Sundays Race

Sumwonlovesyou drew the rail in Sundays second race going a mile at Churchill. With only 5 other horses entered the rail should not be a huge issue, especially if she breaks alertly and goes to the lead or is forwardly placed. There seems to be a few others with some speed so Willie Martinez will have to figure out if we should go for the lead or be just off of it. Sumwon is doing well and has trained nicely over the track. Overall the field is much softer than our last race and I believe that we are in good shape.

Sundays Work

Sumwonlovesyou worked well today going 4 furlongs in 48, galloping out 5 furlongs in 100.4. Working in company with a Carson City maiden named Burning Woman, Sumwon was well within herself while on the inside during the work. She waited while about a half a length behind the other filly through the turn and into the stretch. When Cherie asked her to switch leads, she did on cue and pulled a length or so clear and finished well through the wire and during her gallop out. The clockers got the team going the 1st quarter in 25 seconds and the second in 23. With her gallop out to the 7/8ths pole she went her last 3 furlongs in 35.4 which is pretty quick. She recovered quickly after coming back to the barn and cooled out well. Cherie felt that this was her best work since we have had her and I have to agree.

We will enter her on Thursday morning for Sundays race at Churchill. A new jockey is in the works since Jimmy Graham is returning to Chicago after Keeneland ends on Friday. As soon as I have a commitment I will pass on the news on who will ride.

Back to the track

Sumwonlovesyou returned to the racetrack today after having an extra day off due to poor weather. She seems to have bounced back fine from her race and looks no worse for wear. We will jog her for a couple days before going back to galloping. Right now we are looking at a race on the 29th at Churchill Downs going a mile out of the chute on the dirt for a $50000 claiming price. Before anyone makes travel plans lets give the filly a few days to train before we commit. She was a bit tired for a couple days which is not unusual for a horse coming off a brief layoff but looks like she is back to normal. More in the coming days.

Happy Easter/Passover

Happy Easter/Passover to all. Sumwonlovesyou galloped 2 miles today over a very spotty surface at Churchill. She is feeling great, giving the hotwalkers hell. The race may be tough on Wednesday but she is doing really well so let's see what she has got. Looking forward to seeing everybody at Keeneland!

Race time

Well there have been a couple of unseen curve balls thrown at us this week but the news of the week is that Sumwonlovesyou is in the entries. We drew post #7 in the fourth race on Wednesday the 11th. The jockey is James Graham and though I don't know who we are in against yet, I am really happy with our situation. This morning we were not able to give Sumwon her final work due to the fact the track was frozen and therefore not open. I am not overly concerned as I had been thinking of not working her again before she ran anyway. My physical therapist went over her from head to toe this morning and could not find a thing out of order which is a far cry from 6 weeks ago. We will ship to Keeneland on Wednesday morning at 7am and will be stabled with Pat Byrne's barn (28). Though I want everyone to get a chance to see her and take pictures and such, I would ask if we did not bother her too much before the race. She is a little high strung and with shipping into a foreign stall I want to put as little extra stress on her as possible.

Sumwons CD Work

Yesterday Sumwonloves you worked 5 furlongs in company with a 4 year old gelding named Mixteca. She started off about 2 lengths behind Mixteca going to the 5/8ths pole beginning the work. She sat behind him until they hit the far turn where she angled out and moved up beside him. They worked head to head to the wire and she was clocked in 102.2. Her gallop out was good, around 115 for 6 furlongs, and she did not seem especially tired after the work. Jockey Pat Johnson was aboard for the work and he said she changed leads perfectly and was very willing to do more if he asked her to. Partners Benny Ledger and his son were there to see the work and take pictures. They both seem like great guys and were hopeful to meet other partners at Keeneland on the 11th. We are all set for the race and I have received the call from James Graham for the race. He is a good turf rider and he will not be afraid of the price on the tote board. We will probably work her one more time next Saturday which is the same day as the entries are taken for the 11th. Assuming nothing changes between now and then we should know if we are in the race and our post position by around 2 pm next Saturday. She has come a long way in a short period of time and it is time to see where she is at. I certainly think that she will improve but she will have to in order to be competitive in an allowance race at a track like Keeneland. In the case of rain we almost certainly would run on the polytrack if the race were to come off of the turf. So you can be pretty secure in making your travel plans if we are lucky enough to draw into the race.