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Picking the Brain of Our Beloved Steward: D Sprinter Edition
Original article written by Jack Meyer posted 9 years 2 weeks ago
Delorean, Bull Black Nova, and Satelite, these are just three names that ring true when it comes to placing the word “greatest” somewhere after saying their names, that’s tight SIM nation, it’s time to talk Dirt Sprinters. The Steward agreed to once again give me a history lesson on one of the most coveted divisions in the SIM, the following is our little project.
I had to start with Delorean, I never got to see him race so I wasn’t too sure about his racing career, but in the shed there isn’t too many that can match his ability. I know how great I think he was, and the SIM community holds his at high standards, but what about The Steward? “As a sire, Delorean definitely stands out, all time. He was clearly going to be freakish from the get go, sired over 500 winners, and is still going strong. I felt he deserved every bit of his high stud fee where some people were complaining about it. On the track, however, I would take several horses over him, including Bull Black Nova (sorry Xander), Echo Iced, and Lost (who sired 493 winners, by the way), and the greatest of the all - Satelite.”
Oh his Stud Fee was a topic of discussion a lot, I think he warranted it but also was very new and couldn’t take advantage of it, he now sits for a measly 50K for those interested, and you’re welcome Skippy!
I have a fond memory of some of the rivals in the dirt sprint division mainly that of Bull Black Nova and Box Office Smash, I asked The Steward if this rivalry was the best of all time and what other memorable rivalries she remembers. “This was definitely a great rivalry, one I really enjoyed. I love when owners feel a sense of competition and don’t take their ball and go home crying after one loss. There is a difference between knocking heads with the best when you ARE the best, and getting soundly beat several times in a row and not understanding why your horse can’t win. Probably the greatest sprint rivalry ever was Tri Star, Mischief Maker and Ready for Apremont way back in the day, while Lost, Sic Transit Gloria and Runtoapremont in Year 17 also stands out. I would put Box Office Smash and Bull Black Nova in third.”
This is awesome; I was part of The Steward’s third greatest rivalry, though on the outside looking in of course.
Robespierre skipped the Steward’s Cup in favor of the Two Year Old Sprint Championship while Prime Factor bested the rest of his generation in the SC, I asked The Steward her thoughts on these two colts are geared to meet up along their way back to the Steward’s Cup. “I’m not sure I would put them in the same class. Prime Factor is a nice boy and a great statement for Game Point sired horses, but he has never broken an 84 speed figure. Robespierre has run over a 90 in his last two races. But that’s what you’d expect - the Sprint Championship draws the best of the best each year, as it should.” Robespierre does stand out on his own, he is quite a colt and how I wish I owned him.
Close By My Side shined in the fillies Juvenile Sprint and Escaper nearly ran down Robespierre in the Two Year Old Sprint Championship, I wanted to know if Close By My Side was as legit as she looked and if Escaper was really as good as she seemed to be in her race with Robespierre. “Escaper is definitely a special girl, I’m a big fan. Close By My Side, like Prime Factor, hasn’t run very fast yet, but she comes from a stable that is so good at developing horses that stay good at three and four.” There seems to be a habit forming here, the Two Year Old Sprint Championship has spawned both of The Steward’s top 3YO’s heading into next year.
Fourzen surprised SIM nation with his big win at years end last year and with the likes of Chicago Bull retiring I wanted to know who The Steward liked in the older males division. “Fourzen has been a bit of a surprise, since I’ve always been way of his sire Eurozen. I was surprised to find out he was only three last year though, because he ran solidly like an older horse. A lot of BIG name horses retired last year, such as St. Longinus, Mustang, Challenge Accepted, etc. Even Inoucanshowme was starting to round into spectacular form. I think this division is wide, wide open for next year.” That was a whole lot of talent being retired away from the racing pool, this crop of 3YO’s will likely have something to say about Fourzen’s spot on the top of the hill.
I don't know what I can say about Lightning that you don't already know; she lost once to Chicago Bull and has been perfect ever since. I don't see how she doesn't face the boys this year at some time, I think she is the best of any of them, colts and fillies, she is just that good. The only thing I could think of to ask The Steward about her is if she thinks facing the boys is an option and how well she thinks Lightning will do against them. “Lightning will be facing the boys in Dubai this upcoming season. I didn’t think that there would ever be a filly as fast and good as the ill-fated The Look, but Lightning is just as good, maybe the best sprint filly of all time. Enjoy her while she lasts! I get a Lightning foal in Year 42, so I’m pretty pumped about her!”
Now those are powerful words coming from the one person who would know all about those special fillies of the past, I know how good Lightning is and apparently the SIM world will know very soon as well.
I closed my little sit down with The Steward with her thoughts about the Dirt Sprint division as a whole, where does she think it stands now, who will make it better, and who has made it what it is. “This division has actually backpedaled a little bit. It used to be home to a ton of the major players, but when Xander Zone swept in and started winning all the things, a lot of people bailed and he became kind of the king of the division. Now there are a few players that are making noise, namely Gigi Gofaster, Brandon McNulty, Abe Froman, and Brianna McKenzie is back in it, too. It just goes to show you that horses don’t only get faster every year, some crops kind of go the wrong way and end up a little slower. The sprinters were quiet there for a while, and the boys need to pick it up to be as good as the girls right now, but it will happen.”
It looks like Skippy has some company at the top, his throne is in danger of getting overtaken. It is great to see others bringing this division back to the prominence it had, I hope to be part of it someday.
I started the article wondering if the best horses in the division had already had their time in the spotlight, the likes of Satellite and Delorean, as I finished the article I see a storm on the horizon in the shape of Lightning and her male counterpart Robespierre who seem to be that next group that could etch their names in the SIM history books as two of the greatest to grace the SIM oval, I guess we will have to wait and see.
Jack Meyer