my 2024 horsemen’s awards ballot

By Dick Jerardi

When I sat down last week to go over the past performances of the horses in various categories under consideration for the 2024 Horsemen’s Awards, I had no preconceived notions. I judged each horse’s individual accomplishments and those accomplishments in relation to the others in the category. My hardest choice turned out to be Horse of the Year when I was down to two and I am still not sure I made the right choice, so close were the horses in my mind.

2 YEAR OLD FEMALE

Honorable Win

She was never favored in her three starts, but came within a half length of winning them all, pretty impressive for a filly that broke her maiden in a Pennsylvania bred stakes. She has never run particularly fast, but I really liked how she ran, making a big move from off the pace in each of her three starts, culminating with a dominant win in the Miss Behaviour at Parx on Dec. 30.

2 YEAR OLD MALE

Global Steve

Has also not run fast yet, but, like Honorable Win, this colt was visually impressive in his two starts, both wins. Loved the middle move in the Future Stars at Parx on Dec. 30. Will be tested for distance and class Saturday in Saturday’s Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. If he wins and/or runs well with a fast number, there is a chance this horse could get on the Kentucky Derby trail.

3 YEAR OLD FEMALE

Irish Maxima

This was a no brainer. The filly raced five times in 2024 with four wins and a close second in a very competitive stakes at Mahoning Valley. She won at Delaware Park, Laurel Park and twice at Parx. Her last race came on the last day of the year and it was easily one of the most impressive performances of the year at Parx. She went to the front in the Mrs. Claus, stretching her lead at every pole. By the time she hit the wire, she was 13 3/4 lengths in front. She was 1 length at Mahoning Valley from being unbeaten in 2024, but my lasting impression will be watching her just glide through the stretch on New Year’s Eve,

3 YEAR OLD MALE

Maximus Meridius

I found this the hardest category because there were so many worthy candidates including Buccherino (who twiced finished ahead of Maximus Meridius), Just Step On It and Lonesome Boy. I went with Maximus Meridius because of his overall body of work and his final two starts which were both dazzling, second in the Steel Valley Sprint at Mahoning Valley and his win in the Gravesend at Aqueduct. He also ran a strong second in two other New York stakes as well as a solid fourth in the Gotham. A really good year for a horse who seems poised to have another strong year in 2025, starting in Saturday’s Toboggan at Aqueduct.

OLDER FEMALE

Confirmed Star

It was confirmed just how good Irish Maxima was as a 3-year-old when this talented filly finished so far back in second in the Mrs. Claus. All Confirmed Star did in 2024 was go 5-4-2 from 13 starts with $245,580 in earnings. She ran from the start of the year to the end of the year and held her form all the way.

OLDER MALE

Spikezone

Eleven wins in a year is almost unheard of in this era, but that was

Spikezone in 2024. He won three times at Tampa Bay, came north, won four times at Delaware Park, three times at Parx and once at Laurel Park, finishing off his year with six consecutive wins, including a Parx stakes. He was odds on in his last eight starts and only disappointed once. That’s some serious business in a sport where winning one race is difficult. To win 11 in a year is incredible.

CLAIMING HORSE

Ambitiously Placed

The mare was claimed over and over again during the year, but fired for every one of her connections. She started 16 times in 2024 with 8 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds and earnings of $162,190. Claiming horses are the lifeblood of the sport and this now 8-year-old is the kind of horse anybody in the sport would love. At the end of 2024, she had 54 starts with 16 wins, 15 seconds and seven thirds. All but two of those wins came at Parx.

TRAINER OF THE YEAR

Jamie Ness

This one did not long for me to decide. The award is not statistically based, but about “overall accomplishments or special achievements.” Obviously, Ness, who just won his sixth straight Parx trainer’s title, has great stats. But that he was second in the country in wins with 364 and his horses won $11.1 million was an amazing achievement and special by any definition. Ness has won 1,350 races the last four years. Only Scott Lake has ever put up those kinds of numbers at Parx and in the mid-Atlantic. It is just an incredible run that shows no signs of slowing down.

HORSE OF THE YEAR

Irish Maxima.

It was really close between the brilliant stakes-winning 3-year-old filly and the 11-win 5-year-old Spikezone. Really hard to compare given what each was asked to do, but that final Irish Maxima performance was just enough for me to go her way. It was just one of those memories that linger and makes you appreciate a rare talent when you see it.

We will find out what the voting committee thinks about all the categories at the annual Horsemen’s Awards Banquet on Feb. 15 at Celebrations. It’s always a night to remember.

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