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Rivalries: Past, Present, and Future

Original article written by Jack Meyer posted 9 years 2 weeks ago


I haven’t been around the SIM long enough to experience the great rivalries of yester year, I’ve heard many of those rivalries that helped shape the way the SIM is today. I’ve done some research and asked a few people, and decided to pinpoint some of the great rivalries of the past, present and future to give the SIM community a little taste of what was, is, and is to come, I hope you all enjoy.

PRICELESS FOREVER vs. SHEPICKEDUPADANCE
We will start with the SIM’s first GREAT rivalry. Priceless Forever is part of SIM lore within the SIM history books, he stole the hearts of the SIM when he ravaged his competition in the Triple Crown way back in Year 4. His closest rival at the time was Shepickedupadance who blew through her competition in her first five races, which included taking home the 1 million dollar Steward’s Cup Juvenile Fillies at the end of Year 3.

Priceless Forever took the Steward’s Cup Juvenile on the same night as his female counterpart, but would the SIM gods allow for them to meet each other since the risk and reward of a filly chasing the boys is usually a topic of debate. Shepickedupadance’s owner Kellie Whitehead must’ve heard the pleas of the SIM universe because she has her filly set to throw down with the boys in the Even of the Year Stakes, she took care of business proving she could run with the boys, but was it enough?

The Louisville Derby was on the horizon for Priceless Forever, he was destined for this race since birth, his owner sent him to the Bluegrass Stakes the week prior to the Derby as his prep, a scary thought nowadays, but not for Priceless Forever. After the dust settled, Shepickedupadance indeed was heading for the Derby unaware of what was going to transpire at Louisville Downs, she had no clue she would be part of SIM history. The first showdown was settled, Priceless Forever took the Derby with Shepickedupadance right behind in 2nd, the little lady hung with perhaps the greatest SIM horse of all time.

Priceless Forever went to Baltimore Downs for the Baltimore Crown and took care of business, he had one goal after that, the Classic, but who would show? Shepickedupadance was going to try again against Priceless Forever, she was going for the Classic to try and derail his bid for the Triple Crown. The stage was set in New York, capacity crown on hand to witness history either way, the filly taking down the champion, or the champion making history winning the Triple Crown. Priceless Forever proved to be too much yet again, he again held the filly at bay grabbing the last leg of the Triple Crown setting his eyes for a summer showdown is a classic way.

Shepickedupadance had her heart set on taking down the machine that was Priceless Forever, she was going to focus on the Midsummer Classic as her next opportunity knowing he would be there. It was truly a classic as the crown at The Spa were eager to see the two duke it out again, Priceless Forever was fresh off his Triple Crown success, and Shepickedupadance was hungry, hungry for revenge, and she got it. She took down the mighty Priceless Forever in the Midsummer Classic, she did it, she beat the champion, though her spot in the history books isn’t denying Priceless Forever his Triple Crown bid, her place is solidified because she never gave up, she kept trying, and that’s what champions do.

Priceless Forever and Shepickedupadance would meet one last time in the Steward’s Cup Classic, Priceless Forever took home the Cup with Shepickedupadance settling for a well beaten 4th, it was the end of an era, the first ever SIM rivalry. Priceless Forever retired right after the Steward’s Cup, he went on to a successful stud career that included 15+ offspring that won over 1 million dollars on the track. He was a sire of sires since many of his offspring went on to become successful sires as well, he was truly the greatest of the great. Shepickedupadance raced for another year picking up two more wins, she retired with that one lone victory over Priceless Forever etched in her mind, and her heart. She didn’t really do much as far as breeding, she had a few foals that went on to earn over 1 million in earnings, but none could match her talent.


FOREVER RISK (JESS PAQUETTE) vs. SILVER VALOR (JENNIFER STEWART)

Who said the SIM is just for rivalries involving horses, this one also involved a rivalry between the owners. Though I wasn’t around to witness how it all came about, I’m sure it was quite an experience for those of you who were here. Forever Risk was by the unconquerable Priceless Forever, she was destined to follow in her daddy’s footsteps, while Silver Valor was royally bred through the Silver Charm and Secretariat lines making him a serious threat just form that alone.

Silver Valor was focused on getting on the Triple Crown Trail early on, he took down Graduation Year in the Single Star Derby as well as Lonspeedonthelead in the Flamingo Stakes. He skipped the Louisville Derby and the Baltimore Crown, and put all of his focus on the longer Long Island Classic, he was fresh and ready to go. The Long Island Classic drew a short field of four, Silver Valor cruised home to a win, then switched his attention to the Super Derby 4 weeks away. In the Super Derby, he again got the best of Lonespeedonthelead remaining undefeated, a race dubbed “MATCH RACE OF THE DECADE”, was in sight.

Forever Risk on the other hand stayed within her ranks, she took home the Twin Spires Stakes and the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies stakes prior to her monumental score in the Matron to end her year 5 campaign. Her year 6 debut saw her thrash her opponents in the Bonnie Miss before zeroing in on the Louisville Oaks as her primary goal, she took the Oaks like she was destined to beating the likes of the mighty Cascade, there wasn’t much left for her to prove in the filly ranks, it was time to try the boys. She went to Baltimore Race Course to challenge Louisville Derby winner Sports Jersey to prove she is the best of the best, she didn’t disappoint holding the boys at bay taking the Crown. Her final race before “The Big Race” was the Ruffian Stakes where she topped stable mate Soldier Girl to remain undefeated, she was where she needed to be.

While ALL this was going on, there was some sort of rivalry brewing within the owner ranks, without details, I can’t elaborate on how or why this came to be, but these two special fake animals held the hopes of both owners, and the SIM nation in the balance. This is when the Match Race Of The Decade Stakes was born, within the mind of the SIM universe, with these two undefeated masters of their division waiting to face off, waiting to finish the feud, rivalry, whatever you want to call it, they were the deciding factor. Colt against Filly… Paquette against Stewart…One race with one victor, it was on! Forever Risk did what her daddy did, she proved superior on the track that day stealing the heart of her fans while dashing the heart of Silver Valor and the Stewart camp, it was all over.

Silver Valor produced a pair of millionaires once her retired, which was right after the match race, he was very successful in the shed. Forever Risk produced seven millionaires when she hung up her racing shoes, which was right after the match race as well. She carried on her poppa’s name proudly going down as one of the greatest runners and mares in the history of the SIM. As far as Jess and Jennifer, they remain MIA, their rivalry may still be going on somewhere, it made for quite a show in the SIM in the year that it took the SIM’s focus.


CONDUIT vs. LOKI MATERPIECE vs. GAZE UNWAVERING vs. WALKOVER

In an attempt to not let this piece get out of control, I will highlight each rival, and then put them all together. Conduit was the one of the four who did his own thing, he wasn’t going to get caught up in the whole “rivalry” thing until it was time, he knew it would come, but he wasn’t in a hurry. Conduit was a sprint specialist as well as a router specialist winning Graded races at both distances, while he was on the Triple Crown Trail early on with his win in the Flamingo; he tried all distances and even surfaces before settling on one thing. Conduit won the Malibu at 7 furlongs, the Canadian Breeder’s Cup at 1 ½ miles on the turf, as well as the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Baltimore Special on the dirt in the routing division, he was truly a specimen.

Loki Masterpiece won a sprint distances early on as well, he did get caught up in the Triple Crown hype and stayed on the trail the entire time duking it out with his fellow trail hopefuls. He first met one of his four rivals in the Steward’s Cup Juvenile as a 2YO beating Gaze Unwavering, he then score in the San Catalina and the Arcadia Derby setting up his Triple Crown bid. He again held Gaze Unwavering at bay in the Louisville Derby grabbing the first leg of the Triple Crown, his Baltimore Crown attempt came with less pressure as Gaze Unwavering skipped it giving Loki Masterpiece the edge resulting in him winning the first two legs. Loki Masterpieces attempt to win the triple Crown was spoiled when Gaze Unwavering got the best of his arch rival in the 1 ½ marathon denying him that prestigious honor, it was a dark day for Loki, but a fresh start in the eyes of the Gaze.

Loki Masterpiece would head to The Spa for the Midsummer Classic with no Gaze Unwavering in the stall next to him, the result is another win for the champion with the Steward’s Cup Classic on the horizon. A new rival enters the picture in the Steward’s Cup Classic, Walkover took the Lone Star Derby and the Arkansas Derby early in the year placing himself front and center for the Triple Crown, yet the colt wasn’t anywhere in sight in any of the races. He took a 4 week break before resuming his duties on the track with a focus on the Steward’s Cup Classic as the first real test with Gaze and Loki.

The Steward’s Cup Classic of Year 12 saw Walkover flex his muscles to 2/3’s of his rivals taking down both Loki Masterpiece and Gaze Unwavering in their first ever meeting, the absence of Conduit was still head scratching giving the fact that it was the Steward’s Cup Classic. Loki took the Gulfstream Park Handicap next while Gaze Unwavering went to Arcadia Park for the San Antonio Handicap where he took care of business. Walkover went to Arizona for the Phoenix Handicap where he again shined in the midst of his rivals.

The Desert World Cup was the next opportunity to see the rivalry in full swing, Walkover, Gaze Unwavering, and Loki Masterpiece all took the trip, the absence of Conduit again tainted it a little, but it was still one for the ages. Gaze Unwavering turned the tables on Walkover this time getting the win with Loki running a game third, these three were in a heated rivalry, while some had to wonder if Conduit was avoiding the trip of terror, or was he just biding his time. Walkover took the Pacific Classic with ease in his final prep before the Steward’s Cup Year 11; Gaze Unwavering added the Whitney Handicap and the Woodward Handicap to his resume as his final two preps, he was all business with a 2 race win streak intact. Loki Masterpiece got back to his winning ways with scores in the Laurel and Islein Handicap’s capping off his run to the Cup, the stage was set, but would Conduit show?

The Steward’s Cup Classic is here, Loki Masterpiece with his 13 wins makes the trip, Gaze Unwavering adds 11 wins to the table, Walkover brings 11 out of 12 to the table, the three rivals are ready to do it one last time. The Davies barn had taken the road they wanted for the entire trip with Conduit, she had to bring her prized colt to the Steward’s Cup this time right? The SIM universe wanted to see it, I wasn’t there and I wanted to see it, I think those four fake horses wanted to see it, for SIM sake give it to us please!!! Suddenly we see the colors of the mighty Conduit; his 16 race win streak in all its glory is making its way to Louisville Downs, it’s time for the final showdown with all the players in place.

Five Million dollars at stake, an undefeated record at stake, bragging rights are at stake, what will happen? The race of a lifetime took place at Louisville Downs that day, four of the best SIM horses to ever grace a SIM track battled their hearts out for all of us. Conduit stood his ground coming away as the victor keeping his streak alive at 17, where it would end, he retired after the race. His legendary racing career was thought impossible to top, but the legend delivered in the shed producing power houses like Atlas, who won over 12 million in his career. It would literally take an entire article write up to cover Conduit’s sire run, I will throw this in there, he sires over 15 multi-millionaires in his career.

Loki Masterpiece finished 2nd in the Steward’s Cup that year, he went on to produce 4 millionaires at stud, and still remains a fan favorite and a sire of sires with such great bloodlines throughout the SIM. Gaze Unwavering ran 5th in the Cup that day, and went on to throw 2 millionaires at stud, though his resume isn’t that of his rivals off the track, he rivaled the best of them on it. Walkover only had 75 total runners on the track, six of them are millionaires including the sensational Tiara is SIM lore in her own right these days. Such a great rivalry that will never be done again, they were all the best of the best, and gave a whole new meaning to rivalry when it all came to a head way back in Year 11.


BRILIANCEFINDSAWAY vs. HEIR TO THE THRONE


Briliancefindsaway is sired by the mighty Silver Valor, whom we discussed earlier in the article; he had his daddy’s aspirations early on setting his sights on the Triple Crown from the beginning, or so everyone thought. His wins in the Derby Trial was thought to be the start of a successful run in the Crown, but he chose to test the waters in different areas instead. He won the Queens Derby in week 8 before switching the sprint races taking home the Jerome Handicap turning away the best sprinters of that year. Briliancefindsaway took the Donn Handicap next followed by a win over Ichi Forever in the Arcadia Handicap, his final big test was the Baltimore Special where he again held true to his pedigree scoring a big win.

Heir to the Throne on the other hand stayed the course with a goal of the Triple Crown, he took the San Felipe and the Remsen in fine fashion in preparation for the Derby. His Derby try was short lived as he ran 2nd behind Raindrops and Roses, but his owner knew he wanted longer, and set his sights on the Long Island Classic to prove it. He took the Long Island Classic like he was supposed to, then took the coveted Haskell Invitational securing his rightful spot atop the throne of the 3YO division. His win in the Tropical Derby was excellent, but something was missing after all of his accomplishments, was he truly the best of his generation? He hadn’t faced Briliancefindsaway yet, and he knew more than anyone how good he was since his owner owned both colts.

Jess Paquette was the owner in question, obviously there was reasoning behind the fact that they hadn’t crossed paths yet. Jess must’ve thought Heir to the Throne was the better option for the Triple Crown, and figured Briliancefindsaway would be better suited taking a different route with the vision of them meeting up one final time in the future. We witnessed the Match Race Of The Decade earlier in the article, this time it was a match race to decide which two superb colts in the Paquette barn was superior. It all came to pass at Long Island Park when Briliancefindsaway took hold of the crown by beating down his stable mate in Heir of the Throne’s final race. At 1 ¼ miles, one has to wonder if Jess made the right choice in sending Heir to the Triple Crown Trail instead of Briliancefindsaway, a question we will never have answered, some things are better left to imagine anyways.


WHITNEY vs. AMBER

Rydell and Nalbone, two names that have become household names in the SIM, when you look at success in the SIM, these two are at the top of that list. We have to remember, the owners are only as good as their horses allow them to be, and these two had two of the greatest fillies that graced the oval in Amber and Whitney. The fact that they only met one time, and the result was that neither of them won, they ran into a force by the name of Maelstrom, is beside the point, it’s what they did prior and after that makes them legendary, and causes the SIM to wonder what would have happened had they raced against each other more than once.

Both fillies were known for taking on the boys and beating them into submission. Whitney took out Gift of the Sun in the Hot Springs Derby, and a host of runners such as Just Victory, Specimen, and Zulu Dancer in her 4th place effort in the Year 28 Louisville Derby. Her win in the Long Island Classic included victims such as Battlehorse, Just Victory, Sun and the Stars, Persevere, and Triumph. In the Desert World Cup she finished 2nd but still beat the likes of Highly Regarded and Battlehorse. Her second try at the Steward’s Cup Classic saw her beat Flame and Smoke, Father Ralph, Sun and the Stars, Zulu Dancer, and Triumph, she was a total beast on the track taking on every challenge, turning back most of them.

Amber had the same sort of success, she took out Just Victory and Specimen in the Hot Springs Handicap in Year 30, then got the best of JV again in the Baltimore Special. She beat up on Father Ralph in the Summer Bird Stakes before her much anticipated matchup with Whitney in the year 30 Steward’s Cup Classic. She wound up finishing 2nd behind Maelstrom ending the short rivalry the two classy fillies had, Whitney retired following that race. Amber went on to capture the Arcadia Million beating Smoulders, followed by wins in the Baltimore Special and the Steward’s Cup Classic where she beat Open At The Close, Spartan, Who I Am, and Sword ending her racing career.

With these two fillies it’s more about what could have been, they both were superior on and off the track. Amber has foaled the likes of Firefly, Pemberley, and Newsroom who have already solidified themselves as top of the line, she has Hydra just getting started this year, and C.J., her 3YO daughter out of Sword who had a lot of potential. Whitney has Guinness and Manhattan as her two prized foals thus far, Manhattan won the Desert Marathon a few weeks back and pushed his earnings to over 2 million. God and Corona are two more solid offspring out of Whitney who have shined for the Nalbone barn, they are part of an everlasting bloodline that helped shape the SIM to what it is today. The unfortunate thing is, we will never know which of these two ladies were really the best, but I’d say I see signs of their rivalry continuing through their breeding as many of their babies are torching one another on the track as we speak.


BOOS MAKER vs. KNOB CREEK

What would an article by me be without the mention of one of the Mixed Breeds, I had to give them some love. Quarter Horses are fast becoming a popular choice for owners wishing to get into mixers with the higher purses through sponsored races, and things like that, and two colts that have taken full advantage of the spotlight are Knob Creek and Boos Maker.

These two have become bitter rivals on the track, Boos Maker started early on with his dominance taking the Austin Futurity and the first Rainstorm Futurity Trial Stakes race from a year ago. His first matchup with Knob Creek came in the Rainstorm Futurity where Knob Creek showed the son of Makers Mark just who the king is at that time. The two would meet up again in the Most American Futurity Trial prep race where Boos Maker returned the favor making the score 1 to 1 just in time for the Most American Futurity.

The Most American Futurity is the richest of the big three races in the mid division of Quarter Horses for 2YO’s holding a purse of 1.5 million, and Knob Creek was all business making minced meat of his competition, including Boos Maker, establishing himself once again as the top dog. They met again in the California Juvenile, Knob Creek blasted his rival into the ground with authority taking a 3 to 1 lead in their matchups, the fun was just beginning.

Boos Maker took the Steward’s Cup Quarters Juvenile, one noticeable thing was the absence of Knob Creek, he decided to aim for the Austin Derby, and used the time before the race to rest. The Austin Derby saw Boos Maker do the unlikely, he went week 14,16,1, and 3, with 4 races in a 6 week span, the talk among the SIM was would he get hurt under that much pressure. The Austin Derby saw the return of Knob Creek to battle the tested Boos Maker again, this time Boos Maker proved his resilience when he outlasted Knob Creek under the wire for the victory.

The pair would meet again two more times to date, in the Rainstorm Derby and the Most American Derby, both of which saw neither win, and both of which saw Knob Creek get the better of Boos Maker. The rivalry will likely continue throughout this year, and possibly into next since they are both still just 3YO’s, I am always going to be glued to the computer screen when I see these two in the same race because this is one rivalry I AM a part of.


BEDSIDE MANNER vs. FORETHOUGHT

Back to the ladies of the Thoroughbred world, in this rivalry, we see two fillies that have raced just seven times in their careers having faced each other 4 of them, they know each other very well. Both fillies had their first three races without one another as a sort of invisible prep for the future, Forethought won 2 of her first three including the Fledging Park Matron, while Bedside Manner took all three of hers without much trouble including the Northern California Bunburnette.

The pair then began to build a rivalry when they met for the first time in the Hot Springs Bunburnette, Forethought squeezed a victory out of it with a nose victory making the score 1 zip. Bedside Manner would turn the tables on Forethought in the Louisville Bunburnette in their next meeting cruising to a 1 length victory making things square between the two with round three on the horizon. The International Oaks is where it went down, neither filly won the race, but Forethought closed with a rush to nail Bedside Manner for the second spot. Their final confrontation to date came in the Virginia Oaks where Forethought again closed to nail Bedside Manner at the wire by a neck securing bragging rights for the time being, I’d say this one is just beginning, wouldn’t you?


THE FUTURE

I was in awe when I glanced at some of the races that transpired last Friday night, Proverb throwing a 100 Speed Figure is astronomical in my book. Ali Weasley has got to believe she has the early favorite for the Derby with this 2YO son of Highly Regarded, and I hope she keeps him on the trail even though his breeding says he wants longer.

Art Vandalay’s Coronation posted a 97 Speed Figure, we know he gives his horses super drugs, but that is just unreal. Like Proverb before him, he is a son of Highly Regarded and wants longer distances, but this is shaping up to be something special if we can keep them all focused on the same prize.

Susie Rydell’s Harry Potter colt Doctor shot out a 96 Speed figure in his debut, that is three colts with 95+ Speed Figures in the first real night of route racing, though his sire was more of a typical 1 ¼ length distance runner, I don’t think the extra half mile would hurt if he runs in the LIC next year.

Erin Sanderson’s Through The Ghost posted a 93 Speed Figure in his debut marking 4 colts that topped 93 or higher, the 2YO son of Rambling is out of a Highly Regarded mare so he too has a lot of pedigree pointing to running all day long.

These four colts set in motion what could be one of the most exciting years in the SIM, a rivalry that could pit four horses against one another for one common goal, the Triple Crown. We won’t know until next year more than likely since that will likely be the first time we see all four together on the track, but it’s never too early to dream and anticipate. I for one don’t remember this type of buzz in my 4+ SIM years here, and since I wasn’t around for those rivalries of yester year, I’d love to make this one my one for the ages.


WRAP UP

The one thing that pops in my mind about this entire piece is, how do I feel about rivalries, are they good for the SIM or bad for the SIM. The only way I can judge that is by the way it makes me feel when I witness one, I wasn’t here for the bulk of the Harry Potter versus Voldemort rivalry, I came in at the tail end of it, but I saw the buzz surrounding them in chat when I would stop in. I was here for the Bull Black Nova versus Box Office Smash rivalry, and I remember quite well how satisfied I was when I witnessed the two in one of their 5 epic showdowns, it made it feel like real horse racing. I remember The Gold Factor and Rosin, they had quite a rivalry going in the Quarter Horse ranks a couple of SIM years back, they were part of what made Wednesday’s exciting for me when I didn’t have much to be excited about.

To answer that question, I do think rivalries are good for the game, it keeps the game fresh and exciting. I saw how the chat room buzzed when Castle Keep and Harkness threw down in this year’s Baltimore Crown, and how the SIM got on Harkness and his connections for skipping the Derby for one reason or another, it keeps things in the SIM where they should be, on the minds of SIM nation as much as possible. I feel, the day we stop having rivalries in the SIM is the day the SIM will lose its luster to me, it’s those rivalries that shape the foundation and make the SIM grow into the great game that it is.


Jack Meyer


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