RAMONA, Calif. (Jan. 9, 2014) — According to Daily Racing Form columnist Jay Privman, the Eclipse Award for male sprinter “is a close call” between Benchmark’s Points Offthebench, a two-time Grade 1 winner who died in his final work for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and the Eddington 4-year-old Secret Circle, who won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint as the 5-2 favorite in his second start following an 18-month layoff.
Both stallions stand at Ballena Vista Farm.
Undefeated at distances of six furlongs or less, Secret Circle has never finished worse than second in nine career starts. He earned $859,800 for his two victories in as many starts in 2013 and increased his lifetime bankroll to almost $1.9 million.
Points Offthebench is the second California-bred Eclipse Award finalist for Benchmark, whose 3-year-old Idiot Proof was among the 2007 finalists in the male sprinter category.
Ballena Vista sire Tribal Rule also has a close connection to the 2013 Eclipse Awards as his full sister Common Hope is the dam of the Two-Year-Old Male finalist, Shared Belief.