Final Victory of a Champion
Aug 3, 2017 13:14:49 GMT -6
Cruisey, S u N f r O s T ~, and 1 more like this
Post by Isabelle on Aug 3, 2017 13:14:49 GMT -6
|=~-RETIREMENT OF IMPRESS THE MOONLIGHT-~=|
Pulling the victory in the Cupid Stakes this week at Green Horse Fields, it is time to say goodbye to a champion. Impress the Moonlight had begun struggling last season, but NDM and Isabelle hoped she'd pick herself up this year after placing third in Breeder's last December. It was not to be, and the difficult decision of retiring her was made. We want to preserve her dignity, and she seems to be telling us that's its time to let go.
We are not sure who bred her, but she is out of SOPS HOF Impressario and Moondance, the latter whom we purchased from an inactive Meg. As a prospect for Akita Rose Stables, Lily won a staggering ten prospect competitions. She also won the Best Bred Tournament for Best Classic Dirt Yearling and the yearly award for Best Prospect Yearling.
After turning two and breaking her maiden, she had a total of four races with ARS before Kirsten Jade left the racing scene. Sitting idle for a few months, Amber Black picked the filly up and offered her for sale, and NDM were the lucky ones to get hold of the black future superstar. Her first race with us in June was a win, and ever since we never looked back. Being our first real contender for the major HOTY racing circuit, Isabelle was still learning the ropes around the elite competitions, and Impress the Moonlight was her first Breeders Cup entry. Placing second, she also won the Best Grade Four award, and we knew we had a special girl on our hands.
As a three year old, Lily took the turf tracks by storm. With ten wins, she became the first Turf Triple Tiara champion. During that racing series she nearly gave Isabelle several heart attacks, and in the final leg she fell out of gate and ended up a few lengths behind the field. Having picked herself up she fought hard and pulled from her heart that final victory. Almost without batting an eye she took the Rose Mile Cup, Universal Cup, World Filly Cup, and The Green Mile before snagging her Breeder's Cup win. Her main rival this season was her half-sibling Pandora, and Lily often got her second place results losing to her sister.
As a four year old Lily returned strong at first, but her victories began to slide as she again faced Pandora and ran into older powerhouse Thoroughbreds who overtook the younger filly. She battled back, and we made the decision to bump her down to undercards for several races to give her different competition. As she'd mostly been competing with fillies, in the older divisions she wasn't able to hold on against the fiercely competitive stallions. She was still our star, and managed to make third in her last Breeder's Cup.
At this point we probably should have let Lily retire, but being our first champion we wanted to see her succeed more at what she couldn't as a four year old. Being five, we saw her former rivals retiring and believed this could be her chance at a comeback. It appears it was not meant to be, as she could not find her stride after her disappointments of last season. We really wanted one final win for such a gifted girl, and on her 66th race, she flashed her way to her 22nd win in her five year career. It's extremely difficult taking this beautiful lady off of our racing schedule, but she's proven she's a champion, won almost ten million dollars, and has earned her retirement from racing. Next for her life is having foals, and you better believe she's going to become a favorite ride for Isabelle around NDM.
Pulling the victory in the Cupid Stakes this week at Green Horse Fields, it is time to say goodbye to a champion. Impress the Moonlight had begun struggling last season, but NDM and Isabelle hoped she'd pick herself up this year after placing third in Breeder's last December. It was not to be, and the difficult decision of retiring her was made. We want to preserve her dignity, and she seems to be telling us that's its time to let go.
We are not sure who bred her, but she is out of SOPS HOF Impressario and Moondance, the latter whom we purchased from an inactive Meg. As a prospect for Akita Rose Stables, Lily won a staggering ten prospect competitions. She also won the Best Bred Tournament for Best Classic Dirt Yearling and the yearly award for Best Prospect Yearling.
After turning two and breaking her maiden, she had a total of four races with ARS before Kirsten Jade left the racing scene. Sitting idle for a few months, Amber Black picked the filly up and offered her for sale, and NDM were the lucky ones to get hold of the black future superstar. Her first race with us in June was a win, and ever since we never looked back. Being our first real contender for the major HOTY racing circuit, Isabelle was still learning the ropes around the elite competitions, and Impress the Moonlight was her first Breeders Cup entry. Placing second, she also won the Best Grade Four award, and we knew we had a special girl on our hands.
As a three year old, Lily took the turf tracks by storm. With ten wins, she became the first Turf Triple Tiara champion. During that racing series she nearly gave Isabelle several heart attacks, and in the final leg she fell out of gate and ended up a few lengths behind the field. Having picked herself up she fought hard and pulled from her heart that final victory. Almost without batting an eye she took the Rose Mile Cup, Universal Cup, World Filly Cup, and The Green Mile before snagging her Breeder's Cup win. Her main rival this season was her half-sibling Pandora, and Lily often got her second place results losing to her sister.
As a four year old Lily returned strong at first, but her victories began to slide as she again faced Pandora and ran into older powerhouse Thoroughbreds who overtook the younger filly. She battled back, and we made the decision to bump her down to undercards for several races to give her different competition. As she'd mostly been competing with fillies, in the older divisions she wasn't able to hold on against the fiercely competitive stallions. She was still our star, and managed to make third in her last Breeder's Cup.
At this point we probably should have let Lily retire, but being our first champion we wanted to see her succeed more at what she couldn't as a four year old. Being five, we saw her former rivals retiring and believed this could be her chance at a comeback. It appears it was not meant to be, as she could not find her stride after her disappointments of last season. We really wanted one final win for such a gifted girl, and on her 66th race, she flashed her way to her 22nd win in her five year career. It's extremely difficult taking this beautiful lady off of our racing schedule, but she's proven she's a champion, won almost ten million dollars, and has earned her retirement from racing. Next for her life is having foals, and you better believe she's going to become a favorite ride for Isabelle around NDM.
