More breakdowns at Del Mar

[CA Michael]

Filly euthanized after work injury
From Daily Racing Form:

Early Ronan, a 4-year-old filly who ran in a $50,000 claiming race at Hollywood Park last month, was euthanized after suffering injuries during exercise Thursday morning.

Trainer Gary Stute said that Early Ronan suffered sesamoid injuries in the stretch during a workout. Owned by Kendall Mann, Early Ronan won four of 20 starts and $125,300. Early Ronan was claimed for $40,000 at Santa Anita last March.

Early Ronan is the ninth horse to be euthanized as a result of injuries suffered at this meeting, which began on July 19. Three horses have been hurt during training, while six have suffered catastrophic injuries during races

[madelyn]

I guess Polytrack can't get there soon enough..

[mightyhijames]

drf has an editorial by andy beyer that talks about del mar and arlington park.

[louis finochio]

I have been told that a few months before Del Mar opens, those race cars race over the main track.

After their racing is over the DM track crew brings in new soil and get the track ready for opening day.

TB that are on the verge of breaking down should be turned out and not raced to the bitter end.

Next year when DM has poly track, those TB that are sore and our on med a temporary band aid will breakdown as poly track wont bring those sore TB back to life.

Only R & R for many months will bring those TB soundness back.

[Heidilady]

Random thought but Louis what does Baffert and co. think about the Del Mar track right now?

[louis finochio]

Baf is taking it real easy with his TB at DM. Baf gets his TB ready to run at DM at SA before DM opens.

When Baf has sore horses he will send them back to SA, with his 2nd. string or send them to the ranch for R & R.

Baf has 45 TB at SA in his 2nd. string and those TB will go back to HP after DM is over.

All the horseman I have talked to are not happy that HP lost its main track to poly track. Those horseman are taking a wait and see on the poly track.

[zinn21]

That's terrible. I had the filly on my stable mail since last fall. Mel Stute had her then Jeff Mullins claimed her for a short period, followed by Gary Stute. Don't know if I could blame the Del Mar track on this one as Mel worked her fast and often. Jeff had her only a short period and when Gary Stute claimed her he drilled her just like Mel. Below are her works since 12-26-05. Look at her work pattern since July 03, 2006. Keep in mind she raced at least six times between these works.



2006--Jul28 DMR 4f ft :47.4 H 6/36
Jul21 DMR 4f ft :48.2 H 14/46
Jul20 DMR 4f ft :48.3 H 21/63
Jul09 SA 4f ft :47.2 H 3/28
Jul08 SA 3f ft :36.2 H 5/16
Jul03 SA 4f ft :47.2 H 2/26
Jun24 SA 4f ft :48.3 H 13/48
Jun18 SA 4f ft :48.0 H 10/36
May24 SA 5f ft 1:00.2 H 15/54
May17 SA 5f ft 1:00.1 H 8/29
May11 SA 5f ft 1:01.2 H 10/30
Apr30 SA 4f ft :47.1 H 3/49
Apr16 SA 4f ft :48.0 H 10/44
Apr10 SA 4f ft :48.1 H 11/42
Apr03 SA 3f ft :35.1 H 2/22
Mar14 SA 4f ft :49.4 H 43/56
Feb23 SA 5f ft 1:02.0 H 39/56
Feb15 SA 4f ft :52.2 H 41/42
Feb02 SA 4f ft :49.2 H 10/30
Jan26 SA 4f ft :48.4 H 10/26
Jan10 SA 5f ft 1:00.1 H 9/19
Jan05 SA 4f gd :47.4 H 4/24
2005--Dec26 SA 4f ft :47.3 H 7/20

[CA Michael]

That is a very good point. Why Mel/Gary drill their their horses so fast, so often has always baffled me, especially when one considers that Mel's brother, Warren, usually takes the opposite tact. If a horse can't work or race every five days, they don't last very long with the first two. That's one reason why I have such respect for SNOW CHIEF as a racehorse. Mel ran him in every dance at 2 and 3, and when he wasn't running, he was posting black letter works. Not too many can stand that kind of regimen.

[capttim]

My Daughter is a jockey, and she says Del Mar is a very hard track. I was thinking of sending my 2 yo colt to a trainer there, and she advised very much against it, although the trainer was Graham Motion. She's worked it, raced it, and just says horses can't last long there.