Tangled, Strange and Poignant

When the dam of Perfect Bull, Perfect Moment, broke her maiden (aka won her first race) in the final 2yo race of 2002 for IA-bred fillies, the second place finisher was Soup For Lunch, piloted by Perry Compton. Thus, the following year Soup For Lunch had the opportunity to race once again against maidens. She would not only prove up to the task, she would eventually win other races including the IA Breeders Oaks (Perfect Moment had been sidelined then eventually retired by then) on her way to being named Champion 3yo Filly in IA, wresting the title from Perfect Moment. The difference in earnings between those two outstanding fillies being attributed to the maiden victory by Soup For Lunch during her three-year old campaign. Vanquished as a 2yo, victorious as a 3yo, by the margin of a neck. (To be is to run. Without racing, these horses would never be. With racing, sometimes they run their last. Champion Soup For Lunch died doing what she was born to do, running.)

Perry Compton, who had piloted Soup For Lunch the previous year, unexpectedly inherited the mount on Perfect Moment the following Spring. (The scheduled jockey's brother died that day in an automobile accident; may God's grace give them peace.) Being defeated by Perfect Moment during the Fall proved eventful as together they won that race and provided the jockey with his 3000th victory. Now you know the rest of the tangled, strange, and poignant story.