TIP OF THE WEEK: SECOND EFFORT
10.19. 2014
AMERICAS BEST RACING
Even the racetrack has its share of one-hit wonders.
It’s not all that unusual for a horse to turn in a sharp effort in its debut then disappointment in his next few trips to the racetrack.
There are a litany of reasons why that can happen, yet there’s a much more manageable collection of signs that a horse can duplicate or improve off a promising debut.
Sky Hero certainly looked like a horse with a future in his Sept. 6 debut at Churchill Downs. Trained by Mark Casse, he was sent off as the 2-1 favorite in a field of nine. Tracking in fifth in the early stages of the six-furlong maiden special weight affair, he was moved to the outside on the turn but had to steady to avoid running up on the heels of the horses in front of him. He ran well after regaining his stride but could do no better than finish fourth, just 1 ¾ lengths behind the winner.
That effort alone stamped Sky Hero as a horse watch in his second start, but what added to the excitement over his next try were his workouts after the loss. The first was an easy 49 2/5 four-furlong breeze on Sept. 21, but that was followed by two sharp blowouts at longer distances.
The first was a 1:00 2/5 five-furlong breeze on Sept. 27 that was topped on Oct. 4 by a one-minute flat move at the same distance, which was the best of 43 works on that day at the distance.
Clearly Sky Hero was not knocked out by his first race, and his subsequent sharp works indicated he might be poised for an even better try in his return to the races.
On Oct. 12 at Keeneland that notion was put to the test as Sky Hero was entered at a slightly longer seven-furlong distance, once again versus MSW company.
Those who were encouraged by Sky Hero’s works got the same 2-1 price in his second start, only this time they collected $6.20 when he pulled away to a 3 ¼-length triumph.
THE LESSON: A promising debut can take on even more of a glow with a sharp workout before a horse’s next start.
10.19. 2014
AMERICAS BEST RACING
Even the racetrack has its share of one-hit wonders.
It’s not all that unusual for a horse to turn in a sharp effort in its debut then disappointment in his next few trips to the racetrack.
There are a litany of reasons why that can happen, yet there’s a much more manageable collection of signs that a horse can duplicate or improve off a promising debut.
Sky Hero certainly looked like a horse with a future in his Sept. 6 debut at Churchill Downs. Trained by Mark Casse, he was sent off as the 2-1 favorite in a field of nine. Tracking in fifth in the early stages of the six-furlong maiden special weight affair, he was moved to the outside on the turn but had to steady to avoid running up on the heels of the horses in front of him. He ran well after regaining his stride but could do no better than finish fourth, just 1 ¾ lengths behind the winner.
That effort alone stamped Sky Hero as a horse watch in his second start, but what added to the excitement over his next try were his workouts after the loss. The first was an easy 49 2/5 four-furlong breeze on Sept. 21, but that was followed by two sharp blowouts at longer distances.
The first was a 1:00 2/5 five-furlong breeze on Sept. 27 that was topped on Oct. 4 by a one-minute flat move at the same distance, which was the best of 43 works on that day at the distance.
Clearly Sky Hero was not knocked out by his first race, and his subsequent sharp works indicated he might be poised for an even better try in his return to the races.
On Oct. 12 at Keeneland that notion was put to the test as Sky Hero was entered at a slightly longer seven-furlong distance, once again versus MSW company.
Those who were encouraged by Sky Hero’s works got the same 2-1 price in his second start, only this time they collected $6.20 when he pulled away to a 3 ¼-length triumph.
THE LESSON: A promising debut can take on even more of a glow with a sharp workout before a horse’s next start.
posted from Bloggeroid
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