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Hall of Fame - Briliancefindsaway

Original article written by Louise Bayou posted 13 years 0 weeks ago

Sometimes a name isn’t just a name. It is sometimes the predetermined destiny of a horse. And that is exactly what it was on that lovely spring day when the undefeated champion Forever Risk delivered a small black stud colt by her fiercest rival Silver Valor.

To understand the totally awesomeness that was Briliancefindsaway, you must go back to where it all started, Saturday of Week 12 in the 6th year of the Sim. On that crisp day, the foundation would be laid for Briliancefindsaway.

That day was the match race between the undefeated filly Forever Risk and the undefeated colt Silver Valor. Everyone in the Sim wanted this race to happen, and none more than owners Jess Paquette and Jennifer Stewart. These two champions had demolished their foes and had really nothing left to prove except take on the one horse in the Sim that was their equal.

Forever Risk and Silver Valor broke quickly, moving as one down the track. As they turned for home, the crowd arose with a thunderous roar. This would be a throw down the likes of which Arcadia Park had never seen. Inches a part they hit the wire and only through a photo could anyone tell that the filly had proved best by the smallest of margins. And as they it the wire the announcer called “And...yes! Brilliance has found a way!” and that my friends is how greatness is born.

Now on to Briliancefindsaway, who started his much hyped career off with a win in a simple Maiden Special Weight. After that he would step up to the Grade 2 Norfolk Stake, which was run at the home of this dam and sires greatest race Arcadia Park. He would crush his rivals in that race and leave no doubt that he was following is destiny of being everything that his owner hoped for.

After an easy allowance race, Briliancefindsaway returned to Stake Company in the 1 mile Derby Trial Stake. I have not heard why exactly this royally bred colt did not run in the Louisville Derby that same week, but it would have been fun to see him take on Tremendous, the winner of that race.

Next up for him was the 1 ¼ mile Queen’s Derby at Toronto Racecourse. In that Grade 1 stake worth $1,000,000 he put on a show beating his rivals handily and earning $600,000 in purse money. He would then take on a 7f test in the Grade 1 Jerome Handicap at Long Island Park. After proving that was a walk in the park, next up came the Grade 1 Donn Handicap going 1 1/8 miles. With his jock sitting like a statue, Briliancefindsaway cruised home an easy winner.

After adding a Grade 1 win in the Arcadia Handicap where he beat the always trying Ichi Forever, his owner pointed him to the Grade 1 Baltimore Special. A morning gallop took more out of him than winning this race and he was set up perfectly for the Grade 3 Native Diver. In that 1 1/16 mile race he crushed a field that included an always consistent Test of Valor.

The final leg of this great colts racing career came down to a match race. Just like his sire and dam before him, he would face a fierce rival. His owner Jess Paquette had decided that the two best horses in her barn should square off and his career ending race would be against the ultra tough Heir to the Throne. Not only was Heir to the Throne coming in to the race with only one loss, this also happened to be a half brother to Briliancefindsaway. The champion mare Forever Risk would be part of another great match race as her sons fought it out.

On that humid Saturday as the crowd hurried in to the paddock railing at Long Island Park, both horses looked the picture of perfection. Briliancefindsaway chomped the shank as he walked around the ring, not dragging the groom but on his toes and ready to run. On the other side of the paddock, the bigger chestnut Heir to the Throne stood alertly in is paddock stall. Owner Jess Paquette looked to some like a tennis ball in a Grade Slam match. She bounced from one horse to the other, making sure that both horses and everyone knew she cared for both equally.

As they made their way on to the track, Heir to the Throne made a bit of a fuss as he was handed to the pony but was quickly brought in hand. In the post parade it was clear that Briliancefindsaway had his mind on business. As they loaded in to the gate, the crowd rushed to every available inch of railing.
At the break Heir to the Throne took a quick early lead as Briliancefindsaway was off a step slow.

The crowd gasp as it was known that this great colt had always took command early and ran his rivals in the ground. But this was a 1 ¼ mile race and his jock gathered him up and he loped along on a loose rein.

With Heir to the Throne a 1 ½ lengths in front, the mummer came from the crowd that this would not be Briliancefindsaways day. As they hit the back stretch though the jock made an ever so slight move of the reins and this was all this great colt needed. He quickly collared Heir to the Throne and as they turned for home Briliancefindsaway lengthened his massive stride without asking. He began to move away from Heir to the Throne with every stride. As they hit the wire, it was 4 lengths back to a defeated Heir to the Throne.

As the winners circle grew crowed, owner Jess Paquette found her way to the track and met jock and champion. As she snapped the shank on Briliancefindsaway she thought back to his dams’ gutsy win in just a race, on her final start. As they say sometimes a name isn’t just a name, sometimes brilliance just finds a way.

After an undefeated racing career there were high expectations for his great champion. And while some champions of the track are disappointments, Briliancefindsaway was not one of them.

He is the sire of six millionaires including his highest earner Storm A Fortress. Robin Tan sent her millionaire mare Fusaichi Storm to Briliancefindsaway and hit Sim gold. Storm A Fortress made $6,225,000 in race earnings. In his breeding career he has $16,660,930 in progeny earnings. Second on the progeny leaders for Briliancefindsaway is Ground Zero who earned $4,250,000. Rounding out the millionaire progeny is Cobalt with $2,818,000, Tear Worthy who earned $2,046,000, August who earned $1,681,000 and Avonds who ended his career with $1,340,000.

Briliancefindsaways breeding career was like his racing career, a smashing success. His final stats are progeny earnings of $24,103,075 with and average of $325,717 earned per runner. With a win percent of 59.5 % and a 14.9% stake winner one has to appreciate his greatness.


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