Oct 7, 2015 13:51:34 GMT -5
Cavallo, S u N f r O s T ~, and 1 more like this
Post by Ripley on Oct 7, 2015 13:51:34 GMT -5
While every other barn is focusing on their Breeders' Cup plans and workouts, Ripley Marsh is quite busy with something else. The redhead is a forward thinker. She doesn't ponder in the moment. She plans and plots meticulously, a genius of sorts. The owner of Witch Creek Stable is actually planning for Year Sixteen already. She gave us a taste of what is to come by updating us on the statuses of horses not quite ready for the Breeders' Cup in 2015.
Radiation Therapy: A surprise acquisition by Witch Creek Stables earlier this fall, Radiation Therapy has been flying under the radar. The good looking son of Belmont Stakes winner Radiance won three races in Year Fifteen, although the year isn't over yet. Standing at a glorious 16.3 hands tall, the colt has never looked better under Witch Creek's care. Plans are undetermined for the bay, although the main goal will be to get him to grade one range by fall of next year.
"We're taking things slowly with him. Brookson Wells, his jock, loves this stallion. Why wouldn't he? The colt is a three quarter sibling to Y14's Red Mile Champion, Supernatural, and we don't have his lines outside of her. He's athletic. He's got a beautiful mind on the track and he's already a photo ham. We're unsure what we'll do with him. At one point we were considering selling half a piece to someone else once he retired, but now we're not sure. We'll have to see what the big horse tells us and we'll go from there."
Proteus Prince: Witch Creek and Intrepid are at it again. This time a surprising swap has taken place between the long time barns. Witch Creek has taken in Proteus Prince and Flying Fashion in exchange for Y16 Triple Crown hopeful Uno Momento and the rising colt, Fire It Up. The rationale behind the swap isn't even understood at this point in time. Why would Witch Creek send an El Sol Del Mar colt, one of high status, to a competitor?
"I wish people would stop asking me what I was thinking. Honestly... I have better luck with older horses than horses aiming for the Triple Crown. I already have Enrapture heading for it. I don't need two horses. I did that the last two years. If I have one horse, I'll concentrate on the goal better. Besides... this isn't about Uno. This is about Proteus Prince. Everyone's so keen to write this horse off. Intrepid sent him to me hoping a change of scenery will be the difference.
Already I can see one. We're putting him through his paces on the turf and giving him a chance to let down before the serious work begins. We might experiment with him on the dirt. He's only ever run on the turf, but his pedigree says dirt should be no problem. Grade one is the plan. We'll race him through to the end of the year and see what Nick Landing thinks of him then.
Lethal Dose: The daughter of Lethal Knack was put on the sidelines by her trainer at the beginning of November after another second place finish. Her form was sensational all season, but she only won four races and not since June Week One. Ripley is adamant that the filly will be better than this. She will run at five and take a shot at grade one.
"She's been doing wonderful at the barn. We have her jogging in the mornings. She needs some work to keep her busy. I'm very pleased with how much weight she's put on. She got a little tired, but her class really defined her season. Laura knows this mare and she thinks her best days are ahead of her. I'm in no rush for her to be a mama and it's nice to have a horse on the string longer, especially one of her quality."
Nocturnal Runaway: The silver daughter of Night Stalker and Train Wreck has been virtually hidden. She's a lean filly who hasn't seemed to develop her preference for surface. She won two races on the dirt and two on the turf, all of which were at seven furlongs in distance. She's run quite frequently this season with only two out of the money finishes. She won a prep for the Turf Triple Tiara and finished second in the Cotillion. She's a sneaky good filly, but the question is what will she become.
"We're not sure ourselves. She's a bit of a challenge like all Night Stalker foals. She's a little flighty, but she tries hard every time. We're not sure if she likes beyond ten furlongs, but she sure has a ton of will and class. Maggiletti Reynolds will be her jockey in Year Sixteen. We think she'll figure her out like she did Miss Josephine, who's just one win from Grade One herself."
Vagabond: Can he really be considered under the radar? The Winged Heir horse has screamed talent since he first started racing. For the second year in a row, Vagabond will not be going to the Breeders' Cup. He's won three Horse Of The Year races in Year Fifteen including a prep for the Turf Triple Crown. He finished third in both the Preakness Champion and Belmont Turf Classic and he won the nine furlong Flashpoint Derby just recently over the dirt. He's versatile and intriguing.
"I can't say anything bad about Vagabond. He's not difficult. He's perfect. He runs hard, he tries hard and he always brings his A-game. He's been a little slower to come around than the other colts, namely Sun King, Sultan and Pride, but he's a diamond. I'm so excited for the day this colt gets his name in the spotlight. He's just such a character and he'll deserve every bit of praise. He's probably the favorite of the entire barn. As for where you'll see him next year...We're not sure. We hope to finally get him in the Breeders' Cup. He's cool enough that he could run in the Mile, Turf or Turf Marathon. Two more wins until he makes grade one and then the sky is the limit. We already plan on running him at five so there's no rush for this big beauty."
Radiation Therapy: A surprise acquisition by Witch Creek Stables earlier this fall, Radiation Therapy has been flying under the radar. The good looking son of Belmont Stakes winner Radiance won three races in Year Fifteen, although the year isn't over yet. Standing at a glorious 16.3 hands tall, the colt has never looked better under Witch Creek's care. Plans are undetermined for the bay, although the main goal will be to get him to grade one range by fall of next year.
"We're taking things slowly with him. Brookson Wells, his jock, loves this stallion. Why wouldn't he? The colt is a three quarter sibling to Y14's Red Mile Champion, Supernatural, and we don't have his lines outside of her. He's athletic. He's got a beautiful mind on the track and he's already a photo ham. We're unsure what we'll do with him. At one point we were considering selling half a piece to someone else once he retired, but now we're not sure. We'll have to see what the big horse tells us and we'll go from there."
Proteus Prince: Witch Creek and Intrepid are at it again. This time a surprising swap has taken place between the long time barns. Witch Creek has taken in Proteus Prince and Flying Fashion in exchange for Y16 Triple Crown hopeful Uno Momento and the rising colt, Fire It Up. The rationale behind the swap isn't even understood at this point in time. Why would Witch Creek send an El Sol Del Mar colt, one of high status, to a competitor?
"I wish people would stop asking me what I was thinking. Honestly... I have better luck with older horses than horses aiming for the Triple Crown. I already have Enrapture heading for it. I don't need two horses. I did that the last two years. If I have one horse, I'll concentrate on the goal better. Besides... this isn't about Uno. This is about Proteus Prince. Everyone's so keen to write this horse off. Intrepid sent him to me hoping a change of scenery will be the difference.
Already I can see one. We're putting him through his paces on the turf and giving him a chance to let down before the serious work begins. We might experiment with him on the dirt. He's only ever run on the turf, but his pedigree says dirt should be no problem. Grade one is the plan. We'll race him through to the end of the year and see what Nick Landing thinks of him then.
Lethal Dose: The daughter of Lethal Knack was put on the sidelines by her trainer at the beginning of November after another second place finish. Her form was sensational all season, but she only won four races and not since June Week One. Ripley is adamant that the filly will be better than this. She will run at five and take a shot at grade one.
"She's been doing wonderful at the barn. We have her jogging in the mornings. She needs some work to keep her busy. I'm very pleased with how much weight she's put on. She got a little tired, but her class really defined her season. Laura knows this mare and she thinks her best days are ahead of her. I'm in no rush for her to be a mama and it's nice to have a horse on the string longer, especially one of her quality."
Nocturnal Runaway: The silver daughter of Night Stalker and Train Wreck has been virtually hidden. She's a lean filly who hasn't seemed to develop her preference for surface. She won two races on the dirt and two on the turf, all of which were at seven furlongs in distance. She's run quite frequently this season with only two out of the money finishes. She won a prep for the Turf Triple Tiara and finished second in the Cotillion. She's a sneaky good filly, but the question is what will she become.
"We're not sure ourselves. She's a bit of a challenge like all Night Stalker foals. She's a little flighty, but she tries hard every time. We're not sure if she likes beyond ten furlongs, but she sure has a ton of will and class. Maggiletti Reynolds will be her jockey in Year Sixteen. We think she'll figure her out like she did Miss Josephine, who's just one win from Grade One herself."
Vagabond: Can he really be considered under the radar? The Winged Heir horse has screamed talent since he first started racing. For the second year in a row, Vagabond will not be going to the Breeders' Cup. He's won three Horse Of The Year races in Year Fifteen including a prep for the Turf Triple Crown. He finished third in both the Preakness Champion and Belmont Turf Classic and he won the nine furlong Flashpoint Derby just recently over the dirt. He's versatile and intriguing.
"I can't say anything bad about Vagabond. He's not difficult. He's perfect. He runs hard, he tries hard and he always brings his A-game. He's been a little slower to come around than the other colts, namely Sun King, Sultan and Pride, but he's a diamond. I'm so excited for the day this colt gets his name in the spotlight. He's just such a character and he'll deserve every bit of praise. He's probably the favorite of the entire barn. As for where you'll see him next year...We're not sure. We hope to finally get him in the Breeders' Cup. He's cool enough that he could run in the Mile, Turf or Turf Marathon. Two more wins until he makes grade one and then the sky is the limit. We already plan on running him at five so there's no rush for this big beauty."
