Manistique - by Leigh Ann Anderson

In the beginning (of the Sim that is) there was a dark bay daughter of Unbridled. She was big and fast and wasn't above facing the boys. She won 9 of her 10 starts, earned over one million dollars and produced many influential foals once she was retired from the limelight.

Her name was Manistique. In real life, Manistique was an exceptional mare, but in the Sim she is the stuff of legend. She won her first start, a grade I race over such fillies at Beautiful Pleasure, My Flag, and Banshee Breeze. Her next two wins were also against well know fillies (Jersey Girl, Banshee Breeze, Escena) in graded stakes.

But what happened in her next face is what made her a legend. As year 1 came to a close, the Steward's Cup Distaff was setting up to be a match race, not a simply walkover that one might have expected when looking at Manistique's dominance earlier in the year. There was another filly that was also undefeated in the Sim, by the name of Serena's Song.

Serena's Song had delivered a perfect 4 for 4 in year one, mostly in graded stakes races. She also had beaten Jersey Girl, Banshee Breeze and Escena, among others.

There seemed to be little difference in the quality of each filly, and the Distaff showcased just how spectacular and equally matched these fillies were. After much build up over this race the fillies did not disappoint. They raced as a team, a tandem pair and after 1 1/8 miles the finish line loomed. The pair was finally separated when Manistique took a bad step, stumbled and was beaten by a nose. In her gallant effort, Manistique fractured her leg and had to be vanned off.

Manistique missed half of the next season recovering from injury. When she returned in week 4, the filly resumed her winning ways, going five for five in year two, including a win in the second Steward's Cup Distaff.

As a five year old in year 3, this awesome mare faced the boys twice, winning both the Donn Handicap and the Baltimore Special (beating Battle Cry, Storm and Silence, Freehouse and Silver Charm to name a few) as well as winning the race named after the lone horse to defeat her, Serena's Song.

So, with nothing left to prove on the racetrack, Manistique was retired, and many of her sons and daughters continued their dam's winning ways. All in all, her foals earned over sixteen million dollars, with seven becoming millionaires.

Charm's Tribute (by Silver Charm) was Manistique's biggest earner, with a bankroll of just over $3 million. He became a useful sire after winning multiple stakes in his racing career.

Honor Bright (by Gentlemen) was a stellar race mare, winning turf stakes with regularity during years 4, 5 and 6 before retiring to Ryen Hanna's broodmare band. Honor Bright is the dam of millionaires My Hero (Charismatic) winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Notable Dancer (Kalanisi), winner of almost $9 million dollars, and Inamorata (Sadler's Wells) along with other very useful racehorses. Inamorata is the dam of Is Wanting Enough, who won just over $2.5 million dollars.

Arguably, her most notable offspring is Ryen Hanna's Louisville Derby winner, Raindrops on Roses. This son of Loki Flame was an auction purchase. According to Hanna, "I'm pretty sure the reason I bought him was to win the Derby, because with a name like that, how could I not?"Raindrops on Roses is Hanna's one and only entrant into the Derby, thus securing her perfect record in that difficult test. This son of Manistique was not a one race wonder; winning 4 other stakes races and banking just over $2 million dollars. He was also a strong sire, getting twenty two winners on dirt, turf and hurdles.

Other standout foals include Priceless Premier (Priceless Forever), Remarkable (Fusaichi Pegasus), Tear Worthy (Briliancefindsaway), and The Natural (Event of the Year). Each of those horses were stakes winners, earning in excess of one million dollars.

It's not often that a racehorse is able to put together a phenomenal racing career, much less be able to reproduce her winning form in one or more of her foals. But Manistique did. Her name and influence can still be found in the Sim today. What do you say about a mare like Manistique? Ryan Hanna said is well "Manistique is kind of awesome."