Setting the line straight on Horse of the Year contenders
by Bob Heyden
Handicapping the field for the 2025 Horse of the Year, with my top seven contenders and the odds I’ve assigned them.
7. Super Chapter (40-1) — This Marcus Melander trainee had a record of 9-3-1 in 14 seasonal starts, and was the top 3-year-old money-winner with $1,236,099.
6. Emoticon Legacy (35-1) — He won the Canadian Trotting Classic in record time and the Kentucky Futurity in 1:49.2, one-fifth-of-a-second off the stakes mark, with a record of 7-1-0 in 10 starts and $954,875 in the bank.
5. Louprint (20-1) — His 1:46.3 mark was set at Lexington and he dominated the Jug and had a stirring North America Cup win. He had all 35 first place votes in the weekly top 10 poll ending September. Can Sweet Lou join Art Major as the only repeat HOY sire in the 21st century or in a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately business, has his brilliant season, 12 10-1-0 with $1,025,971, been pushed back on the shelf?
4. Yo Tillie (15-1) — This daughter of Tactical Landing — his fourth Breeders Crown winner in just the last three years joining Allegiant, Karl, and Tactical Approach — was almost perfect going 11-1-0 in 12 starts with $979,195. It’s nitpicking time. As a 3YOFT you must face/beat boys during that year to be considered. Just ask Fancy Crown (1984), CR Kay Suzie (1995), Continentalvictory (1996), but especially Syrinx Hanover who ran the table in 2001 (12-for-12) but did not face the boys and was second to Bunny Lake in HOY balloting.
3. Lexus Kody (5-2) — Can a 7-year-old trotting gelding lead North America in earnings and be HOY for the first time in a half century? Savoir did it in 1975 with a record of 13-5-3 in 21 starts and $351,385. Lexus Kody’s record this year was 21 11-3-4 and $1,317,651. He made more in his final six starts, $947,300, than any other older trotter did for the entire season. He won in a Canadian best 1:49.1 and captured the richest race in his division, the $1 million Yonkers International Trot. It’s been 14 years since a 7-year-old gelding was HOY: San Pail (2011). The only negative, while we are nitpicking, is 10 losses. But that didn’t deter the voters in 2000, the last time a HOY had 10 defeats. Gallo Blue Chip was 19 for 29, but he reset the single season $ mark to $2.4 million.
2. Miki And Minnie (8-5) — The only horse in the top eight in $ in both 2024 and 2025. The Breeders Crown dead heat winner is a stablemate to the defending HOY Twin B Joe Fresh. Her record, 15 13-2-0 and $1,123,824, mirrors fellow 3YOFP Test Of Faith who was 16 14-2-0 and the 2021 HOY. Can Chris Ryder become the first 21st century trainer to go back-to-back in the balloting? Miki And Minnie blasted the older mares off the map in her authoritative FanDuel romp. No question the standout effort on Fall Final Four/FanDuel Night. Was it enough?
1. Beau Jangles (even) — He was 12-for-12 with $1,227,326. The same 12-for-12 the last 2YO had when she was named HOY in 2014: JK She’salady. Beau Jangles dominated from start to finish culminating in a 1:48.3 decisive record-setting Breeders Crown triumph. He met all challenges head on and took whatever they threw at him, and laughed it off. What’s not to like? Glad you asked. Chantilly is the defending Canadian HOY. She went nine-for-nine at 2, but didn’t even make a ripple in HOY balloting here. San Pail went 14-for-16 in 2011 his HOY season. The difference? He came to the states and did capture the Nat Ray (now the Cashman) in 2011, and dominated in the HOY ballot 93 to nine (Roll With Joe) and eight (Check Me Out). All 12 of Beau Jangles’ wins came in Canada. Another example is the 2006 HOY ballot. Glidemaster here and Majestic Son in Canada. Glidemaster also won the Triple Crown and cruised to HOY honors. Nine of his 15 starts were in Canada and his matchups versus Majestic Son went the Canadian HOY’s way. But, Majestic Son was totally dismissed in our balloting. He was no factor at all as Passionate Glide finished second to Glidemaster. Let me give you yet another obstacle for Beau Jangles whether it’s fair or unfair. In 1986, 4-year-old Forrest Skipper won HOY over 2-year-old Jate Lobell. Both went undefeated, Jate Lobell (15-15) and Forrest Skipper (16-16), a great battle at year’s end. I asked veteran writer and eventual Hall of Famer Clyde Hirt who he was voting for. “Forrest Skipper,” he said. “Jate Lobell will win it next year.” A “Lobell” did win it in 1987, Mack Lobell. At Harrisburg in casual conversation there were two different chats I had with two who vote. Neither ever votes for a 2-year-old for HOY. There you have it. Still, Beau Jangles had 32 of the 35 first place votes entering December in the weekly poll. He’s the favorite to celebrate the biggie in Orlando.
