Older Horses - 2019

[Starine]

Catholic Boy Deserves ‘A Good Break’; Won’t Return To Training Until Feb. 1
https://www.paulickreport.com/news/thor ... til-feb-1/

[katmandu]

Heart to Heart loses photo for 2nd in a hard luck 3rd in Tropical Park Turf. Mr. Freeze, breaking to his inside, caused problems in the gate and H t H had a lunging start which left him mid pack after Mr. Freeze then carried him out to the middle of the track on the first turn. Swung to the outside turning for home, he took the lead but was run down in the shadow of the wire. Always nice to see Shug get a win, but Heart to Heart is such a cool horse. . .

I guess hitting the board in a graded stakes coming off the layoff isn't the worst thing that can happen to an oldster.

[Starine]

Thunder Snow Will Aim to Defend Dubai World Cup Title
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... -cup-title

Also includes an update on Benbatl.

[katmandu]

I'm a little surprised this hasn't shown up here yet:

https://www.drf.com/top-news/vyjack-9-t ... try-455527

[Mylute]

Hmm...don't like this.

[ElPrado2]

Don't like that he had a splint and not a suspensory?
Why?

[Mylute]

Don't like that he had a splint and not a suspensory?
Why?

Not sure if I'm a fan of bringing a 9 year old back to training.

[katmandu]

Not sure I understand why a horse happily galloping around in the paddock doesn't qualify for retraining for a second career (a not sound horse should be retired - period) vs. goes back to track.

I always liked this horse, he's out of Tepin's dam.

[Curtis]

Don't like that he had a splint and not a suspensory?
Why?

Not sure if I'm a fan of bringing a 9 year old back to training.

He was in training last year until the problem arose so it’s not like he’s been turned out for two years. Also, D’Amato is good with older geldings, he kept Obviously going for quite awhile at a high level. I think Vyjack will be stopped on if he doesn’t stand up to training to the extent he can run at stakes level.

[Northport]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the returning 9 year olds to training, either. When 4 or 5 year old stallions are returned to training after proving infertile is one thing, but the excuse about horses being bored to death in retirement has always irked me.

There are dozens of jobs a 9 year old OTTB can do that aren't as taxing or high risk as returning to the track. After letting him chill/recover in a paddock for a few months, teach him to jump? There's plenty of spicy ex-racehorses that make good jumpers or eventers. Maybe a lil dressage? Fox hunting? Barrel race?

I know accidents can happen in any discipline, but ugh to this.

[Catalina]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the returning 9 year olds to training, either. When 4 or 5 year old stallions are returned to training after proving infertile is one thing, but the excuse about horses being bored to death in retirement has always irked me.

There are dozens of jobs a 9 year old OTTB can do that aren't as taxing or high risk as returning to the track. After letting him chill/recover in a paddock for a few months, teach him to jump? There's plenty of spicy ex-racehorses that make good jumpers or eventers. Maybe a lil dressage? Fox hunting? Barrel race?

I know accidents can happen in any discipline, but ugh to this.

Agree.

[stark]

RoyH got a 109 BSF @ Santa Anita yesterday, his prep for Dubai.

Jay Privman
‏@DRFPrivman

Roy H was 1 for 10 before he was gelded in July 2016.

He is 9 for 13 since.

[stark]

6YO mare CHEEKABOO entered in the 12F $100,000 stakes race today has been scratched AND retired.

[Catalina]

6YO mare CHEEKABOO entered in the 12F $100,000 stakes race today has been scratched AND retired.

Hoping it's nothing life-threatening and that she'll be able to enjoy her retirement.

[carole]

6YO mare CHEEKABOO entered in the 12F $100,000 stakes race today has been scratched AND retired.

Hoping it's nothing life-threatening and that she'll be able to enjoy her retirement.

Nothing serious, they were planning to retire her anyway and I guess they just thought she didn't need to run here

[Starine]

Hovdey: City of Light denied a season in the sun
https://www.drf.com/top-news/hovdey-cit ... sun-456391

[peeptoad]

Hovdey: City of Light denied a season in the sun
https://www.drf.com/top-news/hovdey-cit ... sun-456391

The Pegasus World Cup made me sad because saying goodbye to a horse like City of Light at this stage of his career is a crying shame.

Agree with this for sure... the real question is who becomes top male dirt (route) horse this year? Someone will have to emerge from the woodwork since the sport lost the top 3 dirt males of 2018 to the shed. It'll be a fun game figuring out who is who until a new shooter emerges. Maybe Catholic Boy will come back bigger and stronger or a horse like Leofric steps up, because I have a hard time seeing the also-rans from the Pegasus having targets on their backs.

[Mylute]

Battle of Midway.

And if Seeking the Soul didn't have a tendency to be wishy washy then I'd add him to the list.

Also, Firenze Fire should he a good miler.

EDIT: And Bravazo, since Awesome Agains do better as they mature.

[ElPrado2]

Hopefully, Lukas will allow Bravazo 15 minutes of rest before running him in the Santa Anita Handicap and Dubai. If they are the same day, don't worry, Bravazo can handle it. But he might win one if he can catch his breath between them.
I admire Bravazo. Maybe with a couple of 3 year olds keeping the heat off him he can win a race.

[Northport]

If Bravazo can't win a G1 this year in the current pool of older middle distance horses then I don't know what to believe anymore.