Battle Brook Stalwart Retired On High Note

[Ripley]

LETHAL DOSE THROWS FINAL PUNCH IN VERY ONE

Photo Courtesy of Jane E Hill.

Battle Brook is known for being hard-knocking, battle tested and tough as nails. Every time the barn enters a race, they expect to be near or at the top. While the barn produces champions on a yearly basis thanks to its trend setting lock on the miler division and super sire Touch Up, it most appreciates the hardened warriors that bring their lunch pails to work every day and run just for the sake of running.

While most of the racing world was fixated on the high class Follow The Hoofprints Series, there were a few notable people absent from the track. Ripley Marsh and Laura DeComte disappeared after Breaking Point passed through the finish line in second behind Valkyrie Stable's Wings of Jayde. Most of the media expected a statement from the brawny colt's team, but only assistant trainer Malcolm Floyd was left to answer and he really wasn't much for words. So just where did the face of BBS and her top female jockey disappear to?

They disappeared for what they hoped would be Lethal Dose's final race.

For two months the barn had been training Lethal Dose for a top performance, a grade breaking performance. Sitting at the cusp of grade one is the hardest thing to do for any barn and no one wanted a grade one achievement more than Ripley did for Lethal Dose. Year Sixteen was a year where Lee was more apt to be bridesmaid than bride, but it wasn't the first time that had happened. Since her juvenile season, Lee had to battle seconditis and prove herself against the best fillies the racing world had to offer.

While Nightshade ripped up the track on her to Hall of Fame accolades and Battle Wings proved her biggest bully at age three, Lethal Dose seemed relegated to the sidelines--a widely known talent, but unable to seal the deal. Her demons grew large enough to make everyone stay away from Lee when she lost. She was a minx, but grew more agitated and restless after her losses. She was powerful to watch in her workouts, always dependable and always quick. Her inability to win irritated her caretakers, but they had to admire her guts.

In 41 starts, Lee finished in the money 38 times. She had not finished worse than third since the Seaspray Cup Grade Four in July Wk 1 of Year Fourteen. Her 93% strike rate is absolutely incredible in what has become a cut throat racing world. Not bad for a filly who missed her entire juvenile season save one race, battled leg injuries during her three year old season and always had to face a host of faster horses.

Lethal Dose was notable for her odd range of winning distances. It is odd for a seven furlong horse to also be able to extend out to ten furlongs and win, then win when asked to cut back to a sprinter distance. In thirteen wins, Lee only won races at nine furlongs three times. She never won at eight furlongs and never eleven. She was an odd creature. Laura liked to say the mare knew how to read paper. She'd try her best at eight and eleven, but never would she give that extra push for victory.

The Very One Stakes was a race Ripley had set for Lee as her debut for when she hit the grade one level. Unfortunately, the Lethal Knack daughter never was able to close the deal in her prep for the race and she was heading toward the Horse of the Year race as a grade two. Another unfortunate, Calypso's Fury, Y16's Rockingham Special winner and near Triple Tiara sweeper, was also entered. Ripley and Laura gritted their teeth and prepared to at least come in second. At seven furlongs, Laura was confident she would have the horse for the job, it was just a matter of getting to the wire before the others.

Upon arriving to the track, the connections at Battle Brook were granted some good news. Calypso's Fury had been scratched to fight another day! Lethal Dose would face off against only three others, very doable. With a fist bump for Laura and a pat for Lee, Ripley sent the duo off for their seven furlong race. Trinity, Dry Your Tears and Ghost Rider would all be very tough opponents, but Lee just had the zest for life and pep in her step. Ripley was found near the winner's circle, hands folded on the railing and eyes on the big screen.

The four horses broke like a shot from the gate with Lethal Dose using her tactical speed to push Ghost Rider to the front. Her confidence was palpable and even Ripley could see that the mare was loping alongside the chestnut front runner. Trinity and Dry Your Tears settled behind them, but the pace was glacial at best. Lee kept the heavy pressure on Ghost Rider throughout until the final turn.

With a flick of her wrist, Laura let Lethal Dose go. The bay mare responded with a sudden burst of speed, a reminder that she did have brilliance and get up and go. Laura peeked under her arm, keeping tabs on Dry Your Tears and Trinity, but she knew there was no doubt about this one. Lee surged forward and knocked out her thirteenth victory and her first Horse of The Year win outside of the seasonal cups.

After watching Kismet and Cascabel and Breaking Point go down to Valkyrie and Stride of Perfection horses, most were surprised at the wild cheers and shouts from the Battle Brook crew in the paddock at The Wire. Lethal Dose had never looked better in a victory, her last and greatest of her career.

"She's been a tremendous mare," the usually reserved Ripley Marsh said. "She's a good one. She never got to the elite, but there's no doubt in my mind that she's up there. Out of the money only three times, no matter the company. She's a tough one!

Lethal Dose strutted back into the winner's circle, her knees lifted high and her head turned just so in the way of a winner. Laura kept running her hands down the mare's neck, a smile on her lips. "She deserved that one," Laura remarked to no one in particular.

Back at the barn that evening, Ripley was found walking Lethal Dose in front of BBS's rented stalls. Her face was serious as she pondered the future for the bay mare who had plenty of energy after her race. When asked, Ripley pursed her lips, paused the mare and shrugged. "She's going out on top. She deserves nothing less. Why put her through two more Horse of the Year races when she could go out a winner?"

"No," Ripley said softly as she stepped back and looked at the muscular mare. "She deserves retirement. We've marked her down for a date with our Preakness winner in Year Seventeen and a Kentucky Derby winner in Year Eighteen. They're worthy of her and I'm sure she'll approve.

This reporter may have laughed at that remark, but looking at Lethal Dose as she examined her kingdom--the one she'd conquered in the twilight of an arduous career--the would-be sound dissipated.

Worthy, indeed.