Lining Up For The 3yo Classics

It's that time of year - when every stable's maturing three year olds are preparing for some of the biggest races of their careers in the three year old series held across all three tracks. Every year, Stride of Perfection sends postward their most prepared (and sometimes the most surprising!) horses to take part in these series. As we near the second half of March Y17, here is who SOPS has decided to decisively reveal as their key contenders for the Year Seventeen edition of these major series!

Triple Crown: Black Thriller
The coal black son of Black Wire and Midnight Thriller was the surprise winner of the Breeders Cup Juvenile at the end of Year Sixteen. Now, he is three for three this season, turning from an underestimated challenger to a post-time favorite. We are still uncertain about what exactly flipped the switch for this colt and turned him into the horse he has become today, but we are certainly not questioning it. SOPS has a long history of bringing Breeders Cup Juvenile winners swinging into the Triple Crown - past winners Impressario, Radiance, Flashy Wings, Limited Edition, and Incognito all successfully secured at least one leg of the Triple Crown, with Impressario securing all three and Flashy Wings and Limited Edition securing two. The only exception to the past-winner rule has been Forbidden To Fly, who we all know as the successful sprinter who somehow won a nine-furlong Breeders Cup race at two and didn't meet the distance requirements for the Derby. Black Thriller is due to run in the Blue Grass Stakes, Santa Anita Derby, and Lecomte Stakes before hitting the Triple Crown. While plans afterwards are uncertain, it is unlikely that he will make an appearance in the Breeders Cup Classic given that stablemates Coincidence and Fleet Street are likelier candidates, though he will most likely be in the Marathon.

Triple Tiara/Red Mile Series: Hysteria
Hysteria was not a stand-out juvenile; she was good, but not great, and she did not go to the Breeders Cup. At three, however, the daughter of Limitless Time and Euphoria has been flourishing. She won her first start back in the Hot Springs Stakes at The Wire and then caught some eyes when she came back to take the inaugural running of the Unicorn Horn Junior Dirt Mile. Since then, she has placed second in two Triple Tiara preps and has found each distance of the Triple Tiara series to her liking. Hysteria has always had high expectations placed upon her, especially because of her Hall of Fame dam. Considering that Euphoria matured into true dangerousness at three, it is not surprising that Hysteria is doing the same. Teri will make starts in the Sherluck Stakes and Silverbulletday Stakes before heading into the Triple Tiara. It is expected that the filly will attempt the Red Mile series afterwards, a decision made based on her performance in the Unicorn Horn Junior Dirt Mile.

Turf Triple Crown/Turf Distance Series: Mr. Wild
Mr. Wild was bred with the expectation of becoming SOPS's next turf star. While he did meet those expectations per-say at two, he did race to the point of having a great foundation for his classic season, and it shows. Though still a grade four, Mr. Wild is almost unrecognizable as the horse that finished sixth in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf to cap off last season. He has won both of the non-HOTY races he has raced in so far and placed admirably in the HoTY races he has attempted, indicating this growth. Coming off a second place finish in the Prince Cup, Mr. Wild will be starting in the Stable Faceoff and Silk Road Stakes at GHF before attempting the TTC. While he will probably not be going in as a favorite, he will definitely be going in as a threat, and it is expected that he will enter each leg of the series (depending on performance and health up to that point). The real stand-out portion of the season will likely be in the Turf Distance Series at BSD held a few months after the TTC.

Turf Triple Tiara: Celebrity
Celebrity became our most surprising horse last season when she took the AJC Sires Produce Stakes, a leg of the Turf Challenge, en route to a fantastic final two months of the season, capped off with a banner victory in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She started off the season with a powerful win in the Unicorn Horn Junior Turf Mile and has performed awesomely since, with excellent places in HoTY company. It is expected that Celebrity will roll in under jockey Krystal Yhate for the entirety of the Turf Triple Tiara and then potentially embrace the Green Mile series. She currently heads the three year old roster with ten wins. As a daughter of Everyday Hero and Foolish Entity, nothing less was expected of the gorgeous chestnut filly. She is living up to expectations and we look forward to seeing how she will run in the coming months. In terms of Breeders Cup plans, depending on how she does it is likely she will make an appearance in the Filly And Mare Turf or the Mile.

Canadian Triple Crown: Prometheus
Prometheus has been prepping for the Canadian Triple Crown for a long time, running successfully over both dirt and turf as a juvenile. He distinguished himself as the only two year old to win a leg of the Youth Challenge and the Turf Challenge, taking the Just A Trot Futurity and the Champagne Stakes. At three, Prometheus has won a Triple Crown prep and a Turf Triple Crown prep, further distinguishing his ability to tackle both surfaces. Last season, Prometheus was heralded as a better dirt runner than Black Thriller and a better turf runner than Mr Wild; that rating has not changed despite the massive improvements in his stablemates' performance. Excitement around the barn is extremely high for this flexible colt, probably one of the most surface-flexible we've ever had. Prometheus is due to run in the Triple Crown and Turf Triple Crown "undercard" races held at BSD before heading to TW for the CTC itself. Afterwards, it is likely that he will split the Dirt Distance Series with Black Thriller. While it is likely that he will go to the Breeders Cup, it will likely be in the Marathon or Turf Marathon instead of the Classic or Turf. Theus has already shown a particular liking for the twelve furlong distance and his dam Fire Dancer certainly proves that such affection is in the family.

Canadian Triple Tiara: Wild Tide
Wild Tide is a special filly currently showing Devil's Flair tendencies - preferring one surface one season and then switching to the other the next. Campaigned over the dirt as a juvenile, we knew that she needed some exposure to the turf before she could take on the CTT. Thus, she has run on nothing but turf this season and has brought home a win and two thirds to show for it. Running solely in HOTY company, Wild Tide has been doing well. She will hit some undercards in March before being re-routed for some HoTY prep races for the CTT in late June. Plans call for the filly to face restricted competition as she continues to develop as a racehorse, so expect to see her in the distaff races over both surfaces as the season progresses. With the bloodline potential to go far, Wild Tide is emerging as a threat in any race she enters in, and with talented jockey Kylie Silverstar in the irons it would be unsurprising to see this filly continue to exceed all expectations.

What about the other races?
These are by no means solidified, but here is the line-up for the sprinter series races later in the season:

Turf Triple Sprinter Crown - Amaris
Triple Sprinter Tiara - Dauntless

As for the Red Mile/Green Mile/Turf Distance Series/Dirt Distance Series, here are the potentials:

Red Mile - Dauntless and Hysteria (likely to favor Hysteria)
Green Mile - Amaris and Celebrity (likely to split evenly, or favor Celebrity slightly)
Dirt Distance Series - Black Thriller and Prometheus (likely to split such that Prometheus is favored slightly)
Turf Distance Series - Mr. Wild

Do you have any horses poised for surprise appearances in certain series?
Note, these horses would not supplant but supplement SOPS entries in these series.

Triple Tiara: Dauntless (could potentially show up for the entirety of the series, depending on entry pool)
Turf Triple Tiara: Amaris (later legs, if Celebrity does not take first leg of series)
Canadian Triple Crown: Mr. Wild (if fails to win leg of TTC, will be in final leg)
Green Mile - Ruling Restraint (depending on entry pool, may show up for just one or a few legs)
Turf Triple Sprinter Crown: Ruling Restraint (later legs)
Turf Triple Sprinter Tiara: Celebrity (final leg only)

SOPS Hints At Breeders Cup Plans

It's no secret that Stride Of Perfection typically sends a large haul of horses to the Breeders Cup. With a mere two months left in the season, they have finally decided to reveal official plans for their horses leading up to and past the Breeders Cup. There will be lots of retirements come Year Eighteen, but Stride of Perfection seems confident that their upcoming three year olds and juveniles will be able to fully live up to the legacy before them.

Five Year Olds
Athena's Desires, by Hall of Fame inductee and Year Sixteen's Sire of the Year Pegasus Wings and out of Hall of Fame inductee (and dam of a Hall of Fame inductee) Deadly Desires, always had high expectations placed upon her. She lived up to them when she stole the show as a juvenile, winning the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint among others. Though she's led tough, classy, but not overtly brilliant seasons since then, Athena seems to be waking up just in time for another attempt at a second Breeders Cup race. Athena flashed brilliance when she took the inaugural running of the Global Cup in late September. She's run consistently all season and is expected to make two starts before she heads off to the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf Sprint to cap off her career. She is expected to be bred to Prideful Limits in Year Eighteen.

Devil's Flair has truly come alive as a five year old. He's the rare type of horse that can excellently on both surfaces and has HoTY victories over both, but we know that his true preference likely lies over the turf. Devil has been nothing short of strictly brilliant this season. With twenty-eight career wins, it is hoped that he will jump the thirty-win hurdle before he retires. He stands at ten HoTY victories this season. Seven of those victories have been at eleven furlongs or longer, so it has been decided that he will go to the Breeders Cup Turf Marathon and the Dubai World Marathon to cap off his career. For his first year at stud, he will be seeing Born To Soar at our breeding division and Maliah for North Diamond Manor.

Fleet Street is perhaps the horse that we are most proud of. He came to Stride Of Perfection as a three year old and flashed brilliance throughout that year and the next. Now, at five, Fleet has been having the dream season that he deserves to end on. He's only placed out of the top two once this season and counts the Summer Dawn Treader Cup among his victories. With a pedigree that screams class and a record that exudes class of his own, Fleet Street will be warmly welcomed to the Indigo Morning stud line-up. He will be bred to Impressionable for a Stride Of Perfection-owned foal and to Fire Dancer for a foal that will be sent to Firestone Racing once weaned.

Neither Impressionable nor Radiant Silver will go to the Breeders Cup. Both will take on the Sand Challenge races instead. Impressionable will be retiring after that race, and Radiant Silver will be posted in the Year Eighteen New Year Sale with the capability of running a six year old season before retiring.

Four Year Olds
Adrasteia was always going to be a special filly. By Radiance and out of Admiral's Holiday, there was almost no way that this light chestnut mare could disappoint us even if she didn't live up to the potential embodied in her pedigree. A classy horse in the filly-and-mare classic dirt division, Adrasteia stretched out this year to the marathon distances with aplomb. Five of her eight victories this season have been at eleven furlongs or longer. In light of this, the decision was made to run the brilliant mare against the boys in the Breeders Cup Marathon rather than in the Distaff. It is expected that Adrasteia may very well live up to the legacy of her sire and also win the Marathon, just as he did. In Year Eighteen, she will be bred to Coincidence for a foal that could very well end up a bastion of stamina, just like her, or a consistent type who can run at the extremes but excels at a mile, like Coincidence.

Ares was a surprise horse brought home from a sale by Battle Brook. Perhaps half of the purchase decision was made out of guilt - Positively Precious was a former Stride Of Perfection horse who never got the attention he deserved as a racehorse or as a sire - but the other half was knowing that this horse had the raw potential to do something great. We certainly haven't regretted that decision, as Ares has proven himself again and again to be a consistently classy performer. After a consistent season in the HoTY sprints, Ares will be given a final chance to shine in the Breeders Cup Sprint. It is likely that the stallion will either retire or be leased out following his Breeders Cup appearance.

Coincidence has led the most interesting season of any SOPS horse this season. Coney established himself as a sprinter when he was a juvenile and as a miler-sprinter at three. However, his pedigree would never have indicated such a preference - by Oddside and out of Santana's Moment, he's loaded with stamina top to bottom. Thus, the decision was made to stretch the stallion out this season. This has been met by mixed results, as Coney is very much able to stick with the top dirt routers of his generation - and beat them, as he did in Pimlico Special - but he is perhaps truly great at his bread-and-butter distances of seven and eight furlongs. To reflect his preferences and help the horse end on a strong note, he will be reverting to his favorite distances for the remainder of the season and finishing his career in the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile. A horse with the flexibility and class of Coney, as well as the pedigree, is one-in-a-million, so he is expected to be just as popular and well-loved as a sire as he was as a racehorse.

Cyclonaria - little can be said that hasn't already said. Widely acknowledged as the horse filling Spotlight Pride's turf miler hoofprints following his retirement, Cyclonaria has done her best to not only live up to that reputation but exceed it. After beginning her season with victories at eight furlongs, Cyclonaria cut back to six furlongs for a win in the Cross My Heart Memorial Stakes and then stretched out to ten furlongs the same month for a victory in the Bella Luna Memorial Stakes. She has won at eight and nine furlongs since then, but her versatility and class at all of the distances in her preferred range is unquestionable. Cyclonaria has won eleven HoTY races this season and twenty-seven races in her career. It is hoped that Cyclonaria will break the thirty-win barrier - perhaps the youngest horse SOPS has had to accomplish that feat, given that she's only four - and end on a high note by returning to defend her title in the Dubai World Mile. It will come as no surprise to hear that the mare will take aim at the Breeders Cup Mile to cap off Year Seventeen. She will be bred to Passionate Flyer next season and Spotlight Pride the season after.

Melodious, our ever-consistent sprinter mare, is the epitome of consistency. Originally a turf sprinter, Mel switched to the dirt as a three year old and has continued excelling over that surface at four. Though she brings only three victories to the Breeders Cup this season, there is no doubting her tenacity or ability to surprise. Doubters would do well to remember Battle Wings, who stole the show in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies despite having not won for seven straight months before her Breeders Cup appearance. Mel will go to the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint for the final start of her career.

Melusine, by Sweeto Cheeto and out of Sillenia, has perhaps always been the toughest mare in the barn. Despite being a dual runner, this mare has typically enjoyed the turf over the dirt (just like her dam) and has proven to be strongest in the filly-and-mare turf division, though she never ducks the boys when she can help it. Melusine came into her four year old season off a build-up classic year and has not disappointed, with consistent undercard victories leading into steady HoTY success in the latter part of the year. Her wins in the Arlington Million and Dress Rehearsal Derby were brilliant and suggest that she is yet approaching her best - perhaps at five, when she was once again be racing, she may hit her peak. For now, the mare will be facing her own gender leading into the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Sweet Like Sugar, acquired at three, was expected to need some development time before becoming a star. All signs point to the time coming when she will achieve the status we envision for her. At four, this mare has been running consistently in HoTY company and proven successful, with victories ranging from five to eight furlongs over both surfaces. It is expected that the mare will continue on next season as our premier turf sprinter. For now, the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf winner will be making a bid alongside Athena's Desires for the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf Sprint.

Altercation, Animatia, Great Revenge, and Incognito are not expected to make Breeders Cup appearances this season. However, all four will be returning for capstone five year old seasons. Altercation may be leased out or sold; Animatia will step up to take over for Adrasteia in the filly-and-mare dirt division; Great Revenge will explore the realm of turf miling; Incognito will stretch back out to the classic distances after flirting with the milers this season.

Three Year Olds
The brilliant light gray Amaris has been nothing less than brilliant this season. She has won at distances from five to eight furlongs and has placed out of the top two only once. Amaris was expected to be brilliant, being by Wire Champion Frozen Motion and out of Hall Of Fame inductee Axis Mundae, but we may have underestimated how brilliant she was to become. At two, she was named Juvenile of the Year following her Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint victory. At three, she has taken two legs of the Turf Triple Sprinter Crown and the Lure Green Mile among nine HoTY victories, proving her versatility and talent. She has always faced the boys, proving to be their match throughout her career. For the Breeders Cup, she will be pointed to the Turf Sprint. It is expected that next year she may take up turf miling and attempt to fill the hoofprints left by Cyclonaria's retirement.

Black Thriller made history when he took the Triple Crown following a near flawless early season. Following the Belmont, Black Thriller went forward to face older in the Autumn Dawn Treader Cup, placing second. He has flirted with older company throughout the season but didn't hit the winner's circle again until the El Sol Del Mar Memorial Stakes in September. Since then, Black Thriller added two more wins at ten furlongs to his resume, taking the Pennsylvania Derby and Travers Stakes in October. Armed with ten HoTY victories, the Breeders Cup Juvenile winner will go for the Grand Slam by taking aim at the Breeders Cup Classic. He will face brilliant stablemate Fleet Street among others, but he is most assuredly up to the task.

Celebrity turned quite a few heads this season. After proving herself via victory in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, she was marked as a top contender for the Turf Triple Tiara and did not disappoint, taking two legs and displaying every inch of the class she has inherited from her rock solid parents. Following the Duchess Stakes, some were concerned about Celebrity, as she did not win for several months. However, the filly came back strong to win at a mile in the Dr James Penny Memorial Stakes against older horses and is roaring into the Breeders Cup in good form. She will be pointed to the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf alongside Melusine to conclude the season and if her performance so far is anything to go by, she may be able to once again prove herself as one of the top turf distaffers of her generation.

Dauntless's entry into the Breeders Cup at the moment remains uncertain. The Starshine Sprint winner has been consistently strong in her races, but it is likely that she will not go to the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint alongside Melodious unless she hits grade one before December Week Four. Typically campaigned as a sprinter, Dauntless has shown talent at distances seven furlongs and longer, and her connections are considering the possibility of running the filly longer during her four year old season. Her dam, Silent Wings, was certainly capable of running from six to ten furlongs with aplomb, and it's likely that the filly has inherited her dam's ability in this sense.

Hysteria, loaded with stamina from top to bottom, has proven to be an incredibly adroit dirt miler. After an impressive campaign in the Triple Tiara, Hysteria headed for the Red Mile series, winning the Dr Fager Red Mile and Cigar Red Mile. She then took down older in the Bottom Line Starter Handicap and the Sis City Stakes. Though originally pointed towards the Breeders Cup Distaff, the filly's talent as a miler simply cannot be questioned, and she will likely be sent to the post alongside Coincidence for the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile.

Prometheus, the horse prepped from birth for an appearance in the Canadian Triple Crown, has always been a standout horse at Stride Of Perfection. Hailed as better over the dirt than stablemate Black Thriller and in a league of his own over the turf, Prometheus may have appeared to fade into the background against the brilliance of some of his stablemates this year. People would do well not to forget the ultra-versatile horse, though. He has won over both turf and dirt this season and across distances ranging from nine to twelve furlongs. Though he is expected to mature into a marathoner, Prometheus will be taking the coveted title of Stride of Perfection's entry into the Breeders Cup Turf this season. Whether or not the horse specializes in a surface next season is still up for debate, but the horse will get a month off leading into the Turf to prep for it.

Mr Wild, Ruling Restraint, and Wild Tide will not be going to the Breeders Cup. In Year Eighteen, Mr Wild may be leased out or sold; Ruling Restraint will continue to race in hopes of ascending into the HoTY ranks; and Wild Tide is very likely to be leased out.

Two Year Olds
Bred to be a brilliant classic distance horse, Aristaeus has not disappointed. By Sunset Crusade and out of Eternal Phantom, it is hoped that he will do what relative Black Thriller did last year and take down the Breeders Cup Juvenile. He's certainly coming in hot, with eight HoTY victories to his name including some of the premier races on the classic dirt juvenile calendar. It will come as no surprise to hear that this colt will be taking aim at the Triple Crown next season, following in the hoofsteps of his brilliant parents.

Everlasting Gift has redefined what it means to be brilliant as a juvenile. With ten wins in fifteen starts, the scarily precocious colt has honestly exceeded all expectations placed upon him thus far. Should the colt win his next three races - the last two legs of the Green Sprint series and the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint - and thus become a grade one, he is expected to take a lengthy break heading into Year Eighteen so as to ensure that he remains in pristine form for a run in the Turf Triple Sprinter Crown. By Pegasus Wings and out of Innocent Passion, he is expected to stay classy throughout his career just as they did, but anything can happen between two and three.

Hyperion is perhaps one of the most loved horses at SOPS. By our very own Merry Bay King and out of Intrepid Racing's own Rosalind, his birth was hailed as the combination of two legendary parents, and he's lived up to that reputation. With six HoTY victories thus far, Hyperion has been demonstrating a liking for the distances of the Turf Triple Crown, and that is where he will be headed after finishing out in the Turf Challenge and the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf.

Kallisto, by Forbidden To Fly and out of Mystical Melody, has yet to specialize in a distance. The gorgeous filly has won at every distance throughout her six to ten furlong range and could go anywhere she pleases next year. For now, she is being aimed at the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies, and she will likely be our Triple Tiara contender next season. It is also likely that she will pop up in a leg or two throughout the Red Mile and the Triple Sprinter Tiara.

Phaedra, by Royal Cadenza and out of Sugar Jayde, has not had it easy being a turf sprinter alongside Everlasting Gift. Despite this, she has proven herself as being brilliant in her own right, with five HoTY victories including the Azalea Cup Fillies to her name. She is doubtlessly the barn's contender for the Turf Triple Sprinter Tiara next season but could also find herself in a Green Mile race or two, having taken the Red Hedeman Mile with aplomb back in August. She will go postward alongside her stablemate in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and is definitely a horse that will not be outshone by him.

Sunrise Spell was not an intentional addition to the juvenile roster but a reclaim that SOPS certainly does not regret. By establishing sire Mercurial Magic and out of the brilliant dam Flash At Dawn, Sunrise Spell has it in the cards to do good things. He has already begun to excel as a juvenile, with victories in the Magic Millions Colts Dirt Sprint and the Orchid Cup Colts to his name among others thus far. Already a grade three, he is expected to only get better with time. He is the barn's Triple Sprinter Crown entry and will be going to the Breeders Cup Juvenile Sprint to cap off the season.

Tisiphone is the filly that can show up to strike in just about any race. With preferences ranging from five to ten furlongs on both dirt and turf, she has become a well-known menace. Her resume of victories is fascinating - five wins over dirt, three over turf, four at six furlongs, one at five, one at seven, one at nine, and one at ten (and not a small one at that - the Magic Millions Fillies Dirt). All of this indicates that she could go literally wherever we please at three. For the Breeders Cup, however, it's well known to the barn that Tisiphone will be brilliant in whatever race we stick her in. Thus, to avoid conflicts, she will be a surprise entry in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. After defeating Everlasting Gift last out in a turf sprint, there is no doubting her class - whether she will prove herself against the finest upcoming turf router fillies in her generation remains a question that will be answered in due time. It is uncertain of exactly where she will be pointed at three, but what we do know is that the Mastermind and Lynara's Kingdom will shine wherever she goes, be that the Canadian Triple Tiara or one of the sprinter series.

Belladonna, Odin, Sweet Dreams, and Terminus are all brilliant juveniles, but none will be going to the Breeders Cup this year. Belladonna needs another season to mature and will undercard with the hopeful plan of making the Turf Distance Series next season. Odin has already proven himself to have the makings of a marathoner, but the plan is to try him in the Canadian Triple Crown before the Dirt Distance Series. All of Sweet Dreams's six victories but one have come at eight furlongs, and the class with which he took the Eddy Counter last out has solidified him as a top contender for the Red Mile series. Finally, Terminus has won at seven and a half to nine furlongs throughout the season. The classy Stryker and White Chocolate son's fate is unknown at this moment, but he will definitely be making an appearance in the Green Mile.