New! Jul 6, 2016 Barn Notes!
Updates:
Summer officially arrived a few weeks ago as racing gears up for the most competitive and exciting racing of the season across both coasts with the Del Mar (Jul 15-Sep 5) and Saratoga (Jul 22 – Sep 5) meets. Back in Washington State at Emerald Downs, we are about half-way through the 2016 season and our two thoroughbreds are doing well.
Pyscho Sister has raced three times over the past two months in Maiden Allowance races, and finished third in two of those races, including her last race a few weeks ago. After each race, she has returned to the barn feeling and looking good, eating all her feed and has cooled out well. Her pedigree and conformation imply her ideal racing surface may be grass, which unfortunately is not an option at Emerald Downs. She hasn’t run poorly on the dirt at Emerald but there potential for more upside on turf, so we’ll explore options out of state later this month or next month, after one more run on the Emerald oval.
Out East, our newest addition, 2 year-old, Super Buddy has been in training at Belmont Park in New York. However, we have decided to give him some time off and freshen up before embarking on a more serious training regimen. Backing off on heavy training of a 2 year-old is not uncommon in order to allow them to continue to develop. Our priority starts with the well being and health of the horse and thus we determined this course of action was most appropriate for Super Buddy to help fulfill his long-term potential. We anticipate his return to work late this summer when he tells us he is ready to go. With a return to training in September, we would project his first start sometime in the autumn months in either New York or Maryland
Super Buddy taking his time off seriously
Bad Bad Elroybrown continues to train in preparation for his debut at Emerald Downs. Barring any unforeseen setbacks, he should be fit and ready to start in a Maiden Allowance race by mid-July. Over the course of the spring and summer, he has steadily improved his stamina and fitness beginning with an initial breeze of 2F (1/4 mile) way back in April and towards his most recent breeze of 5F (5/8 mile) last week. Getting his fitness level to race-ready is critically important prior to a debut race in order to give him his best opportunity to compete but most importantly, to keep him healthy following the race. We greatly anticipate his debut coming soon.
Finally with sadness, a former horse, Corporal Agarn, was humanely euthanized after taking an unexpected spill during a race on Jul 1 at Emerald Downs. Corporal Agarn had been racing in a new barn after being claimed from our barn earlier this year. As both his breeder and former owner, I remained fond of him and was absolutely devastated when he took that fateful step. Off the track, Corporal Agarn was a sweetheart who loved attention and was super friendly to everyone who greeted him. It was difficult to witness the accident trackside and it underscores the dangers of racing and ongoing need for preventative measures to protect our jockeys and horses from the track, to trainer, to jockey and to owner. RIP Corporal Agarn. You will be missed my friend.