Finnegan to Defend Grade I Woodford Reserve Championship on Derby Day!
Dear Partners and Friends,
I am sorry for going radio silent on you for the past week. The respiratory ailment I brought back from Dubai kicked me arse. I ended up in the E.R. at the Mayo Clinic a week ago and am finally turning the corner.
My diagnosis: I suffered through a near death experience and am lucky to be here.
Linda's diagnosis: I had a bad cold and need to man up. I wish our jockeys were that tough :)
And now to diagnose our stable:
DONEGAL MOON
Moon failed his Grade I test after getting me very excited as he turned for home. He got banged around pretty good but wasn't going to hit the board either way I don't think. We will now enter Moon in the PARX Derby on May 7 (Kentucky Derby Day) and we think he should go off at 3-1 or lower going a mile and seventy yards for $100,000. We believe Moon will be best at two turns though we aren't sure yet how much beyond a mile he wants.
KEEN ICE
We sent Keen Ice to the finest vet in Kentucky and asked him to go over Ice head to toe. There are a number of the usual bangs and bruises but the key finding was a left hind distal cannon bone fissure fracture. This injury was prompting ICE to compensate by hitting his right side harder as he attempted to take pressure off his injured left side.
The prognosis is very favorable and Ice will be back in full training in sixty days. He will begin swimming in 30 days to maintain weight and fitness. He will be at WinStar during his rehab.
FINNEGANS WAKE
Finnegan ran a terrific comeback race in a total bog going only a mile. Longtime Finn fans will remember that Finn hates moisture on his turf. So on a track he hated Finn put in a very solid effort.
The come backer (and Finn's attitude since) has convinced Peter Miller that Finn should go to Churchill Downs and defend his Grade I Woodford Reserve Turf championship. Sounds good to us! The only thing that could prevent Finn from moving forward is a bad breeze or a raining Derby weekend. Barring those he is in.
OTHERS
PATRICK'S DAY AND VULCAN'S FORGE
Both of these horses are coming off MSW wins and both have come out of their races very well. PATRICK will likely race next at Churchill Downs and VULCAN in New York. VULCAN shows an appetite for long distances.
TRADFEST, DUNBRODY AND BROTHER O'CONNELL are all training forwardly and we fully expect wins from them soon.
PUCA sustained yet another injury and may be headed to the breeding shed. We will know within a week.
We are excited to have a full house at the Derby and look forward to hanging out with many of you there.
The next email will be about our two year olds and boy are they an exciting group!
Jerry
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