Post by S u N f r O s t ~ on Mar 28, 2010 17:50:03 GMT -5
THE YEAR NINE KENTUCKY DERBY
POST PARADE
A fast dirt track awaits today's horses entered in the premier race of the day, the Kentucky Derby. Going ten furlongs on the dirt, we've seen truly talented horses run in this race. Definite Glory has been the only mare to win this race. GM Execute surprisingly came out on top three years ago to win. The eventual Triple Crown champion Impressario took this race in the most competitive Triple Crown race Green Horse Fields has ever witnessed. Bank On Glory, his half brother, came back to win this race in impressive fashion last year. Will we see another impressive win or Triple Crown Champion this year? Let's wait and see.
Our horses today come from a variety of stables and bloodlines. The owners of last year's winner Bank On Glory have come back again this year with two contenders. The more noticeable of these two is debatable. We have the filly Vindictive Fury by the two Hall of Famer inductees Everyday Hero and Rising Fury. She's a filly of attitude, which some see as class and others as a problem. Her dam won the Preakness Stakes, but not the Derby. She's been out a lot this year working on her technique. Word has it Marissa Star is a bit frustrated with her "lack of talent", but I think she has the potential to make a surprise. She won the Alabama Stakes and placed in the Kentucky Oaks two weeks ago. Her stablemate Bank On Greatness is the one who's catching the most eyes. Out of two Hall of Famers, he is of the fabled cross Merry Bay King and Bank On Silver, the sire and dam of Impressario. This makes him full brother to the only Green Horse Fields's Triple Crown winner! Greatness is very versatile and seems to be a solid contender. His biggest win this year was in the Blue Grass Stakes. He's been worked much less than Vindictive Fury, and in April Week Two he double raced, but seeing as it's May Week One he should be recovered from that. He is definitely one of the huge favorites this year.
Limitless Time is the representative from Akita Rose Stables, a stable whose horses should not be underestimated ever. By Beyond The Limits and out of Queen Of Hearts, he's got lines both known and unknown. Like Greatness, he's very versatile. He's been prepared a lot for this race, and has high hopes riding on him today. While he's only had one win this year and was defeated by Bank On Greatness in the Blue Grass Stakes, he's well rested and is the silent threat today. I wouldn't count him out. We also have another silent threat, the filly The Devil's Touch. A surprise entrant from Battle Brook Stables, she hasn't been out much this year and hasn't been prepared as much for this race. Her largest win this year is in the Santa Anita Derby. She is regarded by many with respect, but has less experience and a bit less preparation than the others. She has devilish talent, yes, but will that be enough today?
Confianza is the "underdog" from Shining Stars Stables. Though he may be an underdog, I like this colt. No wins this year, but when you see this colt you have to look again. He has a striking palomino colt and a deep bond with his rider. Not too much is known about this colt, as he isn't very well known, but I like him. He has this fire about him that makes you stop and take another look. He has a bit of a tragic past, but he's learned to trust Sam (his jockey) and is really quite calm today. Usually he's frightened of things, or so I've dug up. Sometimes he has these spells, but I sincerely hope he does not have one today. That would break a couple hearts, including mine.
THE RACE
They're all loading in very calmly and professionally. Let's take a look at where we can expect everybody to be.
Vindictive Fury will take first. Two lengths or so behind her we'll probably see Bank On Greatness shadowed by The Devil's Touch. Confianza will be very close to those two, and Limitless Time a far back last. As the race progresses we could expect to see numerous challenges from The Devil's Touch, who is known to play with her prey before eating them. Bank On Greatness may shrivel underneath the pressure present there. Vindictive Fury will keep leading, though The Devil may move up to play a bit with her to see how far her stamina can go. Limitless Time will slowly move up throughout the race, and Confianza will probably follow Bank On Greatness's moves, being the only sane colt to follow nearby. But enough of that. They're in the gates....and they're off!
As expected, Vindictive Fury shoots out of the gates and takes first. She's running strongly and doesn't look like she wants to slow down. However, her jockey has somehow managed to take a hold of her speed. She's being held a length and a half ahead of the rest of the field. In second we have The Devil's Touch, gliding along smoothly with her eyes patiently fixed on her prey. Last year's Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies winner doesn't seem to have lost her deadly touch. Bank On Greatness is about a half length behind, sticking to her outside as though preparing to make a sudden move. Confianza is taking a position on the rail directly behind The Devil for some reason. If he wants to move up, he'll find the way blocked. Five lengths behind the pack we have Limitless Time galloping smoothly and looking unconcerned about the gap.
They're through the first two furlongs in a speedy twenty two seconds! Vindictive Fury isn't looking tired yet, and nothing is really happening. Limitless Time has closed the gap by about one length and is looking good. Bank On Greatness is attempting to keep pace with The Devil's Touch though the filly is now drifting up to challenge Vindictive Fury. As expected, Vindictive Fury responds by knocking the pace up a bit. A steely competitive fire is glaring from her eyes. The Devil, in a completely unexpected move, continues to challenge the filly. She's drawn up alongside and appears unconcerned about the ensuing speed duel. Then again, we are halfway in. Perhaps she needs to stoke the flames and build a bonfire compared to the small sparks we've had thus far.
Bank On Greatness stays a length behind the two fillies even though the pace is increasing. He appears a bit strained. Sarah Star is now slowing him down a bit, not wanting to get involved in the speed duel. She'd get the top two later. Confianza now drifts up with Limitless Time a length behind. The pace is quickening and action is happening! The two fillies have drawn off to a five length lead with a current speed duel occurring and three or so furlongs to go. They're just coming around the last turn now! Bank On Greatness has been sent off to catch the ladies, Confianza and Limitless Time side by side just behind. They're eating up the ground! The two fillies appear tired out by their earlier speed duel.
In the stretch we now have Bank On Greatness sweeping by to take the lead! But he does not go unchallenged. Limitless Time charges to challenge from his side. Those two colts, bay and gray, are challenging each other to the limits of their strength. Confianza seems caught up as Vindictive Fury has seemingly found a new gear and is attempting to block the colt's run. The Devil's Touch is out of it. She isn't very loose and is seemingly struggling to get her gears rolling. The tension is mounting as the horses race into the second to last furlong!
Vindictive Fury is tiring! She's laid off her challenge and is dropping out of it. Confianza appears to find a new gear and is coming up now! Where the heck did this colt come from? He's bearing down on the outside of the other two colts, he's running hard, and as they enter the final furlong he's drawing away! He's drawing away somehow! Limitless and Greatness are attempting to follow but are finding the way blocked as Confianza swerves to a spot right in front of them, blocking their progress just as they blur under the wire! It's Confianza by a length! There's a photo finish for second. Vindictive Fury finished an out of gas fourth and The Devil's Touch two lengths behind the other filly in an uncomfortable fifth. What a fascinating race!
And the photo has been evaluated! Here are the final results!
POST PARADE
A fast dirt track awaits today's horses entered in the premier race of the day, the Kentucky Derby. Going ten furlongs on the dirt, we've seen truly talented horses run in this race. Definite Glory has been the only mare to win this race. GM Execute surprisingly came out on top three years ago to win. The eventual Triple Crown champion Impressario took this race in the most competitive Triple Crown race Green Horse Fields has ever witnessed. Bank On Glory, his half brother, came back to win this race in impressive fashion last year. Will we see another impressive win or Triple Crown Champion this year? Let's wait and see.
Our horses today come from a variety of stables and bloodlines. The owners of last year's winner Bank On Glory have come back again this year with two contenders. The more noticeable of these two is debatable. We have the filly Vindictive Fury by the two Hall of Famer inductees Everyday Hero and Rising Fury. She's a filly of attitude, which some see as class and others as a problem. Her dam won the Preakness Stakes, but not the Derby. She's been out a lot this year working on her technique. Word has it Marissa Star is a bit frustrated with her "lack of talent", but I think she has the potential to make a surprise. She won the Alabama Stakes and placed in the Kentucky Oaks two weeks ago. Her stablemate Bank On Greatness is the one who's catching the most eyes. Out of two Hall of Famers, he is of the fabled cross Merry Bay King and Bank On Silver, the sire and dam of Impressario. This makes him full brother to the only Green Horse Fields's Triple Crown winner! Greatness is very versatile and seems to be a solid contender. His biggest win this year was in the Blue Grass Stakes. He's been worked much less than Vindictive Fury, and in April Week Two he double raced, but seeing as it's May Week One he should be recovered from that. He is definitely one of the huge favorites this year.
Limitless Time is the representative from Akita Rose Stables, a stable whose horses should not be underestimated ever. By Beyond The Limits and out of Queen Of Hearts, he's got lines both known and unknown. Like Greatness, he's very versatile. He's been prepared a lot for this race, and has high hopes riding on him today. While he's only had one win this year and was defeated by Bank On Greatness in the Blue Grass Stakes, he's well rested and is the silent threat today. I wouldn't count him out. We also have another silent threat, the filly The Devil's Touch. A surprise entrant from Battle Brook Stables, she hasn't been out much this year and hasn't been prepared as much for this race. Her largest win this year is in the Santa Anita Derby. She is regarded by many with respect, but has less experience and a bit less preparation than the others. She has devilish talent, yes, but will that be enough today?
Confianza is the "underdog" from Shining Stars Stables. Though he may be an underdog, I like this colt. No wins this year, but when you see this colt you have to look again. He has a striking palomino colt and a deep bond with his rider. Not too much is known about this colt, as he isn't very well known, but I like him. He has this fire about him that makes you stop and take another look. He has a bit of a tragic past, but he's learned to trust Sam (his jockey) and is really quite calm today. Usually he's frightened of things, or so I've dug up. Sometimes he has these spells, but I sincerely hope he does not have one today. That would break a couple hearts, including mine.
THE RACE
They're all loading in very calmly and professionally. Let's take a look at where we can expect everybody to be.
Vindictive Fury will take first. Two lengths or so behind her we'll probably see Bank On Greatness shadowed by The Devil's Touch. Confianza will be very close to those two, and Limitless Time a far back last. As the race progresses we could expect to see numerous challenges from The Devil's Touch, who is known to play with her prey before eating them. Bank On Greatness may shrivel underneath the pressure present there. Vindictive Fury will keep leading, though The Devil may move up to play a bit with her to see how far her stamina can go. Limitless Time will slowly move up throughout the race, and Confianza will probably follow Bank On Greatness's moves, being the only sane colt to follow nearby. But enough of that. They're in the gates....and they're off!
As expected, Vindictive Fury shoots out of the gates and takes first. She's running strongly and doesn't look like she wants to slow down. However, her jockey has somehow managed to take a hold of her speed. She's being held a length and a half ahead of the rest of the field. In second we have The Devil's Touch, gliding along smoothly with her eyes patiently fixed on her prey. Last year's Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies winner doesn't seem to have lost her deadly touch. Bank On Greatness is about a half length behind, sticking to her outside as though preparing to make a sudden move. Confianza is taking a position on the rail directly behind The Devil for some reason. If he wants to move up, he'll find the way blocked. Five lengths behind the pack we have Limitless Time galloping smoothly and looking unconcerned about the gap.
They're through the first two furlongs in a speedy twenty two seconds! Vindictive Fury isn't looking tired yet, and nothing is really happening. Limitless Time has closed the gap by about one length and is looking good. Bank On Greatness is attempting to keep pace with The Devil's Touch though the filly is now drifting up to challenge Vindictive Fury. As expected, Vindictive Fury responds by knocking the pace up a bit. A steely competitive fire is glaring from her eyes. The Devil, in a completely unexpected move, continues to challenge the filly. She's drawn up alongside and appears unconcerned about the ensuing speed duel. Then again, we are halfway in. Perhaps she needs to stoke the flames and build a bonfire compared to the small sparks we've had thus far.
Bank On Greatness stays a length behind the two fillies even though the pace is increasing. He appears a bit strained. Sarah Star is now slowing him down a bit, not wanting to get involved in the speed duel. She'd get the top two later. Confianza now drifts up with Limitless Time a length behind. The pace is quickening and action is happening! The two fillies have drawn off to a five length lead with a current speed duel occurring and three or so furlongs to go. They're just coming around the last turn now! Bank On Greatness has been sent off to catch the ladies, Confianza and Limitless Time side by side just behind. They're eating up the ground! The two fillies appear tired out by their earlier speed duel.
In the stretch we now have Bank On Greatness sweeping by to take the lead! But he does not go unchallenged. Limitless Time charges to challenge from his side. Those two colts, bay and gray, are challenging each other to the limits of their strength. Confianza seems caught up as Vindictive Fury has seemingly found a new gear and is attempting to block the colt's run. The Devil's Touch is out of it. She isn't very loose and is seemingly struggling to get her gears rolling. The tension is mounting as the horses race into the second to last furlong!
Vindictive Fury is tiring! She's laid off her challenge and is dropping out of it. Confianza appears to find a new gear and is coming up now! Where the heck did this colt come from? He's bearing down on the outside of the other two colts, he's running hard, and as they enter the final furlong he's drawing away! He's drawing away somehow! Limitless and Greatness are attempting to follow but are finding the way blocked as Confianza swerves to a spot right in front of them, blocking their progress just as they blur under the wire! It's Confianza by a length! There's a photo finish for second. Vindictive Fury finished an out of gas fourth and The Devil's Touch two lengths behind the other filly in an uncomfortable fifth. What a fascinating race!
And the photo has been evaluated! Here are the final results!
1st Confianza
2nd Limitless Time
3rd Bank On Greatness
4th Vindictive Fury
5th The Devil's Touch
2nd Limitless Time
3rd Bank On Greatness
4th Vindictive Fury
5th The Devil's Touch
haha