Down The Stretch (Bi-Weekly Blog)

[Ripley]

Down The Stretch
Weekly Blog Written By Leila Suggs.
Idea Credit: Sunfrost

Hello. My name Leila Suggs, new reporter for The Eighth Pole. I have been contracted by The Eighth Pole in order to cover notable winners of the weekly races. We have a lot of ground to cover in the first three weeks here at The Wire with plenty of action to recap from Green Horse Fields. There have been new races added to the racing calender, some big ones coming up including the Clark Handicap, Belle Victoire Derby and the Eclipse in January Week Four. There is also the Unicorn Horn Series at Green Horse Fields and we will be performing a brief recap of those races as well. I look forward to hearing from the big name trainers and hope to attract their opinions on their horses performances. I hope you enjoy the new blog which I am naming "Down The Stretch" where dreams are made, courage is put on display and shows of the most notable kind are written into the history books.

[Ripley]

Down The Stretch
Weekly Blog Written By Leila Suggs.
January Week One

Few years could top the one we have just come out of. Big names like Alluring Assault, Sillenia, Screaming Mimi, Wild Kiss and Dazzling Dame battling it out in the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Executioner's Apprentice rolling to another powerful Breeders Cup victory. A dead heat between Blue Me Away and Ode To Glory in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf. The gorgeous Nightshade giving women a reason to stand proud when she thoroughly dominated the boys in the Breeders Cup Juvenile. And Flashy Wings rounding it out with his second Breeders Cup race win in the Breeders Cup Classic.

But we'll try our best to top it. Flashy Wings, Dazzling Dame, Wild Kiss, Executioner's Apprentice, Nightshade, Blue Me Away, Ode to Glory among others have all returned to the races. While most will not be returning until the Unicorn Horn Series, a couple already have put on a show for us. Here is a recap of January Week One, starting with the turf:

January Maiden: In The Spotlight, a daughter of Gorgeous George and champion producing mare On To The Spotlight, sure put in a show-stopper in the first maiden race of the season. With jockey Valencia Andrews, she shot out to the front, set a brilliant pace and drew off all under wraps to win by two lengths. She practically cantered herself that finish line and looks like a powerhouse turf filly for Stride of Perfection Stables. She's bred to go the distance and has a class that speaks volumes when she could have won in a laugher. Second place finisher Wicca also looks to be something special, but she needs experience though she has the talent to get it done.

Ameliorate Stakes: If you all remember this was the first start Frozen Motion made in Year Twelve before going on to steal two legs of the Turf Triple Crown? Did anyone else of that talent step up? The top three finishers: Princetta, Ruler's Secret and Hokum look to be less than what Frozen Motion was at this time, but all have the ability to move forward and improve. Princetta, a very light gray daughter of Hail To Prince and Blanchette, broke slowly and stalked the field five lengths back in a very quick running this year. Hokum, Wind Reader and Ruler's Secret did the dirty work by going head and head while setting these fractions. It looked like Hokum was pinned on the rail for the race and for any of those who have seen the son Kore VS, you know he is a monster sized animal. Princetta circled the field and rolled while Wind Reader faded to the back. She beat Ruler's Secret by a half-length with Hokum stuck on the rail. Hokum was nearly taken out by Wind Reader, but managed to resurge late to get up for that third. Ruler's Secret was impressive in his return to the racetrack and maybe will round into form nicely for Bowen Acres Stable. Princetta may be an interesting player down the road, but she will have to go up a few levels if she wants to compete with the best of the best later on.

Top Notch Stakes: For those of you who like merry-go-rounds, you must have appreciated the Top Notch Stakes. Midnight Dreamer and The Innocent Skier broke together. The Innocent Skier fell back two lengths and there he stayed. While the race proved to not be very entertaining for the drama geeks, the horses in the race may be key horses to take away. Midnight Dreamer was Year Twelve's December Horse of the Month, having won three races in that month here at The Wire. He then notched this race with a confident ride beneath Kirsten Jade even when taken out of his comfort zone. He could hold his own here at The Wire if he continues forward for Akita Rose Stables. The Innocent Skier has always been a key player in the races and his jockey Adele Rodgers has got to be frustrated. The Innocent Skier is throwing out top notch efforts, but his will to win is still being brought into question. However, he remains a key horse in any bet you want to place.

In Stride Stakes: This was a very impressive short lineup for a relatively short field. Two Breeders Cup winners and a The Wire mainstay made up the lineup and they sure put on a solid show. Firebird broke out on top with Executioner's Apprentice breaking on his outside as is his custom. I would have been nervous from the getgo on Firebird because this is Executioner's Apprentice key move in almost every race. Executioner's Apprentice stalked from the outside until the far turn, ran up to run head and head with Intrepid Racing's Firebird. The Breeders Cup Turf Marathon winner could not take the heat all the way and fell back behind Executioners Apprentice by a three-quarters length. Executioner's Apprentice won well, but had to be pushed more than you would expect from a three time Breeders Cup champ. Maybe it is because his competition has gotten better because the stallion surely can't be shutting down at only five years of age. Destined For Glory was no match for these two and finished four lengths back, but you can't help but root for the mainstay and underdog. She'll come around for Close Racing, I'm sure.

And now... we will switch over to the dirt track which inevitably provided more entertainment in the form of two large fields and two other top class races.

Janvier Maiden: Seven horses were entered in the Janvier Maiden and all seven will be useful horses for future bets. The colt Anodyne from Intrepid Racing Inc. really looks to be something special and has been highly touted from halfway through his yearling season. The colt paced well in this field, getting the perfect trip from the outside and looking like an old pro rather than a fairly green three year old as he rounded up on the field and drew off to a length victory while under some encouragement. He is obviously the colt to watch, but you have to like Coco Cabana from Akita Rose Stables. The colt was absolutely fantastic in defeat and working against steady but not swift fractions. He cut his way through most of the fading pack even against the speed bias and made up insurmountable ground to finish strongly. He passed Anodyne in the gallop as if he is looking for more. The third place, Animosity from returning Hawkstone Stables, stalked throughout, but looked as if he was a bit peaked from the parade and paddock. He finished a half length behind the surging Coco Cabana and could be one to watch in the future.

Utanali Derby: The Utanali Derby was action packed this year and loaded with exceptional talent. The top five finishers all could have won the race with many horses taking the win in any other given situation. Silver Song was out on the lead by herself with only the stalkers Intuition and Bellefire to keep her honest. The pair tracked her throughout biding their time and looked like they would swallow her whole on the far turn. Silver Song shook them off, stealing away on a track that seemed to be playing toward front runners today. From the back Indian Darling and GS Super Charged came flying, but could not close into the not-very-tired Silver Song who won by two lengths though under urging. Indian Darling and GS Super Charged galloped out past the older mare and looked as though both of them wanted more distance on this day. Bellefire had no excuses, but with all the hype surrounding her we've expected more from her. Intuition put up a solid fight, but lacked the finish winding up just a nose behind Bellefire for fifth.

Eupolio Derby: ARS was all over the board in races that they had horses in. The pair broke fairly well and together, keeping close since it was only a two horse race. Mizadori had the lead most of the time, but neither mare seemed to be keen on running away with the time. The time in fact was just about average leaving us guessing as to how they will fare when facing higher levels of competition. They quickened in the homestretch with Silver Secret digging deep on this inside to get up by a head over Mizadori. Big things may come for these two, but time will tell.

Stridian Derby: This seemed like the perfect spot for Souvenir to return after a layoff since the Twilight Stakes. Only no one mentioned until race time that he would be facing Triple Tiara winner Paradise Island. The sleek bay mare and powerhouse stallion were off and running the moment the gates broke with Paradise Island stealing away on the front end with lightning quick strides. She forced Souvenir to break out of his comfort zone or be left far behind. But the blaze faced stallion threw her quick silver speed back in her face. They dueled for nine straight furlongs with neither relenting. It was the ninth furlong and then it turned into a sheer staggerfest. Neither horse had run since a half season ago and though brilliant both needed this race. Paradise Island gutted out the victory with her daring sleek head and managed to put away Souvenir with her fierce courage. They needed this race and I expect both of them to come out with guns blazing next time out.

Big Horse to Watch From Dirt: Coco Cabana with Indian Darling, GS Supercharged not far behind.

Big Horse to Watch From Turf: Hokum, Wicca, Midnight Dreamer.

Most Impressive Victory: In The Spotlight

Slowest Race: Ameliorate Stakes

Fastest: Janvier Maiden

[Ripley]

Down The Stretch
Weekly Blog Written By Leila Suggs.
January Week Two

Every journey starts with a maiden victory though some would say that journey begins the moment a horse reaches the track for their very first workout. For our purposes we will say that the maiden victory is the gasoline to the following fire. It is the maiden race that determines where a horse will go in the future, whether they will succeed or fail, and if the owners, trainers or jockeys have a plain Jane or a monster on their hands. Week Two was not the place for maidens here on The Wire, but we had plenty of showstoppers over at Green Horse Fields. Let's look at the maiden victories in Week Two.

Maiden Watch

The Swift Stakes run at five furlongs over the dirt revealed many things. One: Akita Rose Stables may have a true-blue sprinter on their hands. Two: These two year olds are brilliantly fast. And Three: We have something to look forward to in the two year old sprint races later in the year. Crowned Queen set a torrid pace for a pre-ceder and went through fractions of :21 2/5 and :46 1/5 through the first four furlongs. Couch Potato and Wired Loose sat off of the Star Thoroughbreds' horse by four lengths. Their fractions were equally as fast and though it looked Crowned Queen would fail first time out she went on and continued through fairly quick fractions. It was just her luck that she ran into a buzzsaw. Wired Loose whipped into the homestretch closing ground rapidly and looked to be flashing some late running speed not often found on the dirt. She swept under the wire a length and a half in front with very minimal urging. Couch Potato was a little green, swerving in and out and very nearly colliding with Crowned Queen. The jock finally managed to straighten him out and the colt got up for second by a head.

The counter part to the Swift Stakes was the Jumping Beans Maiden Sprint run over the turf. It was nearly as fast with Tears No More front running, pressed on by stablemate Silver Serendipity. The two were tracked by SOPS representative Demonic Desires, son of two Hall of Famers. The pace was swift through the first furlongs and fractions were nearly identical to the race preceding it. Tears No More shook off Silver Serendipity and drew off to a three length lead in the middle of the stretch. However, the horse to take out of this races for future bets could be Demonic Desires. The colt was taken out of his comfort zone and he was coming like a freight train down the center of the track. He roared up just missing by a length while running greenly. The final time was :58 seconds for the five furlongs.

The January Maiden Dirt gave us a little taste of what to expect in the classic distance dirt races. Run over ten furlongs it drew a field of four. Malaria from Prison Hill Stables took the lead right out of the gate, pressed on by Witch Creek's bay colt Alucard. The pair set rock solid fractions of :23 and :47 for the second and fourth furlong. It was 1.10 for the sixth and 1:27 for the eight. The order remained relatively unchanged throughout with Ladam Rose two lengths back in third and Limited Edition, SOPS horse, another two lengths back in fourth. I'm not sure what to make of this race in the final furlongs. Ladam Rose was impressive sweeping to the lead to roll by three lengths over a disadvantaged Limited Edition. You can't fault the winner and second place finishers for a relatively weak third and fourth. Malaria clearly was tired in the homestretch fading five lengths back, just galloping. Witch Creek's Alucard finished a head back in fourth, tired and wanting. Chalk those performances up to insufficient work and distance limitations, but can we judge the winners off a pair of horses clearly not ready for this task?

The January Maiden Turf was run over the same classic distances and gave us a taste for the future. Passion Heart, a protege of Bowen Acres Stable ran the table here taking the field gate to wire and winning under some urging. But while Passion Heart may have improved from two to three she was beating inexperienced two year olds and it is these horses that I am interested in. Paranormal Hunter, Witch Creek horse and half to first out maiden winner Flashpoint, really turned it on when she shouldn't have. Last on the turn, the bay daughter of Foolish Entity flew when prodded by jockey Maggiletti Reynolds and missed by a length and coming on the wire. She galloped out past Passion Heart, along with Akita Rose Stables Miss Josephine. Miss Josephine had begun her move right before Paranormal Hunter and was caught looking in the stretch. The bay miss will surely improve next time out. Classy Girl may be a horse that needs to mature after a race. I wouldn't count her completely next time out. Star Thoroughbreds is known for finding the switch that needs to be flicked.