The Challenge-Week 33 More Reader Input Requested

The Challenge series continues as we met the first goal last week, obtaining 1.000 BP’s.   Upon obtaining the goal, I asked readers for suggestions to acquire a sire share.  My thought was it would be Giant’s Causeway.  However, readers immediately noted a discounted price of American Pharoah and I believe readers cited a price in the 720-750 range, depending on when they posted their comment.  When I looked, Pharoah was at 700.   After giving is some consideration and debating if I should wait to see what others recommended, I pulled the trigger and obtained the share in Pharoah at a cost of 699 BP’s, so the cost dropped by one during the thought process.

Subsequently, other readers called out for Giant’s Causeway which would have been the full 1,000.  Anyways, we have a share in American Pharoah and saved about 300 BP’s in the process that can be used to put the back-side of the breeding together.   At this point, I’m asking readers to suggest a Dam Sire to use with Pharoah.   This will help as the share does not have to be acquired immediately, but prices can be watched as the stable grows the BP funds for the purchase.

We will also need a Dam-Dam Sire at some point, so please keep that in mind too.  Any suggestions for both DS/DDS are welcomed.

Ok, now on to this week.  I had three eligible to race but only got two entered.  The third will race this week as there weren’t any good options for that runner this week.   Starting off with KOKETTA, a lady that has a win and a second in both previous starts for the stable.  She was entered into a starter allowance with a tag of 10,000 at a distance of 8.25 furlongs.   She’s done well for me at distances in the mile range, so I’m sticking with it.  She caught an off-track but that did not bother her.  She broke sharply from the gate, went to the lead and built it up to nearly 4 lengths when Koketta put things into cruise control and won by a stride at the wire with a 100 speed, the first time she hit triple digits this year.  The second choice at 2/1, she earned 25 BP’s and picked up three sire cards in the larger field of 12.  2 G Cards and one F.

BLOODY SATURDAY was a 16/1 longshot in a $2,500 claiming race.  He moved back to the dirt after I tinkered with the turf for a start to see if the surface would connect with him.  This weeks dirt race found him in decent early position in the 7.5 furlong race as he pressed to be on the front end with the leader.   That pressure did not last too long as he surrendered on the back end of the racetrack and dallied his way to a 7th place finish.  His best finish in three starts was a fourth and he’s not producing for the stable.  He will be auctioned off.  In his dust he leaves a G-card.

The stable had one vacancy leading into this week and DUNCAN BIRD, who has been resting in the barn is now ready to return.  He’ll be training and should be back on the track in about two weeks.

For the week only 25 BP’s were earned and after obtaining the American Pharoah share, we have 377 BP’s at our disposal.   1-F card and 3 G-cards are added to our deck, which gives the stable 1-D, 3-F and 9-G cards.   Not wanting to wait long  and having a new vacancy with Bloody Saturday being auctioned off,  I’ve used the shares to breed a new 2-year old.  The D-sire card and 3-F’s were used.  CHALLENGE ACHIEVED is now in the stable and the breeding line of Giant Surprise x Unbridled America x Awesome Dividend.    A nice mix of Giant’s Causeway, Unbridled’s Song and Awesome Again heritage come with it.   I’m not disappointed with Giant Surprise and have used the sire in the past.

This coming week, I’m looking at 5 entrants, including the new born Challenge Achieved.   The following week looks like 3 more runners.  I will not have an update next week, as I will be out of town on vacation (Don’t tell Squirrel, she already denied me so I’m calling in sick…cough : cough )

I am looking forward to readers suggestions with American Pharoah.  It’ll be fun to see what we can build!