Career Earnings: $3,410,150

First Lady of the Sim

By- Mike Adamson

The 6 year old race mare has become a scarce commodity with the advent of active sim breeding. The temptation to create a potential champion has seen runners leave the track much earlier than in the good old days. No doubt trainer whirlaway asked himself whether his talented lady, First Ryder, should become the basis of his next hopeful but to his credit and to the benefit of sim racing, First Ryder competed on the track throughout 2001. For her efforts, First Ryder has been recognised as the Champion older Distaffer and is the recipient of the coveted Sim Eclipse award. In a year when the ladies seemed to take turns beating up on each other, the daughter of Risen Star and a Danzig mare proved the paragon of consistency, racking up a 13-6-4-1 record, and capping her successful campaign with a convincing victory in the Breeder’s Bowl Distaff-G1. First Ryder also captured the Orange Blossom-G1, the Painful Thorn Stakes-G2, the D-Day Distaff-G2, the Preppin’ 4 Da Bowl-G3 and the listed Mississippi 942 Stakes. The talented gal was G1 placed on 2 occasions and G2 once and ran out of the money in her lone turf outing and her only sprint attempt of the season. First Ryder concluded her year with a lifetime record of 35-17-5-5 and has banked more than $3.4 million in a very distinguished career.

The 2001 campaign commenced at home in a New York trainer restricted affair and the opener was a good one. Prompting the pace through the early fractions, First Ryder assumed command at the top of the stretch and looked set for the victory but a splendid closing move by Alone That Baby proved too strong and she settled for 2nd with a 110 SR for 8 ½ furlongs. Her first win would have to wait for 3 weeks and the Mississippi 942 S., a 9f event which saw her again pressing the pace early but concluding on a more satisfying note as she won by 2 lengths with a 104 SR. Back to New York for the 7f Distaff Breeder’s Bowl Cap-G2 but it wasn’t a happy homecoming as the mare never looked comfortable and was done after half a mile, finishing an uncharacteristic 12th with a decidedly uncharacteristic 85 SR. A public workout perhaps as 2 weeks later whirlaway entered his star in the Orange Blossom-G1 in Arkansas and the result was more than gratifying. Allowed to settle back early this time, First Ryder advanced steadily as the turn approached surging to the front as she straightened for home and running away to the impressive 3 ½ length win and 112 SR.

With the G1 title under her belt, First Ryder was sent to the American West Coast and proved much the best in week 1019’s running of the Painful Thorn Stakes-G2 in California. Dueling early with 2000 BB heroine Rakida Road, First Ryder left that one in her wake as she entered the stretch with a comfortable lead and coasted to the 3 3/4 length win and 108 SR. Next up, the My Girl Handicap-G1 and whirlaway looked forward for a shot at a second G1 title. Rating just off of the leaders, First Ryder made her move on the turn as usual but this time around there was a better competitor as Skinny Cat was not to be denied from well off the pace, finishing 3 ¼ lengths ahead of our heroine. Awarded a season high 113 SR, First Ryder gave her best and was just beaten by the better horse on the day. A decision to tackle the grass for the first time proved ill advised as First Ryder was clearly cut out for the harder main track and she finished out of the money for the 2nd and last time in 2001. The Vogue Handicap-G3 proved a bit of a puzzler as she settled for 2nd in a race she likely should have won. Apparently a victim of a deceptively slow pace, First Ryder appeared primed to challenge in the final turn but the leader retained more than enough to record a 3 ½ length win. No problems with pace in her next outing however as she watched the leaders duke it out in the D-Day Distaff-G2 before taking charge on the bend and drawing off to a splendid 4 ¼ length victory and a 113 SR. Trainer whirlaway again brought his charge home to New York for the summer time Go For the Gold Stakes-G1 but once again, home track success eluded First Ryder. Adopting the off the pace strategy so effective in the Orange Blossom-G1, First Ryder advanced into the turn but it was clear that she lacked her best on this day as she fruitlessly chased the top two, beaten in 3rd by 5 lengths with a 107 SR.

Time for a rest and First Ryder was afforded an eight week holiday. With the Breeder’s Bowl clearly the ultimate goal, she appeared in week 1159’s Preppin’ 4 Da Bowl-G3 in Kentucky and the break obviously did some good. Breaking very alertly, First Ryder quickly took command and never looked back en route to a 3 ½ length score and a 105 SR. The final Bowl prep came in New Jersey of all places two weeks later and the connections looked satisfied despite the 2nd place showing in the 9f Golden Foxx Distaff-G2. The big prize was three weeks down the road before the home fans in New York. New York? Oh Oh. The scene of 3 starts thus far and zero wins to show. Trainer whirlaway refused to admit to any misgivings about the track but clearly it was on his mind as he imported Kentucky rider D Givins to pilot the 6-1 candidate. The biggest race of the year and First Ryder was allowed to relax after the break and settle 6 or 7 lengths behind with a half mile in the books. As in virtually every race contested in 2001, First Ryder was asked for some run as the field reached the final turn and the tough mare responded by passing several runners and drawing closer to the front. She never looked better as she emerged from the turn some two lengths behind Murph Ray but there was little doubt in the crowd that their loyalty would be rewarded. Surely enough, rider Givins asked for her best and First Ryder delivered as she swept past the game Murf ray and drove down New York’s stretch to the convincing 4 ¾ length victory and securing the divisional title for good measure. Her 117 SR was her best of the year and it generally takes a Champion to deliver the goods when most needed.

First Ryder’s pedigree would not likely be characterised as regal but it is clever in it’s design and obviously successful on the track where it counts. Risen Star won the 12f Belmont Stakes as a 3 year old and has clearly imparted the ability to get a route of ground. Sons of Secretariat may have been relative disappointments in the breeding shed but Risen Star has sired some nice runners, particularly in Europe. The presence of Danzig as the broodmare sire injects the brilliance required to avoid the plodder while Prince John provides a solid bottom and the ability to compete effectively past a mile. First Ryder has yet to appear on the track since her Breeder’s Bowl triumph and perhaps whirlaway has determined that to exit at the top is just reward for his star. Her turn of foot is visibly impressive and her superior ability to negotiate the turns always has her in position to strike at the leader. First Ryder is as honest as the day is long and I’d love to see her compete at 7, but if it is not be then I hope she meets a top sire and produces a baby worthy of her parentage.

Race ID	Trk	RST	S	D	Race	Time	SP#	#	PP	C1	C2	C3	FIN	Jockey	Odds
1194.0413	NY	F-3yo+	D	9	Breeders Bowl Distaff -G1	1:47 3/5	117	14	4	8 5	7 7-1/4	3 3-1/2	1 4-3/4	D Givins	6.10
1173.0915	NJ	F-4yo+	D	9	Goldyn Foxx Distaff -G2	1:48 4/5	105	7	6	2 1-3/4	2 3	2 3	2 2	R Case	2.00
1159.0312	KY	F-3yo+	D	9	-G3	1:49	105	7	7	1 1/4	1 1-1/2	1 6-3/4	1 3-1/2	B Anderson	1.00
1103.0415	NY	F-3yo+	D	9	Go For The Gold Stakes -G1	1:48	107	14	11	10 4-1/2	9 6-1/4	6 3-1/4	3 5	B Child	5.70
1082.1315	WV	F-4yo+	D	9	D-Day Distaff -G2	1:48	113	9	3	5 3	4 3-3/4	1 2	1 4-1/4	S Kelly	3.30
1068.0115	CA	F-3yo+	D	9	Vogue Handicap -G3	1:48 2/5	106	9	3	4 3/4	2 1-1/4	2 2-1/4	2 3-1/2	L Jones	2.50
1054.0814	MD	F-4yo+	T	8.5	The Maryland 1054 Handicap -Stk	1:43 2/5	87	6	4	1 3/4	1 3/4	4 2-3/4	5 9-1/4	C Gerhke	.50
1040.0115	CA	F-3yo+	D	8.5	My Girl Handicap -G1	1:41 2/5	113	12	7	6 2-3/4	6 3-3/4	2 1-1/4	2 3-1/4	F Allen	4.20
1019.0115	CA	F-3yo+	D	8.5	Painful Thorn Stakes -G2	1:42 2/5	108	8	1	1 hd	1 3/4	1 2-1/2	1 3-3/4	S Webb	4.10
977.0614	AK	F-4yo+	D	8.5	Orange Blossom -G1	1:41 4/5	112	12	1	8 4-1/2	7 6-1/2	2 1	1 3-1/2	T Thomas	8.90
963.0412	NY	F-3yo+	D	7	Distaff Breeder's Bowl Cap -G2	1:21 1/5	85	14	1	7 2	7 3-1/2	11 10	12 21-1/4	C Jamison	7.40
942.4813	MS	F-4yo+	D	9	The Mississippi 942 Stakes -Stk	1:49 1/5	104	6	1	2 3/4	2 3/4	1 2	1 2	M Brandon	1.10
921.0401	NY	F-4yo+	D	8.5	The Homecoming Invitational -- Owner Restricted -Stk	1:41 4/5	110	7	7	2 1-1/2	2 2	1 1/4	2 2-3/4	B Child	1.10