Witch Creek Stable Update, April Week Two

[Ripley]

WITCH CREEK NEWS UPDATE

Witch Creek Stable hasn't been in the news much this season, mostly owing to the fact that their article writer, owner and trainer has been in the hospital giving birth to her first child. While it has been a couple quiet weeks to start the month, a lot has been going on below the surface of fine racing performances. Ripley Marsh gave birth to a bouncing baby boy on the eve of April Week Two racing. Brookson Wells, Witch Creek's assistant trainer, and Ripley Marsh named their son Keller. Ripley's been taking it easy, but rumor has it the woman was out the next day and sneaking peeks on her horses. You can take the woman out of the barn, but you can't take the barn out of the woman.

Brooks was at the track with Malcolm Floyd, who has been keeping an eye on the horses. He looked tired, but completely content despite the fact that he stated Ripley kicked him out of the hospital in irritation. "She's a tough woman and she doesn't like to be vulnerable. She'll be at the track soon enough. I know she's looking forward to Saintly Touch's appearance in the Kentucky Derby. Perhaps Keller will get to take his first outside pictures in a blanket of red roses."

One horse who no longer seems destined for the Derby winner's circle is the brilliant Sun King. Sun King, a son of Native Flame and prolific broodmare El Sol Del Mar, finished second in the Santa Anita Derby behind Speak Easy at Green Horse Fields. Spun around a week later and the chestnut horse fired off a very impressive win in the Swale Stakes. It was his twelfth victory and second Horse of the Year win on the season. Plans call for the handsome horse to hit the Sprinter Crown and then the Red Mile. He looks to be very tough going forward and the barn was shaded in the afterglow still the next day. The strength of the Witch Creek three year old division appears very hard to deny. Only Nocturnal Runaway and Queen's Honesty remain above G3 status. Witch Creek is sitting pretty when it counts the most.

Speaking of Nocturnal Runaway... Witch Creek has big plans for the silver daughter of Night Stalker and has chosen to point the Goldikova Stakes winner to the Turf Triple Tiara. She finished third behind Pandora and Impress The Moonlight in the Oaks Stakes... Taboo won the Miesque in a game performance and yet the grade four filly will be the one to represent Witch Creek. Mal shrugged, a half-smile on his face, when asked. "Her last workout was a measure of brilliance. The result in the Oaks Stakes was a lot closer than her just finishing last. She gave Pandora and Impress The Moonlight a tough time. We're going. The night Ripley gave birth, David Carter and I breezed her over the track publicly and she turned in a lights out breeze. Clockers got her getting :58 seconds for five furlongs in hand. She was normal before she even got back to her stall. I was very impressed and I think I might have the dark horse.

"Taboo will be heading to the Turf Sprinter Tiara. She won the Miesque at 7 furlongs and has consistently proven she loves the shorter distances. We'll be in deep against Athena's Desires and Stiletto Allure, maybe Call Me Crooked, but we've followed this route twice with Paranormal Hunter and Cross My Heart. Hopefully, third time will continue to be the charm." Taboo has a huge familial reputation to live up to, but it's looking more and more likely the filly reaches her star potential.

One horse who has caught the eyes of several handicappers is the development of Optimus Unstoppable. The bay stallion notched his grade two victory in an undercard race at the newly constructed Battlestone Downs. Winner of a sprinter crown leg, Optimus has been fighting tooth and nail to get back to the high performances of last season. "He's such a brave colt," Mal remarked. "He's handy and hardy. He can win from the front or come from behind. Laura's been riding like a champ lately and he is a champ. Three more wins and we'll have another grade one winner. And a deserving one at that."

In an otherwise tough week of second and third place finishes, Notorious became the first Witch Creek juvenile to hit grade four. There can be no doubt that separated World Dominion and Notorious are dominating the male turf division. Will this be the future clash of titans or will another turf colt step up to surprise them both at some point? The public is eating up the magnificent performances turned in by the rival horses of Witch Creek and Intrepid Racing. On several occasions, Brookson Wells as suggested that this may be the most versatile and talented colt since Frozen Motion on the Witch Creek roster. So is World Dominion the next Infinite Warcry?

Things are just starting to heat up. Hold on to your hats, ladies and gents!