Winning streak ended at four.
Often, when a horse loses a race, it’s traditional to blame a poor ride from the jockey. Sometimes, what seems like a poor ride, is the best ride a jockey can put together in the circumstances of a particular race. So, let me quote the race chart and you be the judge:
FLATTERYWILLGETYOU tucked into the pocket after the break, lacked usable options heading for the quarter pole, stuck behind a wall that grown to number a total of four, slithered out towards the three path and after having done so, responded positively when given her cue, altered course towards a temporary opening between rivals in the two path nearing the sixteenth pole, was forced to take hold after it tightened up, failed to regain any interest afterwards.
Maybe it wasn’t the jockey’s fault because she “lacked usable options heading for the quarter pole.” Of course, the question is how did she get into that position.
She broke from the gate a beat late but Cornelio Velasquez took her right to the lead. Then, even though the pace wasn’t very fast, he did what he had done in her the 3 prior wins with him riding, he took her back and “tucked into the pocket.” He stayed there and as you read, he had nowhere to go. And, each time a hole opened up and he headed for it, he had to check her because the hole closed up. I put down my binoculars when it was clear, she had no chance. She finished 5th, just behind the horse who had done most of the damage in front of her. We should have at least been placed in front of that horse but, as we say, that’s horse racing.
A similar problem developed in a race a few years ago, when Ramon Dominguez was on It’s Truly Ahvee. He had to keep checking (stopping a horse’s forward progress to avoid a collision) behind a horse in front of him who kept closing off the clear space he was heading for. It’s Truly Ahvee was out for 18 months after the stress of repeatedly checking hurt his tendon. FlatteryWillGetYou came out of the race lame and is heading to Dr. Hogan’s at the end of this week.
Pointe Class was one of the horses we were expecting to run for us in Saratoga but yesterday Carl called to say he was taking her out of training because of a sore ankle. They say it’s hard to win at Saratoga. In our case, it seems difficult to get the horses there!
These are the ups and downs of the thoroughbred racing business. Until now, it’s been a very lucky year for us. It’s too early to cry about it (though I just did!). We’re still trying to find some runners for Saratoga and, hopefully, Ransom Note and Ahvee’s Destiny‘s first-born, Ramon Dominguez (the horse) may be ready to race this Fall.
Saratoga’s opening day is a week from Friday. There’ll be lots of good racing and we’ll get to see Destiny and her City Zip foal, Candy for Kisses and Another Genius and maybe our recent claim, Our Caravan. I’m sure we’ll have many good times and even some adventures!
