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The Epitome Of Speed:Satelite Vs The Scarlet Nite
Original article written by Nathan Klein posted 3 years 3 weeks agoIn year 12 there were plenty of great horses running with greats like the Hall of Famer Star Player who won that year's Stewards Cup Classic. But on Week 8 Day 6 the two best horses that year were going to duke it out. They would make there a way to the starting gate at the time no one could get close between these two undefeated champions. Both had 10 race winning streaks and were unstoppable in their division but everything else about them was different.
First, there was Satelite a small speedy grey horse with a stripe down his face. He was the best sprinter in the world at the time. The previous year he had taken the Stewards Cup Sprint by 6 lengths. That year he had continued his winning streak managing to defeat the world's best dirt sprinters in the Desert Golden Shaheen winning it by 8 lengths. He was fast on his feet always prancing on the tips of his toes ready to accelerate from 0 to 40 at any moment.
Then there was his opponent who physically was the complete opposite. His name was The Scarlet Nite he was tall, black and stoic. Over 17 hands high nearly 2 full hands taller then Satelite. He didn't have much pep in his step in a post-parade, he saved it all for the track. He was a turf router although he had won a 6-furlong turf race. He had just gotten finished winning his first match race against the previously undefeated Lokite Magic who was also going in winning 10 races. This was not The Scarlet Nite's first rodeo.
However, the race was not gonna play specifically to either horse's biggest advantage. The race would be held at a 6 1/2 furlong distance favoring Satelite. But The Scarlet Nite had the surface as the race would be run on the turf. Despite this, The Scarlet Nite had won the grade 2 Favorite Trick stakes at 6 furlongs at the age of 2. As well as having already won a match race before he had a few more things to his favor. The two go into their starting gates, Satelite prancing in while The Scarlet Nite went in with a calm and intimidating aura.
The gates flew open, both took off, but Satelite's sprinting speed was slightly quicker at the start going to the lead. However, The Scarlet Nite was not left in the dust, he was able to keep up with Satelite with his long strides. Satellite being a smaller horse could make his legs move like a blur. By the first furlong, The Scarlet Nite had reversed the order taking the lead back from Satelite. But even with such a new challenge Satelite was not gonna give in so easily to The Scarlet Nite.
They went around the final turn with both right next to each other. Both were able to take turns leading the other in the backstretch but in the far turn neither gave an inch. It was an unstoppable force vs an immovable object down the stretch heads bobbing up and down as nearly in unison down the stretch. The final strides approached at this point whoever stretched there nose at just the right time.
The final stride came Satelite stretched his head out with all his might The Scarlet Nite was a step short and at the wire, the two hit it at nearly the same time. But Satelite had gotten the lucky head bob. He had won the race by the slimmest of margins. After that, there was nothing left to prove he had been crowned The Epitome Of Speed. The Scarlet Nite ran won more time in the Tulloch Stakes winning by a destructive 15 lengths but despite finishing on top The Scarlet Nite will always be best known as the horse who lost to The Epitome Of Speed known as Satelite.