Older horses 2024

[CoronadosQuest]

In the Ben Ali, Smile Happy was entered as a new gelding. From a pre-race interview, McPeek said that if the gelding didn't help the hard-to-load-but-talented son of Runhappy perform better, they would have to retire him.
He loaded like a lamb....but then ran third from last, far from the front runners. Just had NOTHING in the stretch. You could almost see the thought balloon over his head: "You cut off my nuts. Why should i run for you?"
Will we soon see that retirement announcement from his connections?

I was surprised when he had zero zest in his step during the race. He will make a fancy RRP prospect for someone at least.

[Flanders]

By retire him, did they mean sell him in the April Keeneland HORA sale? Really hope they just retire him and not sell him on for a life of who knows what, running in claimers?

[BaroqueAgain1]

Skippylongstocking just won the G2, $1,250,000 Oaklawn Handicap by open lengths. Such a cool old horse.

[barbaro111]

Skippylongstocking just won the G2, $1,250,000 Oaklawn Handicap by open lengths. Such a cool old horse.

He is a cool horse and a great story!!!!

[MySaladDays]

Skippylongstocking just won the G2, $1,250,000 Oaklawn Handicap by open lengths. Such a cool old horse.

Yes, I had announced that race in the zeydan thread off topic because someone brought up Reincarnate.

That was no surprise. Skippy came into the paddock looking like he ate more than just one bowl of wheaties, was ready to take everybody on, and his demeanor that the other horses saw broadcasted that message loud and clear. I always say that horses have and know their own hierarchy even if the humans can't figure it out.....some of them just show that, Animal Kingdom style before his race where he won the KY Derby. Confident horses are the best.

Saffie has kept this ungelded son of Exaggerator in excellent form, is still racing at age 5. The horses he ran with in TC season 2022, are mostly nowhere to be found; I knew he was a good horse when he ran 3rd in the Belmont Stakes that year after Mo Don and Nest.

It's just nice to see a horse who has not gone to the shed and we have gotten to see him run 23 lifetimes races (23-8-2-4).

Cox horse Highland Falls ran 2nd. Red Route One, an Oaklawn favorite, came in for show and did his usual umpteen lengths behind the field and came running to close.

Reincarnate, ran 4th.

[Squeaky]

Mr Fisk son of Arrrogate, won the 4-horse Californian over Judge Miller. Nice confidence-builder.

[Northport]

By retire him, did they mean sell him in the April Keeneland HORA sale? Really hope they just retire him and not sell him on for a life of who knows what, running in claimers?

It was mentioned very briefly on Steve Byk's show this week that the hope was Smile Happy would just run decently enough to warrant some interest in the HORA sale. His attitude was definitely better, but he ran terribly... so not sure where that leaves connections. Given how much of a pain in the arse he has been to train, I wouldnt be surprised if they let him go through the sale anyway. There could be someone out there with a lot of patience looking for a project horse.

[BaroqueAgain1]

Fandrool just showed an interview with McPeek, who was discussing the horses that would be going to the sale. Mentioned Tiz the Bomb and Smile Happy, about whom he mused that he is hoping that someone new can figure out what this talented horse needs to run to his talent.

[stelladaniella]

Jane Lyon on Flightline’s brother Olivier who has returned to Summer Wind to live out his retirement

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/qgcH9j ... tid=WC7FNe

[Northport]

Jane Lyon on Flightline’s brother Olivier who has returned to Summer Wind to live out his retirement

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/qgcH9j ... tid=WC7FNe

Very nice. I was surprised initially that she would run him for a tag before just retiring him, but that whole post reiterates the whole Summer Wind and Jane Lyon image.

[brunanas]

Jane Lyon on Flightline’s brother Olivier who has returned to Summer Wind to live out his retirement

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/qgcH9j ... tid=WC7FNe

awesome. nice update on Theprinceofthebes too. i've wondered about him. i wish all breeders with Jane's power did the same.

[Missbeholder]

Jane Lyon on Flightline’s brother Olivier who has returned to Summer Wind to live out his retirement

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/qgcH9j ... tid=WC7FNe

awesome. nice update on Theprinceofthebes too. i've wondered about him. i wish all breeders with Jane's power did the same.

Of course, I would never wish for any horse to suffer an injury, but the shoe issue and related injury for Olivier might have been a blessing in disguise. The claim was voided, and now he's been responsibly retired and is going home to the place of his birth to be loved and cared for like any horse deserves. The alternative would have been for him to get put on a boat and sent Camarero. God knows what would have happened to him there!

[Mylute]

Mentioned Hit It a Bomb

Isn't he a stallion that has been retired for a long time? Do you mean Tiz the Bomb per chance?

ETA: Yep it's Tiz the Bomb (his son).

[Squeaky]

Jane Lyon on Flightline’s brother Olivier who has returned to Summer Wind to live out his retirement

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/qgcH9j ... tid=WC7FNe

awesome. nice update on Theprinceofthebes too. i've wondered about him. i wish all breeders with Jane's power did the same.

Of course, I would never wish for any horse to suffer an injury, but the shoe issue and related injury for Olivier might have been a blessing in disguise. The claim was voided, and now he's been responsibly retired and is going home to the place of his birth to be loved and cared for like any horse deserves. The alternative would have been for him to get put on a boat and sent Camarero. God knows what would have happened to him there!

Since he is young and relatively sound would be nice if he could be retrained for a second career?

[Northport]

awesome. nice update on Theprinceofthebes too. i've wondered about him. i wish all breeders with Jane's power did the same.

Of course, I would never wish for any horse to suffer an injury, but the shoe issue and related injury for Olivier might have been a blessing in disguise. The claim was voided, and now he's been responsibly retired and is going home to the place of his birth to be loved and cared for like any horse deserves. The alternative would have been for him to get put on a boat and sent Camarero. God knows what would have happened to him there!

Since he is young and relatively sound would be nice if he could be retrained for a second career?

It sounds like Lyon prefers keeping them as lawn ornaments, which isnt entirely unreasonable. If she wants to see them every day, sending them to a retraining facility may not be what she is after.

[Mylute]

He (or they) could have "careers" as pleasure horses on the farm for family and friends to ride.

[Squeaky]

He (or they) could have "careers" as pleasure horses on the farm for family and friends to ride.

Hope they do - most horses like a job!

[Squeaky]

Next , the big gray and one of my favorites, makes his seasonal debut in a one and a half mile “ marathon” next Wed at CD facing Classic Causeway who is back on dirt again. Go Next!

[CoronadosQuest]

Messier wins the G3 Westchester Stakes at Aqueduct over Post Time and Charge It

[Squeaky]

Messier wins the G3 Westchester Stakes at Aqueduct over Post Time and Charge It

Rick Dutrow seems to have turned him around