Indian Blessing, Midshipman win Eclipses

The Bob Baffert-trained duo of Indian Blessing and Midshipman capped off stellar seasons in 2008 by being honored as racing’s best in their respective divisions at the annual Eclipse Awards ceremony Jan. 26th in Miami.

For Indian Blessing, winning the Eclipse for Champion Female Sprinter gave the brilliant 3-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie her second Eclipse Award in as many years. In 2007, Indian Blessing was the Champion Juvenile Filly.

This year, Indian Blessing won six of nine starts including Grade 1 victories in the Prioress, Test and La Brea, as well as wins in the Gallant Bloom (G2), Santa Ynez (G2) and Silverbulletday (G3). Those wins helped her push her career earnings to more than $2.4 million for owner and breeder Hal & Patti Earnhardt.

“It’s a special honor,” said Hal Earnhardt. “We feel very, very fortunate. It’s an ‘all-in-the-family’ situation starting many years ago, and we might not ever be in this position again, so, like her name says, we’re blessed to be here.”

The Earnhardts campaigned Indian Blessing’s sire, as well as her dam, Shameful, a stakes-winning Flying Chevron mare.

Midshipman closed his triumphant juvenile campaign in 2008 with back-to-back Grade 1 victories in the Del Mar Futurity and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, making him an early favorite for the Kentucky Derby and earning him honors as Champion Juvenile.

Bred by Stonerside Stable, Midshipman now races in the colors of Darley Stable. The Unbridled’s Song colt’s 2-year-old campaign consisted of three wins from four starts with earnings of $1,380,200.