Ultra Blend’s big break to make it to the top this season in the Clement Hirsch at Del Mar
Trained by Art Sherman for owner, Nels Erickson, the 5-year-old mare, Ultra Blend, has so far run against California- bred horses, and she has come out of these encounters as the victor more often than not.
However, Art Sherman is of the view that Ultra Blend, with a near to perfect season so far, should try her luck with the best in the business.
Ultra Blend responded to her trainer’s call in emphatic style, as she excelled in her last two races.
The first one was the Grade 2 Milady Handicap run on Hollywood Park’s synthetic surface, over at a distance of 1 1/16 miles on 21 May, 2011.
She won the race via disqualification, and her other Grade 2 start among non California-bred horses was in the Grade 2 A Gleam Handicap, which she lost by a whisker to Irish Gypsy.
The seven furlong dash was run at Hollywood Park Poly track, under jockey David Flores.
The final time of the race was 1 minute and 22.44 seconds.
On 6 August, 2011, Ultra Blend will compete in the Grade 1 $300,000 Clement Hirsch for older fillies and mares, and the Del Mar racing event will decide the mare’s future, whether she is going to the California Cup or her season ending goal would be the
Breeder’s Cup Ladies Classic.
The Grade 1 Clement Hirsch is the “Win and You’re In” program of the Breeders’ Cup series, as the winner will earn a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic.
The significance of the Clement Hirsch doubled, and at the same time it becomes a crucial test for the Richly Blended mare.
“It gives me a chance to find out what kind of mare I’ve got,” Sherman said. “She doesn’t know the company she keeps. If she runs against Cal-breds, she runs big. If she runs in open company, she runs big. This is the spot to find out if she’s Breeders’
Cup material.”
Ultra Blend has to work on her repute, because she might be the best horse outside of South California that no one knows.
This season alone, Ultra Blend has had 5 starts in all, in which she won thrice with two finishes on the money.
Her lifetime career stats aren’t too shabby at all, with 10 winning races out of 22 starts, and 20 times finishing on the money, Ultra Blend has to come out on the open to flex her muscles with other horses with similar credentials and potential.
David Flores will not be at Del Mar to accompany the mare, as he will be running at Saratoga in the Test Stakes over Turbulent Descent.
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