Breakthrough Week for SOPS

[S u N f r O s t ~]

It was a week waited for with baited breath by all associates of Stride Of Perfection Stables - a week of straight-out successes for the stable. SOPS has had nothing short of a tough season. With many of their seasoned, record-breaking veterans retired, SOPS was looking at a roster that appeared less monstrous on paper than their usual. The season has been rough, with tough competition on all sides, but in June Week One the stable's horses have finally broken through in big ways.

Many recall Athena's Desires as a filly supposedly set in following in older brother Demonic Desires's hoofsteps following her victory in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Contrary to these lofty expectations, Athena ran a classy, consistent three year old season marked by only two wins. It was thought the filly had simply fizzled out following her excellent juvenile season. This year, Athena has been spending time solely in the undercards, and her class is coming back. This week she scored her fourth win on the season in the Divine Stakes. She is one win off of grade one. A jockey switch from Henna Turath to Valencia Andrews seems to have done the trick for the blue-bred mare. Future plans call for an appearance in the Fallamee Derby next week and then the Monrovia Stakes at the Wire in week four. It is hoped that she will handle the Horse of the Year competition well and be prepped for an appearance in the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf Sprint to conclude the season. Amber Black hinted that the mare would be staying in training at five.

Devil's Flair is another horse that caught our attention this season. After racing mainly on turf for his first two seasons, the fierce chestnut horse had been switched to the dirt this season and has been racing extremely well. He hit grade one earlier in the season and has even managed to take one Horse of the Year race in the Sweet Stalker Memorial Stakes. After going winless for three months, Devil's Flair finally managed to seal the deal in the Kirsten Jade Cup at Green Horse Fields this week. This was his fifteenth win. This was also his fourth win of the season, and all of his wins have come at ten furlongs. Jockey Valencia Andrews claims her horse is far from a one trick pony, however, saying that the stallion simply manages to bring it together the best on those days and that the distance had nothing to do with it. She also mentioned that among future plans is the Autumn Dawn Treader Cup at the Wire in a month and a half - a lofty goal, but one she aspires to. Plans call for a Breeders Cup appearance at the end of the season, though it is uncertain whether the horse will hit the Dirt Marathon or the Classic. The latest is that the horse is tentatively staying in training at five.

Continuing the string of older-horse successes is Fleet Street. The black son of Night Stalker and Fleet Goddess took down a field of four at Battlestone Downs in the Remblie Stakes. Fleet Street drew attention last season when he won the Novizio Derby and Valorizzare Derby as part of the Risorgimento Series at the Wire. Unfortunately, those were his last wins of the season. As a four year old, Fleet has done consistently well. He's mainly undercarded, but his four wins on the season are nothing short of impressive and indicate that he is progressing and developing well. Jockey Meredith Mahon certainly seems infatuated with the horse, loving his obsessive attitude that others would likely despise. Fleet Street is one win off of grade one and will likely finally hit the coveted grade by the end of the season - hopefully! Meredith indicated that the horse would try out Horse of the Year races again in late summer or early fall. If he manages to hit grade one and perform well, the Breeders Cup is definitely not out of the cards, though alternative plans exist. He will definitely be staying in training at five.

The last older-horse breakthrough this week comes in the form of Trinity, a mare very near and dear to the SOPS family's hearts. The striking bay mare has always been a favorite. As a juvenile she handled classic dirt races with developing class and heart. As a three year old, she switched to classic turf races and excelled at a mile, winning the Flatfoot Mile and the Frankel Green Mile. Now, as a four year old, Trinity is once again trying out something new. After receiving advice from Ripley Marsh, the SOPS crew switched the mare to the dirt sprints, and Trinity has been nothing short of consistent and great in her new division. Trinity came off a third place finish in the Very One Stakes to take the Technologic Stakes at Battlestone Downs in May Week Three, and continued that win streak with a victory in the Gemini Stakes at Green Horse Fields this week. In doing so, Trinity finally joined the ranks of grade one. The excitement of the SOPS crew could not be understated at this development. Plans are to let the mare have her way in undercards while working in some higher level races towards the end of the season with a hopeful appearance in the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint to top it off. She is rumored to definitely be sticking around next year as well.

Among the three year olds, Altercation has proved himself to be an exercise in frustration for the SOPS crew. By Worldbreaker and out of Royal Assault, Altercation was supposed to be brilliant. The late-developing tendencies of his sire immediately became apparent as a juvenile, during which he mainly undercarded. Now, as a three year old, Altercation has been working to get free of older brother World Dominion's shadow. While World Dominion has been carving the track up versus Notorious, Altercation has been getting better and better with every race. He began the season with a win in the Phoenix Stakes at Battlestone Downs and has since been working into higher and higher levels. It was hoped he would make an appearance in the Turf Triple Crown, but now the new Turf Distance Series at Battlestone is the goal, especially after his second win at twelve furlongs this season just this week. The Frankel Stakes was essentially the Belmont Turf Classic alternative, and while World Dominion took the Belmont Turf Classic, Altercation stepped up and won the Frankel. He is currently a grade three horse. His next appearance will be in the Coriander Derby at Battlestone Downs.

Celebrity, daughter of Everyday Hero and Foolish Entity, also ended up stepping up this week. The beautiful chestnut filly is renown among the barn for her grace and sheer amount of class. It almost seems wrong to consider that Celebrity is not even near the top of her division at this point in time. When questioned about it, though, Krystal Yhate appeared unconcerned. She pointed out how older sister Wish Upon A Star was hardly impressive as a juvenile as well, but improved rapidly as a three year old and came out firing as a four year old. Her best season was also her last. In terms of her dam, brother Foolish Lad followed a similar chain of development. He was essentially average as a two year old, but broke out firing as a three year old with Kentucky Open and Belmont Turf Classic wins. His best season was also his last, at five. The trend is repeated with Moondance. The only exception appears to be Paranormal Hunter. But blood relations aside, Celebrity is not a horse to underestimate. We should remember what Krystal Yhate did with Wish Upon A Star before counting this turf filly out. Her victory in the I'm Special Stakes served notice that the filly is only getting better.

As time goes on, it will only become clearer whether these horses will continue breaking through. All signs point to go from the SOPS camp. The faith of the crew has been answered this week with these performances, and hopes are for the winning streaks to continue.