Horsenalities: Don't Tell Sophia
With my positions at NBC, TVG and Fashion at the Races, I’m lucky enough to get up close and personal with some of the biggest stars in horse racing. For me, and many others out there, the feeling of meeting these horses is a lot like meeting your favorite celebrities. However, due to the nature of the sport, many fans never get to meet these equine athletes. In my new blog, Horsenalities, I hope to connect fans with their favorite horses on a more personal level. I’ve made it my mission to get the inside scoop, straight from the horse’s mouth… well, almost.
Last November, you may have tuned in to watch the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Longines Distaff. And while we were all ecstatic about the historic win by Rosie Napravnik and Untapable, there was another mare that may have caught your eye. Don’t Tell Sophia, from humble beginnings in Kentucky, came up just over a length short at Santa Anita that day. Breaking with 6-1 odds, the older mare was clearly overlooked by the bettors. But her incredible finish and obvious show of heart peaked my curiosity.
I was shocked to learn that out of a total of 24 starts, Don't Tell Sophia has finished in the money 20 times. That’s a remarkable record for any horse, especially one that has spent so many years on the racetrack. Her results prove both her resilience and her talent, making her a star in the Thoroughbred industry. Besides her career statistics, the bay mare is absolutely gorgeous! And I’m not saying this necessarily guarantees success, but Don’t Tell Sophia has enormous ears; much like another famous mare we all know (ahem... Zenyatta).
So I called my good friend, Matt Sims, a third generation trainer who currently works as an assistant for his father, Phil Sims. During our conversation, I asked Matt a few questions to find out more about this seven year old mare’s Horsenality.
Tell me about her early background.
She was bred by Stonerside Stable and we bought her as a yearling for just $1,000. She came in 2nd her first time out, but was injured on the day of the Breeders’ Cup in 2010. I still remember that morning, it was 6:15 am when she got hurt. She had a condylar fracture and underwent a successful surgery that required a year off. After that, she won two in a row at Indiana Grand and Hoosier Park, winning by 8 ¾ lengths and matching the track record at Hoosier.
Over the years, she encountered obstacles including a tieback surgery and growth issues. That’s why she didn't really get moving until later as four and five year old. The first time she was completely healthy again was when she started at Churchill Downs in November 2012. Then, she came to Oaklawn Park and won the Pippin Stakes by 7 ¼ lengths. She won the Bayakoa Stakes by 6 ½ lengths and ran 2nd and 3rd in her two races after that. It just took us all that time to get her there.
That’s great that you gave her the time that she needed. Was it difficult to persevere until that point?
Yeah, every year she's had a new setback, but we just take our time. This year she didn't like the track at Oaklawn Park, and last year it was a quarter crack. She prevails and treats us right, so we make sure to treat her right. A lot of people give us a hard time for running her as a seven year old, but she’s just now getting good! However, this will be her last year of racing. She will retire after the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
What’s her personality like?
She’s pretty calm and collected. She doesn't get too excited about anything… unless it’s feed time. She loves to eat. That’s kind of her thing. But she’s always been pretty laid back and nothing really startles her. She’s just a really classy mare.
So, she’s not a typically hot mare?
No, she’s not a typical mare. She has a little bit of a mean streak to her when you’re trying to brush her off. But other than that, she’s pretty sweet and she LOVES her job.
I’m sure your feed program is pretty regimented, but does she have any favorite treats?
Sweet potatoes are her favorite. She absolutely loves them!
What’s her nickname?
Sophie
How did Sophie get her name?
She got her name from my great-grandmother, Sophia. She was really strict and pretty tough on my great-grandfather. When he'd stop at a store to get the kids a snack before lunch, or maybe cattle were missing from the farm, he’d always say, “don’t tell Sophia”. We don't usually name horses after family members, but we did with this mare. And I’d say it worked out for us!
Check out the full NBC Don't Tell Sophia Breeders’ Cup feature here.
What’s your favorite memory with her?
Winning the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, with my whole family at Keeneland, is my favorite memory. Everything just came together on our home track. It was even more special to me because I had her in my care at Churchill Downs the summer just before.
You were all smiles when I saw you at Santa Anita. But take me through the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
The day before the race, we checked the track and I realized just how short the stretch was at Santa Anita. It’s hardly even ¼ of a mile! Her best races were at Churchill Downs and Keeneland with a long homestretch. It’s going to be exciting when the 2015 Breeders’ Cup is in our backyard at Keeneland, where she is able to make her big run on the stretch that she likes.
Sophie always makes us hold our breath because she moves so late. The pace in front of her was rocking and at the ¾ pole she was just sitting back. I think she, herself, went the half mile in 51 seconds and was still about 20 lengths from the lead. It was at the 3/8 pole when Joe Rocco Jr. called on her. And she was like a rocket! I still remember Larry Collmus, the announcer for NBC, actually say ‘Don’t Tell Sophia is rocketing on the outside!’ And it was at that moment that my jaw just dropped. My heart started racing because Sophie was moving so quickly and we didn't know if she was going to get there to win or even get second. But for her to finish the way she did, with the story behind her and people saying she was too old or didn't belong there, to me, it was just as good as winning the Distaff!
What’s her status right now? Any upcoming races?
She's doing well back at the Keeneland division with my Dad. I don't think she’s going to make the Apple Blossom Handicap or the Azeri Stakes, but our backup plan is to run her in the Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland. After that, she’ll possibly go on to the La Troienne Stakes on Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs.
What does she mean to you and your family?
Oh, Sophie means everything to us! Our world revolves around her. She has become a part of our family. We bought her as a yearling and broke her ourselves so she’s always been in our care. That’s what makes it special. We’ve done all the work with her. My Dad and I even groom her ourselves!
I like sharing her story. I think it’s good for horse racing. We only spent $1,000 on her but we don't think of her as a $1,000 horse. Who knows, if she would’ve been with someone that didn't treat her like we do, she may not be where she’s at today. To us, Sophie is a million dollar horse.
What sets her apart from other horses you have encountered?
Her heart. It’s her heart, class, cool demeanor and how she overcomes obstacles. Even when she’s had injuries, she’s smart enough to make sure that she takes care of herself. But it’s her brain, too. Sophie is just so smart. She doesn't take losing very well and she's just not happy until she can win again. It's like any athlete that thinks ‘what if I could have done something differently?’ You can just see it in her eyes, she’s so competitive.
That’s what sets Sophie apart from other horses, her brain and her incredible heart.