to say, To Honor And Serve could win the HOY based on its trainer, as much as its ability. To Honor And Serve trainer Bill Mott has put together an impressive resume in the horse racing industry. In November alone, Mott has six Graded Stakes victories, including three at the Grade 1 level.
Mott received his other two Grade I stakes wins, with a Breeders Cup Classic victory for Drosselmeyer and Ladies Classic with Royal Delta. Given that To Honor And Serve comes from an excellent farm, perhaps it will factor into a victory at the Eclipse Awards.