Hall of Fame - Memento Mori

Original article written by Nathan Klein posted 3 years 2 weeks ago

Memento Mori in Latin translates to ‘remember (that you have) to die’. With that in mind Memento Mori was the name of a beautiful white mare who ironically proved that legends will never die. Memento Mori started her career with tons of promise being the best 2-year-old filly on turf by a long margin. She won four races that year with her best one being the Steward's Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf where she fought a horse named Little Ann. The two great fillies were leagues better than the rest and made the race a good two horse race. They fought it out but Little Ann gave in and Memento Mori ran on to win by 3/4 of a length. Little Ann would go on to be a 6-time Grade 1 winner while Memento Mori went to tour Europe. Memento Mori would run in France, England, and Ireland's 1,000 Guineas. She won in France and later in Ireland but in between those wins she lost for the first time in the English 1,000 Guineas. The winner of the race was a filly named Prancer who faced against Memento Mori 5 other times and lost all of them.

But she got a lucky break in the English 1,000 Guineas. Later that year she would have a similar surprise in the Steward's Cup Filly and Mare Turf or as I like to call it "The White Fight." In the race, Memento Mori would face off against another white mare. Her name was Keynote Giants. She was a year older and a giant, standing 17 hands she was taller then Memento Mori and just as white. She was also no slouch taking five straight races in preparation for the race including the Grade 1 Japanese Mile. Memento Mori was also riding a streak but it was only 4 races. Initially, Memento Mori went to third place and hung behind the leaders but in the far turn Keynote Giants snuck into second place ahead of Memento Mori. After that, they took over Listen who was the front runner for the majority of the race, and then just like Memento Mori had done the year before, turned the Steward's Cup into a match race. The two white mares fought it out in the stretch but in a surprise turn of events, Keynote Giants held off Memento Mori and won by a head.

Despite two defeats, that year Memento Mori took the Simmy for European Champion 3-Year-Old Female. But the next year she was invincible. No one could stop her as she swept the biggest turf mile races. She would not lose in six races that year. Taking three Grade 1 races and developing a new rival named Distant Dream. A story about Memento Mori would not be complete without Distant Dream. The two were meant to face off against each other. Memento Mori had won the Steward's Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Distant Dream had won the Steward's Cup Juvenile Turf. Memento Mori took the French and Irish 1,000 Guineas. But Distant Dream had taken the English 2,000 Guineas. They faced 3 times that year but at age 4 Memento Mori would never be denied and beat him all 3 times including in the Steward's Cup Mile. But things would be different the following year. Distant Dream got revenge on Memento Mori immediately when he beat her in the Pegasus Turf Mile. It was their first race back from the previous year's Steward's Cup Turf Mile and he was out for number 1. But then a start later Memento Mori got back at Distant Dream winning her second Dubai Millenium Mile. After that, they split off to prep up for the turf mile. Memento Mori took the Toronto Mile and Arcadia Ladies Mile. While Distant Dream took the Grand Tower Stakes, Chicago Turf Mile, and Southern California Mile.

The stage was set for round 2 in that years Steward's Cup Turf Mile. The race started and both broke smoothly early and took position. Memento Mori would take second early as Dandy Lion set his own pace early. A bit further back was Distant Dream in fifth. Dandy Lion would expand on his lead for the first half but he soon tired himself out. Memento Mori took advantage of this and went after him making up 3 lengths from half a mile to 3/4 of a mile. But there was still a quarter of a mile left, she took the lead in the stretch but she wasn't a clear leader. She slowly opened up 2 lengths on Dandy Lion but Distant Dream made his move on the rail saving up his energy in the final quarter rather than chasing Dandy Lion early. Memento Mori tried to hang on but Distant Dream was simply too powerful stride after stride he wore down Memento Mori and at the line, he won by a head. It would be the last race for both Memento Mori and Distant Dream. With both Memento Mori and Distant Dream done with racing it was time for them to pass on their genes. In a weird twist of irony, the former rivals would have three foals together. All of them would win stakes races with Between the Stars being their best, winning four Grade 1's including the English 2,000 Guineas and the Dubai Millenium Mile. Memento Mori was a great miler and great broodmare with her abilities only being proven further by her tough customers, especially Distant Dream. The rivalry between those two helped make each other better and give each other a lasting legacy. Now there legacy will live on in the progeny the two feuding lovebirds made for now and forever.

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