After fairly consistent seasons for their respective connections, Mahogany, Excessive Force and Atomica headline contenders to be crowned Horse of the Year for 2022, as voting for the coveted accolade got underway recently.

A total of 17 committee members, including journalists and members of the promoting company, will cast their ballots to decide which horse will follow Nipster and Further and Beyond, who were voted Horse of the Year for 2020 and 2021 winners, respectively.

Atomica, a four-year-old chestnut filly by Nuclear Wayne – Honkeytonkville, won seven races, complemented by a second-place finish in 10 starts last year and earned over $14.1 million for trainer Gary Subratie, owner Don Wehby and breeder Karl Samuda. Among her victories were the Thornbird Stakes, 1,000 Guineas, the blue-riband Jamaica Derby, Portmore Cup and the Jamaica Cup. Atomica’s lone second-place finish was in the St Leger, as she just missed out on the Triple Crown, while her unplaced efforts were behind Mahogany in the Gold Cup and Excessive Force in the rich Mouttet Mile.

The American-bred Excessive Force, a six-year-old chestnut horse by Broken Vow – Fevered Kiss, won four races, complemented by a third-place finish in seven starts last year and earned over $13.2 million for trainer Philip Feanny, owner Collin Karjohn and breeders Mt Brilliant Farm LLC, Orrin Graham and Marette Farrell. Among this importee’s victories were the Port Royal Sprint and a stinging 40-1 upset in the rich Mouttet Mile, while his third-place finish was behind Mahogany in the Ian Levy Cup.

Meanwhile, Mahogany, a six-year-old chestnut horse by Sensational Slam – Mete-orite, won five races, complemented by two second-place finishes and one third-place finish in eight starts last year and earned just over $7 million for trainer Ian Parsard, owners Patrick Ellis, Henry Pratt, Thomas Pragnell and Karen Parsard, as well as breeder Clovis Metcalfe. Mahogany’s victories includes the Gold Cup and Ian Levy Cup, while his only finish outside of the top three was when he placed fourth behind Excessive Force in the Mouttet Mile.

Also to be decided are the categories of Most Improved Trainer and Most Improved Jockey. Both categories are headlined by champion trainer Jason DaCosta and champion jockey Dane Dawkins.