by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — Twelve months ago today, Mission Brief glided over the red clay surface in Lexington to take her $80,550 division of the International Stallion Stakes in a world record clocking of 1:50.3. All that witnessed the filly’s performance were in awe of her raw ability and the fact she seemed to do it so effortlessly. On Saturday (Oct. 3) the daughter of Muscle Hill and Southwind Serena returns to the scene of her swiftest mile when she competes against six rivals in a $72,000 division of the Bluegrass Stake at The Red Mile. Will this sensational filly enter the history books yet again with a sub-1:50 mile?

“I don’t think the weather and other factors will set her up for that,” said Ron Burke, her conditioner. “She will race twice in Lexington, but the Breeders Crown is the goal so she will be shipped to Canada after Kentucky. I’m not saying she cannot do it, but the way those races are scheduled it’s nearly impossible for her to.

“I wish the Breeders Crown would have a set date each year with the right spacing from the races in Lexington and that it would just be at the Meadowlands all the time instead of moving to other tracks. It just seems to make sense that way.”

The entire sophomore division is in the spotlight on Saturday with the colts and fillies of both gaits competing in a total of nine Bluegrass divisions on the 13-race card at The Red Mile. The filly pacers will compete in three divisions, totaling $189,400, while the other classes will race in two divisions.

Nigel Soult photo

Mission Brief glided over the red clay surface in Lexington to take her $80,550 division of the International Stallion Stakes in a world record clocking of 1:50.3 on Oct. 2, 2014.

Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Our Horse Cents Stables, J&T Silva Stables and Weaver Bruscemi, Mission Brief has enjoyed yet another outstanding season while struggling through back pain. Those travails seem far behind her now as she sports a sparkling record of 9-7-2-0 on the year, has earned $728,992 and established her seasonal mark of 1:51.3 at the Meadowlands on Aug. 8 when she captured her Hambletonian elimination.

Since her second place finish to Pinkman in the million dollar final, Mission Brief has been absolutely stellar and has crushed her competition. She cruised to victory in the $174,000 Moni Maker at The Meadows on Aug. 21, demolished her foes in her $26,250 Elegantimage elimination at Mohawk on Sept. 11 by 15 lengths and took the $307,040 final by a geared down 5-1/2 lengths on Sept. 19. Her career resume stands at 22-16-2-0 and her bank account is at $1,320,062.

After a couple of weeks off, Mission Brief will seek to once again demonstrate her supremacy in her Bluegrass division when she will begin trotting from post position seven in the first race on the card. Her regular pilot, Yannick Gingras, will be in the sulky and she is the 3-5 morning line favorite. Her main rivals appear to be Livinthefastlane, who has put together a very nice 2015 campaign for her trainer Julie Miller, and Jimmy Takter’s charge Speak To Me.

“She is absolutely the best horse I have ever trained,” Burke said. “Not only is she the best, but she is the best by far. I have no doubts in my mind about that even though I have been fortunate enough to train so many great horses.”

Rather than put Mission Brief in the Kentucky Futurity, another Triple Crown race against males, Burke opted for her to remain in her division and contest the Breeders Crown to close out her season.

“We decided to supplement Crazy Wow to the Futurity,” he said. “There is no reason we should have to make him race against her. We’ll just focus on the Breeders Crown for her. She’s doing terrific right now with no signs of any of the back problems that were bothering her early in the season. I will definitely be there to watch her on Saturday and she should perform well. I have a lot of races, but I never miss hers.”

One member of Burke’s barn that has also contributed to another successful year for him is last year’s O’Brien Award winner Habitat, who will be headed to Europe for his 4-year-old season.

“We recently sold him to Swedish interests,” Burke said. “They are very happy with the purchase and we are as well. They will be receiving a very nice little horse that is very consistent. He will do very well for them over there. Part of the deal is I will race him until the American-National and then he will ship over there.”

Mission Brief’s future has already been determined and it does not involve become a mother anytime soon.

“She will remain in training and continue to race as a 4- and 5-year-old,” Burke said. “As long as she is happy and sound we will keep her on the track. I think there are still many, many things to see from her.”

$72,000 Bluegrass Series 3FT division
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Line
1-Armatrading-Mark O’Mara-Mark O’Mara-15-1
2- Livininthefastlane-Andy Miller-Julie Miller-4-1
3-Bee The Queen-John Campbell-George Ducharme-10-1
4-Lindy Land-Tim Tetrick-Frank Antonacci-15-1
5-Speak To Me-Brett Miller-Jimmy Takter-6-1
6-Classical Annie-Aaron Merriman-Jim Arledge Jr.-8-1
7-Mission Brief-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke-3-5