Hall Of Fame - High Flyer

Original article written by Danny Warren posted 12 years 2 weeks ago

In the now 32 running’s of the Gr.1 Louisville Derby, for many the most sought after race on the calendar, just three fillies have beaten the boys to carve their own special niche in SIMHistory and as such, have their own aura of mystique.
The most recent of these wonder fillies was a tiny bay with a teardrop shaped star, born in the first class opulence of The Steward’s own private stable.

The petite future heroine’s Dam was a nondescript sort of mare who on the surface did not seem the type to arouse much interest. Was It Worth It had taken three races to break her maiden status as a two year old and retires after only three more starts with a 3rd in the Gr.3 Ellis Park Debutante and a 5th in the Gr.1 Steward’s Cup Juvenile Fillies.
With owner Harry Wagner disappearing in mysterious circumstances, the filly returned to The Steward for whom she had three foals, including Gr.1 winner Worth The Effort, before the spindly legged little lady who was now doing her best not to tumble in a heap at her side as she recovered from her evening‘s effort to bring her foal into the world.
The filly’s Sire may have known nothing of his daughter’s birth, but everyone knew him.
Loki Dynasty had had a magnificent career as a racehorse, being defeated just once in 13 races, his final start against one of the greatest fields ever to contest a Gr.1 Steward’s Cup where he finished second to Atlas, with Saga and Chinese Bandit behind him. He had earned $4,443,200, but remarkably never received a single SIMMY award despite winning the Gr.1 Louisville Derby and afterwards, the Canadian Triple Crown amongst his 12 wins.
At stud, Loki Dynasty had five crops of foals on the ground when this newest addition came along, including millionaires Part of the Moon, Notorious, Lightsaber, Boise, A Man Among Boys, The Right To Dream, Such Great Heights, Ramses II, Baby Blue and Boise State Boy, and was already well on the way to cementing his status as one of the true great stallions of all time. Awake As I Am was still but a twinkle in his eye.

She was educated away from prying eyes and although still not as showy as some of her paddock pals who towered over her, the beautiful mover was given a name before she entered the sales ring which would ring true of her eventual achievements. She would develop into a genuine……. High Flyer.

The sales ring has seen many horses drop their own values by acting nervously, but High Flyer was an angel, wandering around perfectly giving the buyers every opportunity to get a good look at her. She may not have had the height of many others in the ring that day, but she was neat and compact and her impeccable attitude drew an intense bidding war which ended in the gavel coming down at $1,500,000 and High Flyer was taken to the Orange Park Stud of Ali LaDuke now Weasley.

High Flyer worked solidly, but not brilliantly and Ali sent her for her debut run in Kentucky, more in hope than any real confidence for a mile maiden against eleven opponents. High Flyer broke from the gates as if she’d done it all her life, sitting comfortably in fifth. As can happen in early two year old races, the majority of the fillies came around the turn awkwardly and High Flyer, behaving like a pro, dashed forward and quickly put paid to the leader, strolling away for an impressive three and a half length win, leaving Ali fuming that she hadn’t even put a token bet on her filly.

Ali was now in two minds what to do next, but eventually decided to take on Gr.3 company in the Henderson Debutante three weeks later, with only three others contesting all of who winners. Marina Runner and Magic Is Might II flew into the lead with Mighty Lithe doing her best to keep in a straight line. High Flyer stumbled at the start and Ali sat with her head in her hands as High Flyer fought back to be tucked up behind them on the rail. A gap appeared on the fence as the three leaders turned and High Flyer dove into it without fear, storming past as if the other fillies were running in oatmeal and powering away for a huge seven length win which had reporters advising their editors to hold the back page. Ali had spent a good part of the race peeking through her fingers until the straight but was all smiles leading High Flyer into the winners enclosure.

Ali couldn’t believe that the tiny, near pony who greeted her each morning by snuggling into her shoulder for a hug, looked a demon on the track and after two impressive wins, picked out the Gr.1 Long Island Matron Stakes as High Flyer’s next challenge. A small but very handy field laid in wait. My Treasure had an easy win at it’s first start, but then had taken the unusual step of running on the synthetic at it’s next start. Surrealism had a win and a second and Iberian Lynx had won well at it’s only start. But the one who had Ali worried was Veil of White who had four starts for four easy wins.
Veil of White and Surrealism had a good lead as they neared the turn, with High Flyer last after again having a poor start, but again luck smiled on High Flyer. Iberian Lynx and My Treasure weakened and High Flyer went between them to improve. Veil of White forgot that she had to turn and kept on running straight for the crowd, slamming into Surrealism and knocking both horses off balance. High Flyer edged closer as the pair straightened up again, and angled around them in the run home to cruise across the line over two lengths clear of Surrealism who relegated Veil of White into third.

Now a Gr.1 winner at a mile, Ali had the choice between sticking to the mile for High Flyers final race of her first year or trust that she would race true to her breeding and tackle the Gr.1 Stewards Cup Juvenile Fillies over 1 1/16 miles and aim for the stars.
There were only six runners in the race, but before their careers would end, this group of fillies would collectively earn over 7.6 million dollars. Apart from High Flyer and Surrealism, there were Theonethatgotaway, who’s three starts had resulted in wins totalling sixteen and a quarter lengths, Semper Fi who was going for three wins in a row, Shining On , the winner of two out of two including an easy win over Surrealism and Where, who had won well on debut before slipping through a swamp for third.
There was no room for even the slightest error and Ali exclaimed loudly as High Flyer was slow away again. Semper Fi took hold of her jockey to charge into the lead from Shining On on the inside of Where. Surrealism was on the inside of High Flyer with Theonethatgotaway lagging and giving her jockey a horror ride early.
At the corner, Semper Fi veered out and Shining On took off for home, leaving the rest of the field flat on their feet, but High Flyer gritted her teeth for the fight and darting through her weakening rivals, ran for her life in pursuit. Shining On looked home with a furlong to travel, but High Flyer sprouted wings and as the New Jersey crowd screamed themselves hoarse, she scorched past Shining On to win by two lengths. There were a full ten lengths back to third placed to Where who hung on best of the others.

Every young racing fan now knew her name and reports of High Flyer’s phenomenal victory gained attention worldwide attention and a well deserved SIMMY for North American Champion Two Year Old Filly soon appeared in Ali’s trophy cabinet.

High Flyer enjoyed her time off, relishing all the attention her fame had granted her, with even school visits arranged so that small children could meet the gentle superstar.
But while, High Flyer was happily nuzzling into anyone within range, Ali was mulling over what path to take her on for her three year old season. She finally chose to test the waters and pit her against the colts in the Gr.1 Sunshine Park Derby, meeting very good colts in Gabriel, Triple Crown Trail and Depths of the Sea.
Feeling fresh, High Flyer to the surprise of many, jumped perfectly and was in the leading division. As the runners began to stretch out, Gabriel and High Flyer cleared away from the others and fought an epic battle over the last furlong, with both horses hitting the line together. The photo was called for and showed that Gabriel had his head down at just the right moment to hand High Flyer her first defeat. Not that there was any shame in that with nearly seven lengths to the nearest of those chasing.

After showing that she could match it with the boys, High Flyer was entered in the Gr.1 Louisville Derby, bypassing what many believed a certain Oaks win. And this was no ordinary Derby field. Most, Desert Journey, Weapon, Crime Fighter, Arms Race, Shining On, King of the Desert, Start of the End and Gabriel all took their place against her and to add to the difficulties, the race at 1 ¼ miles was further than she had ever run and then the heavens opened over Kentucky and there was a very real fear that the race would need postponing due to the fact that various families of ducks had taken residence on the lake that was Louisville Downs the night before.
Just enough water had drained from the surface for officials to deem the track safe for racing and twenty nervous three year olds lined up for their shot at immortality.
Arms Race, Shining On and Impossible tried to all lead, but in the sopping conditions, the pack stayed together with High Flyer jumping well again and getting some nice cover between runners. There were many tired horses as they reached the turn, and as the leaders gave way, Gabriel, Crime Fighter and King of the Desert surged to the lead. High Flyer found some space down the middle of the track, while Start of the End went to the rail. Just as King of the Desert was being hailed the winner, High Flyer ran to him and edged clear in the closing stages from a flashing Start of the End who got to second a stride before the winning post in front of King of the Desert.
Ali was just one of the huge numbers within the crowd applauding deliriously as for just the third time, a filly, her filly, had won the Louisville Derby. Ali thought back to the nights she sat down looking at a dozen or so options for High Flyer and how her bravery and the fillies insatiable will to win had led them to this moment, and a tear dribbled down her left cheek in pure joy.

The following week, Ali and High Flyer found themselves in Maryland attempting the Gr.1 Baltimore Crown, this time in magnificent sunshine and a firm track. Gabriel and King of the Desert were back, and My Boy Blue had arrived from Dubai after winning the Gr.1 Desert Derby. It led to an amazing finish with Gabriel able to just hold off High Flyer and My Boy Blue in a true classic.

With the Triple Crown now out of the equation, Ali sent High Flyer to contest the Gr.1 Long Island Classic just hoping that her tiny filly who reporters were speculating as having 98% of her body being her heart, could hold her form after a hectic and demanding schedule. Magic and Fighter Pilot joined Crime Fighter and King of the Desert as rivals. It soon became a race in two, with King of the Desert and High Flyer breaking away and refusing to give in over the entire stretch, with the rest of the field slipping further and further behind. The pair hit the line locked in a bobbing duel, but again High Flyer was pipped on the post. High Flyer had not lost no friends in her two recent defeats, if anything her legend had grown, especially as she went within a length of becoming the first filly to win the Triple Crown, with a half length and head losing margins.

Exhausted but still wanting a fight, High Flyer even gave King of the Desert an annoyed nip on the way back to weigh in and Ali took her home for a break. Five weeks after the Classic, Ali ran High Flyer back against the fillies and mares in the Gr.1 Loki Reflection Stakes at another drenched track in New York. High Flyer relished the return to her own sex, trouncing her five opponents without drama, before Ali announced that High Flyer would be retired, win, lose or draw after an attempt at the Gr.1 Steward’s Cup Distaff.
In one of the tightest finishes in the history of the Steward’s Cup festival of racing, four mares reached the line together and the judge needed over fifteen minutes to obsess over the photo finish. It eventuated that Shining On held off the diving High Flyer by a nose, with another back to More, a head to Chequered Past, a neck to Stands with a Fist and a head to End of the Stars. The photo of this race was blown up and adorns the wall above the Members Bar at Arcadia Park.
Ali went home wondering if High Flyer had been 16 hands, rather than 15, if she would have been the winner.

High Flyer’s career had ended.
After bursting onto the scene and capturing the hearts and minds of the SIMWorld in just 10 starts, High Flyer had won six races and finished second on the four other occasions, those losses being by a head, a half length, a neck and a nose. She earned $2,984,000 and soon afterwards won the SIMMY for both North American Horse of the Year and North American Champion Three Year Old Filly.

High Flyer is 13 years old now and nearing the end of her days as a broodmare.
At time of writing she has had eight runners, with each of her first five foals earning more than $400,000 on the track, Archangel being her highest earner with $1,121,100 and with seven winners of his own already.
High Flyer has a two year old by recently pensioned Sun Raider and a yearling by Ultra awaiting their turn on centre stage and just hoping to emulate their wonderful Dam who will always be regarded as a High Flyer.

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