Two Minute Lick: Applauding Applauding

Applauding Applauding

Murray D. West

Applauding, after track record setting debut at Keeneland

Ears pinned flat, golden mane swirling in the wind, her powerful, lithe body propelling her effortlessly down the backstretch, the beautiful and highly talented youngster, with apparent disdain, tossed aside any pretense of competition. After a first quarter in 21.71 seconds and a half in a facile 44.99, Applauding turned into the long Fair Grounds stretch where she was finally released from her rider’s constraints. Within a seeming instant her two length advantage at the quarter pole became four then, responding to a Shane Seller cross thrown at the 3/16^th pole, she exploded with ground devouring strides, drawing off from her overmatched opponents with consummate ease. Never feeling the stick, and clearly eased in the last seventy yards, the starlet crossed the wire six lengths to the good, stopping the clock in a brisk 1:10.34.

Early morning bath, Applauding, 9-10-2011

Freshman Star, Applauding, 9-10-2011

Such was the much anticipated second start for this grand looking 2 year old daughter of Congrats – Andrias Forest (Forestry). Purchased earlier this year as a 2 year old in training, the youngster was placed in the very capable hands of trainer Al Stall and company, and moved to his Rice Road barn at Keeneland Race Course. It was here that I had the opportunity to come to know this little lady and very quickly became enamored with not only her outstanding looks and delightful personality but, more importantly, with her obvious singular talent as a racehorse. An impressive specimen, very well balanced, of good but not excessive size, she is blessed with an exceptional shoulder and a very deep girth. Her demeanor upon the track made her a very tractable student, and her progression in the early mornings gave hope to all that she indeed might prove an important Saturday afternoon horse.

Applauding on rail, early morning work

Applauding on rail

Owner Ramona Bass, with her favorite filly

Adding to the charm of this special filly was the enthusiasm and love forthcoming from her owner, the irrepressible Ramona Bass. A Texas resident and longtime horse owner, Ramona’s passion for the game in general, and this filly in particular, combined to add a special dimension to Applauding. In a time when almost all news pertaining to the horse industry tends toward negativity, it was exceptional to witness the affection held by Ramona for her chestnut beauty, and it was equally impossible not to be caught up in the dream surrounding this talented filly. My weekend visits to the Stall barn, and my friendship with outstanding assistant trainer Glen Brookfield, allowed me the opportunity to meet Ramona, and we soon became email friends, me sending updated photos of her budding star, she sharing her dreams for her filly. Each impressive workout was followed by another and. as time approached for her debut on October 14, 2011 at Keeneland, I found myself anticipating this race as if the filly were my own. If the pre-race focus of most was on the all white Thoroughbred, Patchen Princess, the post race talk was singularly of the devastating performance by Applauding.

Applauding at Keeneland for her debut

Applauding, at Keeneland, debut 10-14-2011

Applauding enters paddock, Ass't trainer Glen Brookfield on her right, groom on left

Applauding to track for first time, Garrett Gomez up

Applauding strides out in stretch, powering away to 9 length victory in new track record time, 1:07.76

Two year old fillies making their debut are not supposed to do the things this lady did that fine autumn day. Breaking sharply, she settled into third, two lengths off the pace, with the first quarter run in a very brisk 21.78 seconds. Given her cue by Garrett Gomez around the far turn, she quickly accelerated to the leader. The quarter pole found her now holding a short advantage in a blistering 44.07, with the lengthy Keeneland stretch awaiting her. Several crosses and two smart reminders from the stick and it was all over. With brilliant acceleration she quickly opened a nine length advantage and eased under the wire in new track record time of 1:07.76, eclipsing by over ½ second the previous 6 furlong mark. The track was fast on this day, most certainly, but all track records are set on fast tracks, and countless others, many of proven stakes quality, had failed to eclipse the Keeneland standard in countless previous efforts. That the record was accomplished with such ease made the achievement even more impressive.

L-R Glen Brookfield, ? (sorry!), Ramona Bass, son Perry Bass, Al Stall, groom, Applauding with G Gomez

Ramona Bass and her star

The lady of the moment, Applauding, with her proud groom

There was no wondering, therefore, why her second race at The Fair Grounds Race Course was so eagerly anticipated…and she did not disappoint! The promise of her talent is clearly there for all to see, but so many questions now surround this filly. As in most facets of life, with each accomplishment comes new expectations, new challenges. No horse has been capable thus far of looking her in the eye and taking her to task, and one never quite knows how any horse will respond to such circumstance. However, as well bred as she is and given her competitive and domineering attitude upon the track, I will be surprised if she is lacking in this capacity. The biggest challenge would appear to pertain to her capability of carrying her speed around two turns. This question will most likely be answered in the forthcoming Silverbulletday Stakes at the Fair Grounds one month hence. Contested at 1 1/16^th miles, this will prove a challenging stepping stone for Applauding as she attempts to join the leaders of the soon to be sophomore filly class. Her sire Congrats, himself a winner at 9 furlongs, would appear capable of conferring necessary stamina but in truth has thus far had only limited success in this regard, many of his progeny excelling in sprints, although he has had several important horses capable of carrying their speed 1 1/16th miles. Her bottom side without doubt tends more towards speed, often with apparent stamina limitations. However, the fact that both of her riders, Garrett Gomez and Shane Sellers, speak to her tractability and ability to rate, combined with her visually strong finishes thus far, gives hope that she will successfully make this transition, that the stamina influence from her paternal grandsire, A. P. Indy, will shine through.

Appaluding with Nial Collum, on the training track on frosty morning, 10-29-2011

Applauding (outside) works, Nial Collum up, 11-08-2011

Applauding, Nial Collum up, 11-08-2011

Without doubt the next month will see her training focus on developing needed endurance, for she is blessed with such abundant natural speed that the capability of forwardly placing herself in any race should never be an issue. The task now becomes to harness this inherent gift without discouraging her, encouraging her to relax without fighting restraint, all the while building a deep bottom that allows her to retain her finishing kick as her races stretch out. She is in most capable hands in this attempt, for Al Stall has proved himself very accomplished in preparing horses for major two turn races, recalling here Blame and Apart and their outstanding achievements. Should, however, she prove to have genetic imposed stamina limitations, there is nothing at all wrong with having such one turn brilliance. I, for one, would never mind the glare from an Eclipse on my mantle, awarded for Champion Sprinting Filly or Mare!

The dream is alive, and marches on!