Voicemail notification. Not unusual. Tap the screen. Its from the trainer, that's unusual. Trainers don't make outgoing calls when your weeks away from a workout and months away from entering a race. No, wait, that's just excitement bridled with concern. Nothing to fear. Listen to the message. Tone said it all. Fear knows. Great survival instinct, horrible emotion. No need to call. Called anyway.
In the movies, hardscrabble children would defy the practical adults. They would sell lemonade, paint fences, pull shenanigans and endure misadventure. The audience would find them a year later cheering their mighty steed towards a comeback victory. This isn't Hollywood.
Back in the Bluegrass, the dam of our intrepid hero is restless. She is set to deliver her fifth foal. If this one is to earn trophies of its own, to add to the family collection, it will have to do what only the gifted are capable. To prove centuries of breeding, to declare victory at the highest level, it will have to do what only the best ever achieve. The wind beckons. The ground prepares. The future waits. A new beginning dawns.
Dreams provide the destination we want. God provides the journey we need.
- Perfect Bull
Warrior Poet and Racehorse (retired)
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
The Suspense
Perfect Bull ran well enough to finish third in the 10,000 Lakes Stakes at Canterbury Park last Saturday. While sprinting is not his preferred distance, he simply didn't put forth the winning effort. That happens. Which was not the least of what happened. On the jog back to be unsaddled, he was noticeably off. Close examination then and an ultrasound performed this morning (needed to wait a couple of days for the swelling to subside) confirmed our fears; the colt had pulled the suspensory ligament in his front right leg.
There goes the summer campaign. What begins now is more icing, stall rest, stem cell therapy, hand walking and limited exercise for probably six months. As the old adage goes, time heals all wounds. So Perfect Bull will be administered the best therapy available and provided ample time to recover before returning to training next spring. In reality, he's fine, just not able to compete for the time being. Perhaps the greater challenge will be keeping him mentally fit and happy as the colt thrives on physical activity. The silver lining to that dark cloud is that during his recovery he'll physically mature from a colt (those aged four or less) to a horse (aged five or more). That might be a reach for a positive spin. Nonetheless, as we travel the road to recovery and what may be next year, we'll enjoy the suspense.
Run Bull Run (just not for awhile)
There goes the summer campaign. What begins now is more icing, stall rest, stem cell therapy, hand walking and limited exercise for probably six months. As the old adage goes, time heals all wounds. So Perfect Bull will be administered the best therapy available and provided ample time to recover before returning to training next spring. In reality, he's fine, just not able to compete for the time being. Perhaps the greater challenge will be keeping him mentally fit and happy as the colt thrives on physical activity. The silver lining to that dark cloud is that during his recovery he'll physically mature from a colt (those aged four or less) to a horse (aged five or more). That might be a reach for a positive spin. Nonetheless, as we travel the road to recovery and what may be next year, we'll enjoy the suspense.
Run Bull Run (just not for awhile)
Thursday, May 13, 2010
We Have A Problem
Canterbury Park celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year with free admission all summer long. The silver season begins this weekend and features the 10,000 Lakes Stakes on Saturday. The $35,000 six furlong main track sprint is for MN-breds age three and up, post time 4:42 pm.
This year’s field drew eleven entries, including Perfect Bull. This wasn’t the plan. The colt has won races going 7.5 on the grass to 8.5 on the dirt; a six furlong sprint wasn’t on the agenda. While he was entered for similar route races at another venue, they didn’t fill. Meanwhile, our regular jockey had made another commitment. Thus we either keep a horse in the barn that’s ready to run or enter him in race that’s probably not his aptitude, sprinting in this case. We opted for the later, without the services of the pilot that had guided him to six wins in twenty starts, and drew post eleven.
The replacement rider is Brittany Arterburn. The very first race this talented young jockey won was on a horse named We Have A Problem. The race analysis at Canterbury Park suggests that a change of rider and the outside post shouldn’t be a problem…….”PERFECT BULL is proven route horse. Regular rider Dean Butler rides another. The 11 post won’t help. So why can he win? Class.” One word says it all (hope the finish line is as obliging as the suggestion).
This year’s field drew eleven entries, including Perfect Bull. This wasn’t the plan. The colt has won races going 7.5 on the grass to 8.5 on the dirt; a six furlong sprint wasn’t on the agenda. While he was entered for similar route races at another venue, they didn’t fill. Meanwhile, our regular jockey had made another commitment. Thus we either keep a horse in the barn that’s ready to run or enter him in race that’s probably not his aptitude, sprinting in this case. We opted for the later, without the services of the pilot that had guided him to six wins in twenty starts, and drew post eleven.
The replacement rider is Brittany Arterburn. The very first race this talented young jockey won was on a horse named We Have A Problem. The race analysis at Canterbury Park suggests that a change of rider and the outside post shouldn’t be a problem…….”PERFECT BULL is proven route horse. Regular rider Dean Butler rides another. The 11 post won’t help. So why can he win? Class.” One word says it all (hope the finish line is as obliging as the suggestion).
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The Reason
Perfect Bull entered his seasonal debut off a five month lay-off and comfortably held second through blistering fractions until the stretch drive where he slowly gave way. The one mile turf event was completed in the official time of 1:34.53 which is at least more than a good second (or several lengths) faster than similar contests over the course; a testament to the quality of performance that day. The colt finished a respectable 4 1/4 lengths back in sixth position. He excited the race in great shape and looks to improve off the effort in his next start.
First start off the lay-off, fast pace, and every other excuse offered by horsemen throughout the ages fails to trump the single immutable reason for not winning, the colt didn't run fast enough far enough. That's horse racing, we'll line up and do it again next month.
Every race has a winner, every season a champion. The colt crossed the finish line on the right side of reason enough times during his three-year old campaign that he was honored Saturday evening by the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association.
First start off the lay-off, fast pace, and every other excuse offered by horsemen throughout the ages fails to trump the single immutable reason for not winning, the colt didn't run fast enough far enough. That's horse racing, we'll line up and do it again next month.
Every race has a winner, every season a champion. The colt crossed the finish line on the right side of reason enough times during his three-year old campaign that he was honored Saturday evening by the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association.
2009 Three-year Old Minnesota Bred Colt
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Return of the Bull
Perfect Bull will be making his 4yr old debut on Saturday April 17 in the 8th race at Tampa Bay Downs; post time approximately 2:43pm Central. The one mile turf event is conditioned as an Allowance Optional Claiming for four-year olds and up that have never won three races other than maiden, claiming or state bred races, or a claiming price of $50k. While the colt has six victories on his resume, the first was of course the maiden win, followed by an allowance/optional claiming race where we entered for the $75k tag (won and saved the condition), two allowance scores and then the two state bred stakes races (MN Derby and MN Classic). Thus, four of the six wins fall under the category of maiden, claiming or state bred.
The colt enters the race with seven workouts since returning to the track in February. The latest move was a half-mile drill on Tuesday and Perfect Bull is doing excellent as always. Yet, optimism is often best tempered with caution. So the trainer had a blood test performed to analyze what might not be apparent. Everything was fine except for a liver enzyme was curiously elevated. Apparently then its either the weather or the colt's been nipping at the bottle. Would it expect that from the trainer, and its an established fact of the owners, yet the colt should really lay off the sauce.
The field of ten runners includes one other contestant that entered under the allowance conditions, the remaining are entered for the $50k tag. So do we have an allowance/stakes horse facing the less regarded claiming level competition or are we facing battle tested, salty veterans that have won out their conditions? Looks to be some of both as the morning line has us pegged as the fifth choice at 8-1.
Saturday evening, we will be honored at the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association Awards Banquet where we'll be receiving the MN Champion 3yr Old Colt trophy in recognition of the Perfect Bull’s exploits last year. All you citizens of Red Dog Nation, please raise a glass of your own favorite sauce as we celebrate the start of a new campaign and savor the success of a championship season. Cheers!
The colt enters the race with seven workouts since returning to the track in February. The latest move was a half-mile drill on Tuesday and Perfect Bull is doing excellent as always. Yet, optimism is often best tempered with caution. So the trainer had a blood test performed to analyze what might not be apparent. Everything was fine except for a liver enzyme was curiously elevated. Apparently then its either the weather or the colt's been nipping at the bottle. Would it expect that from the trainer, and its an established fact of the owners, yet the colt should really lay off the sauce.
The field of ten runners includes one other contestant that entered under the allowance conditions, the remaining are entered for the $50k tag. So do we have an allowance/stakes horse facing the less regarded claiming level competition or are we facing battle tested, salty veterans that have won out their conditions? Looks to be some of both as the morning line has us pegged as the fifth choice at 8-1.
Saturday evening, we will be honored at the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association Awards Banquet where we'll be receiving the MN Champion 3yr Old Colt trophy in recognition of the Perfect Bull’s exploits last year. All you citizens of Red Dog Nation, please raise a glass of your own favorite sauce as we celebrate the start of a new campaign and savor the success of a championship season. Cheers!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Horse of the Year - Settled
The result of the ballot count to award the Eclipse for 2009 Horse of the Year will be unveiled tonight. The virtual race is heralded as a contest between the outstanding mare Zenyatta and the brilliant filly Rachel Alexandra. Eligible voters casting a total of 232 votes hail from the National Turf Writers Association, Daily Racing Form, and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. While some may find interest in their conviction, it seems rather curious at best. These voters are not selected by either horsemen or fan, they simply chose to gather and express a majority of their opinion (learned as it may, or may not, be). Rather than acquiesce to that outcome, the sentiment of a rather select group of knowledgeable, lifelong horsemen was solicited to resolve the question at hand, Zenyatta or Rachel Alexandra?
The elder of the bunch, undoubtedly influenced by her father's statement "Rachel Alexandra beat the boys, Zenyatta conquered the men" suggested that Zenyatta is the most deserving of the crown.
The middle two unabashedly cheered "Rachel, Rachel, Rachel Alexandra", yet the declaration suspiciously rhymed with and was incorporated into the song they were presently singing.
The youngest, with wisdom found only in pure innocence, did not bother to be asked. He simply demanded, in a voice commanding that his words be accepted as fact, "Perfect Bull".
That settles that.
The elder of the bunch, undoubtedly influenced by her father's statement "Rachel Alexandra beat the boys, Zenyatta conquered the men" suggested that Zenyatta is the most deserving of the crown.
The middle two unabashedly cheered "Rachel, Rachel, Rachel Alexandra", yet the declaration suspiciously rhymed with and was incorporated into the song they were presently singing.
The youngest, with wisdom found only in pure innocence, did not bother to be asked. He simply demanded, in a voice commanding that his words be accepted as fact, "Perfect Bull".
That settles that.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Hail the King
Minnesota Derby and Classic hero Perfect Bull returns to training this weekend. Fresh from his sabbatical, the offically now four year old returns to Tampa Bay Downs in the care of the Rhone Racing barn. The colt will begin with a month of gallops followed by a couple of works as a determination is made for the appropriate return engagement.
To commemorate the colt's new year campaign, slap some peanut butter on a slice of bread, smear a banana on another, mash both together then fry the contents in bacon fat until a golden brown, serve with a tall glass of buttermilk.
Elvis wouldn't of wanted it any other way; happy birthday King.
To commemorate the colt's new year campaign, slap some peanut butter on a slice of bread, smear a banana on another, mash both together then fry the contents in bacon fat until a golden brown, serve with a tall glass of buttermilk.
Elvis wouldn't of wanted it any other way; happy birthday King.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
