Hall of Fame - Royalty

Original article written by Melissa Mae posted 14 years 0 weeks ago

When you think of a Queen, you think of European countries where they have more turf racing than dirt. But in the SIM, the queen goes by the name of Royalty and was about as dirt bred as you could get. The three time SIMMY winner was by Sunday Silence and out of the aptly named The Princess [by One In A Million].

Royalty won both of her two year old races, the first being a six furlong race. Six furlongs obviously was not a distance that she liked, however like champions do, she won convincingly on week four of year nine. Four weeks later she was entered in the mile long Grade 3 My Dear Girl Stakes. This obviously was not her favorite distance either because she was bred to be a router. But like the classy lady she was, she once again won.

Her sophomore season of racing found her in the most exciting of her three seasons. She finally got to run at the distances she truly wanted to and thanked owner Jess Paquette with an amazing season. On week three she won the Grade One Arcadia Oaks by a nose over Okibi Senshi (also owned by Jess Paquette) for $150,000. Three weeks later found her in the one and a half mile long Grade One Coaching Club American Oaks where she once again won over Reaching for Stars and Lovemifyawantem. Her first defeat came in the 9 furlong Grade One Ruffian Handicap where she battled Inspired Moment the whole time and the two fillies had a match race to the wire with the rest of the field at least six lengths back. Week twelve was the Steward’s Cup Distaff (the SIM was twelve weeks during year ten) and the race was one for the ages. The first three finishers were only separated by a length and a half with close finishes all throughout the field. Royalty won the race by half a length over Attracting and Les Batons Magique.

The break between year ten and eleven found Jess Paquette retiring from the SIM, leaving an excellent stable behind. Most of the horses were auctioned off and Royalty was sold to Alysse Jacobs for three million dollars before her four year old season. While most would retire a filly like Royalty, Alysse made the decision to keep her racing and a smart one it was.

Royalty’s last season started in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Handicap on week three. In another exciting finish that was much like a match race, Skyscraper and Royalty ran head to head leaving the rest of the field far behind them. When the wire came, Skyscraper was a neck ahead of Royalty in one of the most exciting races of the year with the rest of the field eight lengths back. Four weeks later, Royalty redeemed herself by winning the Grade One Go for Wand Handicap by a neck over Sahara Flame then redeeming her 3 year old loss by winning the Grade One Ruffian Handicap on week ten, a race that she had lost the year before. She returned to the Distaff to defend her title at the end of year ten and lost against three horses she had handily beaten before. She finished fourth in the last race of her career.

The mare’s race record was spectacular but she really made her name in the broodmare band. Her five foals to race (out of six foals) all won at least one million dollars. Her oldest baby is Crown, a mare by Symbol who is the dam of Duke, Prince, and Throne among others. Her second baby is Cloak, a mare by Tremendous who is the dam of Cape (SC Juvie Winner) and Edict among others. Tiara is probably her best known foal and is also being inducted into the hall of fame in this class. Tiara is by Walkover and is dam of the famous Buckingham, Majesty, and others. Screptre is a twelve year old horse by Five Circles and was a useful racehorse but unfortunately has not made his mark as a sire. Her second to last foal is the famous Empire, a bay horse by Chesapeake Bay that was one of the top horses of his class. Her last horse is a ten year old mare by Loki Dynasty who never raced. She has one colt to race by Fighter Jet.

Royalty made her mark in all parts of the SIM and is truly the queen. If anyone deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame, this is your girl.

---

Back to Hall of Fame articles