The Stars Return: Horse Racing 2015

Story by Mike Johnson
Get the popcorn ready, place a few wagers, and enjoy the show. An unprecedented number of equine stars are set to return to the track in 2015. The plot will unfold in familiar settings, with stops at the treasured Triple Crown venues, up to Saratoga, over to Del Mar, and every other major racetrack in between. Spoiler alert: this drama crescendos with the Breeder’s Cup “Homecoming” at the iconic Keeneland. Here are the five storylines I look forward to tracking as the 2015 campaign gets rolling.
1.) Fantastic “Four” Year Old Crop
Allegiances have been formed amongst the 4-year-old camp. Are you a Chromie, a Rome Clone, or a Bayern backer? Or do you jive to a different tune and cheer on Tonalist? All four have their respective strengths and we are almost certain to see them showdown at some point to see who will prevail. It’s going to be a true treat to see how they develop in their first campaigns as older horses.
2.) The Elder Statesmen
What script would be complete without a few resilient chaps who have been around the block a few times? This one certainly has them. Wise Dan looks to prove that he is still an elite force in the sport, as his injured ankle continues to mend. A return to past form would mean potentially a third Horse of the Year award to his name, and another campaign of interesting videos. Palace Malice seeks to get back to the top of his game, after his career was briefly brought to a halt due to injury. Each horse has shown the capacity to captivate crowds, race in, race out. Here’s to hoping they’re able to resume their dominant, healthy ways.
3.) Turf Masters
Top notch turf specialist Main Sequence looks to reign supreme over the grass, after romping through a Grade 1 gauntlet last year in undefeated fashion. Can the 2014 Arlington Million winner Hardest Core, continue his success on the turf and usurp Main Sequence’s grass throne? Or, will Chrome’s surface switch spell trouble for Hardest Core and Main Sequence?
4.) Filly Fun
Untapable was uncatchable in all but one of her starts in 2014 and showed no signs of slowing down her torrid winning spree. Stopchargingmaria proved to be the queen of The Spa in their summer meet. Can she take her show and skills to perform on the road? Another year of seasoning could be the trick. Meanwhile, Take Charge Brandi has quickly risen to be the class of the 3-year-old fillies. Is her recent success sustainable or were these flash-in-the-pan performances?
5.) #TheFuture
In addition to these familiar names, a certain aura of mystery is remains. Every spring the Triple Crown trail and the three jewels of American racing will thrust an unassuming 3-year-old into the spotlight. Is El Kabeir or Calculator the real deal? Or will another under the radar talent burst onto the scene at the last minute? Time will tell, but whichever the case, the 3-year-old is sure to capture the attention and hearts of the general public.