Long time discussion and debate. Similar to the talk about Beau Jangles and possibly getting HOTY. It's a cross-border, political, etc., type of discussion. The colt is again # 1 in the polls and while it comes from the USHWA, the Dan Patch Horse of the Year award is very coveted. Will he become the first Dan Patch Horse of the Year winner.....althou gh he never raced in the US. Forget about that, it is rare for any 2yo to get HOTY, and the last one who did also went undefeated in 12 starts as a 2yo! Other than that, I can only remember Niatross and Bret Hanover getting it.
I think there is, or used to be a requirement for HOTY, that the horse races in the US at least twice. Not sure if that still stands. Not taking anything away from some of the other legit contenders, but I think you can make a hell of a case for Beau Jangles. In today's day and age, aside from where the BC is held, many feel the biggest, most prestigious, most important, races are north of the border.