Another Trip To The Calder Gates For Zulu and Duffy

Zulu's jock did not do him any favors by barely holding on for the break:


Duffy was still slow off the bell, but her bottom is filling in and she did a solid four furlongs.

Irish Eagle's First Race

Not exactly an ideal first outing as you'll see. But that's the breaks, or rather not, in his case that time. He came through fine and we'll race him back ASAP.

Calder Last Weekend

TS Fay did not get here race so she and Irish Eagle ended up working while we were down there. We ran in last race with Tiny...she wasn't fast enough to get in position on rail in front and ate dirt the whole way.
She came out of race fine and we look for a better chance next time!

22 July Calder Trip

Since it is five hours each way we like to make our trips count. This time we have T.S. Faye in another race and will be taking Tiny and Phontiff down for a gate break and five or six furlongs of work, depending how they feel. Here is some video from that:

T.S. Faye is in the 3rd with a bug rider. We are hoping for an improvement from her second lifetime race and this will be her third lifetime experience actually on the Calder race track. She has had about 30 minutes in her life on this surface. So you can see why we need to be patient and use races to help train the ship ins.

Faye beats two horses in this race but breaks well and lays third for a while before ending up eighth. She finishes closer and better. So I consider it a good work and a positive move.
We haul home and everybody seems to be okay.

Miami Fireworks and T.S. Faye's Raceday

After settling the horses in at the track, it was time to have a little fun . It was July 4th and Miami was at our feet. We went out to the beach and joined the thousands that came out to watch the fireworks.
I have the philosophy that we have to have a good time while on the way on training the horses as who knows how well they will do... And a good meal and fine times with friends may be the highlight of the trip....the horse...we can only hope he does well!

The fireworks began.

In the morning I sent the two horses to the gates... It was great timing and they broke from the gates together. They went 4 furlongs in 52 ... Not very fast but I will compare it to others on the same morning. This just reinforces the fact that they need to work over the track to be fit enough to run. Stack finished out stronger than Phontiff...and he is fitter...he did the five furlongs in 1:06
We'll see how the shins are tomorrow.




After we worked the horses and bathed TS Fay we went to breakfast on the water. How refreshing it is to see beautiful Miami.

TS Fay going to paddock for her first race (Race 2 at Calder on July 5th)

Beautiful paddock area!

The filly was very workmanlike.









Jockeys up!

Post Parade.











On to the track!

TS Fay broke well and was competitive for about four furlongs . She then faded to second to last.
She cooled out well and should be ready to improve in a week or ten days. I see no way other than through races to improve her. Practise on any other track won't do and shipping in to breeze with a five hour trip is out of the question. So the way to go is racing one and bringing others down at the same time. I will keep you informed as to next trip!

More OBS

June 10, 2009: Gates and Breeze.






We are at the OBS track and it is much busier as the two year sale is next week . we are waiting for the riders.











We went back and brought Spitfire ,Irish,and TS Faye. The two boys had a little bit of mucus so I told the riders not to push them if they did not feel well.










This time I had horses stand in gates and they were flopped out and galloped out .
They then came back and stood again and broke out well when the gate was sprung automatically. They are progressing well.









This is the second break and they broke very well this time!












Spitfire fought most of the way with the rider and didn't settle down until they galloped a half a mile but he needs to work with the rider.
They broke off at three eights and breezed to finish line.
TS Faye finished out front in 38 seconds with Irish second at 39 seconds and spitfire behind having fought too much with rider.

Breezing at the OBS Track

Back on May 25th, 2009:Since trying work at Calder turned into a Catch-22/logistical nightmare, we ended up heading the 2 or so hours north the the OBS track.





TS Faye Loading well.













Spitfire in like a pro.











And of course, good old Moose, the pony.










Arrived at OBS safely. Waiting for riders.










This is all new for these guys.











Sure is different from the orange grove!











On to the track...












Track looks big and scary.











At the gates.











First breeze! TS Faye in front.












Nice and calm after breaking from gates and breeze. Now back home for late breakfast.

25MAY09 Update on the 2YOs

Shins, works, and a household cleaner trick.




Phontiffs Wind, a 4yo who galloped on the farm and bucked a shin on a breeze at track. 2 weeks ahead in healing of Tiny. Jogging now. See slight buldge in left shin? About month old and is getting smaller.












Phontiffs Wind in the walker.







My rider makes the horse stand still then he jumps on-making horse stand in place. Depending on rider,this prepares horse for track where the riders are thrown on
Of course some riders need a leg up or a mounting block...









TS Fay good and workmanlike into the gates.









TS Fay fast out of the gates. Looks like a sprinter.









Spitfire needs racetrack, getting too fast for safety.









Spitfire getting too fast for the exercise track here. Needs a real track to stretch out on. Very aggressive early. Looks like a sprinter.









Irish Eagle wants to be a route horse. takes him three of our half miles laps to get into groove, then he continmues for a total of seven. Stayer material.









Spitfire done with gallop. He was getting fractious before going through gates. Today we walked him thru gates 3 times to acclimate and calm him. Seems very agressive, prly sprinter, personality and bodytype seem that way. Don't want him too hot or crazy into gates with nothing left for race.








I use a half cup of Pinesol per half gallon of water on a final rinse for the horses. Good antibacterial and pest repellant.








Applying the Pinesol rinse.