Y18 Juvenile String Announced

IRS HOPEFUL FOR NEXT SEASON

IRS has run a quiet season, returning to the tracks late in the game in the second half of Y17. The stable has been picking up momentum and really just leveling up their stock, not for the onslaught to be expected in the Breeder's Cup this year, but really to dominate the tracks early in the new year. It is a strategy that has worked well for them in the past and they are eager to follow on that path, knowing that Y18 has a bright future in store for them. A lot of the big names will be fading out of the roster for this established barn. G1 winner, Ultimate Revenge will be retiring as well as a few others, but this is all in the favor of the aging three-year-old string, their green juveniles, and upcoming yearlings. There is a lot of work in progress for the stable with the transitions, but Nicholas Landing advised that he's confident in his plan, his staff and their horses to come through these growing pains stronger to become a dominating force again come the new year.

With that being said, we were fortunate enough to get an insider's peek at the current yearlings primed and ready to hit the tracks come Y18.







Nick was immensely impressed with some of Positively Precious’ crops. He seemed to pair well with those hard working pedigrees and immediately thought of Indian Darling. This cross brings back those reminders of Native Flame throwbacks like Fire Dancer and the more recently retired HOF Sun King. This colt is expected to only get better as he ages, but with his sire’s foals having more immediate success in their juvenile and classic seasons, it will be interesting to see where Seni, as he’s nicknamed, will fall in his career progression. A dirt runner through and through, we couldn’t be more excited to see this descendant of Native Flame carry the torch into Y18.





Now, we’d be lying if we didn’t say we were excited about the arrival of this chestnut filly. A half-sibling to HOF Anodyne and G1 Hokum, we’re thrilled to get our hands on another Sun Chaser filly and to race our first Kore VS foal. She’s full of life and personality and in some ways, reminds us of our retired Nightshade. A bold claim to make, but we’ve been missing having a horse like that in our barn. She’s confident, edgy and man does she know how to run. She is the type of filly that was bred to always give the boys a run for their own money and beat them at their own game. She has the same versatility as Nightshade had, not minding whatever surface she’s on, but more focused on how the hell she’s going to win.






We got lucky with this one. SOPS had twins and we weaseled a way to purchase the foal they didn’t want and here he is - Airbomb. Fireworks, the sire, didn’t race long, but the quality there is undeniable, being of the Xenophon lineage. This makes this guy a relation to G1 Anarchi, G2 Lawless and all those other great horses. Add in that infamous War Admiral, Augusto and Little Miss Innocent and you have a star-studded pedigree. This guy acts as cool as a cucumber but amazes us each and every single time he sets foot on a track. He seems to handle either surface well, but as we know, time will tell which way he leans. We’re eager to see if this guy can live up to his legacy, but he doesn’t seem to be worried about it. Which is reassuring to us in so many ways.






Another anticipated filly is what we have here. Flight Risk is the last foal for BHOF mare, Flight of Fancy. Until now, the G1 Producing mare has only had colts, but that’s until Rhea. She’s almost the spitting image of her dam and it fills us with excitement. Flight of Fancy had a short racing season due to an injury, but it’s almost like a second chance with their reincarnation of the grey mare wonder. With a pedigree that’s all IRS, we couldn’t be more excited to have this gal hit the tracks and make the jaws drop. Many of her brothers had a sustained career over many years and we’re expecting nothing less from this loud and commanding daughter of Fannie.






Chay is the last foal for top SOPS producing mare, Flash At Dawn and another notch in the belt for up and coming stud, Gold Storm. Her half-brother won two out of three TSC legs and we’re more than excited to see what she can pull out performance wise. Her dam is the producer of multiple G1 winners like Fiery Touch, Animatia, Sizzling Dawn and Flashpoint. Chay, however, will be one of the first of Flash At Dawn’s foals to take on some of the shorter distances. We couldn’t be more thrilled to see how she performs.






This is the first foal for our own Anodyne and he couldn’t come out of a better mare. Eternal Phantom was a killer performer and looks to be throwing the same kind of caliber foals. But besides his impressive pedigree, Head Trip has proven himself to be everything his namesake is. He most certainly takes after his sire in the hot head department but has his dam's cunning and strategy - for the most part. He's going to very much so be IRS future TC Candidate, depending on how he does for his juvenile season, but regardless if he ends up there or not; this cult has sheer determination and talent on her side.






Sin is everything we hoped for, being Nightshade's first foal and sired by the Night Stalker son, Ramirez. He strikes an imposing figure and is known to throw his weight behind his image. He has the cunning of his dam and a dark sense of humor, an adaptation from his more jovial sire. We’re excited to see how he applies his talent to the tracks and carry on the Augusto and Night Stalker legacy. He’s shown an affinity for the dirt and we’re expecting him to flourish with his mindset and natural drive and talent.






Breaker is a new type of horse for IRS, but one that is an anticipated addition to the ranks. Born of SOPS sprinting lines, we’re eager to incorporate him into the IRS fold, so to speak. He’s a breath of fresh air, eager and willing to please. The trainers have expressed their own excitement with some of his first runs on the track. He shows a natural turn of foot and a fearless disposition. This is the kind of horse to make a way were none seem to be apparent and then he flies for home in a display of true speed and determination.






Mojo has the magic. He's a smooth operator on and off the track. He's tricky like that, using his subtleness as a means to accomplish what he really wants. We've seen him slide in where he wants to when in the fields with the other colts. There's some with brawn and muscle, but Mojo is just the type of personality to placate and then weasel to get his own way when others are settling from the aftermath of whatever event had occurred. He tends to have a very soothing temperament and is one of the ones that most people want to work with. He has some of the smoothest action we've ever seen with a clean and wide range of motion.






Imogen is a hard working hot head. She’s known for being moody and temperamental in the barn, but is a true blue workhorse on the track. She seems to be much more manageable on the track versus off of it. A daughter of Memorial’s Blaze and Spitting Image, Imogen is a new kind of sprinter for IRS. We’re quite eager to see if this filly has what it takes to carve out some space for herself within the sprinting world. She carries herself with a lot of energy and action and seems to have that competitive drive to make her successful on the tracks.






We’re really excited about this loud personality. He’s got an indomitable spirit about him that’s really hard to keep down. He’s always pushing himself to come out on top and has quite the complex when he loses, but it only fuels and pushes him to become more determined in the next round. He doesn’t wither in the face of defeat and definitely doesn’t get discouraged; he only grows stronger. We’re eager to see some of his performances on the track.






This filly is as hard as rocks, but cunning as a minx. She carries herself in what some might see as a cold or distant manner, but she’s just studying and analyzing things. She’s a thinker, through and through, but don’t mistake her quietness for submissiveness. She has the drive for perfection and that’s seen in the breathtaking execution she displays while on the track.






We are really excited about this colt and he seems to feed off of that high energy. He's an animated creature, full of passion, life and... attitude. He has that wild, pushy nature about him and Vik always seems to find a way to turn things into a competition. He's always pushing the envelope and pushing limits to find new experiences and new adventures. Alluring Assault has thrown us another colt, but we're not complaining with the recent continued success of World Dominion. Sired by the legendary Touch Up, we're fairly confident that this vivacious colt will live up to and exceed expectation within his own time. At this point he has everything going for him.





Amby was a last minute addition to the Intrepid string line-up, but she was one of the best decisions we've ever made. Shiver Me Timbers is a BHOF Sprinting producing legend and we've seen some of that success ourselves with his grandfoal - G1 Doubloon Moon. Seeing how well that filly did, we were more than eager to see what a horse directly descended from the major stallion would produce and we got Valkyrie Stables to partner with us and let us use their original success, G1 Allouette Divine. Amby is a mischievous little sprite and has been known to 'prank' her fellow stablemates and humans alike. She lives for the reactions and boy does she get them with a lively personality like hers. We're extremely excited to see her to the dirt sprints here in Y18.




Proctor was a juvenile addition in the FF Y18 sale. Once again, it seems Valkyrie Stables has come through for us in providing us a quality dirt sprinter. His sire, Attractive Flight was a G1 sprinting success winning the Carter Handicap* and by HOF Flying Colours, he brings a lot to the table as a sire to help create foals similar in type and bloodlines like G1 Forbidden to Fly and G1 Seraphim. Declarate has two foals on the ground that have been lightly but consistently raced to show that there's something there in that line. Proctor is a new type of horse for Intrepid and we're thrilled to have him join the ranks and give our own Lawbreaker a run for his money, the two, in reality, being cousins. Proctor is a pretty mouthy colt, but we love that fierce independence about him and know it will serve him well on the tracks.





One of the first foals for IRS Sprinting Stallion, Mainspring, and out of maiden mare, Simple Credit, this gem will be available in the Y18 Sale. This is a great chance to get your hands on a new foal with no relations to any of the major sprinting lines.