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Sim Trainer Stats Sim Race Stats |
SEATTLE HIT Owner/Trainer: alex Record: 68-18-10-12, $6,437,753
Win: Can One Aussie Be This Silly . . . Twice Challenge-G1, South Astralian Cup-G1, Japan Cup-G1, Canada Turf-G1, Undefeated Filly Stakes-G1, Chris Antley Memorial Series-G2, Sour Kraut Cup-G2, Island Handicap-G2, Canary Stakes-G3, Prince Pablo Stakes, Frank’s Own Derby, Missouri 299 Stakes, Kentucky 222 Stakes. Place: Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic-G1, First State Distaff-G1, NY Island Cap-G1, Sandpit Classic-G1, Barbara Bush Stakes-G2, San Guapo Breeders' Bowl Stakes-G2, Estrogen Stakes. Polynesian Flyer Special, Soviet Lad Special. Show: Coalminer Cup-G1, Man of War Stakes-G1, Sexy Muffins Classic-G1, Flounder Turf Distaff-G1, Spankie-Sho All Comers-G2, San Hobispo Cap-G2, Miami Beach Turf Stakes-G2, Adrian Adonis Stakes-G3, Wander Kind Handicap, Sinsofthefather Special. Ironically, Seattle Hit began her career with two indifferent starts on turf. Shortened up to a dirt sprint, she won gamely by a nose, then worked her way through her allowance conditions. However, it wasn't until she was stretched out to marathons that she showed her true potential, strolling home a 17 1/2 length winner in a 13 furlong allowance, then topping it with a ridiculous 25 length tour de force in her stakes debut, the Soviet Lad Special. After galloping home the easiest kind of winner in another allowance, Seattle Hit returned to the turf, this time in the G1 Sandpit Classic, and put in a much improved effort on that surface, finishing a best of the rest second behind Holy Ransom, but ahead of Enough Knock. You never would have guessed how Seattle Hit's 1999 season would have turned out, based on her seasonal debut. She was distanced in the G3 Buck Dharma Handicap, with a miserable 48 SF. Returned to the main track, she finished second in the Polynesian Flyer Stakes, then dominated another dirt marathon allowance. Nine panels proved to be too short in her next start, but 10 was just right, as the leggy filly easily won the Kentucky 222 Stakes (105 SF). She would struggle against the males in her next several starts, including one sprint, and it wasn’t until she was returned to the turf that she began to bloom, beating the boys in the Missouri 299 Stakes, a second to graded stakes winner Lil Pot, and a fourth in the G2 Sunrise Handicap. Seattle Hit would continue to switch surfaces. Back on dirt she easily handled the boys in two ungraded stakes, then beat some of the best distaffers in training, including Admiral’s Projects, Seriously Double, One Sky and Rally Jupiter in the G1 Undefeated Filly Stakes. Seattle Hit then switch-hit back to the turf, where she was a better than it looked fourth in the G2 Japan All-Comers. Seattle Hit would explode in the G1 Canada Turf, turning the tables on Prosperous Outback and Huge Tale, who were ahead of her in the All-Comers. Prospector Spend, Senor Rizzo, Prospector Rizzo, and Eric Roo were the other graded winners left gasping for air, as the tall filly threw down a 115 SF while pulling away to a four length victory. She couldn’t quite duplicate that feat in the Breeders’ Bowl Turf three weeks’ later, but had no problem handling fillies in the G2 Island Handicap, dominating that race by five. Sent over to do battle with the best turf males once more in the G1 Japan Cup, Seattle Hit justified her connections’ faith, as she managed to reel in Enough Knock and his five length lead to manage a hard fought one length victory in this prestigious event. In the process, she defeated Huge Tale, Writer Orange and Prospect Bull. Seattle Hit would close out her long campaign with a third in the G2 Miami Beach Stakes. Her heroics in the Canada Turf and Japan Cup were enough to gain her the title of Champion Turf Mare, even though she had raced only a few times against her own gender, and her biggest win against the girls had come on dirt. The reigning queen would take a while to get going in 2000, coming close in several stakes without winning, including a tough loss in her debut to Shin Tootsie in the G2 San Guapo Breeders’ Bowl Stakes at nine panels, short of her best distance (110 SF). She would be a game second behind High Devil in the G1 Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic (107 SF), but it would take a return to the dirt to get the five year old back into the winner’s circle. Run over a grueling two miles, Seattle Hit proved the fittest and the finest in the G1 South Astralian Cup (101 SF). The dirt to turf experiment looked good, as she then easily won the G2 Sour Kraut Cup by four lengths over Huge Slide and Road Rubbing. Seattle Hit would then knock on the door for several more stakes, finishing second in the G1 NY Island Cap, third in the G1 Flounder Distaff behind Road Rubbing and Lil Pot, and then something wasn’t quite right. In her next nine starts, while Seattle Hit would pick up a lot of minor awards, finishing fourth and third numerous times against G1 competition, she couldn’t quite close the deal. There would be belated rallies, but the leggy mare just couldn’t seem to get it in gear in time. A switch to sprints seemed to help, as in her next race, Seattle Hit would close out her five year old campaign with a smart win in the G2 Chris Antley (109 SF), defeating rivals Road Rubbing, Lil Pot, as well as Western Slide, Texas Project and Huge Slide. The season had its moments, but Seattle Hit hadn’t quite hit the same heights as the previous year. At six, Seattle Hit would begin her campaign with a closing third in the G1 Sexy Muffins Classic. The mile race was chosen to sharpen her speed for the G1 Can One Aussie Be This Silly . . .Twice Challenge. The mare responded, defeating Saddle Dedicate, Cecil Roo, Road Rubbing, Royal Roo and Her Dances, an all-star list of the best routers in training. Seattle Hit had picked the right moment to shine, as her hectic nonstop campaigning began to catch up with her. She would finish fourth in a pair of G1 stakes against the males, and like the previous year, would earn mostly minor prizes against top company. Still, she was second in the G2 Barbara Bush, second again, this time on the dirt, i the G1 First State Distaff, and would pull out one final graded stakes win, the G3 Canary Stakes in what was effectively the champion’s swan song, although she would answer the call to the post three more times before retiring to the breeding shed. Seattle Hit was unafraid to tackle the boys and often beat them at their own game, as she did so memorably in her championship run, and again in the final G1 win of her career, against the very best the sim had to offer. A true marathoner, this mare ducked no one, was remarkably sound or durable during three seasons of nonstop racing, and when she brought her A game, you’d better bring your A+ best to the matchup. |
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