Paradise Island for Hall of Fame
Jan 8, 2015 13:20:01 GMT -5
*Ripley*, creativecause, and 1 more like this
Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2015 13:20:01 GMT -5
Pedigree: Created x Created
Race Record: 60: 28-17-12
Awards Won: Y11 Best 2yo Filly, Y11 Best Grade Three, Y12 Encouragement Award, Y13 Encouragement Award
Paradise Island is not a mare that is easily overlooked and from the first time she stepped on the track has been making a positive impression. Despite a disappointing fourth in her only prospect show she was ready to start a career that can only be described as impressive when racing began in Y11.
It took several unsuccessful starts before Sonja found her way on the track, claiming her first victory in style against the boys in the Stable Face Off Maiden Dirt and from there she only continued to improve. Again and again she proved herself, claiming prestigious races including the Magic Millions Fillies' Dirt and one leg of the Youth Challenge, finishing the year with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and breaking into Grade Three with her seventh win. She was named Best 2yo Filly as well as Best Grade Three in the year-end awards.
Sonja did not stop with an impressive juvenile season, though. Although she was more lightly raced as a three year old she claimed a further seven victories, breaking into grade one. Many of her races as a three year old were against the fillies, although that does not make it any less impressive when you consider she took all three legs of the Triple Tiara - almost losing the final race to Eternal Phantom but managing to come out with a dead heat and a claim on the title. Throughout the year she did not finish outside of the top three once. Despite another impressive season, she came out with no more than an encouragement award in the year-end awards.
Coming into her four year old season, the decision was made to see how Sonja ran not only on dirt but on turf and she did not fail to impress. Although she did not have the reputation that she did on dirt she continued to remain in the top three. With another nine wins to her name she finished out the season with another encouragement award and several major turf victories. It had been another consistent year, with only one result off the board - a fourth in the competitive Breeder's Cup Classic.
Sonja's fifth and final season was a quiet one although she concluded her racing career with a truly consistent year. She did not finish off the board once and claimed a further four victories, proving herself until the end.
Major Races Won
Y11 Stable Face Off Maiden Dirt
Y11 Magic Millions Fillies' Dirt
Y11 The Youth Challenge
Y11 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
Y12 Alabama Stakes
Y12 Ruffian Handicap
Y12 Oaks Stakes
Y12 Kentucky Oaks
Y12 Acorn Stakes
Y12 Mother Goose Stakes
Y12 Coaching Club American Oaks
Y13 Deadly Desires Memorial Stakes
Y13 Lady's Secret Stakes
Y13 The Natural Memorial Stakes
Y13 Independance Cup
Y13 Gold Coast Stakes
Y14 Arlington Millions Stakes
Y14 The Diana
In Summary: If you look at Paradise Island's record you will see that she ran in a large number of HoTY races - most of her career, in fact, was in these high profile races. In sixty starts she finished outside of the top three only three times and achieved a consistency level of 95%. She raced successfully on both surfaces, claimed the triple tiara, and showed herself to be a highly talented racer. She is truly the most talented horse I have ever worked with on GHF, far surpassing anything I could have dreamed when I created her. I believe she has earned her place in GHF history by being placed with the best, and hope that you do to.
