The high-class Society is that rare Thoroughbred – a Grade 1 winner around both one turn and two, and as a 3-year-old and an older mare. A dominant win in one of the biggest annual female sprint races of the season, and a narrow defeat at the Breeders’ Cup, have made the multimillionaire a finalist for the Eclipse Award as outstanding female sprinter.
A homebred for Peter Blum, Society was guided along by Steve Asmussen – as was her sire, Hall of Famer and phenomenal young sire Gun Runner. Society emerged as a 3-year-old in 2022, winning three stakes, including the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks and then the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes, in which she kicked clear by 5 3/4 lengths under a hand ride. Finishing in her wake that day were Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath in third and Adare Manor, eventually a multiple Grade 1 winner herself, in sixth.
Society continued to face top company in 2023 as she was again a multiple stakes winner, taking the Grade 3 Chicago Stakes run at Ellis Park and the Pink Ribbon Stakes at Charles Town. She also was third in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes behind two-time Eclipse champion female sprinter Goodnight Olive.
In 2024, Asmussen found new keys to Society’s brilliance, and she did not miss the board in a well-spaced three-start campaign.
:: Full list of 2024 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories
“The filly, I think that we’ve relaxed with who she is,” Asmussen said in the summer. “Been very direct with what races we are going to run her in, and I think that gives her just a little bit more confidence. I think age and patience and stuff [has improved her]. She’s just a beautiful filly that we are very fortunate to have to race.”
Society reappeared in the Grade 3 Chicago, contested in June at Churchill Downs. After setting the pace and exchanging contact with Vahva, she finished third to that Grade 1 winner, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by her and just a neck for second by Positano Sunset.
The Grade 1 Ballerina Handicap on Aug. 24 at Saratoga rematched Society and Vahva in another solid field. Society tracked the early pace set by Munnys Gold, took over with authority, and cleared by 3 1/4 lengths. Multiple graded stakes winner Scylla was second, and Vahva was third.
The capstone of the season was to be the PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on Nov. 2 at Del Mar – Society’s third appearance at the Breeders’ Cup, after finishing seventh in the 2022 Distaff and fourth in the 2023 Filly & Mare Sprint. Society was jostled between horses while racing in contention throughout and after that adventurous trip was beaten just a half-length by longshot Soul of an Angel, who took advantage of a hot pace to sweep to the lead in the final strides. Society still finished ahead of Grade 1 winners Ways and Means and Vahva and graded stakes winners Scylla and Zeitlos.
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