Awakened, Merry Maker (Ire) and Snap Decision, listed in alphabetical order, have been announced as steeplechase finalists for the 2023 Eclipse Awards

Snap Decision leads overt the last fence in the Temple Gwathmey (Photo by Tod Marks)There are 250 eligible voters represented by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters that vote for the Eclipse Award winners in numerous categories..

While the finalists are determined by the number of votes they received for first, 10 points, second, five points, and third, 1 point, the Eclipse Award winners are determined solely by first place votes.

Both Awakened and Merry Maker raced as novice horses in 2023.

 Awakened,7,  by Curlin out of an A.P. Indy mare, is owned by Riverdee Stable and Ten Srike Racing and is trained by Jack Fisher.

He raced five times in 2023, winning an allowance race at Radnor and the G1 Jonathan Sheppard Handicap Stakes, in which Merry Maker finished fourth, 8 lengths back of Awakened.

He also ran second in the Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes at Saratoga in which Merry Maker finished third, 10 3/4 lengths behind Awakened.

Awakened finished third in the G2 David (Zeke) Ferguson Stakes at Great Meadow, which was won by Snap Decision.

 

MERRY MAKER (Ire), 7,by Malinas out of a Revoque mare, is owned by Hurricana Farm and trained by Arch Kingsley.

Merry Maker also raced five time last year, winning an allowance and the G1 Lonesome Glory Handicap Stakes at Belmont, in which Snap Decision finished fourth, 8 1/2 lengths behind Merry Maker, but he was giving Merry Maker 20 pounds.

Merry Maker finished second in the G1 Grand National Stakes behind Noah And The Ark, in which Snap Decision was pulled up due to the soft going that he hates.

Merry Maker finished behind Awakened twice in the only two races in which they met, and he beat Snap Decision twice in the only two races in which they met.

Snap Decision, 10, by Hard Spun out of an Unbridled mare, is owned by Bruton Street-US and is trained by Fisher.

He raced five times last year, in three G1 races and two G2 races.

He won twice, in the G2 Temple Gwathmey Handicap Stakes and the G2 David (Zeke) Memorial Handicap Stakes, in which he beat Awakened, while giving him12 pounds, in the only time they met.

He finished second in the G1 Calvin Houghland Iroquois Stakes behind Irish invader Scaramanga, trained by Ireland's champion trainer Willy Mullins and ridden by Ireland's champion jockey Paul Townend.

Although the going was listed as good, it was in fact a bit deep and holding.

Snap Decision raced in all top graded races, beaten only by deep going and heavy weights, while beating Awakened, who twice beat Merry Maker.