“The starting fee is a lot to pay for a chance to see what we’ve got in her, but I didn’t want to let that date go by without giving her a chance.”

When Stephen Gillard crossed Gypsys Hellion with Adanas Beauty in 1996, there was no way he could know at the time what a profound effect their colt would have on his future. Your Nemesis was sold for $150,000 prior to his two-year-old season, going on to bank over $400,000 in his career with 20 trips to the winner's circle in 68 lifetime starts. When it was time to hang up the hopples in 2003, Gillard bought him back in hopes of a breeding career.

“He was the most natural horse I’d ever trained. There was no wondering about him, he was good at everything from the first day. He was the kind of horse you don’t forget. Some horses have to overcome issues; he was simply the perfect horse right from the start.”

Gillard does not use the word “perfect” lightly, acknowledging it to be the almost unattainable quality.

“When you’re talking about a horse, I could go on and on about all the things that have to be just right to call them a perfect horse. How could I not want to breed to a horse like that, when I raised him? He never gave me any reason to think he wouldn’t be a good sire. They don’t come along like that very often.”

Your Nemesis, who is not publicly marketed as a stallion, produces one to two foals a year as a part of the Gillard operation. His lone foal of 2012 will be looking for victory at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday night in a $76,245 Eternal Camnation division. Drawing the rail, Sylvain Filion will be in the bike with Shes Dignified for Stephen and his wife, Marilyn.

“Basically her biggest problem is she was trained in the middle of a cornfield by herself. Transitioning from training by herself on a farm to racing, it’s tough. It’s nothing to do with the physical aspect, she was good and ready for that, but mentally is a bigger challenge. She’s learning and getting better every start.”

Shes Dignified and Jody Jamieson teamed up in an OSS Grassroots event over the Campbellville oval Monday night, tipping out at the head of the stretch to claim second. Pacing her mile in 1:56.3 with a one second variant, the two-year-old will be facing contenders of significant speed come Saturday night.

“A lot of it depends on how she handles the jump up in speed. She’s behaving herself better as far as manners, and she’s getting easier to drive. She had a good outing and learned something, it was another building block. Can she pace in 1:53? I guess that will be answered Saturday.”

According to Gillard, Your Nemesis usually throws big colts and fillies. Big, long-barrelled with a huge gait would be how he describes the majority of the stallion’s offspring. Saturday’s contender does not fit the description.

“She’s small, but I’m sure she doesn’t know that!” said Gillard with a laugh. “She’s good-gaited and smart, certainly has the speed when you ask for it. His foals are a lot like him, they like what they do. If they don’t want to do it, you might as well forget it.”

The homebred will face offspring of equine royalty, including recent Hall of Fame inductee Rocknroll Hanover, his son Rock N Roll Heaven, Art Major and Western Ideal on Saturday. Hitting the board twice in four lifetime starts, the maiden will be looking to improve on Monday’s second-place finish in her next stake event. With the insight of being both her breeder and trainer, Gillard is optimistic about her future.

“I don’t train them hard at home, I let them go to the races and show me what they’ve got. She’s going to show us what she can do... She’s eligible to the Shes A Great Lady and Grassroots and after Saturday, I’ll know what direction to go."

To view the full list of entries for Saturday night's card, click one of the following links:

Saturday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack -- Saturday Program Pages - Mohawk Racetrack.

(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Hannah Beckett)