Post by Ripley on Nov 20, 2015 13:56:31 GMT -5
CHECK UP ON YOUR FAVORITE WITCH CREEK HORSES BELOW
While Witch Creek concentrates on the majority of their two year old workouts, they have generated a report about the other horses on the string. Find out how your favorites transformed between Year Fifteen and Year Sixteen. Find out which horses, Witch Creek believes are going to improve massively going into the new year and which horses are expected to continue to perform at a high level.
THE EXPERIENCED
LETHAL DOSE
If you ask anyone who their favorite horse is in the barn, you might be surprised to find out that it's Lethal Dose. There's just something about her that makes the crew at WCS get excited. She hasn't been the ultra powerful runner, but she has been a consistent figure as a dirt distaff runner. She wasn't exactly ready last year to run in the Breeders' Cup, but this year the big girl is getting another chance at glory. She's been knocking at the door for the last two years. Is this finally it?
"Lethal Dose has been training up a storm since December. She's one horse that I can't wait to get back out on the track because she'll get that early season confidence boost while the big guys are out of action for a little bit. She breezed a strong seven furlongs around the dirt track in 1:24 and did so easy. I know Laura (her regular rider) is awfully excited to get into a race. Perhaps Lee will be the first mare we have to take us to the distaff championship."
MISS JOSEPHINE
A surprise addition to the Year Sixteen racing roster, Miss Josephine was almost headed out to pasture in preparation for Year Seventeen date with Abastor. Not so anymore, however. She's one win from grade one and after an accidental entry in a dirt race, Witch Creek has decided to bring the grand mare back for more. Miss Josephine had a sensational season in the undercards last year, but Witch Creek doesn't plan on playing nice by staying in the undercards. Miss Josephine clocked a six furlong workout around the synthetic track in 1:09 3/5, absolutely brilliant and galloped out monstrously.
"We had her back at the farm for a week or two and she came out of the dirt race looking for blood. She never got to run her race. We thought about breeding her but then the plan to breed to Abastor changed and we thought 'why not run her one more season.' We had this huge year planned for her in Year Fifteen, but seconditis kept us down too long. She'll race the entire season and hopefully, this year she'll be in the Breeders' Cup in December.
RADIATION THERAPY
The bay son of Radiance was a surprise late season pick up in September of Year Fifteen. Since Witch Creek acquired him, he's run in seven races and won three of them, seemingly getting better the more he raced. He concluded Year Fifteen with a foundation for Year Sixteen. According to many on the team, Radiation Therapy is actually a very interesting horse to be around. He is a sulker until you get him on the track. His latest workout was five furlongs in 1:01, but the dirt was playing slower toward the end of the work day so the time is actually impressive.
"He's ready to run and we're ready to get back to the normal cards. The Breeders' Cup was fun, but I'm glad Year Fifteen's over. I feel almost as loaded in the older horse division as I did going into Year Fourteen with Cross My Heart, Bella Luna and Mastermind. This one stacks the deck for the dirt division and we'll be juggling cards. Hopefully, we can keep him separate from Saintly Touch and Sun King with the new addition of Battlestone's calendar. We feel he's going to do really well and we can't wait to take him to the grade one level."
CASUALTY OF WAR
Witch Creek Stable has always been high on this particular stallion. He's shown moments of sheer brilliance and has been incredibly consistent throughout his career. He runs on turf and dirt, from eight furlongs to twelve and he does it with an effortless ease that knocks your socks off. The Queen's Plate winner is back for more as a four year old and grade one racehorse. His four year old campaign is not quite set in stone just yet.
"Sultan is a conundrum to us because he can do anything. We have a horse with options that has a dangerous tactical speed for both surface surfaces and at any distance. He did very well over the dirt last season and as a two year old he did great on the turf. We worked him on the dirt just last week, sending him six furlongs in 1:10 and change--very fast and very impressive. He's a very special horse to us and he's only getting better. This year the plan is to prove him as a top class runner. His first start will be January Week Two in the Dubai World Marathon. After that, it's either going to be the Eclipse Stakes over the turf or the Unicorn Horn Dirt Classic."
SAINTLY TOUCH
Somewhat surprisingly, Saintly Touch has been overshadowed on several occasions in Year Fifteen, but in the heart and mind of Ripley Marsh, the near black stallion is coming to the forefront. He's one of the last major sons of Night Stalker and he has the classic attitude to boot. He's grown quite a bit since we last saw him running third in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Marathon. Muscular, impressive and most of all, full of attitude. We wonder what this change is that has overcome him, but if his recent workout has anything to say, Saint truly might be full grown up.
"Yes... his last workout was stunning, truthfully. We got him back on track a week after the Breeders' Cup. He's a very hardy horse and that third place in the twelve furlong race didn't really take much out of him. He doesn't mind twelve furlong distances, but he seems most potent at the shorter ones, nine to eleven furlongs. We might try him around eight furlongs this year and see how he likes a one turn mile like the Penn National and Cigar Mile. Those are sire making races and his is a sire line I can't wait to instill in my breeding program. His workout at four furlongs in :45 4/5 was unbelievable. He's very sharp right now. We'll work him out again the week before the Clark Handicap, but he's going to be more controlled so that we have something left for his first start back."
SPOTLIGHT PRIDE
This bright red horse really needs zero introduction out on the track. There's only one fire engine red horse that goes to the front every single race and blazes his opponents into the ground. The Green Mile Series Champion took his career to a whole new level with a seriously impressive victory over older horses in the Breeders' Cup Mile. He's been good his whole career, but he might just be great. According to Ripley and Reese, that's the goal for Year Sixteen: Prove You Are Great.
"We've kept Pride in his comfort zone throughout his first two seasons on the track. In 32 starts on the track, he's only gone beyond nine furlongs a total of six times. Part of that is because we had Vagabond and Casualty Of War and the other part is Pride was just that good at shorter distances. Why screw with a brilliant thing? Beyond ten furlongs, Pride has beaten older horses and held his own against the long distance horses in the Turf Triple Crown. This year, the plan is to stretch him out and see what he's made of against the best turf horses. We don't intend to slow his speed down too much, but going twelve furlongs might actually be to his benefit. Is anyone really going to want to go head and head with Pride through twelve furlongs? We don't think so, but we won't know until the time comes. He's sharp right now for the Dubai World Mile, his final chance to prove his class at eight furlongs. We worked him out lightly, four furlongs in :46 2/5, which is light for this boy, and are pretty much set for the first start of the season."
SUN KING
This colt is one hot tamale! A son of Native Flame and Hall of Famer El Sol Del Mar, Sun King has been nearly unstoppable since he first ran in Year Fourteen. He was the Overall Mile Champion and Overall Red Mile Champion. He won the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and took down several sprinter horse of the year races. All signs from the Witch Creek camp are pointing to this handsome colt going longer in Year Sixteen, however. He worked seven furlongs in 1:22 3/5, galloping out another furlong impressively in 1:34. That's almost racehorse time folks and he was not even URGED.
"He's spooky good right now. That Breeders' Cup race may have looked close, but Sun King was kicking and acting foolish the day after. We got home and I had Brooks take him out around the synthetic track because he was almost dangerous. The goal is to run at nine and ten furlongs this year. Our end year goal might actually be the Breeders' Cup Classic with him. His pedigree says that the race is well within his scope. His mom won the Breeders' Cup Classic, his dad was a Triple Crown contender and his half-siblings on both sides have been very effective at longer distances. King has a chance to make his own name and legacy. He's already a champion, but it's time to make him a legend.
TABOO
With the retirement of Nirvana, Taboo has become Witch Creek's number one older mare for Year Sixteen. And she totally deserves that title. She was incredibly underrated at the age of three and did serious damage will Call Me Crooked toyed with the boys. Once a neurotic basketcase, Tabz has become a mature and sensational race mare. Some of her old nervous quirks exist, but they have been effectively channeled into her career. It doesn't matter where this girl goes because she handles every surface at the middle distances quite amazingly.
"She worked five furlongs in 59 3/5 in hand around the synthetic track. She's a great little horse and we hope to draw more attention to her talent this year. She'll make her first start in the New Year Dirt Sprint and then we'll see where we go from there. She's ready for anything and her loss to older mares in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Sprint really has her to prove herself. She's trained very forwardly ever since and it looks like she may be our best sprinter for every sprint division, male or female."
VAGABOND
This horse could technically be in the ones to watch category because he truly is one to watch. He hasn't been out in the open or as fiercely campaigned as Witch Creek's other top horses, but is acknowledged as being one of the most talent. He has a massive stride, an impressive way of going and he just acts like a professional every single time he hits the track. Vagabond finished out his season with a second place finish in the Thornfield Stakes on dirt. He's two wins from being a grade one runner and the first major goal is getting that status for the handsome son of Winged Heir.
He worked out six furlongs in 1:11 and is still two works away from being fully ready for his January Week Four debut in the Sweet Victory Stakes. "He's a big, heavy type and he put on a little weight in his downtime. We're chipping it off and laying some great foundation for a campaign this year. We'll probably point him so some distance turf races and keep him away from Spotlight Pride. We're really high on him and think he can be a potential game changer for us as both a runner and a future stud prospect."
THE POWERHOUSES
ARTEMIS' GLORY
She was the least expected horse to take command in her division as a juvenile, but boy did she ever. She won eight races last year, capping the year off with an authoritative victory in the Juvenile Turf Sprint by a length over colt Optical Illusion. She began serious training this week with her first work back after the Breeders' Cup. She went a brilliant four furlongs in :46 2/5 over the synthetic indoor track.
Trainer Ripley Marsh seemed very impressed with the daughter of Positively Precious. "We didn't want to try her on the dirt, even though we do think she's as proficient over that surface, and our outdoor turf track is being kept in pristine condition for our juveniles, but boy when Maggie turned her loose, Artemis flew. She's probably even better"
Any hopes of Artemis following Cross My Heart, Paranormal Hunter and Taboo as filly division dominants? "We'll see, but at this point she's better than all of them were as juveniles, in terms of record. She'll make her first start of the year in January Week Three in the Brilliant Finish Stakes, the same race that Para made her debut in Year Fourteen.
AWESTRUCK
Some people might be surprised to see this particular filly among Notorious and Artemis' Glory, but Witch Creek has declared her a very big threat for the Triple Crown races. According to her connections, Awestruck has been really tough since her fourth place effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. It's almost as if she never even ran her race, according to Reese Balling Jones, her regular rider.
Tru was so tough that they put her back to work a week early and sent her out for a sizzling five furlong workout in 1:00 and change over the dirt. "That really changed the ballgame for us. We were really hoping we could split her away from Enrapture and the Turf Tiara direction seemed to work for a little bit. However, this workout really sealed the deal. She's a big, tough filly and we're thinking that the Triple Crown is where she'll ultimately end up. If not that, Battlestone Downs has the distance series and we'll go there. However... at this point we truly believe a surface swap will flip her switch. She'll make her first start back in Year Sixteen in the Addiction Stakes, January Week Two on the dirt."
NOTORIOUS
Few people can resist the studly charms of Notorious. One of only two sons of Like A Cheetah--the other being Witch Creek's hot second year stud Sweeto Cheeto--Notorious is already flashing his future abilities for the stud barn, but not yet for this handsome upstart. He has at least two more seasons on the track and has a date with the Turf Triple Crown versus rival World Dominion and a slew of tough ladies, including BC Juvenile winner Like A Lady.
"He's been doing very well since his third place finish in the Juvenile Turf. The pace wasn't exactly fast, but he performed well enough. I really wanted to avoid sticking blinkers on him, but if we're going to beat these other horses, we might have to put some speed back into the equation earlier in the race. He breezed in them the other day around the synthetic track. He knocked out five furlongs in 1:00 3/5, getting each furlong faster than the next. We'll sharpen him up until his first start in the Unicorn Horn Turf at Green Horse Fields. Still have a few kinks to work out, but once we get this guy rolling, look out."
THE ONES TO WATCH
COVETED FAITH
The dark bay daughter of GS Ultimate Challenge showed a whole lot of promise at the start of her juvenile season. She whipped off three impressive victories and rolled to showstopping top finishes before hitting a sudden slump. Ripley and the crew are chalking it up to immaturity and a need for experience. Given the chance to grow and learn, Coveted Faith has finally hit her best stride. She notched her grade four victory late in the season and her workouts suggest that she is only getting better with age.
"We think it's the GS Ultimate Challenge in her. We're finally getting awesome times from her, wiggling out that promise. She's a bit of a hothead, Faith is, but Justin's learning to work her out of it. He did well enough to get Dame's ego out of the way and we have faith that he'll do the same with this one. Her latest workout on the synthetic track was five furlongs in 1:00 flat. She's quick as a whip right now and we're expecting her to run impressively. Plans call for her to run on the turf and point toward the Turf Tiara. She'll make her first start back at Battlestone Downs and we'll chug along until she says otherwise."
ENRAPTURE
Coveted Faith isn't the only one being re-routed. Enrapture ran one hell of a season, finishing only twice out of the money in sixteen starts. Her connections took a gamble in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, but a lack of pace resulted in Ennie's inability to close on her competition. The bay daughter of Triple Crown winner Furious Passion is going to be back for more. Her workouts have been terrific with the recent addition of blinkers. She cruised through six furlongs in 1:11, finishing awfully quickly for seven furlongs in 1:22. She's a freight train in training and she's expected to make a bid for the Triple Tiara.
"Enrapture was supposed to be the Triple Crown horse until Uno was bred and raced. When we decided to send Uno to Intrepid Racing, we thought, perhaps, that Ennie could be the one. Unfortunately, we think that the distance races while in her wheelhouse just don't set up for her. She'll go for the miles up to nine furlongs because that's where we think she'll get pace. Hopefully, the blinkers make a difference in her running style and we can stretch her back out. We think she's a top filly, know she is a top filly, but she just needs all the support she can get at the moment."
FIRESTORM
Questions are being raised over this fine son of Kyoujin. His half-brother, Wyvern, and him are beginning to make some noise behind the obvious top juvenile colt favorites. A half-brother to recently retired Canadian Triple Crown winner, Anodyne, Firestorm lit to two impressive late season victories. He's become the second best colt on three year old roster and he has every reason to improve going into his three year old campaign. Word has it that if Awestruck is not ready for the Triple Crown and this guy is, Firestorm might just be the one representing Witch Creek in the three jewels.
"We've been pleasantly surprised by Firestorm. His development from two to three has been very impressive and he's overcome having a later start to his career with aplomb. He recently worked on the dirt track in 1:00 3/5, a very quick workout for him so we know he's sharp. We haven't really tested him at a distance yet, but he's won at ten furlongs and we definitely feel that there are no distance limitations. The longer the better most likely. We'll experiment before the Derby and see if we have the kind of horse we think we have. If he's not ready or doesn't take to the stretch out, there's always the distance series at Battlestone Downs or the Red Mile. We'll know more by summer, but I think the racing world will get a kick out of him when he makes his debut."
NOCTURNAL RUNAWAY
The silver filly has become a sort of enigma for Ripley Marsh. She's a consistent bugger with a lot of talent and ability going long, short, turf, dirt. She's terrific to train, has focus, but she just hasn't connected with the wire all that much. Part of that has to do with Nocturnal Runaway's moodiness. "When Noc is on, she is dead on. She can be a bit of a pain during her heat cycles, but for the most part she is easy to manage. When Noc loses she tends to sulk and get all crabby. When she wins, you can barely keep her on the ground. She hasn't seen the winner's circle since August, but I'm not ready to give up on this Night Stalker daughter.
She's got serious skills. We breezed her on the turf and caught her going three furlongs in :37 and 3/5 after galloping for a mile and a quarter. We want to play around with her some more this season and see where she might run best. She's connected with the wire at seven furlongs so maybe she wants to be a miler. We won't know with until we hit the track again. She'll probably stay turf the majority of the time, but she'll run on any surface. Her first start will be in the Brilli Flash Stake Derby on the dirt at eight furlongs. We'll play it by ear because we'd like to keep her around through Year Seventeen. We know we haven't hit her best yet and that's the most exciting part about this mare."
SWING DANCER
Many people weren't paying that much attention to Popcorn Blitz's offspring until Fusillade made them stand up and take notice for Intrepid Racing. After that handsome colt became a star performer, they began to eye Swing Dancer. The gray filly might have the most upside of any of the trainees with Witch Creek Stable. She's got a pedigree worth buying into and the heart of a lion. Due to having multiple ownerships as a juvenile, Danny was a frequent flier on the tracks and gained more than enough experience to benefit her going into the new season. Now a grade four three year old, Swing Dancer is ready to get back on track for a swing at the dirt sprinter tiaras.
"We are very excited for Swing Dancer's debut and think people will immediately notice the difference in how she handles herself. She's still very playful, but she's a lot more focused on her task. She's filled out a ton and doesn't look just like the 15.3 hand filly she is. She's tough as nails and recently shot through a four furlong test in :46 4/5. She's hot to trot and will be out there on the tracks January Week Two. We have plenty of time to get her fine tuned for the Sprinter Tiara and there will be a lot less urgency this season than last."
While Witch Creek concentrates on the majority of their two year old workouts, they have generated a report about the other horses on the string. Find out how your favorites transformed between Year Fifteen and Year Sixteen. Find out which horses, Witch Creek believes are going to improve massively going into the new year and which horses are expected to continue to perform at a high level.
THE EXPERIENCED
LETHAL DOSE
If you ask anyone who their favorite horse is in the barn, you might be surprised to find out that it's Lethal Dose. There's just something about her that makes the crew at WCS get excited. She hasn't been the ultra powerful runner, but she has been a consistent figure as a dirt distaff runner. She wasn't exactly ready last year to run in the Breeders' Cup, but this year the big girl is getting another chance at glory. She's been knocking at the door for the last two years. Is this finally it?
"Lethal Dose has been training up a storm since December. She's one horse that I can't wait to get back out on the track because she'll get that early season confidence boost while the big guys are out of action for a little bit. She breezed a strong seven furlongs around the dirt track in 1:24 and did so easy. I know Laura (her regular rider) is awfully excited to get into a race. Perhaps Lee will be the first mare we have to take us to the distaff championship."
MISS JOSEPHINE
A surprise addition to the Year Sixteen racing roster, Miss Josephine was almost headed out to pasture in preparation for Year Seventeen date with Abastor. Not so anymore, however. She's one win from grade one and after an accidental entry in a dirt race, Witch Creek has decided to bring the grand mare back for more. Miss Josephine had a sensational season in the undercards last year, but Witch Creek doesn't plan on playing nice by staying in the undercards. Miss Josephine clocked a six furlong workout around the synthetic track in 1:09 3/5, absolutely brilliant and galloped out monstrously.
"We had her back at the farm for a week or two and she came out of the dirt race looking for blood. She never got to run her race. We thought about breeding her but then the plan to breed to Abastor changed and we thought 'why not run her one more season.' We had this huge year planned for her in Year Fifteen, but seconditis kept us down too long. She'll race the entire season and hopefully, this year she'll be in the Breeders' Cup in December.
RADIATION THERAPY
The bay son of Radiance was a surprise late season pick up in September of Year Fifteen. Since Witch Creek acquired him, he's run in seven races and won three of them, seemingly getting better the more he raced. He concluded Year Fifteen with a foundation for Year Sixteen. According to many on the team, Radiation Therapy is actually a very interesting horse to be around. He is a sulker until you get him on the track. His latest workout was five furlongs in 1:01, but the dirt was playing slower toward the end of the work day so the time is actually impressive.
"He's ready to run and we're ready to get back to the normal cards. The Breeders' Cup was fun, but I'm glad Year Fifteen's over. I feel almost as loaded in the older horse division as I did going into Year Fourteen with Cross My Heart, Bella Luna and Mastermind. This one stacks the deck for the dirt division and we'll be juggling cards. Hopefully, we can keep him separate from Saintly Touch and Sun King with the new addition of Battlestone's calendar. We feel he's going to do really well and we can't wait to take him to the grade one level."
CASUALTY OF WAR
Witch Creek Stable has always been high on this particular stallion. He's shown moments of sheer brilliance and has been incredibly consistent throughout his career. He runs on turf and dirt, from eight furlongs to twelve and he does it with an effortless ease that knocks your socks off. The Queen's Plate winner is back for more as a four year old and grade one racehorse. His four year old campaign is not quite set in stone just yet.
"Sultan is a conundrum to us because he can do anything. We have a horse with options that has a dangerous tactical speed for both surface surfaces and at any distance. He did very well over the dirt last season and as a two year old he did great on the turf. We worked him on the dirt just last week, sending him six furlongs in 1:10 and change--very fast and very impressive. He's a very special horse to us and he's only getting better. This year the plan is to prove him as a top class runner. His first start will be January Week Two in the Dubai World Marathon. After that, it's either going to be the Eclipse Stakes over the turf or the Unicorn Horn Dirt Classic."
SAINTLY TOUCH
Somewhat surprisingly, Saintly Touch has been overshadowed on several occasions in Year Fifteen, but in the heart and mind of Ripley Marsh, the near black stallion is coming to the forefront. He's one of the last major sons of Night Stalker and he has the classic attitude to boot. He's grown quite a bit since we last saw him running third in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Marathon. Muscular, impressive and most of all, full of attitude. We wonder what this change is that has overcome him, but if his recent workout has anything to say, Saint truly might be full grown up.
"Yes... his last workout was stunning, truthfully. We got him back on track a week after the Breeders' Cup. He's a very hardy horse and that third place in the twelve furlong race didn't really take much out of him. He doesn't mind twelve furlong distances, but he seems most potent at the shorter ones, nine to eleven furlongs. We might try him around eight furlongs this year and see how he likes a one turn mile like the Penn National and Cigar Mile. Those are sire making races and his is a sire line I can't wait to instill in my breeding program. His workout at four furlongs in :45 4/5 was unbelievable. He's very sharp right now. We'll work him out again the week before the Clark Handicap, but he's going to be more controlled so that we have something left for his first start back."
SPOTLIGHT PRIDE
This bright red horse really needs zero introduction out on the track. There's only one fire engine red horse that goes to the front every single race and blazes his opponents into the ground. The Green Mile Series Champion took his career to a whole new level with a seriously impressive victory over older horses in the Breeders' Cup Mile. He's been good his whole career, but he might just be great. According to Ripley and Reese, that's the goal for Year Sixteen: Prove You Are Great.
"We've kept Pride in his comfort zone throughout his first two seasons on the track. In 32 starts on the track, he's only gone beyond nine furlongs a total of six times. Part of that is because we had Vagabond and Casualty Of War and the other part is Pride was just that good at shorter distances. Why screw with a brilliant thing? Beyond ten furlongs, Pride has beaten older horses and held his own against the long distance horses in the Turf Triple Crown. This year, the plan is to stretch him out and see what he's made of against the best turf horses. We don't intend to slow his speed down too much, but going twelve furlongs might actually be to his benefit. Is anyone really going to want to go head and head with Pride through twelve furlongs? We don't think so, but we won't know until the time comes. He's sharp right now for the Dubai World Mile, his final chance to prove his class at eight furlongs. We worked him out lightly, four furlongs in :46 2/5, which is light for this boy, and are pretty much set for the first start of the season."
SUN KING
This colt is one hot tamale! A son of Native Flame and Hall of Famer El Sol Del Mar, Sun King has been nearly unstoppable since he first ran in Year Fourteen. He was the Overall Mile Champion and Overall Red Mile Champion. He won the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and took down several sprinter horse of the year races. All signs from the Witch Creek camp are pointing to this handsome colt going longer in Year Sixteen, however. He worked seven furlongs in 1:22 3/5, galloping out another furlong impressively in 1:34. That's almost racehorse time folks and he was not even URGED.
"He's spooky good right now. That Breeders' Cup race may have looked close, but Sun King was kicking and acting foolish the day after. We got home and I had Brooks take him out around the synthetic track because he was almost dangerous. The goal is to run at nine and ten furlongs this year. Our end year goal might actually be the Breeders' Cup Classic with him. His pedigree says that the race is well within his scope. His mom won the Breeders' Cup Classic, his dad was a Triple Crown contender and his half-siblings on both sides have been very effective at longer distances. King has a chance to make his own name and legacy. He's already a champion, but it's time to make him a legend.
TABOO
With the retirement of Nirvana, Taboo has become Witch Creek's number one older mare for Year Sixteen. And she totally deserves that title. She was incredibly underrated at the age of three and did serious damage will Call Me Crooked toyed with the boys. Once a neurotic basketcase, Tabz has become a mature and sensational race mare. Some of her old nervous quirks exist, but they have been effectively channeled into her career. It doesn't matter where this girl goes because she handles every surface at the middle distances quite amazingly.
"She worked five furlongs in 59 3/5 in hand around the synthetic track. She's a great little horse and we hope to draw more attention to her talent this year. She'll make her first start in the New Year Dirt Sprint and then we'll see where we go from there. She's ready for anything and her loss to older mares in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Sprint really has her to prove herself. She's trained very forwardly ever since and it looks like she may be our best sprinter for every sprint division, male or female."
VAGABOND
This horse could technically be in the ones to watch category because he truly is one to watch. He hasn't been out in the open or as fiercely campaigned as Witch Creek's other top horses, but is acknowledged as being one of the most talent. He has a massive stride, an impressive way of going and he just acts like a professional every single time he hits the track. Vagabond finished out his season with a second place finish in the Thornfield Stakes on dirt. He's two wins from being a grade one runner and the first major goal is getting that status for the handsome son of Winged Heir.
He worked out six furlongs in 1:11 and is still two works away from being fully ready for his January Week Four debut in the Sweet Victory Stakes. "He's a big, heavy type and he put on a little weight in his downtime. We're chipping it off and laying some great foundation for a campaign this year. We'll probably point him so some distance turf races and keep him away from Spotlight Pride. We're really high on him and think he can be a potential game changer for us as both a runner and a future stud prospect."
THE POWERHOUSES
ARTEMIS' GLORY
She was the least expected horse to take command in her division as a juvenile, but boy did she ever. She won eight races last year, capping the year off with an authoritative victory in the Juvenile Turf Sprint by a length over colt Optical Illusion. She began serious training this week with her first work back after the Breeders' Cup. She went a brilliant four furlongs in :46 2/5 over the synthetic indoor track.
Trainer Ripley Marsh seemed very impressed with the daughter of Positively Precious. "We didn't want to try her on the dirt, even though we do think she's as proficient over that surface, and our outdoor turf track is being kept in pristine condition for our juveniles, but boy when Maggie turned her loose, Artemis flew. She's probably even better"
Any hopes of Artemis following Cross My Heart, Paranormal Hunter and Taboo as filly division dominants? "We'll see, but at this point she's better than all of them were as juveniles, in terms of record. She'll make her first start of the year in January Week Three in the Brilliant Finish Stakes, the same race that Para made her debut in Year Fourteen.
AWESTRUCK
Some people might be surprised to see this particular filly among Notorious and Artemis' Glory, but Witch Creek has declared her a very big threat for the Triple Crown races. According to her connections, Awestruck has been really tough since her fourth place effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. It's almost as if she never even ran her race, according to Reese Balling Jones, her regular rider.
Tru was so tough that they put her back to work a week early and sent her out for a sizzling five furlong workout in 1:00 and change over the dirt. "That really changed the ballgame for us. We were really hoping we could split her away from Enrapture and the Turf Tiara direction seemed to work for a little bit. However, this workout really sealed the deal. She's a big, tough filly and we're thinking that the Triple Crown is where she'll ultimately end up. If not that, Battlestone Downs has the distance series and we'll go there. However... at this point we truly believe a surface swap will flip her switch. She'll make her first start back in Year Sixteen in the Addiction Stakes, January Week Two on the dirt."
NOTORIOUS
Few people can resist the studly charms of Notorious. One of only two sons of Like A Cheetah--the other being Witch Creek's hot second year stud Sweeto Cheeto--Notorious is already flashing his future abilities for the stud barn, but not yet for this handsome upstart. He has at least two more seasons on the track and has a date with the Turf Triple Crown versus rival World Dominion and a slew of tough ladies, including BC Juvenile winner Like A Lady.
"He's been doing very well since his third place finish in the Juvenile Turf. The pace wasn't exactly fast, but he performed well enough. I really wanted to avoid sticking blinkers on him, but if we're going to beat these other horses, we might have to put some speed back into the equation earlier in the race. He breezed in them the other day around the synthetic track. He knocked out five furlongs in 1:00 3/5, getting each furlong faster than the next. We'll sharpen him up until his first start in the Unicorn Horn Turf at Green Horse Fields. Still have a few kinks to work out, but once we get this guy rolling, look out."
THE ONES TO WATCH
COVETED FAITH
The dark bay daughter of GS Ultimate Challenge showed a whole lot of promise at the start of her juvenile season. She whipped off three impressive victories and rolled to showstopping top finishes before hitting a sudden slump. Ripley and the crew are chalking it up to immaturity and a need for experience. Given the chance to grow and learn, Coveted Faith has finally hit her best stride. She notched her grade four victory late in the season and her workouts suggest that she is only getting better with age.
"We think it's the GS Ultimate Challenge in her. We're finally getting awesome times from her, wiggling out that promise. She's a bit of a hothead, Faith is, but Justin's learning to work her out of it. He did well enough to get Dame's ego out of the way and we have faith that he'll do the same with this one. Her latest workout on the synthetic track was five furlongs in 1:00 flat. She's quick as a whip right now and we're expecting her to run impressively. Plans call for her to run on the turf and point toward the Turf Tiara. She'll make her first start back at Battlestone Downs and we'll chug along until she says otherwise."
ENRAPTURE
Coveted Faith isn't the only one being re-routed. Enrapture ran one hell of a season, finishing only twice out of the money in sixteen starts. Her connections took a gamble in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, but a lack of pace resulted in Ennie's inability to close on her competition. The bay daughter of Triple Crown winner Furious Passion is going to be back for more. Her workouts have been terrific with the recent addition of blinkers. She cruised through six furlongs in 1:11, finishing awfully quickly for seven furlongs in 1:22. She's a freight train in training and she's expected to make a bid for the Triple Tiara.
"Enrapture was supposed to be the Triple Crown horse until Uno was bred and raced. When we decided to send Uno to Intrepid Racing, we thought, perhaps, that Ennie could be the one. Unfortunately, we think that the distance races while in her wheelhouse just don't set up for her. She'll go for the miles up to nine furlongs because that's where we think she'll get pace. Hopefully, the blinkers make a difference in her running style and we can stretch her back out. We think she's a top filly, know she is a top filly, but she just needs all the support she can get at the moment."
FIRESTORM
Questions are being raised over this fine son of Kyoujin. His half-brother, Wyvern, and him are beginning to make some noise behind the obvious top juvenile colt favorites. A half-brother to recently retired Canadian Triple Crown winner, Anodyne, Firestorm lit to two impressive late season victories. He's become the second best colt on three year old roster and he has every reason to improve going into his three year old campaign. Word has it that if Awestruck is not ready for the Triple Crown and this guy is, Firestorm might just be the one representing Witch Creek in the three jewels.
"We've been pleasantly surprised by Firestorm. His development from two to three has been very impressive and he's overcome having a later start to his career with aplomb. He recently worked on the dirt track in 1:00 3/5, a very quick workout for him so we know he's sharp. We haven't really tested him at a distance yet, but he's won at ten furlongs and we definitely feel that there are no distance limitations. The longer the better most likely. We'll experiment before the Derby and see if we have the kind of horse we think we have. If he's not ready or doesn't take to the stretch out, there's always the distance series at Battlestone Downs or the Red Mile. We'll know more by summer, but I think the racing world will get a kick out of him when he makes his debut."
NOCTURNAL RUNAWAY
The silver filly has become a sort of enigma for Ripley Marsh. She's a consistent bugger with a lot of talent and ability going long, short, turf, dirt. She's terrific to train, has focus, but she just hasn't connected with the wire all that much. Part of that has to do with Nocturnal Runaway's moodiness. "When Noc is on, she is dead on. She can be a bit of a pain during her heat cycles, but for the most part she is easy to manage. When Noc loses she tends to sulk and get all crabby. When she wins, you can barely keep her on the ground. She hasn't seen the winner's circle since August, but I'm not ready to give up on this Night Stalker daughter.
She's got serious skills. We breezed her on the turf and caught her going three furlongs in :37 and 3/5 after galloping for a mile and a quarter. We want to play around with her some more this season and see where she might run best. She's connected with the wire at seven furlongs so maybe she wants to be a miler. We won't know with until we hit the track again. She'll probably stay turf the majority of the time, but she'll run on any surface. Her first start will be in the Brilli Flash Stake Derby on the dirt at eight furlongs. We'll play it by ear because we'd like to keep her around through Year Seventeen. We know we haven't hit her best yet and that's the most exciting part about this mare."
SWING DANCER
Many people weren't paying that much attention to Popcorn Blitz's offspring until Fusillade made them stand up and take notice for Intrepid Racing. After that handsome colt became a star performer, they began to eye Swing Dancer. The gray filly might have the most upside of any of the trainees with Witch Creek Stable. She's got a pedigree worth buying into and the heart of a lion. Due to having multiple ownerships as a juvenile, Danny was a frequent flier on the tracks and gained more than enough experience to benefit her going into the new season. Now a grade four three year old, Swing Dancer is ready to get back on track for a swing at the dirt sprinter tiaras.
"We are very excited for Swing Dancer's debut and think people will immediately notice the difference in how she handles herself. She's still very playful, but she's a lot more focused on her task. She's filled out a ton and doesn't look just like the 15.3 hand filly she is. She's tough as nails and recently shot through a four furlong test in :46 4/5. She's hot to trot and will be out there on the tracks January Week Two. We have plenty of time to get her fine tuned for the Sprinter Tiara and there will be a lot less urgency this season than last."
