Post by S u N f r O s T ~ on Sept 19, 2015 22:31:44 GMT -5
SOPS is ready for Year Fifteen's edition of the Breeders Cup. Some entry teasers were released today by the stable as they wind down and begin to enter final preparations for the coveted series they have made strong showings at season after season. SOPS does not want to reveal everything yet, but has chosen to talk about some of their strongest contenders.
To start off, Demonic Desires is a virtually confirmed entry for the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint. The four year old winner of 26 races to date, including eight Horse of the Year races on the season, has been pointed towards this race all season. Demonic Desires is no stranger to the big races, having raced in them all his life, and this season returns to the track over which he recorded his Juvenile Turf Sprint victory. Will this son of Speed Demon and Deadly Desires get another Breeders Cup win? He certainly has the class, record and tactical speed to do it.
In The Spotlight, last year's surprise winner of the Breeders Cup Turf, will return to this season to try out the Filly And Mare Turf. Though not quite as decorated as her stablemate, In The Spotlight certainly has her own share of victories. She has been a formidable contender in the distaff turf races and has recorded seven Horse of the Year victories on the season. This mare loves to win and is lightning fast. Valencia certainly seems ready to try for victory number two in the Breeders Cup.
Continuing with the senior roster, Limited Edition is rumored to be headed for the Breeders Cup Dirt Marathon. The chestnut stallion is certainly proven at the marathon distance, though fans may be disappointed by his absence in the Classic. He has also recorded seven Horse Of The Year victories this season and has been a force over both tracks. It would appear he is ducking out on facing Nightshade, but Valencia certainly wasn't talking when we asked. His competition in the Dirt Marathon would do well to remember this horse's tactical speed and ferocious determination on race day. Ed will also be returning to the track over which he won the Breeders Cup Juvenile. Perhaps another victory in the Breeders Cup is in the cards for him.
SOPS's monster sprinter Ventura will be headed for the Breeders Cup Sprint. The two-time winner of the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint will step out of her gender class for the Breeders Cup at last, though it should prove no struggle for this year's dirt sprinting star. However, the winner of eight Horse of the Year races has appeared to be in shaky form during the month of October, though Amber Black certainly didn't seem concerned riding out in workouts lately. The mare is poised for a Sprint victory and deadlier than ever and I am looking forward to seeing her run.
Rounding out the senior roster, Wish Upon A Star has certainly made herself comfortable at SOPS. This mare has come out of scattered Horse Of The Year victories in previous seasons into dramatic improvement at five, marking herself as a leader in her division with eight Horse of the Year victories on the season - no small feat for this mare, and a pleasant surprise for the stable crew when victories were counted up. She has been pointed at the Breeders Cup Turf Marathon all along. SOPS had a hand in breeding the last two winners; perhaps this season they will score their own victory with this fantastic, well-loved mare before her well-deserved retirement.
SOPS proved not as willing to discuss their younger horses, though we did manage to ask about one. Pandora, SOPS's beloved dream fulfiller, will be hitting the Breeders Cup Turf. SOPS won their favorite race with a three year old last season and always contend in the Turf, having won all but two editions since Year Four - an unequaled record. Pandora certainly seems up to the task, having won the Turf Triple Crown and sitting on nine HoTY victories this season. Young jockey Kylie Silverstar never speaks to the press, but based on the small smiles she keeps sending our way one can tell she is very ready to take on the Turf with her filly.
With loaded horses like these entering the Breeders Cup, SOPS has plenty of reason to feel confident, and this is only the tip of the iceberg. Though SOPS will lose a lot when their senior roster retires this season and a comparatively underwhelming three year old class rises to take their place (a choice of words we are sure Amber Black would object to), we are excited to see how these horses perform in the final starts of their careers.
