Feature Race | Auction | Breeding | General | Hall of Fame | Harness | Interviews | Mixed Breed | New Players | Racing | Site Updates | Steeplechasing | Steward's Cup | Triple Crown
Picking The Brain Of Our Beloved Steward: T Sprinter Edition
Original article written by Jack Meyer posted 9 years 2 weeks ago
This series of articles have brought us to the fastest of the fast, the sprint division among the Thoroughbreds. These guys and gals blaze the track for just over 1 minute giving us thrill after thrill with their ability. I sat down with The Steward to talk Turf Sprinters this time around, there were many questions I had that I wanted to delve in to, and The Steward had all the answers.
I remember back in the day a horse by the name of Soldier Field, he was so magnificent that I bet on him every time I saw him in a race. Then there was Damascus Sword and Winston Churchill, both spectacular animals in their own right. But I wanted to know the roots of the Turf Sprint division; I wanted to know where it came from, and who the greatest horses of yesteryear were. “Unlike most things where I lecture about how a division has actually been popular for many years, turf sprinting is relatively new. The Steward’s Cup didn’t add a Turf Sprint until Year 16 when the SIM returned. That said, there was one horse that was an incredible turf sprinter back in the old SIM, and his name was Runaway. He was a grade 1 winner sprinting on dirt and turf, and went on to sire some of the mares that produced the best sires of today. Man, I would love to see a dirt/turf sprinter crossover horse come up in the new SIM!”
A dirt/turf sprinter crossover would be awesome, and it was nice to research some of those bloodlines The Steward was talking about with Runaway, I was able to trace those bloodlines to many of the sires I use each year.
I couldn’t get away from the Soldier Field issue, I wanted to know just how good he was and how he stacks up against those monsters of the SIM past, so I asked. “He was awfully good; he’s definitely up there with the best. For me personally, probably the best but most untested was Guitar, who remains the 6th highest earning turf sprinter of all time despite only racing six times. He was stupid fast. Others are Adjust the Lens, Ease, and Silent Jig, while for mares it’s got to be Genuine Socks.”
Wow! A horse that ran only six times but grabbed The Steward’s attention as much as Guitar did must’ve been something special, and to say he may be the best of all time in such a short racing career speaks for itself.
Yearlings, just turned 2YO’s that is, of last year were quite fast in my opinion, while The Steward isn’t too sure about workouts I’d have to guess Talking Moon, Reach For the Sky, Road to the Top, White Girl Rhythm, and Winter Is Coming are the cream of the crop heading into the new year with their sub 36 works.
Fez and Adamantium Plate hooked up in last year’s Steward’s Cup Turf Sprint and both seem to be heading in to Year 41 with the intention of running the entire year, I wanted to know if these two colts are on top of their division or if someone will come knocking on the door ready to spoil their party. “I think they have to be very afraid of the 3-year-olds. This year’s Turf Dash with The Black Glove defeating the Doctor Who named foursome was one of the best turf sprint races I can remember.” Indeed it was the best one that I remember, I’ve only been here since Year 35 in the SIM, so not much to go on, but it was a fine race.
Speaking of those young guns, it was time to talk about that little group. Timelord and The Black Glove stole the show in the Steward’s Cup Turf Dash while Southern Belle and A Scary Song dueled it out in the Turf Dash for fillies, it was simply amazing to hear and see. I asked The Steward if these two pairs were the best of their generation and this is what she had to say. “Southern Belle was a nice surprise I thought, upsetting A Scary Song. I never really trust 2 year old standouts going into their 3 year old season in real life or in the game, so you have to watch and see who has matured and who didn’t. As I just noted, the 2 year old boys last year really impressed me, and I think the older horses better watch out. Louise Bayou tends to get horses to run well past when I think they should be done, so Southern Belle may be around a long time!”
Fez and Adamantium Plate heed The Steward’s Warning, there are going to be some hungry 3YO’s who are out for blood when the gate opens in Year 41, be prepared!
I wanted to finish things up with a look at the older ladies of the Turf Sprinter division. Big Fish was masterful in her run in the Steward’s Cup Ladies Turf Sprint, and with Bodacious retired and Whiteflagfinish reeling a bit as of late I wanted to know if she is indeed the big fish or will Miss Indian Nation and the host of other hungry ladies chew her up and spit her out. “Big Fish is probably one of my favorite horses in the game. I actually wanted the name for myself and was grumpy when I saw it was taken, and on such a good horse that I couldn’t steal it later, ha! I think the female division of turf sprinting has definitely developed more in the last 10 years than it had ever before; these are some seriously good, fun fillies.”
I can’t look into the future to see how good certain horses in certain divisions are, but I do know when I see a ton of talent, and that Steward’s Cup Turf Dash race for the boys last year was a serious race with serious talent, I don’t think there is much of a question of how good they are. There you have it, stay tuned for the next installment coming soon that will focus on Dirt Sprinters.
Jack Meyer