Old Man Brass Hat Keeps on Truckin'

re: Old Man Brass Hat Keeps on Truckin'

ladyssecret — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:45:53 GMT

All the old guys are so fun to watch. One of my personal favorites was Perfect Drift. I hope Mine That Bird is with us for years to come. We should have a race for 7year olds and up.

re: Old Man Brass Hat Keeps on Truckin'

Ann in Lexington — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:12:17 GMT

I've been a fan of Brass Hat since he broke his maiden in the Rushaway on the Jim Beam (or whatever) undercard. I thought he was one of the best 3yos of his crop, and felt justified in that after he started his run at 4/5 that culminated in his Donn H win. (He came from behind on a wet track on which all the other races were won by horses near the front.) At that point, I thought he was going to be one of the ones, the next John Henry or Forego or Native Diver. Alas, the trip to Dubai, then the injury that summer. While I'm pleased that he has won another stakes race, I can't help but remember what he might have been and sigh.

re: Old Man Brass Hat Keeps on Truckin'

LDP — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:18:51 GMT

Mike,

Never seen Cigar live, wish i could. Maybe I will plan a visit to him along with Curlin if i ever get to travel.

re: Old Man Brass Hat Keeps on Truckin'

sweet terchi — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:52:14 GMT

Greg J., Hermosilla, of course! I am so glad that all his well with him, and a big thanks to you for the follow up.

re: Old Man Brass Hat Keeps on Truckin'

Greg J. — Fri, 29 May 2009 13:50:30 GMT

Sweet Terchi,

I believe the horse you are thinking of is, "Hermosilla"(Afleet/Alas De Oro), He ran until he was fifteen!, The horse launched his career in 1994, when he won a maiden race at Hollywood Park under Chris McCarron. Amazing, His record was, 68 Starts, 14 Wins, 8 Seconds, 6 Thirds, Earnings $116,507!!! I believe that his last race was at Wyoming Downs, at the age of 15 in 2007(Finished Second!). At the age of fourteen, He raced twice in six days!, and won both...

I read this about him, Which, I thought was quite funny. His owner is only 29 years old, Shaun Story, This is his quote how he trains him, lol, "He's got about a half-acre pasture, and I just turn him out in it and he wanders and eats grass all the time, Most people don't train them like that, but he likes it and so that's what I do." He will then retire to Story's farm, where he has befriended the trainer's 1-year-old son, Parker. "He'll probably be a good mountain horse," said Story. "I'll probably go hunting on him and stuff."

Last update, last year from his owner, "Just to let all you Hermosilla followers out there know. He has retired and is living a wonderful retirement life at our home. He is happy and healthy life. Him and our 2 year old are best friends. Our 2 year old rides him everyday. Thanks for caring.

What a great story! Sweet Terchi, thanks for mentioning it and giving me a chance to read about it, Cool Story...

re: Old Man Brass Hat Keeps on Truckin'

Mike Relva — Thu, 28 May 2009 22:28:05 GMT

TO:BARB

Cigar is my all time fav. I live over fours hrs. from Kentucky,but I visit him a few times each year. He still looks great far younger than his actual age of nineteen.

re: Old Man Brass Hat Keeps on Truckin'

Mike Relva — Thu, 28 May 2009 22:23:32 GMT

DRAYNAY

Look,I like both horses very much. I'm only saying that like it or not Zenyatta's connections are going to do what they want regardless of what everyone thinks.

re: Old Man Brass Hat Keeps on Truckin'

Mike Relva — Thu, 28 May 2009 22:21:53 GMT

MATTHEW W

You're correct! Zenyatta has blown by her rivals over and over.

re: Old Man Brass Hat Keeps on Truckin'

sweet terchi — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:43:27 GMT

GunBow thanks for the info on regulations.

There was a horse who raced till he was 15yrs or so, then he went to a retirement farm in Kentucky, but I can't remember his name. Now that is one heck of a feat. LDP, you are so right in horses sensing their environment. They know. I used to be at a TB farm in Cali, (it no longer exists due to development), and no matter how well you schooled the youngsters in gate training, on a actual bona fide track it was a whole different story. I remember one colt who refused to leave the gate because of the crowd noise.

re: Old Man Brass Hat Keeps on Truckin'

Greg J. — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:16:52 GMT

Dray,

I love how now you are giving "Mine that Bird" respect, When all you have said about him that he is a "Fluke", Got lucky, Will never win again, Yada, Yada, Yada.....In your last comment to Mike Relva regarding Zenyatta/Rachel A., You said, "let me know when Zenyatta beats a colt or a Derby winner", Love how you are giving RA kudos for beating a "Fluke", It just never ends, lol...

re: Old Man Brass Hat Keeps on Truckin'

gw_bushwacker — Thu, 28 May 2009 11:59:20 GMT

draynay,

Are you finally to the point that your mind can grasp the fact Mine That Bird is not a "fluke"? Or is it just that you can now use his name to argue with someone else? For weeks you bashed him and his Derby win and now you use him to measure Zenyatta and RA. Since he's the only Ky Derby winner out there it is a very convienient arguement to say RA has beaten a Derby winner and Zenyatta has not. Since MTB is racing in 3 yr old company only Zenyatta has no chance of facing him even if they wanted to for now. What a pathetic way to argue. The only chance they have to meet is the Br. Cup Classic and we all know that's a long shot. I think we all hope thet Zenyatta and RA face off sometime this year. I'd rather sit back and enjoy 2 extremely talented horses going against each other than be in your position of bashing one all year and praying the other wins in a face-off so I could say I told you so. In your case it's more like a little kid bragging his dad can beat up another.

re: Old Man Brass Hat Keeps on Truckin'

LDP — Thu, 28 May 2009 09:58:26 GMT

barb,

Thanks, I normally do enjoy all the back and forth, as long as it doesn't get too out of hand. I normally try to keep in mind that i need to choose my words carefully too, though it doesn't work all the time. Other times i get to mad to think and then i just type. I especially enjoyed all the live blogs, it's fun and a lot faster, kinda like a chat room for horse racing fans.

re: Old Man Brass Hat Keeps on Truckin'

Householder — Thu, 28 May 2009 05:35:58 GMT

Black Ruby was cool! She could scoot a good 4 furlong. Let's hear it for Cal-Bred mules, great geldings of the past, and the best California based horse in training Zenyatta. After nearly a 7 month lay off she toyed with the competition and had her ears pricked as the jockey sat motionless. And the whole "faking" to the inside on the backstretch to get Gomez to drop in only to pull her up and to the outside so she did not go "too wide" on the turn was awsome. Smith 1...Gomez 0. Regardless of how one feels about Zenyatta she is simply fun to watch and is a great example of the ugly ducking with bad skin that no one wanted to buy taking it to the racing world.

re: Old Man Brass Hat Keeps on Truckin'

Matthew W — Thu, 28 May 2009 02:14:50 GMT

Dray--Black Ruby and Zenyatta??? AND Peppers Pride?? Yes, for once you're right---about five more in a row and we'll add Rachel!! NO animal feels good ALL the time---horses that win over and over don't always FEEL 100%--they just always GIVE 100%--That IS greatness--at ANY level....you see? You simply cannot dis zenyatta---Cuz "Zenyatta's Zenyatta"!!

re: Old Man Brass Hat Keeps on Truckin'

Matthew W — Thu, 28 May 2009 02:08:05 GMT

Draynay SO WHAT if they don't win HOY---The Cup's at Santa Anita my friend, EVERYONE'S invited---Nice "out" you added in case Zen goes by Rachel like she's standing still (that's if Jess can show up!)..."She'll never beat a Derby Winner"....Nice! Hey guy, even AFTER she smokes them again in BCup...take it (the HOY)....Hats off to a trainer and a horse that blows by them all time after time! Criticize them if you must, they've done "something right" with this horse...it makes NO SENSE to travel when it's at your digs---I'd love to see her in the Eddie Read at 1 1/8 turf v males....face it, though, you would have an excuse no matter what the scenario, that's why you say the innane comment "she will never beat a Derby winner (like Rachel)"...that comment is for when (and if) they ever meet, and "you" come up on the losing end...I get it!