Since the calendar switched centuries, two breeders have split the six Eclipse Awards handed out for breeding achievement. Juddmonte Farms won in 2001, 2002, and 2003. Now, Frank Stronach and his Adena Springs operation have garnered their third, voted the winner for 2005 after taking home the trophy in 2000 and 2004.
Only one breeder has won the award four times since it was first handed out in 1971. That is Juddmonte, which won for the first time in 1995.
The latest Eclipse Award for Adena Springs joins a crowded trophy case that also holds five Sovereign Awards for leading breeder in Canada, including the 2005 hardware handed out in December.
For the third straight year in 2005, Adena Springs led all breeders by money earned. And, all three years that total was eight figures. Last year, the 426 Adena Springs starters amassed racetrack earnings of $12,451,348. Those horses made 2,654 starts and were led into the winner's circle 449 times (17%). They also ran second 380 times and finished third 320 times.
Adena Springs was a runaway winner in 2005, receiving 129 votes. The total number
of votes received by the dozen
other breeders named on a ballot was 121.
One of the big names to run for Adena in 2005 was its 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper. He made only one start, but it was a blockbuster performance. Not having raced since taking the 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I), Ghostzapper appeared on Memorial Day in the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I). He ran the mile in 1:33.29 and cruised home to win by 6ΒΌ lengths.
Ghostzapper was one of 19 individual stakes winner of 2005 bred by Adena Springs. Joining him were such standouts as Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) winner I'm the Tiger, and grade II winners Spun Sugar, Bear's Kid, and Leprechaun Kid.
Voting for Outstanding Breeder:>Adena Springs, 129; Edward P. Evans, 53; Live Oak Stud, 27; Phipps Stable, 11; John Franks, 9; Juddmonte Farms, Inc., 7; Farnsworth Farms, 5; Wimborne Farm, Inc., 3; John Martin Silvertand, 2; William S. Farish, 1; John Gunther, 1; Liberation Farm, 1; Old English Rancho, 1; Voter Abstentions, 11.
>
