, so I only listen to a couple of sensible things that he

Industry voters determine the Eclipse Awards for thoroughbred racings annual divisional championships and Horse of the Year. As weve seen from this weeks election, surprising things can happen during a voting process.Yet even with that in mind, the vote for Horse of the Year 2016 almost seems a fait accompli in favor of California Chrome. This is somewhat surprising, considering California Chrome was beaten for the first time this year in last weeks Breeders Cup Classic, North Americas most important horse race. Although the strength of California Chromes 2016 campaign would certainly make him worthy of being Horse of the Year once again (dont forget, he was Horse of the Year at 3 in 2014), I do not believe the recipient of this award should be the given that it appears to be.There are only two real candidates for 2016 Horse of the Year, and they are California Chrome and Arrogate, the 3-year-old colt who beat California Chrome by a very significant half-length in the Classic.Right here, let me state that I have not yet decided which of these standouts will get my Horse of the Year vote. But I will say my deliberation on this matter is not a case of indecisiveness or intransigence. Im being deliberate because I see the strength and legitimacy of both candidacies, which apparently puts me in the minority.Despite his defeat in the Breeders Cup Classic, California Chrome remains the clear favorite for Horse of the Year, as evidenced by the fact that he retained the top spot in this weeks National Thoroughbred Racing Association weekly poll. It is worth noting that the people who vote in the NTRA poll are some of the same people who will vote for the Eclipse Awards. California Chrome, who has led this poll all year, attracted 30 first-place votes this time and amassed 442 total points. Arrogate, who was fifth in last weeks poll, received 16 first-place votes and 418 total points to move up to second in the poll.The primary reason why California Chrome retained his position atop the NTRA poll, not to mention his standing of first place in the hearts and minds of so many racing fans, is his body of work this year, which is compelling by every possible measure. California Chrome was dominant this year in such major events as the Dubai World Cup, Pacific Classic and Awesome Again. He also won three other stakes races, and his close second in the Classic was a fine effort.No one can dispute that California Chromes overall record in 2016 dwarfs Arrogates. Arrogate started in only two stakes races this year. But he was a 13-1/2 length winner of the Travers, our most important 3-year-old race next to the Triple Crown events, delivering the type of explosive performance that one sees only once in a great while. And he followed that up with his decisive win in the critically important Breeders Cup Classic.I am certainly aware that Horse of the Year is, after all, an award honoring the best horse of the YEAR, not the best horse during the two days of the Breeders Cup. That said, if I do vote for California Chrome for Horse of the Year, and I might, I wont be entirely comfortable with it. Heres why:From what we saw in the Breeders Cup Classic, there is a very, very strong possibility that Arrogate is better than California Chrome. Demonstrably better. And speaking only for myself, I know Ill have a hard time casting a Horse of the Year vote for a horse who lost the most important race of the year to a better horse, even if that was his only loss of the year.That is the root cause for my agonizing over this Horse of the Year vote, and the reason I dont quite understand why it seems so clear to favor California Chrome for other people.Anyone who watched the Breeders Cup Classic knows that Arrogate was clearly better than California Chrome. There can be no debate on this.California Chrome, who had performed like a monster all year, had complete control of a pace in the Breeders Cup Classic that was totally unremarkable, especially considering the class of horse involved. Heck, the pace in the Classic was slower through the first six furlongs than the pace 2-year-olds posted earlier in the day in the Breeders Cup Juvenile, and that faster pace in the Juvenile held together.In other words, California Chrome had everything his own way in the Classic, on a Santa Anita track he adores and at a 1-1/4 mile distance he can do in his sleep. And Arrogate, who was at a huge disadvantage from a tactical standpoint having to run down an opponent who was loose on an easy, uncontested lead, and who was also the top-ranked horse in the WORLD, still came and got him.And it wasnt like Arrogate got the best of a tiring California Chrome because that was not the case. The 119 Beyer Speed Figure California Chrome earned for finishing second in the Classic was the highest of his prolific career. There was a yawning chasm in the Classic of almost 11 lengths back to the third finisher, a telling indication that the first two finishers both performed sensationally. California Chrome didnt slow down. Arrogate just did the kind of running into an adverse setup at a late point in one of the worlds best races that you almost never see. Ever.For Arrogate, the Breeders Cup Classic and Travers make for a total of only two stakes starts. That is a light resume. I get that. But those races are special events. And Arrogates brilliant performances in those two races was all the proof necessary to recognize that he is an exceptional race horse.So Im taking my time with my Horse of the Year 2016 vote. Body of work versus possibly superior superstar performer is not an easy matter to resolve. For me, anyway. Stitched Football Jerseys Throwback . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Wholesale Football Jerseys Throwback . Louis Cardinals. 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Pakistan 255 for 8 (Aslam 74, Misbah 53, Younis 51, Sarfraz 51, Bishoo 4-74) v West IndiesScorecard and ball-by-ball details After losing another toss and having to bowl again, West Indies rocked Pakistan with Shannon Gabriels two wickets in the first over, and had a productive final session to leave Pakistan at 255 for 8 by the end of the first day in Sharjah. Sami Aslam, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq and Sarfraz Ahmed all made fifties, but Pakistan were pegged back by untimely setbacks, partly of their own making.Resuming at 148 for 3 after tea, Pakistan lost five wickets to concede the advantage to West Indies. Aslam, who had looked increasingly assured for his 74 off 172, was the first to depart. In the first over of the session, he gloved a reverse sweep over the wicketkeeper but Jason Holder ran around from first slip to take a simple catch. Misbah and Sarfraz then added 80 at more than four runs an over, before the Pakistan captain also perished to a reverse sweep that went wrong. Legspiner Devendra Bishoo was the bowler on both occasions and he finished with 4 for 74.That was the start of Pakistans silly season. Mohammad Nawaz charged at Bishoo, did not get anywhere near the pitch of the ball and was comprehensively beaten to set up a straightforward stumping. Sarfraz, having brought up an enterprising fifty, drove away from his body, off Gabriel, to drag the ball back onto his stumps. When Bishoo beat Wahab Riazs limp forward prod to trap him lbw, Pakistan had lost their last four wickets for 18 runs. They added seven more, before bad light brought proceedings to a premature end, leaving Pakistan to rue the way they had relinquished a good position.It could have been worse. Misbah began his 49th Test in charge - a Pakistan record - by winning his third toss of the series and opting to bat yet again. But that was where the sense of déjà vu ended.Gabriel dismissed Azhar for a first-ball duck off just the second delivery of the match. Banging the ball in short of a length, he got it to rise awkwardly and swing away a touch, to hit the shoulder of the bat and provide a comfortable catch to Kraigg Brathwaite at second slip. It was the third time Gabriel had dismissed Azhar in the series.Then, Gabriel nipped one back into Shafiq to beat his bat and hit his pad. Itt looked like the ball may have been going down leg, but West Indies reviewed Paul Reiffels not-out decision and Hawk-Eye showed it hitting enough of leg stump to send the batsman on his way.ddddddddddddPakistan were 1 for 2.A good start for West Indies could have been even better had Marlon Samuels, fielding at cover, hit the stumps at the keepers end after Younis set off for a risky single in the second over. Sami Aslam would have been run-out by a distance.But as both batsmen settled in, they played some lovely shots. Younis timed a half-volley through midwicket for a boundary and followed that up with a gorgeous cover drive a few overs later. Aslam played a beautiful drive through mid-off and unleashed a number of sweeps and slog sweeps. The two put on 106 runs for the third wicket.Younis had a couple of lucky escapes in the 22nd over. He flicked a full ball from offspinner Roston Chase towards midwicket, where Leon Johnson, still wearing a helmet from his stint at a close-in position, dropped a tough catch. Two balls later, Younis charged out but missed a leg-side delivery; wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich fumbled the ball in his haste to effect the stumping and the batsman dived back in to safety.Chase eventually had his man when Younis, on 51, top-edged an attempted sweep to square leg, where Johnson made amends for his earlier drop.Pakistans biggest reprieve of the day came halfway through the second session. In the 43rd over, with Misbah batting on 6, Gabriel went up for a big lbw appeal and reviewed the not-out decision. It was a full ball that pitched on off and seemed to miss Misbahs bat before hitting the pad. Then it hit the back pad, creating two noises and therefore doubt in the on-field umpires mind. Without snicko or HotSpot to eliminate the possibility of an inside edge, third umpire Richard Illingworth felt there wasnt enough evidence to overturn the on-field call. Though the ball would have gone on to hit middle, Misbah survived and added another 47 to his score.But Pakistan frittered away their advantage after tea, allowing West Indies to work through their middle and lower orders and have the better of the opening day. ' ' '