2 YO Turf Male Eclipse Winner – RIPPING STAR

2015 Eclipse Award Winner  –  2 YO Turf Males
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RIPPING  STAR

 
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SEA THE STARS (IRE)  x  REDOUTE’S CHOICE  x  GALILEO
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Based on the sim he-mare  –   RIPPING CHOICE  –  G2 winner of $1.7 million
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8 starts  –  6 wins and  $1.6 million in purse winnings

Breeders’ Bowl Juvy Turf winner’s photo and results.
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Phantom stables freshman won six of his last seven starts after debut loss at 6 furlongs in February.  He broke his maiden next time out at 6 panels,  leading through the last three calls.  Shortened up to 5 furlongs in his subsequent start, he responded with a stalking win in a NW1x allowance.  His initial stakes appearance was a success in the Once Wild listed stakes at 5.5 furlongs,  this time moving from far back in the pack to get the money.  
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Bay colt followed that up with a wire to wire romp in the G2 The Vintage at 7 panels in his first grade/group try.   A keen rivalry was born when Orpheus Cadet got the better of him next time over when 2nd in the G1 Golden Shoe at 6 furlongs.  Revenge was sweet though,  when he took down the G1 Breeders’ Bowl Juvy Male Turf,  getting up late and avenging his loss to Orpheus Cadet.  That set up a rubber match for seasonal honors,  and what a match it was !  Ripping Star nailed Orpheus Cadet on the line again in a blanket finish to take the G1 The Futurity at a mile,  earning his Eclipse award with a thrilling stretch run.   
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We were unable to track down phantom for a brief chat about his award winning colt,  so here’s some random thoughts on how the “interview” may have gone.   
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Can you tell us a little about yourself and your stable ?
I’ve been here a good while now, I’ll be saddling my 35,000th runner some time this year.
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How did you decide on breeding ?  
Heavy Northern Dancer influence in this guy,  with broodmare Urban Sea prominent with sons Sea The Stars (Sire) and Galileo (DDS),  and inbred 4Sx4D to Danzig.  Certainly got the most out of the one shot at breeding to that he-mare.

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What does the future hold for Ripping Star ?
Looks to be a natural turfer so will continue on the weeds – it’s the distance where he’ll excel at as he matures that needs to be determined.  Hope to see Orpheus Cadet down the road – maybe the next great rivalry going forward.