I recently bought tiny shares in three two year olds based at Arlington Park. They are Citi Smoke by Smoke Glacken out of Citi Pearl, Oriental Rose by Orientate out of Rosie Dooley, and Gear it Up by Festival of Light out of Wild Gear.
Gear it Up has run before, winning his first time out in a maiden claimer before he was purchased for our partnership. Since then he ran once, rather disappointingly until he was scoped after the race and the vet found he had pharyngitis. So he's a gutsy guy and when he recovers I am hoping for good things.
Oriental Rose is very mature, was working out very well and was expected to be the first of the two maidens to race, but she caught a cold which interrupted her training, but is back on track and will race in a MSW on September 8th.
The big excitement is that Citi Smoke is ready to run and I'm going to Illinois to see his race and visit with the other horses. I'm totally excited. The race is a MSW at AP on Sunday.
I might only own a few hairs on his mane but I'm an owner! Something I never thought would happen. I can't even imagine what it'll be like watching him race right in person, but I'll let you know (well most of you probably already know) when I get back next week.
A big weekend for me
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geowarrior
- Leading Sire
- Posts: 3593
- Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:45 pm
- Location: Spokane, WA
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geowarrior
- Leading Sire
- Posts: 3593
- Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:45 pm
- Location: Spokane, WA
An amazing feeling
Thanks for the good wishes people, I did enjoy every minute. It was an incredible feeling! Talk about exhaustion afterwards.
Smokie bumped the gate going out and was immediately pinched out by the two horses on either side, so within seconds he was 10 lengths behind the pack (it was a 6f MSW). But neither he nor his jockey gave up (although the jockey by no means forced the issue, Smokie, even in workouts acts out if he's not the one in front). He came barreling after the field and got tons of dirt in his face. Coming round he went six wide and was running a bit green, but he came on and with an incredible finishing kick managed to steal third place. What excitement!
Some of the other partners were disappointed he didn't win but all I could see was his potential, to come from that far back and still show. He will have learned a lot from that race. He was scoped after and even though he's on Lasix he bled a little, but there was a lot of dirt inside him, so the vet is not too concerned. I went to see him a few hours after the race and his eyes were a bit irritated from the dirt, and he seemed annoyed - I think he just didn't like to be beaten.
I wasn't disappointed he didn't win. I got to see that he's got great heart and speed and I don't think it'll be too long before he breaks his maiden. It's just too bad that I probably won't be there to see it in person.
He is eating up his food, and walking the shedrow, and will go back to training in a little while, but is fine.
I got to meet my other two horses. Oriental Rose is a sweet (large) filly who is polite, but only really loves you if you are giving her mints. She will run her first race at Arlington Park on the 8th. Gear It Up is also large and his throat is better, so he has been given the go ahead to race and will be running at Mountaineer on the 4th. He has such a cool character, personality wise he was my favorite. He's not that keen about being petted, but as soon as you just stand still - he pets you. I.e. Gear It Up has to be in charge of the petting. He has that look that says 'I'm Gear It Up, who are you?'. He's bred for distance, but before our partnership bought him he won his first outing at 6f by 10 lengths, and I don't count his second race since he lost his air and had a sore throat. He'll be racing 5.5 furlongs this time, an allowance, which is way below his ideal distance I think, but hey, he's Gear It Up and he's in charge so who knows? I know I'll be glued to the internet both days watching.
I got to see both these two do morning workouts, that is also a fun experience.
I suppose you can tell I'm still high from the whole trip. I guess one of the most important things, though, is that I had never met any of the horses before or their trainers or the managing partner, although I get detailed health and workout reports from the outfit. But now that I've seen the horses I know they are happy and well-looked after, which is really important to me.
Smokie bumped the gate going out and was immediately pinched out by the two horses on either side, so within seconds he was 10 lengths behind the pack (it was a 6f MSW). But neither he nor his jockey gave up (although the jockey by no means forced the issue, Smokie, even in workouts acts out if he's not the one in front). He came barreling after the field and got tons of dirt in his face. Coming round he went six wide and was running a bit green, but he came on and with an incredible finishing kick managed to steal third place. What excitement!
Some of the other partners were disappointed he didn't win but all I could see was his potential, to come from that far back and still show. He will have learned a lot from that race. He was scoped after and even though he's on Lasix he bled a little, but there was a lot of dirt inside him, so the vet is not too concerned. I went to see him a few hours after the race and his eyes were a bit irritated from the dirt, and he seemed annoyed - I think he just didn't like to be beaten.
I wasn't disappointed he didn't win. I got to see that he's got great heart and speed and I don't think it'll be too long before he breaks his maiden. It's just too bad that I probably won't be there to see it in person.
He is eating up his food, and walking the shedrow, and will go back to training in a little while, but is fine.
I got to meet my other two horses. Oriental Rose is a sweet (large) filly who is polite, but only really loves you if you are giving her mints. She will run her first race at Arlington Park on the 8th. Gear It Up is also large and his throat is better, so he has been given the go ahead to race and will be running at Mountaineer on the 4th. He has such a cool character, personality wise he was my favorite. He's not that keen about being petted, but as soon as you just stand still - he pets you. I.e. Gear It Up has to be in charge of the petting. He has that look that says 'I'm Gear It Up, who are you?'. He's bred for distance, but before our partnership bought him he won his first outing at 6f by 10 lengths, and I don't count his second race since he lost his air and had a sore throat. He'll be racing 5.5 furlongs this time, an allowance, which is way below his ideal distance I think, but hey, he's Gear It Up and he's in charge so who knows? I know I'll be glued to the internet both days watching.
I got to see both these two do morning workouts, that is also a fun experience.
I suppose you can tell I'm still high from the whole trip. I guess one of the most important things, though, is that I had never met any of the horses before or their trainers or the managing partner, although I get detailed health and workout reports from the outfit. But now that I've seen the horses I know they are happy and well-looked after, which is really important to me.
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geowarrior
- Leading Sire
- Posts: 3593
- Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:45 pm
- Location: Spokane, WA
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erins isle
- Grade III Winner
- Posts: 1125
- Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 6:26 am
- Location: The basement of Europe
Big weekend
Dear Geowarrior:
Congrats! We've only raced a few but I know how you feel. What a feeling when it is your horse, going to the paddock area, watching the jockey mount and then seeing them come out of the gate. There is no feeling like it! Even if they don't cross the finish line first - one of ours came in 11 out of 12 (on Kentucky Oaks Day no less) - it was still a great feeling of joy when she finally decided to come on home! Good luck in the future and keep us posted.
Congrats! We've only raced a few but I know how you feel. What a feeling when it is your horse, going to the paddock area, watching the jockey mount and then seeing them come out of the gate. There is no feeling like it! Even if they don't cross the finish line first - one of ours came in 11 out of 12 (on Kentucky Oaks Day no less) - it was still a great feeling of joy when she finally decided to come on home! Good luck in the future and keep us posted.