California Chrome Up For Horse Of The Year At Eclipse Awards

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (CBSLA.com/AP) -- Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome, along with Bayern and Main Sequence, are finalists for Horse of the Year at the Eclipse Awards.

California Chrome, Bayern and Shared Belief are finalists for 3-year-old champion male honors.

The 44th annual awards will be presented Jan. 17 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.

"Every trainer wants an Eclipse award winner," said California Chrome trainer Art Sherman. "That's the most prestigious awards someone could have."

Not only is Chrome a finalist for two Eclipse awards, but has also won the 2014 Secretariat "Vox Populi" and the Cal Bred of the Year.

Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher are vying for trainer of the year.

Javier Castellano, Joel Rosario and John Velazquez are finalists for jockey honors, while Angel Cruz, Taylor Rice and Drayden Van Dyke are contenders for apprentice jockey.

Kaleem Shah, Midwest Thoroughbreds and Ken and Sarah Ramsey are finalists for owner of the year, while Adena Springs, the Ramseys and Winchell Thoroughbreds are vying for breeder of the year.

Finalists for 2-year-old male are American Pharoah, Hootenanny and Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Texas Red. Condo Commando, Lady Eli and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Take Charge Brandi are vying for 2-year-old filly honors.

Stopchargingmaria, Sweet Reason and Kentucky Oaks winner Untapable are nominated for 3-year-old filly. Finalists for older male are Main Sequence, Palace Malice and Wise Dan, while older female nominees are Close Hatches, Dayatthespa and Don't Tell Sophia.

Nominees for male sprinter are Goldencents, Private Zone and Work All Week. The female sprinter nominees are Artemis Agrotera, Judy the Beauty and Sweet Reason.

Finalists for male turf horse are Japan-bred Karakontie, Main Sequence and Wise Dan, while Crown Queen, Dayatthespa and Stephanie's Kitten are vying for female turf horse.

Steeplechase horse finalists are Demonstrative, Divine Fortune and Britain-bred Makari.

The awards are voted on by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters. Finalists in each category were determined by voters' top three selections using a 10-5-1 point system. Winners are decided only by first-place votes.