Epic Weekend Looms

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Carlos in Cali — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:18:51 GMT

Thank you for your condolences folks,I greatly appreciate them.

Jason,thanks for the time & space you've given me brother,I know how much you love your dog too.

Paula,thank you for your insight,very helpful indeed.

Because of last night's dream,my spirits have been lifted quite a bit this morning.Oddly,I dreamnt that my Dad was around my age(40) and my dog looked like she was in her prime standing by his side barking at me.All is well.

I cant wait for this weekends races!

BTW: This is a quote from Hollendorfer regarding Blind Luck in yesterday's LA Times- "I just didn't want to run her against the boys". Maybe that'll clarify some thoughts,she is a tiny little filly after all.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Ranagulzion — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:11:13 GMT

Carlos my friend,

Thanks for sharing your story about Xena. I know its hard to lose a wonderful pet (I've had my share) but those precious memories will never die. Blessings.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Linda in Texas — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:09:44 GMT

Jason and all who are in the path of Irene. Hope you all make it okay this week end.

Batten down the hatches. Those with horses, put them in their stalls as flying objects can be deadly for horses and people.

And along The Chesapeake Bay area please take every precaution available. I am monitoring weather sites as my son is in Maryland all supplied with batteries, staples, cash and full tank of gas. If the electricity is out, banks, grocery stores and gas stations don't work.

Next, i hope everyone has a winner from this week ends races and everyone and every horse comes home safely.

Thanks Jason, be safe.

And don't forget the dogs and cats.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Pedigree Ann — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:14:55 GMT

Acclamation reminds me of his damsire, Silveyville. Not so much physically - Silvey was so lanky and laid back that folks took him for a gelding before checking under the hood. But Sil could handle any distance from a mile to 10f and just got better as he matured. After standing each of his first two years at stud, he came back to the races and was still competitive in stakes, including a G3 win and G1 placing at 8.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

GunBow — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 04:48:01 GMT

Jason:

Wasn't Blind Luck scheduled for a workout Wednesday? Did they even go through with it?

The timing just doesn't make alot of sense, UNLESS, like you said, something is going on that we don't know about. Probably minor. Maybe her feet are acting up, or maybe Hollendorfer feels she doesn't like the surface?

re: Epic Weekend Looms

GunBow — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 04:44:22 GMT

Sorry Carlos for your loss.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Draynay — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 04:08:25 GMT

Monica you and I both know that Secretariat lost 3 times as a 3 year old. He lost the Wood, Whitney AND the Woodward. To compare that to Rachel going a perfect 8 for 8 and doing what no filly had ever done sounds silly. However, you are allowed to have your opinion as I am mine. Rachel was the best 3 year old I ever saw and her record speaks for itself. Best 2 year old I ever saw Uncle Mo. Best 4 year old The Bid. I did see Citation in 1969 but he wasn't 2 and I wasn't alive when he was but he was the greatest 2 year old of all time.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Mike Relva — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 03:01:01 GMT

SYLVESTER

"Overrated nag",right. The same nag you would gladly part with your one brain cell to own.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Mike Relva — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 02:50:50 GMT

CARLOS

Am very sorry to hear it.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Paula Higgins — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 02:09:53 GMT

Carlos in Cali I am so sorry about the loss of your beloved dog. She sounds like she was well loved by all of you and cherished. I know how difficult this. I have been there twice myself. The symptoms you describe could have any number of causes. It could be metabolic caused by organ failure (think liver, kidneys etc.). Severe metabolic conditions can cause the symptoms you described, including seizures. She also could have developed a seizure disorder. Older dogs often have this problem. Another possibility is, as you said, a brain tumor or spinal cord tumor. There is no way to know for sure without doing an autopsy. What you need to know is that there was little or nothing you could do, and do not blame yourself for this. We have an elderly dog with a significant heart condition who is declining too. We are doing everything possible but there will be a day when there is nothing left to do. So, I can relate to the last 2 weeks you had with her. It is a tough thing to watch. Again, I am very sorry about the loss of your Xenia.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Linda in Texas — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 01:53:03 GMT

Carlos in Cali - i just lost my 21 year old "Sparkie" 3 weeks ago, her 3 pups are 11 and they miss her too.

She was a 'terrrier mix' as the vet always calls my precious strays. But i had her a long time.

She had tumors from the day i found her, a carnival went off and left her. She was simply old. I will see if i can find what might have been your Xena's issue. My vet always says, okay Linda, looking at their record, 'we have a 13 year old model here' and that is when i knew it was simply old age. Carlos, 12 is about the average age. I know that gives you no comfort nor your wife and family. You know she was loved and she knew it and it was simply her time. You tried to

help her but there just was probably as you said, a neurological issue. She could have had a brain tumor or anything.

I am so sorry.

She will be waiting for you all at The Rainbow Bridge. I am sure your

dad is already with her.

Thanks Jason, i know this is off topic, but a very meaningful one if you are a pet lover as so many of us are.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Racingfan — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 01:19:48 GMT

Carlos in Cali - so sorry to hear of your loss!!! I have no information for you but wanted you to know I understand how you feel. We lost our 16 year old Cocker a few years back.... A horrible thing to see but in the end I am glad to have been there comforting her when she passed.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Householder — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:52:41 GMT

Acclamation sure grinds away between 1 1/4 and 1 1/2. His Strub on synthetics was not too bad. Head to head bet put Acclamation over Twirling Candy.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Carlos in Cali — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:03:21 GMT

I know this isn't the place to post this,but since I don't Tweet or do the Facebook thing, please bare with me folks.

Our beloved 12yo Pitbull Xena-Princess Warrior, just passed away a few hours ago.She had been suffering thru seizures the last few weeks and the Vet couldn't find anything wrong with her except a lingering pinched-nerve on her lower spine.She'd suddenly collapse as she ran and stayed-down for a minute then get back-up rather woozily and off balance.Her massive appetite dwindled and so did her barking the past 2weeks.She wasn't her old self anymore so when I got a phone call telling me that she ate-up her food and started barking at the postman again,I left my business immediately and headed to the nearest pet store to get her a giant doggie-bone which she loved to bury,dig-up,then re-bury again.

Thinking she had miraculously turned the corner,I got home and hugged her,but before I could give her the treat she collapsed onto me and my Wife's feet.This time she barely stood back-up and basically waddled her way to the middle of our backyard to vomit then she collapsed again but she couldn't get back-up.When we brought her over to the patio she started breathing heavily with spasm like reactions before she layed down on her side, went into convulsions and lost control of her bowel movements.That's when I told my family to gather around her,"she's dying".As my Wife lay beside her crying and caressing her,telling her to "go ahead pretty girl-leave us if you have to",she finally closed her eyes.My last words to her were "Xena,go find Grandpa,he's waiting for you pretty girl". My Dad passed away 7yrs ago and Xena loved it when my Dad would corral her like a wild mustang and lasso her,Mexican Vaquero(cowboy) style before he'd take her for her routine stroll around the neighbourhood.She looked forward to my Dad's antics so much that she'd sit by his feet as he readied the lasso then took-off once he gave her the 'giddy-up' command.

My thinking is she probably had some kind of neurological problems or a brain tumor?..

If anyone has had a similar experience with their pet(s),please post what was the cause.Thanks.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

JJW — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:21:34 GMT

I think Acclamation scared Blind Luck off. When they found out he was going to run they decided not to run her. Acclamation can get the distance, something Twirling Candy hasn't been able to do yet. Those turf horses switching to synthetics in big 10 furlong races are tough to beat. Curlin got whipped by two of them in the Classic and Gio Ponti gave Zenyatta a run for the money. With Acclamation in there the Pacific Classic would be too tough of a race for Blind Luck to prep for the Ladies Classic. She needs to save her best effort for Breeders Cup day.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Smoking Baby — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:17:55 GMT

Monica V. Agreed. No disgrace to be smoked by those four but make NO MISTAKE...Rachel Alexandra would've been rolled and smoked. Best three year old ever? Please.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Carlos in Cali — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:08:11 GMT

Jason: I'll buy that.I know he still has some conditions left and the KB came up a little tougher than he thought.Maybe they'll stretch him out for his next race to see what they have?...

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Linda in Texas — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:55:17 GMT

Gunbow - i love it when you mention greats like Princess Rooney, in October she would have been 31 and has been gone almost 3 years. And Heavenly Prize is 21 as she was born in 1991. I would rather mention be made of them in relation to great wins than have them go unnoticed and only read about their demise. Go for Wand, another favorite from the past of mine.

Silver Train being mentioned as having a buyer - looked him up and thought he sure looks like A.P. Indy and yep, there in his chart is the one and only, A.P. Indy, by you know who, my favorite fella Seattle Slew. :)

And now reading about Kensei, it is hard for me to take, one minute running their guts out, the next minute their life is snuffed out.

Five years old, just too darn young, just watched him race last month. Rest in Peace.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Householder — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:55:12 GMT

Hollendorfer took an equally cowardly approach in his handling of Hystericalady. Let me know what tracks she did her best running at. Hint...she was 0-4 on synthetics and still got fed to Zenyatta in the Lady's Secret. Does that sound like a coward?

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Householder — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:48:34 GMT

Blind Luck has been hampered by sore feet in the past. She's also looking at 20+ lifetime starts with plans to keep going next year. Hollendorfer is part owner so he's thinking long term.

Gunbow. You forgot about Winning Colors who went back to the Distaff after taking the Kentucky Derby. I'm glad she did, and Personal Ensign needed every inch of that track to keep her perfect record intact. That race has to be one of the best Breeder's Cup matchups ever.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

MonicaV — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:58:10 GMT

Draynay,

You know I love Rachel and I certainly think that she was the best 3 year old filly ever and ran extremely fast fractions in the Woodward and prevailed but let's be realistic, shall we? Had she faced Secretariat in the Woodward, she wouldn't have won it. Secretariat was beaten by Onion at Saratoga because he wasn't well. Had he been healthy, no one could have beat him. I don't care who you mention, Secretariat was in a class by himself.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

MonicaV — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:48:49 GMT

Smoking Baby,

Those horses you mentioned would have destroyed ANYONE who faces them.

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Sylvester — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:23:30 GMT

Ann stop talking about last year. This year at even weights BL lost badly and while getting a weight allowance barely won. HDG is the better horse. Matthew W: it won't be close the amount I won from the best horse in 2010 Blame beating that overhyped overrated nag Zenyatta. I made out like a Bandit. Thanks guys!!

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Jason Shandler — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:17:18 GMT

Gunbow: I can't help but think there is something going on with Blind Luck. Just a guess, but I agree with you, it seems odd that Jerry would pick now to give her that much time off. May be something minor he's not telling us.

Carlos: I just think Bob wanted to take a conservative approach with Saddleranch. Too tough a spot to send him to in stakes debut. He's going to be a good one.

re: Epic Weekend Looms

Pedigree Ann — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:00:29 GMT

Havre de Grace needed a 8-lb weight concession to hold off Blind Luck by a neck in the Cotillion, at a distance that favored Havre de Grace. Blind Luck, as a deep closer, is at the mercy of the pace set-up so it is to her credit that she has such an excellent record.