Year Fifteen Encouragement Award
Note: Image Copyright Cecilia G. Felix
Melodious
15.3hh 6yo Dapple Grey Thoroughbred Mare
Dirt: Great Turf: Great Distance: 5-8 Furlongs
Mel is a petite filly with a lot of heart and courage. This is a filly that is not afraid of fights, even though she never goes to seek them out. She has a lot of determination and never backs down from anything. Unfortunately, this applies to cases in races, with other equines and with humans as well. Mel's determination makes her stubborn, and it is both a good and a bad thing. Mel appears dainty at first glance but has a very strong spirit. Mel is not cold and aggressive like other members of her crop; instead, she is affectionate and has no problems expressing tender emotions. At the same time, she is not able to be pushed over, a trait she learned from putting up with the Year Fifteen crop. She is a strong horse who doesn't appear it. Mel loves pleasing her humans and loves to be treated. It would almost appear as though Mel doesn't have a bad bone in her body...but the moment you come face-to-face with her stubbornness, you learn where all the fire has gone. Mel just doesn't give up, and when she's being stubborn you can expect to have a real fight on your hands. This filly is one that remains cool as a cucumber in the face of a command she doesn't want to follow. Any time Mel is convinced to go through with an action, it's more her own choice rather than her stubbornness failing. Indeed, Mel's stubborn determination falling through sometimes seems well nigh impossible a concept to grasp.
Leg Type: Front Runner
On the tracks, Mel is a flighty animal. She becomes a lot more high-strung and energetic, barely containable by the pony at her side while she warms up. Mel loves to race and is always impatient for a race to start. All she wants to do the minute she steps out is run. She loads impatiently into the gates, and the minute they're open Mel is practically the first one out. She flies into the lead and stays there. Many a horse will try to press the pace on Mel, but Mel has a fantastic instinctive sense of speed and never seems to overextend herself. If other horses are keen on tiring Mel out, she'll even let them, giving up the lead. Otherwise, Mel sticks to that lead and is very stubborn about that. When it's time to finally run at top speed, Mel lets everything that was in reserve out and flies for the wire. A filly like her doesn't have a lot of bulk to move around and this helps her move faster through the field, weaving among horses if necessary through gaps that aren't necessarily there. Mel loves to run and loves to win and does not give up in a race no matter how tired she may be.
Leg Type: Front Runner
On the tracks, Mel is a flighty animal. She becomes a lot more high-strung and energetic, barely containable by the pony at her side while she warms up. Mel loves to race and is always impatient for a race to start. All she wants to do the minute she steps out is run. She loads impatiently into the gates, and the minute they're open Mel is practically the first one out. She flies into the lead and stays there. Many a horse will try to press the pace on Mel, but Mel has a fantastic instinctive sense of speed and never seems to overextend herself. If other horses are keen on tiring Mel out, she'll even let them, giving up the lead. Otherwise, Mel sticks to that lead and is very stubborn about that. When it's time to finally run at top speed, Mel lets everything that was in reserve out and flies for the wire. A filly like her doesn't have a lot of bulk to move around and this helps her move faster through the field, weaving among horses if necessary through gaps that aren't necessarily there. Mel loves to run and loves to win and does not give up in a race no matter how tired she may be.
by War Child (Man O'War x Flirtacious)
and out of Black Ebony
Racing Career
Grade One Champion
Race Record: 58 18/20/14
Major Races WonYear Fifteen
Unicorn Horn Juvenile Turf Sprint Magic Millions Fillies Turf Sprint Sorrento Stakes Azalea Cup Fillies Racing Post Trophy Best Pal Stakes New Orleans Ladies Stakes Year Sixteen Purple Rose Stakes Year Seventeen Clockwork Sprint Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap Phoenix Gold Cup Kreesa Stakes Ventura Memorial Stakes |
Workouts |
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Juvenile Season
1st in Y15 Unicorn Horn Juvey Turf Spri//Jan Wk4 GHF
1st in Y15 Magic Millions Fillies Turf Spr//Apr Wk1 GHF
1st in the Y15 April Juvenile Turf Faceoff//Apr Wk2 GHF
1st in the Y15 Sorrento Stakes//June Wk4 TW
1st in the Y15 Azalea Cup Fillies//Jul Wk4 GHF
1st in the Y15 Racing Post Trophy//Aug Wk2 GHF
1st in the Y15 Best Pal Stakes//Oct Wk4 TW
1st in Y15 New Orleans Ladies Stakes//Nov Wk3 TW
2nd in the Y15 Kudzu Stakes//Jan Wk1 TW
2nd in Y15 Stride Of Perfection Handicap//Feb Wk4 TW
2nd in Y15 Wire Finish Cup Juvey Sprint//Mar Wk2 TW
2nd in the Y15 Wannabeastar Turf Stakes//May Wk3 GHF
2nd in the Y15 Riley Allison Futurity//July Wk3 TW
2nd in the Y15 Hawk Cup//Sept Wk4 GHF
2nd in Y15 End of Year Juvenile Turf Sprint//Dec Wk3 GHF
3rd in Y15 Follow The Hoofpr Turf Sprint//May Wk2 TW
3rd in the Y15 Demoiselle Stakes//June Wk3 TW
3rd in the Y15 Oak Leaf Stakes//Aug Wk4 TW
3rd in Y15 Breeders Cup Juve Turf Spri//Dec Wk4 GHF
1st in Y15 Magic Millions Fillies Turf Spr//Apr Wk1 GHF
1st in the Y15 April Juvenile Turf Faceoff//Apr Wk2 GHF
1st in the Y15 Sorrento Stakes//June Wk4 TW
1st in the Y15 Azalea Cup Fillies//Jul Wk4 GHF
1st in the Y15 Racing Post Trophy//Aug Wk2 GHF
1st in the Y15 Best Pal Stakes//Oct Wk4 TW
1st in Y15 New Orleans Ladies Stakes//Nov Wk3 TW
2nd in the Y15 Kudzu Stakes//Jan Wk1 TW
2nd in Y15 Stride Of Perfection Handicap//Feb Wk4 TW
2nd in Y15 Wire Finish Cup Juvey Sprint//Mar Wk2 TW
2nd in the Y15 Wannabeastar Turf Stakes//May Wk3 GHF
2nd in the Y15 Riley Allison Futurity//July Wk3 TW
2nd in the Y15 Hawk Cup//Sept Wk4 GHF
2nd in Y15 End of Year Juvenile Turf Sprint//Dec Wk3 GHF
3rd in Y15 Follow The Hoofpr Turf Sprint//May Wk2 TW
3rd in the Y15 Demoiselle Stakes//June Wk3 TW
3rd in the Y15 Oak Leaf Stakes//Aug Wk4 TW
3rd in Y15 Breeders Cup Juve Turf Spri//Dec Wk4 GHF
Classic Season
1st in Y16 Undrafted Stakes//Mar Wk2 BSD (8F T)
1st in Y16 Hullabaloo Derby//May Wk3 BSD (7F D)
1st in Y16 July Dirt Stakes//July Wk2 GHF (5F D)
1st in Y16 Purple Rose Stakes//Aug Wk3 GHF (6F D)
1st in Y16 Sagewood Derby//Oct Wk2 TW (6F D)
2nd in Y16 Rhubarb Stakes//Feb Wk3 BSD (6F T)
2nd in Y16 Torfender Derby//May Wk1 BSD (5F T)
2nd in Y16 Evangeline Sprint//June Wk1 BSD (7F D)
2nd in Y16 Candy Cane Sprint//Dec Wk1 GHF (7F D)
3rd in Y16 Rush Stakes//Feb Wk2 GHF (5F T)
3rd in Y16 Laureli Stakes//Apr Wk2 BSD (7F T)
3rd in Y16 Gatsby Derby//Sep Wk3 BSD (5F D)
3rd in Y16 Winter Cup G1 Dirt Spri//Oct Wk4 GHF (6F D)
3rd in Y16 End of Year Dirt Sprint//Dec Wk3 GHF (6F D)
4th in Y16 Crystal Sprint//Jan Wk3 BSD (7F T)
4th in Y16 Goldikova Stakes//Mar Wk1 TW (7.5F T)
4th in Y16 Girl's Party//June Wk3 GHF (6F D)
4th in Y16 Shining Stakes//Aug Wk1 GHF (5F D)
5th in Y16 Top Speed Stakes//Apr Wk3 GHF (7F T)
5th in Y16 Timtam Derby//Sep Wk2 TW (8F D)
1st in Y16 Hullabaloo Derby//May Wk3 BSD (7F D)
1st in Y16 July Dirt Stakes//July Wk2 GHF (5F D)
1st in Y16 Purple Rose Stakes//Aug Wk3 GHF (6F D)
1st in Y16 Sagewood Derby//Oct Wk2 TW (6F D)
2nd in Y16 Rhubarb Stakes//Feb Wk3 BSD (6F T)
2nd in Y16 Torfender Derby//May Wk1 BSD (5F T)
2nd in Y16 Evangeline Sprint//June Wk1 BSD (7F D)
2nd in Y16 Candy Cane Sprint//Dec Wk1 GHF (7F D)
3rd in Y16 Rush Stakes//Feb Wk2 GHF (5F T)
3rd in Y16 Laureli Stakes//Apr Wk2 BSD (7F T)
3rd in Y16 Gatsby Derby//Sep Wk3 BSD (5F D)
3rd in Y16 Winter Cup G1 Dirt Spri//Oct Wk4 GHF (6F D)
3rd in Y16 End of Year Dirt Sprint//Dec Wk3 GHF (6F D)
4th in Y16 Crystal Sprint//Jan Wk3 BSD (7F T)
4th in Y16 Goldikova Stakes//Mar Wk1 TW (7.5F T)
4th in Y16 Girl's Party//June Wk3 GHF (6F D)
4th in Y16 Shining Stakes//Aug Wk1 GHF (5F D)
5th in Y16 Top Speed Stakes//Apr Wk3 GHF (7F T)
5th in Y16 Timtam Derby//Sep Wk2 TW (8F D)
Senior Season
1st in Y17 Clockwork Sprint//Jan Wk3 BSD [5F D]
1st in Y17 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap//Mar Wk4 TW [6F D]
1st in Y17 Phoenix Gold Cup//June Wk4 TW [6F D]
1st in Y17 Kreesa Stakes//Nov Wk1 BSD [6F D]
1st in Y17 Ventura Memorial Stakes//Nov Wk3 GHF [6F D]
2nd in Y17 Forbidden to Fly Memorial Stakes//Feb Wk2 BSD [6F D]
2nd in Y17 Garden State Handicap//Feb Wk3 BSD [7F D]
2nd in Y17 Santa Monica Handicap//Apr Wk2 TW [7F D]
2nd in Y17 Very One Stakes//May Wk2 BSD [7F D]
2nd in Y17 Seaspray Cup Grade 1 Sprint//July Wk1 GHF [6F D]
2nd in Y17 Hudson Handicap//Aug Wk3 TW [6F D]
2nd in Y17 Raven Run Stakes//Sep Wk1 TW [7F D]
2nd in Y17 Panoramic Cup//Sep Wk4 GHF [6F D]
2nd in Y17 Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint//Dec Wk4 TW [7F D]
3rd in Y17 Lynara's Kingdom Memorial Stakes//Mar Wk2 GHF [7F D]
3rd in Y17 Dash of Sugar Memorial Stakes//May Wk1 GHF [5F D]
3rd in Y17 Quebec Derby//June Wk1 TW [7F D]
3rd in Y17 Orchid Stakes//July Wk3 BSD [7F D]
3rd in Y17 Winter Cup Grade 1 Dirt Sprint//Oct Wk4 GHF [6F D]
4th in Y17 My Trusty Cat Stakes//Oct Wk2 TW [7F D]
1st in Y17 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap//Mar Wk4 TW [6F D]
1st in Y17 Phoenix Gold Cup//June Wk4 TW [6F D]
1st in Y17 Kreesa Stakes//Nov Wk1 BSD [6F D]
1st in Y17 Ventura Memorial Stakes//Nov Wk3 GHF [6F D]
2nd in Y17 Forbidden to Fly Memorial Stakes//Feb Wk2 BSD [6F D]
2nd in Y17 Garden State Handicap//Feb Wk3 BSD [7F D]
2nd in Y17 Santa Monica Handicap//Apr Wk2 TW [7F D]
2nd in Y17 Very One Stakes//May Wk2 BSD [7F D]
2nd in Y17 Seaspray Cup Grade 1 Sprint//July Wk1 GHF [6F D]
2nd in Y17 Hudson Handicap//Aug Wk3 TW [6F D]
2nd in Y17 Raven Run Stakes//Sep Wk1 TW [7F D]
2nd in Y17 Panoramic Cup//Sep Wk4 GHF [6F D]
2nd in Y17 Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint//Dec Wk4 TW [7F D]
3rd in Y17 Lynara's Kingdom Memorial Stakes//Mar Wk2 GHF [7F D]
3rd in Y17 Dash of Sugar Memorial Stakes//May Wk1 GHF [5F D]
3rd in Y17 Quebec Derby//June Wk1 TW [7F D]
3rd in Y17 Orchid Stakes//July Wk3 BSD [7F D]
3rd in Y17 Winter Cup Grade 1 Dirt Sprint//Oct Wk4 GHF [6F D]
4th in Y17 My Trusty Cat Stakes//Oct Wk2 TW [7F D]