Shisospicy And Forever Young Headline Historic Tennessee Turf Awards

 

Another year has come and gone so that means it is time to take a peak in the rear view mirror and pay homage to what we feel are some noteworthy performances from 2025. Thoroughbred racing is one of those special things in our world and we would like to recognize a few of the many fantastic four-legged athletes in this game. Because we are Southern to the very roots from which we sprouted, there is a little Tennessee twist on each. Hopefully we can shed a little light on the sport and bring a smile to your face.

Without further ado, the envelope please…

1. The Moonshine Hauler- Shisospicy

Back in the bootlegging days, one of the keys to delivering a load of Tennessee high test was a fast car. Old Bubba might be living in a single wide on the back of Cousin Joe Bob’s property, but he had that ’67 Chevelle with the Edelbrock intake and dual line double pumping carburetors. Sure he had dreams of joining the NASCAR ranks with the rest of the former shine runners, but for now, he was just running from the revenuers on the back roads delivering the goods. Of course, the key was pedal to the metal once the trunk was closed and don’t let up until you reach your destination. The quicker you went, the lower the likelihood of getting caught. And as we know, sleeping at the home place is always better than the hoosegow.

Shisospicy had a fantastic year in 2025. This three-year-old daughter of Mitole won five of seven starts and was a perfect five for five in turf sprints on United States soil. Following the only off the board finish in her nine race career (15^th place at Royal Ascot), this Jose D’Angelo trained granddaughter of Into Mischief chose to prepare for the Breeders’ Cup with a race at Kentucky Downs. A powerful score in the Music City Stakes at six and a half furlongs on September 6, told her cunning conditioner she would be ready for a big run in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar on November 1.

Looking like a hundred-dollar bill, Shisospicy moved into the starting gates where the Surf meets the Turf. By far her biggest test, the horsepower would be measured as she was taking on boys for the first time. Breaking from the gate as if Bubba himself were hammering the gas pedal, Shisospicy immediately assumed command. Throwing down an opening quarter in 21.75 seconds, her powerful stride allowed her to make a clear lead. Rolling on the front end and making it look easy, rider Irad Ortiz Jr. guided her into the stretch with the eleven pursuers seeing all four of her hooves. As the finish line drew ever closer, it was as if this brilliantly-prepared hot rod saw blue lights. Finding yet another gear, she pulled away and delivered the victory by a widening two and a half lengths. Raising her career earnings to $2,090,270, this Morplay Racing owned filly was hauling for sure.

2. The Bob-Tail Beagle Hound- Mystik Dan

Growing up, we had a pack of beagle hounds as hunting was something most people did. The value of a good hunting dog could never be underscored as he helped put food on the table. The top dog in our pack was a bob-tailed tri-color. We joked that somebody chewed his tail-tip off and that was what gave him his competitive attitude. As we grew up, the hunting became less frequent as chasing girls was more important than chasing rabbits. But the day came where me and some old friends decided to load up the shotguns. Eager to show off this once-prideful pup, we went and fetched him from my great uncle’s house. Upon first casting eyes on the bob-tail, he looked as if he hadn’t been on the winning end of the scoreboard in a while. Washed-up my buddies called him, but I was a believer. Taking him back to familiar surroundings where we hunted around the Stones River, the light bulb came on. Working his nose and striking a trail, that old pro was singing like Hank Williams Sr. The old bob-tailed beagle hound proved he was still a winner as rabbits were running and he was still in hot pursuit.

Mystik Dan had won the 2024 Kentucky Derby with a fantastic run along the rail at Churchill Downs. An explosive turn of foot in the stretch combined with brilliant navigation had delivered the biggest prize in the game to his team. However, following that historical trip to the winner’s circle at odds of 18 to 1, this Kenny McPeek trained colt had not found the finish line first in his next five starts. Living in a world of naysayers, most thought him to be a blind squirrel that found his acorn and was now incapable.

Having been flawlessly prepared by McPeek for the 150^th Kentucky Derby, the Churchill Downs-based conditioner knew there was still gas in the tank of this son of Goldencents. Entering the Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 31, this would be his first run beneath the Twin Spires since that monumental win in the three-way-photo finish. Facing six accomplished rivals, this was a solid opportunity to prove his worth.

Breaking alertly under regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr., Dan made his way over to the rail and sat in a stalking spot down the backstretch in this mile and an eighth journey over the Kentucky dirt. Waiting patiently for the right time, his pilot pulled the trigger around the far turn. Weaving around a tiring Alexander Helios, Dan dove back to the rail and saved every inch of ground possible, much like his Derby run. Accelerating in a fashion that would do his pappy proud, McPeek’s boy bolted to the lead and never looked back. Cruising home a length and a quarter to the good, he was once again back in the winner’s circle.

Mystik Dan closed his year with another win at Churchill in the Lukas Classic on September 27. Finishing with career earnings of over $4.1 million and modestly-bred by Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby, and 4G Racing LLC, he proved he was not washed up after a time away from the winner’s circle. Sometimes you just need to get a chance to run in familiar territory, sort of like that old bob-tail beagle.

3. The Frozen Rope-Raging Torrent

Baseball has long been a part of the South. Communities have always taken pride in who is best on the baseball diamond. Our school was facing a neighboring one a few years back and it was some classic country hardball. Everybody wants that old boy on the hill that brings the cheese and they had a kid that was a University of Tennessee commit who could flat bring it. The quickest way to send a message that you are not intimidated is to be aggressive and take you a healthy hack. Now, we had a whippersnapper named Beauregard that was not scared of the Swiss that boy was slinging. Putting the barrel on that cheese can quickly convert it into a frozen rope going the other way and Beauregard wanted to be that boy. Quicker than a coon dog at midnight, ole Beau unleashed a swing that would make Shoeless Joe Jackson put on a pair of Chucky T’s. Jumping off his bat like a shot from a thirty ought six, that baseball got turned around real quick like. A line you could hang your Sunday linen on was headed towards the outfield fence. Before the batter could reach first base, that rope stretched far past the centerfield fence and came to rest back on the creek bank. That frozen rope was a result of an aggressive approach and a kid that refused to lose.

Raging Torrent came into the Met Mile on June 7 as an afterthought. The five-horse field was a bit short for a grade 1 race like this, but fastball flingers like White Abarrio and Fierceness had scared some off. This Doug O’Neill trained son of Maximus Mischief, however was prepared to step into the batter’s box. Having won five of his last six, the one-turn mile at Saratoga was right in his wheelhouse. The wagering public figured he would get caught looking at a called third strike as he went to post at odds of 8 to 1. And then the gates opened and everything changed.

Breaking like a liner off a Louisville Slugger, Raging Torrent bolted to the lead and immediately assumed command. Rolling out front, his powerful early stride saw him leading his talented pursuers through moderate early fractions (23.92 opening quarter, 46.86 half mile). Pressed the entire way by the heavily-favored Fierceness, this grandson of Violence just continued rolling on the front end. As the wire drew ever closer, there was Raging Torrent rolling on with confidence under jockey Frankie Dettori. Lengthening his stride with magnificence, O’Neill’s charge pulled away and crossed the wire a widening 2 ½ lengths ahead.

The Met Mile produced an unexpected result and was over in a hurry. Confidence and a big swing saw a talented Raging Torrent produce a memorable result … Kind of like that frozen rope.

4. The Old Ball Coach- Forever Young

People are serious about football down here in the South. Same as it is in baseball, communities take pride in whupping their neighbors (note we said whup as that is a more severe beating than whip). But in football is seems as though it is much more important to beat up those living next door to you.

We were fortunate enough to have an old boy leading our program that always believed in his players. Because he did his ciphering right there in our school, there was a little bit more pride in his everyday approach. This old ball coach encouraged his kids to play like they are the best and exude confidence as that belief can carry you to the winner’s circle. Needless to say his wins were numerous and he often dashed the dreams of those that thought they could get us on the gridiron. The execution of his X’s and O’s were key, but it all began with a mindset of believe you’re the best then go play like it.

Forever Young came to the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic with something to prove. Around the world, he has been regarded as the best classic distance horse on the planet. Unbeaten in his native Japan and with remarkable wins in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, it was understandable why this son of Real Steel was placed on a pedestal. But, the American folk were a bit skeptical as he was winless in two starts on U.S. soil. Granted, he was a nose and a whisker away from winning the 2024 Kentucky Derby and closed well to finish third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in that same year, but he was still without a W in this part of the world.

One of the things that told people Forever Young was real good was the fact he could change his running style. Early in his career, he closed from off the pace. Later in his twelve races he got out front early and either was on the lead or stalked the frontrunner. Needless to say, versatility is always the mark of a good’un. What would he do in the $7 million Classic?

Breaking from the middle of a nine-horse field, the pride of Japan immediately established a position of prominence. Keeping himself off the rail and in the clear, Forever Young ran just off a solid early pace (23.04 opening quarter, 45.97 half mile). Determined to control his own destiny, this Yoshito Yahagi trained four-year old was making it look easy up the backside of this mile and a quarter test at Del Mar. As the frontrunning Contrary Thinking began to fade around the far turn, this where the real running would begin.

Exploding with prolific power, Forever Young took the lead with a quarter mile left to go. Receiving the cue from jockey Ryusel Sakai, that monstrous stride was unleashed at the top of the stretch and the American eyes saw exactly why this four-legged locomotive was considered the best on earth. Gliding past the wire a half-length ahead of a late running Sierra Leone, there was no doubt as to who was best on this day.

Forever Young placed himself in perfect position right out of the starting gates in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Running in a manner in which he believed he was the best, the rest of the world figured out exactly what he knew. The Belief was the key to victory for Forever Young…same as it was for that old ball coach.