Excitng runners of 2022 : Cavalcade

 

Rated R SuperStar in the end of year Jeffrey Hawk Mem.

Noting here some of the fine steeds that competed energetically in the year now closing. Recalling some sparkling events, and some veteran performers.

CountAgain - Strong-hearted Seven-year-old Candadian-bred  closer in the Kilgroe Mile.

Rated-R Superstar - Nine-Year-Old began the year with victory is Remington Park Essex and ended year [!] wins Jeffrey Hawk Memorial at same track. Roll on R! [Note: Jun 24, 2023 - Durable 10-year-old gelding Rated R Superstar, an eight-time stakes winner with three Grade 3 victories to his name, was retired this week to Old Friends Equine in Kentucky, according to a Twitter post Friday from the wife of owner Danny Caldwell. ]

Desert Crown - Three-Year-Old winner of the Epsom Darby.

Clariere - Victor in the Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont. Compteted all season with a very tough group of older marews and fillies.

Kyrious - Winner of the Gold Cup at Roayl Ascot. Bested the mighty Stradivarius (3rd in the event).

Channel Maker - Eight-Year-Old high running long-distance front runner, winner of the Grand Couterier at Belmont. Career has also seen wins in the Elkhorn, Sword Dancer, Man 0 War, Joe Hirsh, and Bowling Green. 

Epicenter - It’s often said but was supremely true that 3-y-old Epicenter danced every dance - running in all the majors, excepting the Belmont Stakes. The Steve Asmussen-trainee won the Risen Star, Lecomte, Jim Dandy and Travers, and placing hearty seconds in the Preakness and the Kentucky Derby. In the Derby he was nipped at the wire buy the fascinating long-shot rail-skimming Rich Strike. Epicenter ran in the Breeders Cup, thus competing the entire system, but was pulled up by regular rider Joel Rosario having suffered a lateral condylar fracture in his right foreleg. Now, retired. 

Malathaat – After taking second to Clairier in the Shuvee and Spinster, Malathaat ended the year with three victories. Capping this was a stunning victory in the $2 M Breeders Cup Distaff at Keenland, besting noble Clairier and 24-1 gutsy longshot Argentine Blue Stripe (earlier winner of the Joe Hirsh) by a nose and a nose at the wire. Ably ridden by veteran John Velasquez.

Must menion the Horse of the Century, John Sadler's Flightline. A late blooming 3-y-old in 2021, but a winner of the Grade I Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita Park that year, he impressed all but me. He ran three times, won them all. These were the Met Mile, the Pacific Classic, and the Breeders' Cup Classic - by a total of 34 lenghts. Who did he beat? Aside from  3-y-old Epicenter (see above) who ran eight times in 2022.

For a YouTube Playsist of these and other races.