Ultra Blend peeking at 5, got another mountain to climb when she runs in the Breeders’ Classic for the Shermans
The 5-year-old mare Ultra Blend has finished on the money for trainer Art Sherman since June 2009, and considering she has maintained a good run for her connections for two and a half years is a big achievement for the Northern California mare.
Apart from finishing 3rd in her opening race this season, Ultra Blend in her next 6 starts hasn’t finished worse than second, and she has faced sensational fillies like the Grade 1 Lady’s Secret winner Zazu, Grade 2 A Gleam winner Irish Gypsy,
Tanda and Switch.
The daughter of Richly Blended, out of Ankha by Desert Classic, Ultra Blend kicked off proceedings at Stockton race course where she ran in a $25,000 maiden claiming race back in 2008 in her debut.
She finished second in the race, and after her runner up position, Ultra Blend pulled her socks up and off four straight victories at Golden Gate Fields. At that time Ultra Blend was trained by Art Sherman’s son Steve Sherman.
Nels Erickson owned Ultra Blend was handed over to Art Sherman’s barn last fall where she surprised her new conditioner with back to back wins.
It was in the California Cup Matron, where Ultra Blend topped off the 1 1/16 mile race in 1 minute and 43.06 seconds under Joel Rosario at Hollywood Park on 30 October last year.
Next was the Cat’s Cradle also at Hollywood Park in December, as Ultra Blend zipped past her opponents to win the seven and a half furlong dash with an impressive winning time of 1 minute and 29.76 seconds.
As a 5-year-old Ultra Blend was going to face the best of California, and she was up to the task throughout her 2011 campaign. Winning the Valentine Dance Handicap at about a mile at Santa Anita Park, seven and a half furlong dash in the B. Thoughtful Stakes
and then the most important race of them all the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch at Del Mar.
Ultra Blend is now aiming to bag the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, and she will be sold after the Breeders’ Cup, but there is every possibility that the new owner would be more than tempted to run her again after such a stellar record.
Tags: