Some Kind of Doll

     I've been  a fan of Buff Bradley and his racing family for some time now, stemming without doubt from my respect and affection for his wonderful campaigner, Brass Hat, a "Bradley" from top to bottom.  Anybody who has ever raced a home bred well understands how such an experience is always just a little more special, a little more intense, than racing one that you've become involved with a little further down the road.  Don't misunderstand, now, racing is absolutely thrilling no matter the circumstance, but there is something about seeing one of your own babies being saddled in the paddock then prancing in the post parade ablaze with your racing colors, a near paternal or maternal pride that comes from gazing upon your creation, that special one who would not exist had it not been for your vision.  Unfortunately, from purely a pragmatic perspective, the reality of racing is such that more often than not the racing world might be better off without your creation, for one truth of breeding is the trend for generations to maintain mediocrity, the tendency for any species to return to the norm, towards the center of the bell-shaped curve.  Alas, breeders are a fool hardy group if nothing else, and it is with the hope, prayer and firm belief that they might prove the exception to the rule that they remain steadfastly encouraged.  Such confidence allows them to pay mostly exorbitant breeding fees to proven stallions who in truth give little hope for reasonable return on investment or, alternatively, to support unproven studs with at best questionable credentials, these offering even less hope of striking the equine pot of gold.  It is, however, this dream of the "big horse," the understanding that, although rare, the special horse can and does happen, that feeds the dream and fuels the fire of all who love and breed the Thoroughbred.  This, and the appreciation for the wonder of all horses, champions and not, magnificent beasts who by their mere presence make our life more fulfilling and wonderful regardless of racing success or failure...but it sure doesn't hurt if they can run more than a little!

Brass Hat, with my very good friend and racing buddy, Willie Koester (he also with a great hat!)

Brass Hat, Churchill Downs, Buff Bradley barn

Brass Hat

    

     Surely Buff and his father Fred had lived the relative highs and lows of both the breeding and racing worlds before the arrival of Brass Hat, and one can only wonder at the pride and appreciation they felt for this outstanding horse.  It was my pleasure to see Brass Hat race on a number of occasions and also to be present when he was paraded in the Keeneland paddock at the time of his retirement.  Surrounded by their many friends, all of whom were clearly included within Brass Hat's legion of fans, this was a time of mixed emotion I'm certain, a sadness that no more would they thrill to his courageous performances, great pride that he indeed was one of their own, the joy and happiness coming from the knowledge that the rigors of many long and arduous racing campaigns had been survived and he was retiring upon his own terms, and most assuredly a peace that comes from a great weight of responsibility being lifted from tired shoulders, for with a favorite such as Brass Hat comes a burden of responsibility to his many adoring fans. 

Fred Bradley, Brass Hat, and Buff Bradley, retirement ceremony in Keeneland paddock

Brass Hat with Buff

Brass Hat with a very proud Buff Bradley

     I've never spoken to Buff about this, for in fact we are more correctly acquaintances than close friends, but I would suspect that he never expected another Brass Hat to enter his life, or at least not so immediately after the retirement of his old warrior.  Good fortune, however, has a way sometimes of continuing to smile upon good people, and the Bradley clan was so blessed.  She came in the form of the now very accomplished filly, Groupie Doll.  Beginning her racing career around the time Brass Hat was winding down, Groupie Doll broke her maiden in her 2nd start at Churchill Downs, winning a straight maiden by 31/2 lengths while travelling 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.56.  Seventeen days later found her at Ellis Park where she toyed with non winners of 2 rather easily, drawing off to win by 81/2 lengths while covering 7 furlongs on a sloppy track in 1:23.53.  Without doubt by this time Buff and his family knew they had themselves another serious race horse, and any doubts about this were emphatically removed when she next defeated a very fine field of fillies and mares while winning the 1 mile, G3 Gardenia Stakes at Ellis in 1:37.37 on August 13, 2011.  Thus, in the short time span of little over 2 months she had rattled off 3 consecutive victories and had become a graded stakes winner to boot!  Certainly, a rather auspicious beginning to her career.  To hope for more is normal human nature...to expect more, however, borders on unrealistic...

     ...but, when you're on a roll, you're on a roll!  The youngster faced the starter on four subsequent occasions during her sophomore season, these efforts resulting in further stakes placings including a narrow defeat in the prestigious G2 Raven Run at Keeneland.  Her season culminated in victory in open allowance company at Gulfstream in December of 2011, where she dominated her competition while getting the mile in a very good 1:35.29, this resulting in final season tallies of 8-4-2-0, G3 SW, G2 SP, and earnings of $272,536.  Not bad for a young lady following in the footsteps of her much vaunted and adored "step brother," Brass Hat, and, like fine wine...

     ...she got even better!  Oh my, how she got better.  With no real break from the rigors of training, she surfaced again at Gulfstream on January 27 in an allowance race against the boys, and here just failed to hold off the well thought of Boys At Tosconova, losing a very hard fought battle by 3/4 length.  Not ducking any man's horse, Buff threw his rising star in against the best females in the country in the G3, 1 1/16th mile Sabin, where she put forth tremendous effort.  While finishing a well beaten 3rd to Awesome Maria, she was defeated by last years champion 3 year old filly, Royal Delta, by only a short head for second money.  This was really a stellar performance, at a distance perhaps slightly beyond her very best, and against a mare that was unlikely to be defeated by any horse of either sex on that particular day.  Next, dropping back to 7 furlongs 3 weeks later, Groupie Doll again put forth an outstanding effort in the Inside Information Stakes, closing well throughout the stretch while ultimately losing to defending sprint champion, Musical Romance, by 1 1/2 lengths.   This was a victory well deserved by the winner, she giving a significant 4 pounds weight concession to Groupie Doll on this occasion, but the outstanding performance continued to serve notice that this little "doll" had become a very serious race horse! 

     With winter now becoming a memory, Groupie Doll moved with the Bradley horses to their home base at Churchill Downs, where she trained strongly in preparation for the G1 Vinery Madison.  Run under allowance conditions, Musical Romance was again asked to give weight to Groupie Doll, 123 to 118 pounds, but on this occasion the combination of the weight discrepancy and an obviously improving Groupie Doll proved far too much for the defending champion, as Groupie Doll put it all together at the right time, exploding down the long Keeneland stretch to draw off and win by 3 lengths.  I was fortunate to be there for this exceptional performance (I'm not kidding anybody, am I...I'm always at Keeneland!) and was captivated, first by the performance of this fine filly, and second by the outpouring of affection and happiness shown the Bradleys upon this occasion of their very special victory at this grandest of race tracks.  Tears flowed immediately after the race like I suspect wine flowed later that evening, and rightly so.  Another very good thing, happening to very good and deserving people.

Groupie Doll, paddock at Keeneland

    

Groupie Doll

coming on to the track at Keeneland

post parade, Rajiv Maragh wearing the Bradley colors

    

anxious moments before the race, Fred and Buff Bradley

taking command in the G1 Vinery Madison

widening

not to be denied

big screen tells the story

 

an ecstatic Buff with good family friend and outstanding horse woman, Susie Oldham

"...worth a thousand words!"

Fred Bradley, the joy of victory

congratulations all around, Buff with Groupie and Rajiv

      Attention now turned to Churchill Downs and Derby Day in Louisville, Kentucky.  A stellar card preceded the running of the 138th Derby.  Among the most highly anticipated match ups was the G1 Humana Distaff at 7 furlongs and a third meeting, the "rubber match," between Groupie Doll and Musical Romance.  The latter was back at the site of her greatest victory, that coming in last year's Breeder's Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.  Here she was to again face her Madison conqueror but this time without weight concessions, each lady sharing high weight of 123 pounds.  The anticipation was that of another close, hotly contested finish, but on this day none of the aforementioned appeared to matter.  On some days, in a rare circumstance, a horse will simply enter into some sort of "zone," an unexplained and poorly understood place where everything simply comes together as if by divine command, perhaps akin to a symphony, struggling to be as one, suddenly coming together in total unison, each component perfectly complementing the other, resulting in the creation of ethereal music beyond man's comprehension.  Such things happen also to athletes, sometimes just for an instant, sometimes for an entire competition, occasionally for a prolonged period of time, an unexplained interval of absolutely superior performance against which others are helpless regardless of their effort.  Great horses will do such things and are forever remembered for the effort, here recalling Secretariat and his still unbelievable Belmont Stakes, or old, arthritic mighty Forego defeating Honest Pleasure in the Marlboro on a sloppy Belmont track that he despised while giving that champion 18 pounds, 137 to 119, and running the 1 1/4 miles in 2:00 flat.  Wise Dan, not yet a proven great but clearly one of great talent, had such a moment very recently at Keeneland in the Ben Ali...and Groupie Doll had her moment on this special day in front of 160,000 screaming fans as well as before the hushed, venerable Twin Spires, they gazing down from their lofty perch, surely smiling in quiet approval.  Challenging the pace early, Groupie Doll was absolutely not to be denied this day, and by the 5/16th pole had grabbed total control of this race and this excellent field, from that point steadfastly widening, never faltering, her tremendous foundation of racing and training giving strength as others weakened, poles flashing by as she widened and quickened her fluid stride.  Reaching the wire some 6 lengths ahead of the gallant Musical Romance, the timer was stopped in NTR time.  The splits for the race were 22.42, 44.57 (22.17), 1:08.04 (23.47), with the final time of 1:20.44 (12.40)!  Over many years of racing at this old track, many great...truly great...horses have run this distance.  None has ever before run this fast!  No small accomplishment for a home bred from the Bradley family farm.

    

Groupie Doll,post parade, G1 Humana Distaff

Totally in control approaching the 5/16ths pole

widening in stretch



Groupie Doll...in full flight!

the wire looms...

...and no competition to be found

Grade 1 victory, Fred Bradley leads Groupie Doll, while Buff walks to his side

     Now a duel Grade 1 winner, Groupie Doll is currently being given some well earned rest at the farm where I suspect she's doing a little bit of bragging to the resident bragger out there, old Brass Hat.  Love to listen in on that conversation!  I suspect that Brass Hat might just be doing a little bit of "embellishment" while recalling his tales to this wide eyed young lady.  No need to do that, old friend.  The truth of your career is story enough!

     It will be very interesting to see how Groupie Doll progresses from here.  There can be no question she is the leading female sprinter at this time, but as good as she is she has a ways to go to threaten the hold Brass Hat has on the Bradley heart strings...but she's trying.  Has she played her strongest hand, and from here will become one of a number of very talented and competitive older filly and mares, fine racing ladies who will take turns defeating each other?  Or might she evolve into the next Informed Decision, a 7 furlong wonder, near unbeatable at that particular distance but more vulnerable going shorter or longer?  Or could she possibly, as unlikely as it sounds, continue to improve, go from strength to strength, and dominate the distaff sprinting ranks like some of the greats of a former time, those of the ilk of Xtra Heat, Pine Tree Lane, Gold Beauty, or Safely Kept?  We await with great interest.  For certain, if she does no more, she has surely surpassed the highest expectations once held for this daughter of Bowman's Band and Deputy Doll.  We know she is in most capable hands, Buff Bradley having already clearly demonstrated his ability to bring forth talent when it is present.  We simply must now wait and see.

     The real question just might be, who else is Buff hiding in his barn?  First Brass Hat, now Groupie Doll, and we all know what they say about things coming in threes...


Murray West

(again, photos from Churchill were shot from high up in 3rd floor Clubhouse so forgive a little lack of clarity if you will)