Racing Week 1 - 2

The first week of racing will see 8 Hopeful Farm racers ready to make their 2015 debut. Two of our headliners, War of the Lilies and Run on Sentence, will start this weekend along with new comer New Secret and 5 other stablemates. 

Seduction - 6 year old Filly  

G3 Monrovia Handicap - Santa Anita - 6.5 furlongs - Turf

Seduction is a capable mare winning 3 races with 2 track records last year. We are looking for a Top 3 finish from this mare. 

RESULT: 1ST in World Record Time

Post Race Commentary: Wow! Just wow! Such a stunning with and in WOLRD RECORD TIME. Was this a fluke? Or she is just now blossoming at 6? Time will tell... But it's back to the drawing board for her. 

New Secret - 4 year old filly

UG Truly Bound Handicap - Fair Grounds - 8.5 furlongs - Dirt

New Secret was purchased at the End of Year Auction. She doesn't have the best record, but she's shown a lot of growth and improvement in her last two starts. A Top 3 finish should be within her capabilities here. 

RESULT: 11th

Post Race Commentary: Unimpressive. Was at the top mid-race. Looking for real improvement next time out.  

Kay's Heir - 4 year old colt

UG Old Girls' Exhibition Handicap - Eagle Farm - 1 1/8 - Turf

This colt hasn't been unsuccessful in 5 lifetime starts. We are trying him over a longer distance to see if that will improve his results. A finish in the Top 6 would be a great result from this colt. 

RESULT: 13th 

Post Race Commentary: Dead last. Unimpressive. May get one more start, but likely to end up on the Sales Page soon. 

The Sequel - 4 year old colt

UG Virgin Stakes - Calder - 6 furlongs - Turf

This colt has been unimpressive in 5 lifetime starts. He showed a glimmer of talent, but hasn't done much thus far. A Top 5 finish is our goal for him. 

RESULT: 1st

Post Race Commentary: Very impressive. Won by nearly 5 lengths. Very happy with this result. 

Serephina - 5 year old filly - 

G3 Mac Dimarida Handicap - Gulfstream Park  - 11 furlongs - Turf 

This is another very consistent and capable mare. 11 furlongs is her pet distance and I'm fully expecting a Top 3 finish from this mare. 

RESULT: 1st

Post Race Commentary: Commanding win and her 3rd in a row. Ultra-consistent mare. 

Run on Sentence  - 4 year old colt

G1 Japan Cup - Tokyo Racecourse  - 12 furlongs - Turf

Run on Sentence is facing elite level horses in this race including Two Thousand, Pluto, Roanoake, Shewinbyten, Machu Picchu, Rock of Love, and Gravedigger. It's a full field of some immense talent, but I think Run on Sentence can manage a Top 4 finish. 

RESULT: 2nd (by the narrowest of margins) 

Post Race Commentary: Excellent run by this 4 year old. Just narrowly missed the win to surprise 3 year old Molecular. Very pleased with his run. Came home injured. Vets are still checking him out. 

War of the Lilies - 3 year old filly

G1 Japan Cup Dirt  - Tokyo Racecourse - 10.5 furlongs - Dirt

I threw caution to the wind with this entry. Never before have I entered a 3 year old in such a race so early in the year. But Lilies is a tough filly, and should hold her own against this open field. With the likes of Gradient, Crescendo, Dynamo, Krazy Sheikh, Majestic Rooney, and our rival Grand Vintage, War of the Lilies has a tough test in her first race as a three year old. I'm hoping she finishes strong in the Top 5 without fading in the homestretch. 

RESULT: 2nd (by less than a length)

Post Race Commentary: She was a game filly throughout this whole race. Got a little lazy in the homestretch which may have cost her the win. But very happy with her run and looking forward to her future. 

Lead the Way - 4 year old filly

UG Allowance - Shenandoah Downs  -16 furlongs - Dirt

This filly has been improving and looks like she wants more distance. Well she's getting it. Her biggest challenge will be if she can handle the distance. I'm hoping for a strong homestretch run with a Top 3 finish. 

RESULT: 4th

Post Race Commentary: Ran strong race throughout, and held the lead for a majority of the race. Just didn't quite have enough in the homestretch to hold off the closers. Will get a shorter distance next time. Game run by a talented filly. 

Note: I'm trying something new with my weekly racing posts. When I can I'm going to do a preview for all my entries (or at least some, if time constraints restrict) and then post the results and commentary on the same post. I think it'll be cleaner and easier to update and maintain. Of course, for special races/results I'll likely do a separate piece. This is just an easy way to compare my prediction and actual results.