Feelings are certain to run excessive for coach Robbie Medina earlier than she begins play within the $1 million PNC Financial institution Breeders’ Cup Filly Dash at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
Mr. Medina will nearly actually keep in mind his childhood watching his father, Robert, a foreman at numerous horse trainers within the Midwest, saddle $5,000 horses. Maybe he remembers the spotlight of his 25 years as an assistant to Corridor of Fame horse Shag McGaughey. Horses have been of nice worth in these days, and so have been the teachings realized.
Medina, 52, has visited Del Mar earlier than with hopes and goals, however by no means below these situations. Enjoying, who gained the Thoroughbred Membership of America Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 4 and earned a paid entry into the Filly Dash, would be the first Breeders’ Cup runner for the reason that steady opened three years in the past.
“Do not assume at first of the yr that you will get there. I imply, that is what you need,” the Chicago native stated. “When you get one which takes you there, it means the world.”
A contented ending for house owners Newtown Anner Stud Farm could depend upon whether or not Vekoma’s nervous 3-year-old daughter can preserve her composure in entrance of a crowd at Del Mar that’s certain to be as raucous as it’s massive. Let’s simply say praying may be a handful.
Regardless of her blistering pace, she will be able to change into her personal worst enemy. Such was the case when he ran a six-furlong allowance choice race at Churchill Downs on Might twenty fourth. She entered the paddock sizzling and unwashed.
“On a scale of 1 to 10 of how dangerous a horse may be within the paddock, she was a couple of 13,” Medina stated.
Prayer grew to become much more anxious within the steady, sweating profusely and refusing to cooperate. She by no means calmed down after the parade. Worst of all, she crashed via the beginning gate, a misfortune few horses can overcome. Unsurprisingly, she completed seventh out of eight horses by 27 1/2 lengths. When the runner obtained snug, she beat one horse.
“She was the worst performer for a horse,” Medina stated. “I hit the reset button along with her.”
He remembered the times he spent with McGaughey. “Clearly, you are not going to remain in a spot for 25 years should you do not prefer it,” he stated. “It was an unimaginable expertise to be in a barn with so many nice horses, however an important factor for me was working aspect by aspect with guys like Shag. It is like studying to play golf alongside Tiger Woods.”
When Medina requested himself how McGaughey would take care of such an unstable filly, the reply shortly grew to become clear. “Crucial factor is persistence. If you do not have persistence, this horse will train you to have persistence,” he stated. “Suge’s persistence is second to none.”
Medina and his workers labored with the second-graders, who have been nonetheless growing, and labored with them much more. Prayer started once more till the six-furlong Prioress Stakes on August thirtieth. Saratoga’s massive weekend crowd despatched her off because the longest shot on the board at 21.20-1 primarily based on her earlier dishonest.
This time, due to McGaughey-like persistence through the layoff interval previous Prioress, she was ladylike prematurely and rewarded her few backers with a rating of three and a half lengths. In a current begin in entrance of a giant crowd at Fall Stars Weekend at Keeneland, he was somewhat extra restrained than his coach would have appreciated, however was in any other case skilled, beating the nice horse Verva by a half-length and hounding jockey John Velasquez.
Medina is happy that Velasquez, who made an all-time report with a staggering $509 million in earnings and has since acquired a number of others, has agreed to retain the mount. “We’re telling folks there are loads of gamers who need him Monday via Friday, however nobody needs him Saturday and Sunday,” the coach stated. “He is one of the best when he is broke.”
Velasquez credited Medina with all of the schooling that led to an improved taking part in perspective and the coach’s first stakes win at Keeneland. “I’ve to provide it to Robbie. This mare has put in loads of effort to get her to the place she is,” he stated after the Thoroughbred Membership of America. “She’s a really nervous, very highly effective woman, so we attempt to calm these nerves, and he did that for her.”
Enjoying gained three of his 9 profession begins and earned $466,040, together with 4 runner-up finishes. She is exhibiting indicators of maturation on the ultimate time.
“She’s undoubtedly coming into her personal,” Medina stated. “Essentially the most harmful ones are horses that run somewhat bit and are available into the race, particularly mares presently of yr.”
Medina realized from McGaughey the significance of letting horses run the place they’re speculated to run. If she did not have greater than a prayer, he would not have shipped “Praying” to Del Mar on October twenty seventh.
“It means loads to me to have a horse within the Breeders’ Cup. It means much more to have a horse that has an opportunity,” he stated. “If I used to be fortunate, it will be onerous to clarify.”
