Hard Luck Filly

[Roguelet]

We have a filly, "Sassie," who has pretty bad racing luck. Last year we sent her to Florida for the winter so she could train, and when the Spring meet at Indiana Downs opened up, she was fit and ready to go (when most Indiana horses still had winter coats and were being raced fit during the meet!) We were all prepared to take the competition by storm, then she got a gutteral pouch infection that lasted pretty much the entire meet (every time we'd think she was over it, it would flare up again) and we basically lost the entire meet that we had prepared so hard for. She did break her maiden on closing day of the meet last year, at less than 100% of herself.

This year we decided we'd just keep her here, so she spent the winter out with the broodmares, lazing around, being a horse, etc. She was fine all winter, but the day... yes, the VERY DAY... that we took her to the track to start training for the Spring meet, she came up dead lame. She had not one, but two bad abcesses side by side that she did blow out, but the entire meet has been spent with her standing around with her foot in a bucket, not doing anything. Well, she's finally sound and now that the meet's almost over, we're going to put her in a race.

She's entered Wednesday at Indiana Downs in race 2, on the turf! Now, this filly was raised running around in the field, but other than that she's never set foot on "turf" so I have NO idea what to expect from her. She'll either like it or she won't, and we'll find out Wednesday.

[Green Hills]

We'll keep our fingers crossed that all goes well. She certainly deserves her shot.

[yukidragon]

Good Luck.

[Coquinerie]

Yes, good luck on a successful and safe race. I absolutely adore TURF races and adore even more a horse who can excell on both surfaces. Hopefully your girl will prove her versatility!

[BenB]

Roque, can,t she can get a prep somewhere, so that she knows how to deal with the turf, get apropiete plates on her.

Wishing very much luck to her, and you.

Ben

[LSB]

You have my sympathties. I seem to have a hard luck filly myself. Best of luck! I hope she runs a great race.

[henthorn]

Unfortunately, Ben, most tracks don't allow horses to practice on the turf unless they are entered in a stakes race. Some are more lenient, but not much. And very few training tracks have turf ovals.

[Roguelet]

Indiana Downs doesn't even allow turf training for Stakes races... straight from the Condition Book: "There will be NO training allowed on the Turf Course. NO Exeptions."

Also from the Condition Book, "Queens Plates, Queens Plates ST and Inner Rim/Outer Rims are the only shoes that will be allowed on the Turf Course. Bends or Turn Downs are not permitted at any time." I have no idea what any of that means, but I'm sure my trainer does!

On the positive side, I'm sure at least some of the horses in this race have never raced on the turf either... so we shouldn't be the only ones in this boat. I like our turf course, I think it will be fun to race on it. I just hope she doesn't hate it and run poorly.

We're pointing her half-sister to the turf her next race, too... so hopefully there is some turf ability in there somewhere. Guess we'll find out soon enough.

[Gerry]

good luck!

Just curious is there a spot on the turf course that isnt turf? I remember when I was growing up my parents had a horse running at Woodbine and he was winning by 3 or 4 on the turf until he had to cross a spot that was dirt and not turf...he came to nearly a dead stop and tiptoed across it and then started running again LOL..cant even remember where he finished but I will also remember my parents talking about that race

sorry just one more thing to stress you out! Hopefully your entire turf course is turf

[Roguelet]

I've seen things like that... or they start on the dirt and have to switch to turf... Nope. Indiana Downs has a full turf course on the inside of the full dirt course, no "paths" along the way. Since it's on the inside, the turns are slightly sharper, but that won't bother her any (hopefully it will bother some of her competition, though!)

[monicabee]

It's frustrating when you have no more information than the handicappers! Best of luck to Sassie.

[madelyn]

The shoe thing means no shoes that dig into the ground. Bends, turndowns, toe grabs, etc. Saves the grass.

Re the dirt strip, that occurs where they build the turf course OUTSIDE the dirt course... or, I guess, build a dirt track INSIDE the turf track, but yes, Woodbine had one the last time I was there. I saw horses try to "jump" the dirt... a good argument for racing there with a shadow roll if your horse is on the turf...

[Tairaterces]

Good luck and a safe trip to your "Sassie" girl today.
T

[Roguelet]

Sassie ran well. She ended up 5th, but considering she's been standing around with her foot in a bucket the whole meet, I'm pleased with how she ran. She definitely needed the race, now hopefully we can get one more in before the end of the meet.

She seemed to handle the turf fine, so that's good to know... no surface issues to worry about. She even gave a nice late run at the end, and given her lack of complete fitness + her 6 month layoff, I'm very happy with how she did.

Looking for a higher placing next time.

[BenB]

At least something positive.
Holds on, and she will get into the enclusure

Ben