Rawnaq, Scorpiancer, and Top Striker were announced Thursday as the finalists for the 2016 Eclipse Award as North America’s champion steeplechase horse.
The finalists were determined by 248 voters from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters. The winners will be announced Jan. 21 at the 46th annual Eclipse Awards dinner and ceremony at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Irv Naylor’s Rawnaq won the $350,000 Grand National (Gr. 1), $200,000 Calvin Houghland Iroquois (Gr. 1), and $50,000 Temple Gwathmey (Gr. 3). In his other 2016 start, the Irish-bred finished second in the Marion duPont Scott Colonial Cup (Gr. 1).
Bruton Street-US’s Scorpiancer won Belmont Park’s $150,000 Lonesome Glory Handicap (Gr. 1) and finished second in the Grand National (Gr. 1). Sue Sensor’s Top Striker won the Colonial Cup and the $75,000 David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Memorial (Gr. 2).