Post by S u N f r O s t ~ on Feb 6, 2015 11:38:18 GMT -5
Pedigree: With A Snap x Sophie Might
Race Record: 59 28/18/3
Awards Won:Year 12 Encouragement Award
Year 12 TW Sprinter of the Year
Year 12 TW Sprinter Female of the Year
Year 13 Best Sprinter Mare
Year 13 Best Older Mare
Lynara's Kingdom brings a fascinating story to the table for Hall Of Fame consideration. The gray mare was born a promising sprinting prospect. Despite the fact that her dam was unproven at the time, her sire was a Breeders Cup Sprint champion and retired grade one. Lynara proved to be an early standout as a juvenile, winning her first start in the Shortstride Maiden Dirt and then her second start as well in the Unicorn Horn Juvenile Dirt Sprint.
For some reason, the rest of her juvenile season was subpar. She went completely downhill and it left the racing world scratching their heads as to why. We believe it was her temper and her variable racing style, something even experienced jockey Amber Black had to get used to. The pair went through a season with the majority of places outside of the top three but posted a third place finish in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Sprint to conclude it. Following an interesting juvenile campaign, Lynara entered her classic season with a lot to prove...but with a lot more maturity as well.
Lynara proved how unbelievable she was by winning her very first start back in the Unicorn Horn Dirt Mile. The unbelievable aspect of this win was that in the process she beat last season's Breeders Cup Classic winner Sunset Crusade. That's right - already, at three years old, in her first start, Lynara took down the giant of the previous crop at a mile. Words could not describe how hopes soared for Lynara's campaign following this victory. In fact, the magical mare won four straight races to begin her classic season campaign, one of those being the Wire Finish Cup Mile. Later on in the season she won the Monrovia Stakes, Starshine Sprint and Tick Tock Sprint among others. Lynara excelled at both a mile and at the sprinting distances and concluded the season with a second place finish in the Breeders Cup Mile over the turf.
This mare continued to impress as a four year old, running one of the most impressive seasons a racehorse had won. By the end of it, Lynara had taken thirteen races, twelve of those being in Horse Of The Year selection races. Among her victories were the Test Stakes, another rendition of the Wire Finish Cup (this time in the Sprint), the Burst Stakes, Short Stakes, Sprint Stakes and the Sun Festival. She barely lost during the season, only finishing out of the top two once, and concluded with an almost easy victory in the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile. This was the season that marked Lynara as a champion over the dirt, a champion sprinter and miler who would be remembered for the ages.
Lynara did attempt a senior season that was cut short, mainly to see if she could win a third Wire Finish Cup race. She placed second in the Wire Finish Cup Turf to Turf Triple Crown winner Bella Luna, and that's not a feat to be disappointed with. She was retired early on in the season after running a sensational, truly Hall-of-Fame worthy career.
MAJOR RACES WON
Year Eleven
Unicorn Horn Juvenile Dirt Sprint
Year Twelve
Unicorn Horn Dirt Mile
Wire Finish Cup Mile
Monrovia Stakes
Starshine Sprint
Tick Tock Sprint
Flying Colours Memorial Stakes
Year Thirteen
Test Stakes
Spring Cup Grades One/Two Dirt Sprint
Wire Finish Cup Sprint
Dash Of Sugar Memorial Stakes
Summer Cup Grade One Dirt Sprint
Flying Colours Memorial Stakes
Autumn Cup Grade One Dirt Sprint
Burst Stakes
Short Stakes
Sprint Stakes
Sun Festival
Breeders Cup Dirt Mile
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
Lynara won a cascade of important races throughout her career, including two different Wire Finish Cups and the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile. She won a lot of major sprinting races as well. Lynara was a feared competitor during her three and four year old seasons and she won slews of important races. Every time she stepped on the track, she won with style and the method that she won with remained a surprise each time. Her variable racing style brought fun to the racetrack, her deadly temper brought fire and her amazing speed brought wonder to the crowds that saw her race.