Discussions surrounding the Eclipse Awards have been integral to their procedures since their establishment in 1971. While certain categories for 2025 appear straightforward, the older dirt male division is undoubtedly poised to ignite significant contention this year.
In my assessment, this deliberation should commence with the question of whether voters ought to include Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic victor, Forever Young, in the running for the older dirt male Eclipse Award.
Forever Young demonstrated his supremacy among older dirt horses competing in the U.S. during 2025 by prevailing in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 1st, besting a formidable lineup that included the 2024 Classic champion Sierra Leone, Pacific Classic Stakes victor Fierceness, and Stephen Foster Stakes winner Mindframe. It is highly probable that the ultimate three contenders for the older dirt male title will emerge from these four horses.
Previously that year, Forever Young narrowly triumphed by a neck over Romantic Warrior, widely regarded as the world’s premier racehorse, in the $20 million Saudi Cup, a contest widely considered the premier race globally. Furthermore, Forever Young secured a third-place finish in the $12 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline and claimed a lesser stakes victory in Japan as a preparatory run for the Breeders’ Cup, yet his participation in the U.S. was limited to a single appearance.
What perspective should voters adopt regarding a Thoroughbred that has competed only once in North America for an American accolade? The Eclipse Awards lack strict regulations or prerequisites. Ultimately, the subjective judgment of each voter plays a significant role in determining the outcomes of the Eclipse Awards.
The precise directive for those casting ballots in equestrian divisions states: Within the Equine categories, voters are restricted to selecting only Thoroughbreds who have competed at least once during 2025 in either the United States or Canada.
Numerous voters favor candidates who primarily reside in the U.S. or completed the majority of their races within North America. Consequently, for these voters, Forever Young is unlikely to be a significant consideration.
On my Eclipse Awards ballot, I consistently evaluate international horses that have raced in the U.S., especially if they achieved a top-tier victory in a prominent race within a division where no other competitor clearly excelled. This scenario has most often occurred in the turf male and turf female divisions during seasons when a European turf horse was distinctly superior and no U.S.-based runners accumulated an impressive list of achievements.
Forever Young poses a dilemma for me. My assessment is that he was the preeminent older dirt male to compete in the U.S. in 2025. He secured the same number of U.S. Grade 1 victories this year as Sierra Leone and Fierceness combined, and one less than Mindframe, despite having only one North American outing. Concurrently, the other three obvious contenders are exceptional athletes capable of outstanding performances, each possessing commendable records within the U.S. Now, let’s examine that group of three in more detail.
Sierra Leone, who was crowned champion 3-year-old male last year following his triumph in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic, achieved victory in one of his five races during 2025… and it was a significant win. He surged from well behind the leaders to claim the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes in August at Saratoga by a length. Throughout 2025, Sierra Leone consistently placed within the top three, securing Grade 1 second-place finishes in the Stephen Foster behind Mindframe, the Jockey Club Gold Cup to Antiquarian, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic to Forever Young. As a deep-closing runner, Sierra Leone’s performance has historically relied on race pace, resulting in varying success rates.
Mindframe commenced 2025 with a trio of consecutive wins in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes Presented by Domestic Product, the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by Ford, and the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes. He bested 2025 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile victor Nysos in the Churchill Downs Stakes, alongside prominent sprinter Book’em Danno, and overcame Sierra Leone in the Stephen Foster. At that juncture, Mindframe appeared to be the undisputed frontrunner in the category, but he failed to complete his subsequent race due to his jockey being dislodged after Mindframe experienced a significant bump early in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Subsequently, he underperformed when unplaced in the Classic, which was effectively his initial race in over four months. Mindframe began 2025 exceptionally well but faltered towards the end of the season.
Fierceness competed five times during 2025, establishing a new track record for 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes Presented by Sentient Jet in May and capturing the Grade 1 Pacific Classic by 3 ¼ lengths ahead of Preakness Stakes winner Journalism in August. Additionally, he finished second in the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap and third, trailing by 1 ½ lengths, in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. His single subpar performance occurred when he placed fifth in the Whitney, yet Fierceness and his team deserve commendation for confronting all challengers and competing against elite rivals throughout the entire year. For a male horse previously known for uneven performances, he demonstrated exceptional consistency from beginning to end in 2025.
Do the achievements of any of these three surpass those of Forever Young? This truly represents a difficult decision for those casting votes and is anticipated to yield a compelling outcome at the 55th Annual Eclipse Awards on January 22, 2026, hosted at The Breakers Palm Beach.
