2009 Eclipse Award Champion Female Sprinter
February 5 - Informed Decision
Years ago, I communicated with George Strawbridge, and we decided on painting his retired Lucarno who won the St. Ledger in England, one leg of the Triple Crown. Mr. Strawbridge mentioned that he had a couple good fillies for the track, but he was superstitious and didn't want to paint them until they were finished at the track. Within a week of the Eclipse Award as the top female sprinter's retirement, Mr. Strawbridge, true to his word, had this girl on my easel. He did the same thing the following year when her stablemate and Eclipse winner, Forever Together retired. We did this dance four times and I root for all his horses and hope he remembers me when they leave the track.
Informed Decision was by Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos. She's arguably the best horse he ever produced and owes her silver coat to him.
Informed Decision was a brilliant champion sprinter who ruled the female sprint division in 2009. She was foaled in 2005 and trained by Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard for Augustin Stables, the longtime racing operation of George Strawbridge. Her sire was Monarchos, the 2001 Kentucky Derby winner, and her dam was Mediterranean, a daughter of Storm Bird. She showed her talent early and turned into one of the fastest mares in training.
Informed Decision raced for several seasons, but it was 2009 that lifted her to championship form. She won a series of major sprint stakes that year, including the Vinery Madison Stakes at Keeneland, the Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day, and the Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga. Each win came against quality competition and confirmed her as the fastest mare in the country.
The biggest moment came in the fall. The 2009 Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint was held at Santa Anita on the synthetic Pro Ride surface. Informed Decision, ridden by jockey Julien Leparoux, drew off through the stretch to win the championship event. The win sealed her championship season. At the year end Eclipse Awards, she was named the 2009 Champion Female Sprinter.
She continued to compete in stakes company through her six year old year before being retired. She finished her career with 11 wins from 28 starts and earnings of over 1.7 million dollars. She went on to a career as a broodmare for Augustin Stables, where many of her sire Monarchos's classic distance roots have been crossed with sprint speed in her foals. Informed Decision is remembered as a smart and consistent runner whose championship season at age four made her a true star of the late 2000s.
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