Post by Ripley on Apr 18, 2013 21:40:53 GMT -5
Witch Creek didn't even exist two years ago at this time and now here they are in with their strongest line up of three year olds to date. Brookson Wells took two legs of the Turf Triple Crown with Frozen Motion last year and it appears that another dappled gray, this time a filly named Bella Luna, will be attempting to go again for last year's success. Witch Creek did not have a three year old colt ready in time for the Triple Crown and are in possession of the best colt and possible favorite to win the Kentucky Derby with Red Herring. Cross My Heart and Wish Upon A Star look to split the newly created Turf Triple Tiara. And Indian Darling looks to be Witch Creek's main threat to be involved in the last two legs of the Triple Tiara. Let's not forget about the Canadian Triple Crown later on in the season where we could see a double whammy of rising star Hokum and turf/ dirt specialist GS Royal Crown.
No year has ever looked quite so stellar than this one for Witch Creek Stable. Or more threatening. Their two year olds from last year have developed into potential monsters and threats. The only horses missing from this stellar three year old lineup of Witch Creeks are Mastermind and the newly gelded Van Guard. Mastermind is said to be pointed to later sprint stakes in the year, all leading up to the Breeders Cup Sprint in December. He has recovered from his fourth place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes and looks better than ever. And Van Guard, according to Ripley Marsh, is simply a work in progress at the moment. But she's pulled magic tricks out of her hat before and any horse of Ripley's is one you simply cannot ignore.
It sure is interesting to have Witch Creek back in action and it sure is nice to see The Wire having representatives against Green Horse Fields mainstays. Ripley Marsh and Brookson Wells connected last year in the Turf Triple Crown with Frozen Motion and the path to that series has clearly been proven as successful. Bella Luna looked to merely be average in last year's two year old races, but this year she has to rate as one of the top turf fillies out there. With five wins in six starts, Bella Luna is on top of her game and never been better. According to the photographers present at her last workout, Bella Luna looks to be holding her remarkable form. And we at the Eighth Pole are certainly enthralled by her sudden rise to the top.
Red Herring has been putting in demonstrative gallops out at Witch Creek for quite sometime. He has been flying a little under the wire this year, well for those who focus mainly on GHF competition, but his last two victories have certainly brought thoughts of championship to the forefront. Brookson Wells was quoted as saying, "He's the toughest colt on his riders you could imagine. But they always said that the toughest horses usually turned out to be the good ones. Let's just say I'm pleased to be giving Witch Creek its first major dirt colt. I think our competition will find us hard to beat come Kentucky Derby day."
Cross My Heart and Wish Upon A Star look to be in outrageously good form. Cross My Heart worked out with Bella Luna and it looks as though new tactics may have emerged. I have yet to see a horse as good at carrying their speed over distance as this black filly. Now that she seems to have learned to rate while being on the lead, Cross My Heart looks to be even more dangerous. She certainly takes you for a whirlwind and you have to admire that gutsy speed of hers. Wish Upon A Star was a bit of a plain Jane when she was first brought in, but Maggiletti Reynolds and Ripley Marsh are finally seeing their efforts come to fruition. The bay has won twice this season, once in a major prep at The Wire for the Turf Triple Tiara. If there is any filly more likely to get the distance of the latter two races, I would like to be informed who it is. The filly's pedigree screams distance and the longer she goes, the better she'll get. She could be improving at the right time. Maggiletti Reynolds was not very talkative the day of her work saying, "I let my horse do the talking for me." So I guess that means we'll have to wait until race day to see how this one does.
But who knows, maybe the future champion three year olds are not among these ones. GS Royal Crown and Hokum might have something to say about it later on when the Canadian Triple Crown season starts up. GS Royal Crown has always been a bit dangerous, but now that he has shown an affinity for the dirt as well as the turf, he might be more versatile than Frozen Motion was last year. GS Royal Crown managed to notch a win in the Holy Bull Stakes while drawing off to an authoritative two length victory. He's proven he can run on the turf and now the dirt, he'll go into the Canadian Triple Crown with hopes of bagging a few wins. The lightning rod colt of the season appears to be Hokum. He has already run more than half the three year old string, but looks to be getting stronger with every race he runs. He is a dynamite colt who didn't hit the track until late last year and is still large enough to be not as mature as the rest. But he has been fairly impressive and appears to be taking the same route Ashes to Ashes did prior to his series in the CTC, using minor stakes to boost his confidence and experience level. However, this time he's running the majority of them at Green Horse Fields and against older competition. He could be better than Ashes to Ashes was at this point, but Justin Santiago wasn't talking. It seems the horse has spoken and Witch Creek even moreso when they nominated him last week to the Canadian Triple Crown.
Their hand is strong and we are extremely eager to see how it will all play out in the end.
