Photo:

Alex Evers / Eclipse Sportswire

I would not argue with anyone who believes Rebel’s Romance was the best horse to run on an American turf course this year. That does not mean he is the most deserving of the Eclipse Award for male turf horse, however. I believe Johannes is the better option.

Although there is plenty of precedent for a foreign horse to come to the U.S., win a Breeders’ Cup race and take home an Eclipse Award with only one start stateside, it’s a model that I don’t particularly like.

If the foreign raider is extremely impressive in their win and there really is no good candidate for the home team, that’s one thing. But I don’t see that as the case this year.

The win by Rebel’s Romance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf was solid, as usual, but the neck victory over a Japanese long shot was not a “wow” type of performance.

Johannes, meanwhile, was beaten in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, but the resume he put together from April through November is too good to be ignored.

Much like my choice for horse of the year, Thorpedo Anna, Johannes has been a model of consistency and he’s done it in the U.S.

Since switching to the grass in his second career start, the son of Nyquist has won seven of nine races. After three impressive wins to begin his turf career, his only loss at 3 came after a rough trip in the American Turf (G2) at Churchill Downs.

None of those four previous promising races matter when it comes to a 2024 championship, however. After a layoff of 11 months, Johannes was primed to prove himself a world-class miler this year for trainer Tim Yakteen.

He began his 4-year-old season with an explosive turn of foot in the one-mile American (G3) in early April at Santa Anita. The eye-catching move under regular rider Umberto Rispoli carried him home to a successful return, winning by 1 3/4 lengths in racehorse time of 1:32.08.

Many times, the second start back after a layoff can be difficult, and so it was for the dark bay who races for owners and breeders Joe and Debbie McCloskey of Cuyathy. The Shoemaker Mile also was his first try at the Grade 1 level, but Johannes was up to the task.

Following a hard-fought, half-length score at Santa Anita, Johannes powered home in the Eddie Read (G2) at Del Mar when stretched out to nine furlongs. The easy victory in late July raised his record to 3-for-3 for the year.

The City of Hope Mile (G2) two months later at Santa Anita would act as his final prep for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile. Out of a stakes-placed Congrats mare named Cuyathy, Johannes once again made things very simple in winning another graded-stakes race on the grass.

He entered the Breeders’ Cup Mile with a nearly perfect record on the turf but faced a deep and talented international field. It was, without question, his toughest test yet. It also was a stronger overall field this year than the Breeders’ Cup Turf, in my opinion.

In arguably his finest performance to date, Johannes came up a little short on Nov. 2 at Del Mar. Given the hot fractions he wanted, it was another American, More Than Looks, who came flying down the middle of the course for his first win in three starts this year.

Somewhat lost in that huge stretch run was the performance turned in by the Californian. Notable Speech, the race favorite and multiple Group 1 winner from England, had every chance to go by Johannes in the stretch, but he could not do it. The Yakteen-trained runner was extremely game to hold second and was beaten by less than a length.

With four graded-stakes wins and one strong second against a loaded field in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, Johannes proved himself in each of his five starts this year.

How much should a victory in the Breeders’ Cup matter when it comes to deciding an Eclipse Award? It is the most important race of the season for sure, but should one race trump everything else accomplished during the rest of the year?

Only in an extreme case, and only when the horse who does not win the Breeders’ Cup race has failed to put together an exemplary season. That clearly is not the case for Johannes.

To be fair, Rebel’s Romance enjoyed an excellent season abroad. Is that something that should be given extra consideration by voters? Perhaps, but I see this as a perfect time to recognize an American horse who was very good from start to finish of the year on our home turf. This is an American award, after all.

Johannes deserves the Eclipse Award for outstanding turf male in 2024.