Y14 JANUARY WEEK ONE

[Sammy]

Knickerbocker Stakes

WIN: Black Magic
PLACE: Proteus Prince
SHOW: Maximum Impact

[Ripley]

Janvier Maiden
10 Furlongs over dirt

"Welcome back to Two Year Old Spotlight. We have seen a couple good races this season so far with top prospect colt Black Magic storming to victory in the Knickerbocker Stakes. This time we take you to the dirt track where two year olds will compete through the ten furlong classic distance. We have a full field of six and the big favorite at the moment is Ultimate Revenge, a fantastically bred colt trained by Nick Landing of Intrepid Racing. Second choice is Noah's Radiance, followed by Dancing Fool. The horses have already gone to the gate and they are loading. We now turn it over to Kevin Jones for the call of the Janvier Maiden."

"Thank you. Just waiting on Barely A Sound right now. The rest are standing pretty quietly. Barely A Sound goes in without much fuss..."

"And they're off! And Dancing Fool caught a flyer out of there, he must have got going just before the gates snapped open. And the bay colt is off like a shot to take the lead. Ultimate Revenge is locked in at the rail by the bay colt and is pulled back, unable to get a good position. He is forced to settle behind Dancing Fool as the colt takes them through the first furlong. Speak Easy settles to Ultimate Revenge's outside flank. He is going nice and easy at the moment, not in any hurry, but his rider has effectively boxed in the large sized favorite. Ultimate Revenge throws his head up, furious, but can do nothing but minimize his stride. Behind Ultimate Revenge and Speak Easy is Barely A Sound, the lone filly in the race. She is traveling well, heads cocked a little to the inside as if she is acting a little green. Noah's Radiance, after a so-so break, is back last, but has made up ground on his own accord to run with Barely A Sound.

Dancing Fool has taken them through a :23 3/5 second first quarter. His rider is slowing it down and he looks to be just peachy with that. Speak Easy has moved to take over second. Ultimate Revenge is still unhappy, but he cannot do anything about it. Noah's Radiance is now fourth, Barely A Sound fifth. And they've gone through the half in :47 2/5. Dancing Fool is cruising out there, changes leads right on cue and takes them through the backstretch, the consummate professional. Positions are relatively unchanged at this point, though Noah's Radiance and Barely A Sound are exchanging fourth and fifth every now and then.

1:11 seconds is the six furlongs, the rider's really slowing this race right down. Some race riding going on here as Ultimate Revenge hops around behind Dancing Fool. Nature Blue's got a good soldier doing all the dirty work. And they're heading into the far turn. Dancing Fool cuts the corner, Speak Easy sticking to his side like glue. Adele Rogers cranks the reins, seeing a gap. The big black son of Admiral's Revenge guns for it, but NO! Noah's Radiance has closed that door quite nicely. And Nature Blue Stable has two good soldiers shutting down the Intrepid colt. Ultimate Revenge has nowhere to go! Dancing Fool still has the lead by a neck. Speak Easy is keeping the pressure on and they're fighting pretty good, pushing and shoving. Dancing Fool still has the lead!

Two hundred yards from the wire and Dancing Fool spins sideways to push Speak Easy off of himself. A slim opening has come on the rail! And Adele Rogers sees it, she cranks the reins again and the black colt is up the rail on cue. Dancing Fool and Speak Easy grit down as they are joined four wide by Noah's Radiance! Oh what a race is this!

Barely A Sound is behind a wall of horses and she cannot find room to run. She stays on a length behind them as the colts come down to the wire in what is going to be a four way blanket finish! Ultimate Revenge is full of fury, but Dancing Fool is full of courage and Speak Easy full of run! They cross under the wire! And whose it going to be! Any of the three could have it! Noah's Radiance looks to be the most easily assumed, finishing a half-length behind them! Barely A Sound comes home in a good fifth a length behind the boys.

Whose it going to be?

Ultimate Revenge? Dancing Fool? Speak Easy?

And it is Nature Blue Stable's Dancing Fool on top by the barest of noses over Ultimate Revenge. Speak Easy is a hair behind them!

Win. Dancing Fool
Place. Ultimate Revenge
Show. Speak Easy
Fourth. Noah's Radiance
Fifth. Barely A Sound

Comments

Dancing Fool: I enjoy this colt immensely. He's got a good personality, a heart like a lion and I just could not see Ultimate Revenge or anyone else getting by him. His workout was very nice and there's just something about him (maybe it's his pictures?) that he's going to do some very special things down the road.
P.s. Paranormal Entity (his half-sibling) is actually Paranormal Hunter who I own and she's a grade three .

Ultimate Revenge: Okay Cavvykins, you know I love this boy and I have more interest in him than most members as we have our whole outside plot and well... I stalk your lines obviously... But anyway. I saw him getting into trouble with this one off of his workout (ahem Secret Success, who you have made me fall in love with, I'm thinking those two are going to be archrivals at home). He's flipping awesome Cavvykins, so you definitely better not give up on him. I know you won't.

Speak Easy: A very likable colt. He reminds me of Seabiscuit in a way. I loved your workout with the other two. (side note: you are so cool in determining that Inferno needs another workout). I think he is going to be very tough with some more development. When you were record your records, make sure you put down the date beside the races that he ran in. This way we can tell if he's been over raced, had a layoff and what not.

Noah's Radiance: Sammy, I don't know what it is, but you are just clicking with the two year olds you've debuted so far. I did not want to put Noah in fourth, but he strikes me as a colt that will do better as he gets more experience. I like his running style and he is very unique. Don't give up, because I remember how excited you were for him when you first bred him.

Barely A Sound: Her gender worked against her in this case. She is a filly running against colts first time out, most of them larger and more physically fit than she is. Her workout was good, but like you said in the workout, her and her rider are still learning each other. This race was just another step on the ladder. A very smart filly who saved herself for more races down the road. If I were you I'd start looking for a place to run her again ASAP!

[Deleted]

Freedom of the City Stakes
1st: Nirvana
2nd: Flaming Confidenza

The pace was slow, at first, as expected. There were no front runners here. Denza had a great lead going. She was out and on top. Nirvana kept on her flank. Rounding the turn, Nirvana inched closer and closer. She passed Denza as they headed into the stretch. The wire was approaching. Denza didn't give up the fight. She started gaining her speed and coming up to Nirvana's shoulder. Head bobbing to the finish, Nirvana edged out and won it by a neck. Sammy, Denza is a high-class filly. She needed that extra furlong. You will have a great future with this girl. This blonde will make quite a statement in the future. Ripley, Nirvana got the edge this time around. I see good things coming from her, as well. Congrats on the win and congrats to you both. A great race.

[Cruisey]

Ripley can i get an update on Speak Easy please! Super proud of his place,just wanted to know where to improve/etc

[Ripley]

All in good time my dear . Just give me an hour to do a writeup and comments :P. Thank you tons Lucy for the win! I am starting to see good things for her as well even though she's not my usual fireball pony .

[S u N f r O s T ~]

JANVIER PROSPECT
win Night Visions
place Enrapture
show Admiral's Lady
fourth Aphrodite's Chant

JANUARY PROSPECT
win Natural Selection
place Sweet Mimosa
show Ultimate Impasse
fourth First Class
fifth Divine Demoiselle

Lucy, for some advice - expand on those personalities just a little bit more. It's hard to write half a novel, but just a little more personality will make your two prospects stand out just a little bit more ;)

JANUARY MAIDEN
win Desert Amber
place Vetanda
show Dragonheart

[Deleted]

Thanks! I know I do need to expand them for some of my horses.

[Cruisey]

Sounds good Ripley! Thanks for the comments! I'll add the date to his records

[Isabelle]

YES!!! Amber finally FINALLY broke her maiden! -confetti and happy dance- XD She's been waiting soooo long to move up

[Deleted]

Thanks Ripley! I didn't realize she was going against colts lol. I actually have her scheduled to run in the Unicorn Horn Juvenile Dirt on Week 4 for GHF. Hoping it's not too much for her. If it is, I will put her into some smaller races, but I'd really like to see how she does in this upcoming race. Will be working all my Unicorn Horn entrants on Week 3. Thanks again! She has excellent lines and I know she has a lot of potential.

[Cavallo]

<sub>Cup and Saucer Stakes
WIN Baciami
PLACE Sun King
SHOW Silent Snap

This race was tough all around and each horse is top notch. It was Sun King's leg type that allowed him to sneak up on the dueling front runners. He was able to run out of the wind and unchallenged so that he could swing around and take the lead, but this set Baciami on fire and kicked up his competitive nature to edge out a whisker win. There were only whiskers that separated them and anyone of them could have taken this win. This wasn't an easy race to judge.</sub>

[Deleted]

Kudzu Stakes
WIN Siren Call
PLACE Athena's Desires
SHOW Call Me Crooked
4th Lilith Wind

What a beautiful field of Maiden 2 year old fillies here. All fresh and ready with impressive Prospect records. Call Me Crooked is the first to load into the starting gate. This filly had been prancing pretty in the paddock and in the post parade. She is looking flattering. She balks a little, but goes in easily. Here comes Siren Call. She has been a little hot-headed during the warm-up. She seems calm and ready as she loads into the gate. Next one is Lilith Wind. She has to be the calmest horse in this group. She goes into the chute without hesitation. Athena's Desires loads last. She is a short little firecracker. She's the smallest filly in the field. May give her an advantage over the others.

They're in the gate. They're off!

Athena's Desires dashes to the lead, as expected for this front runner. Lilith Wind is right on her flank. A couple lengths back is a dual between Call Me Crooked and Siren Call. They're heading into the turn, now. Athena's Desires still holds a steady lead, though Lilith Wind is closing in on her more, up to her shoulder, now. Just behind them, Siren Call and Call Me Crooked are gaining speed as they head into the stretch.

Down the stretch they come! Athena's Desires has kicked it into another gear! Here comes Call Me Crooked! Siren Call is gaining on them and Lilith Wind isn't out of this one, either. It could go to either of them. Call Me Crooked is accelerating! Here comes Siren Call, as well! They're going 3 wide to the wire! And, who is it! Photo finish between Siren Call, Call Me Crooked, and Athena's Desires.

Ladies and gentlemen, the official winner is Siren Call! A whisker! A true whisker ahead of Athena's Desires, who was just a nose ahead of Call Me Crooked. Lilith Wind was right in the mix, as well, but just out of contention! One of the closest races we have seen!

Kenny: I gave Siren Call the edge on this one. This was her race. She beat a great group of 2 year old fillies. Congrats on the win!

Frosty: Athena's Desires had the early lead and could've gone wire to wire, but the other fillies have a bunch of talent. I thought 2nd place suited her. Congrats on the finish. You have a powerhouse in the making right there.

Ripley: Call Me Crooked almost got there. She is an amazing filly and will make her name known on the tracks. She has great potential. I see great things to come from her.

Cavvy: Lilith Wind is a mega filly. She has phenomenal bloodlines. Her day is coming. She is such a talented filly. She will get to that winner's circle real soon!

This was a close race, girls. I thought all these fillies could've won this race. They're all so talented. This is just their first race, though. They will flourish, respectively.

[Deleted]

Top Notch Stakes
WIN: Cosmic Warfare
PLACE: Calamity Queen
SHOW: Ode To Glory
4th: Amarillo Sky

It has been a wonderful day. Now, we turn to the last race of the day. The Top Notch Stakes. This is a wonderful field of Grade Three runner. The field consists of the lone female in the race, Calamity Queen. She's looking for a good match with the boys. The rest are stallions. These horses are in their prime. This is looking to be a great race.

Loading them into the gate now. Calamity Queen is first to load, going in easily. Cosmic Warfare and Ode To Glory go in with no trouble. Amarillo Sky goes in last. For he doesn't like being in the chute for too long. They're all loaded and ready!

They're off! Amarillo Sky and Calamity Queen shoot straight to the front. It's not a fast pace, though. They seem to be taking it easy. Ode To Glory has settled into 3rd and Cosmic Warfare is right to his side in 4th. He seems to be holding the older horse off as they head into the first turn. Amarillo Sky has a slight lead over Calamity Queen. There's no so called 'fist fighting' out there.

Heading into the backstretch, Calamity Queen has a half a length over Amarillo Sky. She is on the rail and holding steady. Ode To Glory is making a slight move on the outside, making it three wide as they edge closer to the final turn. Cosmic Warfare is still back in the pack. Nick is keeping him collected, but you know a move should be made soon.

The final turn is approaching. Ode To Glory passes Amarillo Sky to take 2nd. Calamity Queen is extending her lead. They round the turn. The mare is not backing down. She is now three lengths ahead. Oh! Here comes the big gray! Cosmic Warfare has passed Amarillo Sky and gaining. He's now neck and neck with the other big gray, Ode To Glory.

Calamity Queen's lead has dropped to a length and a half. Cosmic Warfare is right on her tail. Nick flashes the whip and he's off. Ode To Glory is making a move, reaching Calamity Queen's flank. Amarillo Sky is coming back into the mix on the rail. Cosmic Warfare is now four lengths ahead. Here comes the wire and it is Cosmic Warfare! Photo for second.

Photo is up. Calamity Queen held on at 2nd, Ode To Glory was on the outside. He edged out Amarillo Sky, who was lurking on the rail, for the 3rd place spot. Another close race, but it was clearly Cosmic Warfare's race.

Cavvy: This was Cos' race. He had a high energy today. The older horse surely deserved this win. He will flourish the rest of the season.

Ripley: Queenie held on the whole race. She didn't tire. She never gave up throughout the race. She is a mega mare. Great things to come for her.

Frosty: Ode was really comfortable in this race. He could've gotten up there, but it wasn't his time. He was relaxed through the whole race. He is a great horse. A true champion in the making. He won't disappoint you this season.

Kenny: Rillo held on the whole race. He even had some more to give at the end, but he didn't quite make it. He is a strong runner with a great will to win. He will get you some wins this season. He won't disappoint you.

It was a great race everyone! With that, January Week 1 is now complete!

[Cavallo]

WOOT!