Sim Hall Of Fame unveils Class of ’06
The Sim Hall Of Fame & Eclipse Award Committee today announced the induction of horses Allied Assault, I Seek U, and Saddle Dedicate into the Hall Of Fame.
The addition of the three new inductees brings the current total of Hall Of Fame horses to 18. Earlier this year, the Committee inducted a 15-horse “charter group,” a type of inaugural class of Sim greats. Today’s new inductees enter the Hall Of Fame as part of the newly annual August ceremony.
The 2006 class includes:
Allied Assault
The Committee voted unanimously to induct masterab’s 2003 Breeders Bowl Turf(G1) winner Allied Assault. The popular War Chant colt won over $9-million and 13 Grade 1 races through four racing seasons. He also garnered two Sim Eclipse Awards (2003 Champion Turf Horse and 2004 Champion Older Horse).
“Allied Assault proved a worthy successor to Joe Cayenne and issued in an era of several dominant turf marathoners….” Read Topicount’s Allied Assault Hall Of Fame biography.
Saddle Dedicate
A star from the Sim’s early days, daics’ Saddle Dedicate won over $6-million and six Grade 1 races. The Sadler’s Wells horse was best known for his overwhelming superiority in turf *and* dirt marathons. Amazingly, he is the 3rd Hall Of Fame horse for former player Davarto (daics stable).* Davarto also trained charter inductees Blue Ant and Huge Tale.
“Saddle Dedicate was a popular and talented athlete, and the first marathoner to really draw a following in the SIM….” Read Topicount’s Saddle Dedicate Hall Of Fame biography.
I Seek U
Indy’s I Seek U becomes the first Bluegrass Derby winner (or 3YO dirt classic winner for that matter) to enter the Hall Of Fame. The Gone West colt of course swept all three races in 2003. He still is the Sim’s only Triple Crown winner. I Seek U won over $5-million, six Grade 1 races and the 2003 Eclipse Awards for Champion 3YO Colt and Horse Of The Year.
“Kbsweet made the decision not to run her star colt, Crafty Assault, in the big dance after finishing ninth in the Chicago Derby, allowing I Seek U to draw into the Derby with the 20th and final slot. Without that sportsmanlike decision, history would be quite different….” Read Topicount’s I Seek U Hall Of Fame biography.
Congratulations to the winners, their fans and connections! You can find biographies of these horses and more at the Sim Hall Of Fame website.
* Technically, two players trained Saddle Dedicate. Original owner Davarto “lost” both Saddle Dedicate and daics stable in a now-legendary trainers’ challenge race (Topicount recalls the story in her biography linked above). Player Alex won the challenge and the daics stable “prize.” Ironically Alex won it with a Hall Of Fame horse (filly Seattle Hit). Therefore, you can also say that Saddle Dedicate is Alex’s 2nd inductee. 🙂