The Sim Eclipse Awards @ Sim Hall of Fame
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View the 2009 Champions
- 2 YEAR OLD COLT ON DIRT
- 2 YEAR OLD FILLY ON DIRT
- 2 YEAR OLD COLT ON TURF
- 2 YEAR OLD FILLY ON TURF
- 3 YEAR OLD COLT ON DIRT
- 3 YEAR OLD FILLY ON DIRT
- 3 YEAR OLD COLT ON TURF
- 3 YEAR OLD FILLY ON TURF
- OLDER HORSE ON DIRT
- OLDER MARE ON DIRT
- OLDER HORSE ON TURF
- OLDER MARE ON TURF
- SPRINTER ON DIRT
- SPRINTER ON TURF
- TRAINER OF THE YEAR
- HORSE OF THE YEAR
Champion Older Turf Mare
K'S MASTERPIECE
5yo mare - Ghostzapper x Nijinsky II x Seattle Slew
OWNER/TRAINER – Sledwith2 (Ledwith)
RECORD: 2009: 9 / 4-3-1
LIFETIME EARNINGS: $3,176,450
2009 Stakes:
WON: DPCD VIII Devil's Slide Handicap (G1), The Liz Taylor (G1), Rich And Famous Handicap (G2), Yabba Dabba Doo Handicap
2ND: Vermillion Stakes (G2), The Very Fine Handicap (G3), The Mesquite Stakes
3RD: The Romanet (G3)
A Masterpiece Campaign
By- Taffy
This aptly named filly has 29 starts with 16 wins 7 seconds and 1 third place finish, and over 3 million dollars in earnings. With only 5 starts being off the board in her career and an astounding 6 5-1-0 on dirt this mare is obviously an all-round phenomena. However, today we are celebrating her Eclipse win as Champion Older Turf Mare!
K's Masterpiece year started out in February after a 2 month break. She started in the grade 3 Very Fine Handicap going 11 furlongs on firm turf where she excelled and made the lead at one point but ran second posting a 113 speed. Trainer Sledwith2 talked briefly after the race. "She needed a start to fully warm back up. She made the lead at the top of the stretch only to get closed on. This race will have her fully prepped and ready to make waves this year." He was right. Not only did K's Masterpiece win 3 graded races, she was on the board in 6 graded races this year.
K's Masterpiece only start off the board came in the Breeder's Bowl Filly and Mare Turf which was undoubtedly one of the deepest fields of the year. She prepped without a hitch and was beginning to close well when she got bumped. Jockey S L Ledwith stated that the bump cost the mare her race. "She just lost her momentum. I had to steady her pretty hard to keep from colliding with another horse. It was just bad luck in a big race." Many of the mare's loyal fans were upset by the race. They were vindicated in her next start.
Her biggest win and without a doubt most impressive race to date came in the DPCD VIII Devil's Slide Handicap. When asked by a reporter how K's Masterpiece was fairing after her trip in the Breeders Bowl her owner Sledwith2 replied, "Just you wait; she's going to blow your socks off today." When the gate opened K's Masterpiece got out quickly and settled in 3 rd only a few lengths off the leader who opened a hot pace. After 5 furlongs she started to move, closing swiftly she was in front for the last 4 furlongs of the race and no one could get by her. Tara, who finished second by 2 ¼ lengths, was held off not letting her gain anything on the winner. K's Masterpiece finished in 2:00 1/5 second posting a career best 114 speed.
In the winner's circle sledwith2 was smiling from ear to ear. What a race to finish a year on. But she had one race left. The race for the Turf Older Mare Eclipse award put K's Masterpiece up against three tough mares nominees in Sake, Famous Indy, and Kantia. The voting was decisive and K's Masterpiece came out the winner again. Congrats to a very nice mare with a great trainer!