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HOLLYWOOD, Florida -- Funny Cide and Empire Maker will be competing again Monday night.
The horses who put thoroughbred racing into the national spotlight last spring are among finalists at the 33rd Eclipse Awards, which honor excellence in the sport.
Funny Cide captivated the sports world with wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. But Empire Maker ended the gelding's quest for the Triple Crown by winning the Belmont Stakes.
Horse of the Year finalists will be announced during Monday's ceremony before the winner is chosen. The top finalists among 3-year-old colts - Empire Maker and Funny Cide - likely will be considered for Horse of the Year honors.
Empire Maker was retired to stud in October, ending an injury-plagued career. Empire Maker won four times and had three runner-up finishes in eight career starts, posting earnings of $1,985,800.
Bobby Frankel, a finalist in the trainer category, called Empire Maker the greatest horse with which he has ever worked. Empire Maker's Belmont victory was the first for Frankel in a Triple Crown event.
After winning two legs of the Triple Crown, Funny Cide was defeated in the Belmont Stakes and finished back in the pack in the $4 million Classic at the Breeders' Cup in October.
Ten Most Wanted also is a finalist in the 3-year-old colt category.
Richard Mandella, who became the first trainer to win four Breeders' Cup races, joins Frankel in the trainer category, along with Todd Pletcher.
Mandella capped a historic day at the Breeders' Cup when Pleasantly Perfect romped to victory in the Classic on October 25, blowing away favored Medaglia d'Oro and Congaree. Mandella won the last three races of the day to break the record of three winners established by D. Wayne Lukas in 1988.
Congaree and Medaglia d'Oro are finalists in the older male category along with Mineshaft. Congaree also is a finalist in the sprinter category with Aldebaran and Cajun Beat.
High Chaparral and Johar recorded the first dead heat in 145 all-time Breeders' Cup races in the Turf and are Eclipse Award finalists for male turf horse, along with Storming Home.
Halfbridled, the winner of the Juvenile Fillies at the Breeders' Cup, is a finalist in the 2-year-old female category, along with Ashado and Victory U.S.A.
Action This Day, winner of the Juvenile at the Breeders' Cup, is a finalist in the 2-year-old male category with Birdstone and Cuvee.
Jerry Bailey, Edgar Prado and Patrick Valenzuela will compete in the jockey category.
The horses who put thoroughbred racing into the national spotlight last spring are among finalists at the 33rd Eclipse Awards, which honor excellence in the sport.
Funny Cide captivated the sports world with wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. But Empire Maker ended the gelding's quest for the Triple Crown by winning the Belmont Stakes.
Horse of the Year finalists will be announced during Monday's ceremony before the winner is chosen. The top finalists among 3-year-old colts - Empire Maker and Funny Cide - likely will be considered for Horse of the Year honors.
Empire Maker was retired to stud in October, ending an injury-plagued career. Empire Maker won four times and had three runner-up finishes in eight career starts, posting earnings of $1,985,800.
Bobby Frankel, a finalist in the trainer category, called Empire Maker the greatest horse with which he has ever worked. Empire Maker's Belmont victory was the first for Frankel in a Triple Crown event.
After winning two legs of the Triple Crown, Funny Cide was defeated in the Belmont Stakes and finished back in the pack in the $4 million Classic at the Breeders' Cup in October.
Ten Most Wanted also is a finalist in the 3-year-old colt category.
Richard Mandella, who became the first trainer to win four Breeders' Cup races, joins Frankel in the trainer category, along with Todd Pletcher.
Mandella capped a historic day at the Breeders' Cup when Pleasantly Perfect romped to victory in the Classic on October 25, blowing away favored Medaglia d'Oro and Congaree. Mandella won the last three races of the day to break the record of three winners established by D. Wayne Lukas in 1988.
Congaree and Medaglia d'Oro are finalists in the older male category along with Mineshaft. Congaree also is a finalist in the sprinter category with Aldebaran and Cajun Beat.
High Chaparral and Johar recorded the first dead heat in 145 all-time Breeders' Cup races in the Turf and are Eclipse Award finalists for male turf horse, along with Storming Home.
Halfbridled, the winner of the Juvenile Fillies at the Breeders' Cup, is a finalist in the 2-year-old female category, along with Ashado and Victory U.S.A.
Action This Day, winner of the Juvenile at the Breeders' Cup, is a finalist in the 2-year-old male category with Birdstone and Cuvee.
Jerry Bailey, Edgar Prado and Patrick Valenzuela will compete in the jockey category.