In a year that saw her win five races, all coming in graded stakes events, champion Never Retreat’s closest victory tied to her 2011 campaign came away from the racetrack. With nearly $1-million in purse earnings last year, along with nine topthree finishes from 11 starts, Never Retreat, a dark bay daughter of Smart Strike, was indeed a force to be reckoned with.
Her biggest test, however, came in the voting for Horse of the Year honours in Canada, as the Team Block silk-bearer bested Queen’s Plate and Woodbine Oaks winner Inglorious by just two points, 78-76.
Chris Block, who trains for the family’s stable, didn’t expect to be standing in front of a sold-out Sovereign Awards ceremony at Woodbine to accept the honour, on the same evening Never Retreat was named champion turf female. His father, David Block, was equally grateful for the Sovereign recognition. ‘I’m not one to say much when it comes to speeches, but after this, it comes so easy,’ he said. ‘We’re standing here amongst some of the greatest breeders and owners in the world. We, Team Block, are extremely humbled. I can’t believe something like this would happen with our great filly at the start of 2011.’
But it most certainly did.
The Toronto oval, more specifically, the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course, proved to be the ideal green scene for Never Retreat. Stationed in the Midwest last spring and summer for the Blocks, Never Retreat shipped to Woodbine for three starts in 2011, the minimum number of starts required for Sovereign consideration.
The daughter of Smart Strike was triumphant in the Canadian and Dance Smartly, while finishing second in the Nassau, each event a Grade II turf stakes for fillies and mares. Never Retreat also won three graded stakes in the United States, including the Keeneland’s Grade I First Lady.
In the Canadian, on a glorious mid-September afternoon, Never Retreat, under Julien Leparoux, took on 13 rivals at about one and one-eighth miles over a ‘firm’ turf. The race drew the post-time 3-1 favourite Zagora, winner of the Diana Stakes at Saratoga and Shared Account, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf champion. But it was Never Retreat, who went off as the 6-1 fourth choice, who would taste victory. It would also push her over the $1 million mark in career purse earnings.
Never worse than second from the start, Never Retreat stalked pacesetter Woolly Bear through early fractions of :24.10 and :47.65. When the field straightened away for the long stretch drive, Never Retreat took over and fended off her rivals down the lane, getting the distance in 1:45.13, winning by a half-length over 24-1 longshot Perfect Shirl.
She had come into the Canadian off a disappointing seventh-place result in the Beverly D at Arlington Park over a ‘yielding’ turf. Before that, Never Retreat had defeated Canadian rival Bay to Bay in Woodbine’s Grade II Dance Smartly on July 10.
Drew Coontz, assistant to Chris Block, was thrilledto see Never Retreat come back with a top-notch effort over a course she clearly relishes. ‘He (Leparoux) got her settled and relaxed pretty well and did a wonderful job. She loves it here. Julien said it all, ‘she’s a good filly’. That was one of thedecisions for bringing her back here (winning the Dance Smartly).’
It proved to be a wise and winning choice, both on and off the racetrack. ‘Believe me, we had our critics,’ said David Block. ‘But she loves to run. She has a passion to run.’
Never Retreat was retired from racing at the end of 2011 and has been bred to the promising young sire, War Front.
