As usual, Forever Together bided her time near the rear of the
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Turning into the stretch, the early leaders began to tire, and a seam opened
up for Carribean Sunset. She roared through and struck the front, but Forever
Together was making headway on the outside and gained a slim lead. Although
Carribean Sunset ran her heart out, and offered a renewed challenge, Forever
Together had too much firepower. The champion kept her at bay, and in the
process, joined an exclusive club of two-time Diana winners, including *Miss
Grillo (1946-47), Searching (1956, 1958), Tempted (1959-60), Shuvee (1970-71), Hush Dear (1982-83) and
Glowing Honor (1988-89).
“She’s an amazing mare,” Leparoux enthused. “She relaxed good and I had a
good trip all the way around. She had the same closing kick she had last year in
this race, too. This was a good group of fillies and she beat them again. She’s
awesome!”
“To keep running that well at that level — it takes a tremendous horse to do
that,” Sheppard said. “It’s just fantastic. She’s a pleasure to train and Julien
did a great job. I was a little concerned they were being strung out more than I
expected, but Julien did start to ease up in a nice striking position around the
turn. She was loafing a little bit and the filly on the inside (Carribean
Sunset) finished rather gamely. Keeping in mind (Forever Together) hadn’t run in
a while and giving weight to the other horses (as the 123-pound co-highweight),
it was an outstanding performance.”
Dispatched as the 4-5 favorite, Forever Together returned $3.90, $3 and
$2.30. Carribean Sunset, overlooked at 9-1, rewarded her loyalists with $7.40
and $4.40. Rutherienne, who had to steady a couple of times, closed well for
third, three-quarters of a length back of her stablemate. Show paid $3 as the
9-2 second choice.
“They both ran very well, both ran a very good race,” Clement said of his
second- and third-place finishers. “I wouldn’t mind (if winning trainer Sheppard
decided) to go in another place, for once. Maybe tell Sheppard to go somewhere
else next time.”
The exotics totaled $30.40 (exacta), $88.50 (trifecta) and $881 (10-6-3-9
superfecta) with the late-running Tejida (Rahy) in fourth. My Princess Jess
(Stormy Atlantic) checked in fifth, followed by Colina Verde (Brz) (Know Heights
[Ire]), Mushka (Empire Maker), Quiet Meadow, Criticism and Indescribable
(Pleasant Tap).
Forever Together advanced her mark to 17-9-2-3 with earnings of $2,508,533.
She has been a revelation since switching to the turf in the spring of 2008.
After a 1 1/4-length victory in her turf debut in the Reluctant Guest S. at
Arlington, Forever Together stepped up to take on Grade 1 rivals in the Just a
Game S. at Belmont and finished a hard-charging third. She broke through with a
huge win in the Diana last summer, stamping herself as a major force in the
division. Third on yielding ground in the Canadian S. (Can-G2) next time out,
she rebounded with an impressive score in the First Lady S. (G1) at Keeneland,
and wrapped up an Eclipse Award with a driving tally in the Breeders’ Cup Filly
& Mare Turf (G1).
Forever Together kicked off her 2009 campaign with an effortless victory in
the Jenny Wiley S. (G2) at Keeneland. She was coming off a runner-up effort in
the Just a Game at Belmont.
Originally an accomplished performer on dirt, Forever Together also boasts a
two-length score in the 2007 Forward Gal S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park and a neck
loss on Keeneland’s Polytrack in the Beaumont S. (G2).
Bred by White Fox Farm in Kentucky, Forever Together brought $240,000 as an
OBS March two-year-old. She is out of the unraced Relaunch mare Constant
Companion, making her a half-sister to the multiple stakes-placed Princess
Patricia (Aptitude) and a 2009 filly by Easing Along. This is the same family as
multiple champion filly Open Mind (Deputy Minister), Canadian Horse of the Year
Peaks and Valleys (Mt. Livermore), and Grade 2 winner and noted sire Broken Vow
(Unbridled).
Sheppard mentioned that Forever Together is likely to pursue a similar
itinerary as last fall, prepping at Keeneland in advance of another Breeders’
Cup bid.