Farewell, Kat

Kat as a foal (2010 - December 6, 2013)

After she broke her maiden – any time now we were telling ourselves – she was going to get some rest.  It was November of 2012 and she had already spent the summer being expertly schooled at Eisaman Equine and the fall in the skilled hands of trainer Kathleen O’Connell.  This was her 3^rd start for us and we had some decisions to make.  Would she stay in Florida or move over to the Bernell Rhone barn and try and make her mark in Minnesota racing like her mom, My Philly, did?  Should we give her a NW2 try at 2 or just shelve her until spring of her 3-year old year?  Those were our big decisions ahead.

Third time was the charm and she ran a very professional race to win by three.  Then there was the announcement: E Sveikata (“Kat”) was claimed for $32,000 by owner Joseph Balsamo and trainer Leo Azupurua Jr.

No. Freaking. Way.

She was valued at $16,000 when we bought 40% of her from breeder Gabe Puniska and his wife Jenepherin March of 2012.  She was a daughter of Even the Score like our Tabby Lane out of a mare named My Philly who was an allowance winner over the Canterbury Park lawn.  We had her in training from March and Kathleen took her time getting her to the races – making sure that everything was right with her.

Race 1 was learning experience.  She finished 4^th and was a bit tired near the end.  After all, this was running with purpose for an awfully long way!  In race 2 she closed very nicely over the Calder slop, finishing a solid 2^nd. 

Race 3 she came ready to play.  She tracked the pace and when Eduardo Nunez asked her to go, she went.  And then she went again.  Away from our barn.  Away from the carefully laid out plan.  Away from the rest that she was due.

Of course we kept following her.  Over the next 12 months, from November 8, 2012 to November 16, 2013 she ran another 12 times.  The longest gap between races was about 6 weeks.  She ran one more time in November and then took December off before coming back on January 10.  Then later in the year, after a $6,250 claiming race where she finished a badly beaten 9^th on August 31, she had another six weeks off before another $6,250 race where she not only was eased, but was claimed!

She couldn’t get that third win at $25,000, $16,000 or $6,250 but apparently she was claim worthy at $6,250.  She was having a tough time carrying her speed and, it seemed to me, that there was something wrong.  Was she bleeding through her Lasix?  Stopping like she had run into a wall was a hallmark of a bleeder but there is no way for me to know for sure.  She was competitive for a while at $25,000, even notching her second win there, but suddenly could no longer keep up with the cheapest stock in south Florida.

In her debut for the new barn (Alphonso Miranda – owner/trainer) she was a badly beaten last and ran the same pattern in the $6,250 NW3 claiming race: get on or near the lead and then stop badly.  That was on November 16.  On November 29 she was a vet scratch in a $16,000 claiming race over the turf.  Turf horse or not, THAT is a huge jump in class.  In my opinion the fact that she was a vet scratch was ominous – especially coming 13-days after a race where she stopped so badly.  Seven days later she was back in a $16,000 NW3 turf contest that was off the turf.

Kat broke like a champ.  She took the lead at 67-1 and was able to hold it through the first ¾ of the race.  Overtaken by eventual winner Big Debbie (a 16 ¾ length winner ironically trained by Kathleen O’Connell) she started drifting out in the lane.  Jockey Ronald Ordonez was working on her pretty good and, after straightening out briefly, she started drifting back out again.  Then she was down.  During the live call of the race, the announcer made the astute observation that Kat was doing all she could just to hold the place spot.  She couldn’t.  Her next mention:  “E Sveikata is down”.    The head on told the full story.  She had snapped her right front.  From my brief glimpse, it doesn’t look like she ever got up again.

I called Gabe.  He hadn’t seen the race so I had to break the news to him.  He was remarkably sanguine about the events, though obviously sad and upset.  Jenepher took it harder.  Gabe said that there was just something nagging at him to not watch this one.  I had a strangely different feeling.  I felt like I HAD to watch it.  I had to make sure that someone who actually cared about her watched her run – apparently not wholly unlike the feeling you get when you need to get to the bedside of a dying loved one. 

Gabe and I had talked about claiming her back at one point.  Our group had moved on and we had purchased Bourbonology so the cash flow wasn’t there – especially to take on a filly who I felt, at the very least, needed 6 months on a farm somewhere and quite possibly was ruined as a racehorse.  Gabe was divesting himself of all interests in racing and, retired and battling some health issues, really didn’t have the disposable income either.  We made business decisions.  Sound business decisions, but shitty – at least on my end - humanitarian ones.  Perhaps not.  As a steward of other people’s money – several who joined AFTER Kat moved on, how could I possibly spend it on a horse that was having issues, possibly unsound and may never race again? 

It is a decision that will haunt me for a while.  As folks that are in the equine retirement business know, you can’t save them all.  I know the course I would have taken if she were ours, but she wasn’t.  Virtually no owner can go and buy back every racehorse they’ve ever owned a part of when they feel the horse should be retired or need a break either. 

Kat deserved better. Our Tabby Lane is in foal to the Storm Cat stallion, Eastwood Dacat, and due to deliver in March.  The obvious name is Tabby Dacat.  I may change the spelling to Tabby DaKat. 

Rest in peace, sweetie.  I’m so very sorry.

Third Time the Charm for Kat at Calder?

The morning line maker at Calder Race Course feels like the third time will be the charm for E Sveikata.  Our two year filly goes postward as the luke warm morning line favorite at 3-1.  Analogy, a filly she beat by 6 ¼ last out is the 4-1 second choice.  Our gal has a lot to commend her but this field of $32,000 maiden claimers is not just going to roll over for her.  She picks up an extra furlong and a half to 6 ½ for this race and that should work out nicely for her.

Of course I am traveling this week and, even worse, have a 2 PM meeting in Michigan with the race scheduled to go off at 2:18 PM ET the odds are not good that I’ll be able to see it live – or at all until I reach the hotel later that evening.  I’m willing to guess that I will know the result not long after I leave that meeting, though.

From the inside out:

Carolinaonmymind (O’Connell/Gallardo): O’Connell is scoring at 14% with first timers and usually has them prepped for a solid first effort.  A 2-yer old debuting on the rail is always a dicey proposition, however.

Senora de Lujan (Duco/Elver Nunez): A pair of fourth place finishes in her first two starts with the last in a maiden special.  Her Beyer suggests she didn’t improve much from race to race, but I’m sure the effort against better sharpened her up some.

Lori’s Image (Rose/Panici): Eight tries, eight times being beaten by double digit lengths.  She stays at the same level here and probably will deliver the same result.

Ariel’s Flyer (Warren/Monterrey): Kat had her by about 4 last time and she really didn’t fire, taking a step back in the slop.  The track looks to be dry tomorrow so an effort more like her debut is probably in order and that will make her tough in here.

Foxie Afleet (Olivares/Cruz): Another first timer with fair works but nothing that makes you think that this will be a winning debut.  May need one.

One Hot Tomato (Williams/Boraco): Only one posted work, 95^th out of 99 with a :52.3  Unless there are more “farm works” out there, this firster will need to race into shape.

Distinct Spirit (Smith/Rodriguez): Has flashed some early speed against better but faded.  Takes it down a notch here, but the extra furlong and a half does her no favors.

Connor’s Gold (Smith/Bocachica): Debut was not a bad effort in a $50,000 MCL.  She stalked nicely before fading – certainly no surprise from a first time starter.  She should improve off of that effort and with the drop in class she figures to be a factor if she’s fit enough.

E SVEIKATA (O’CONNELL/NUNEZ)

Analogy (Fawkes/Cruz): Second choice in Kat’s last race, took to the lead but gave way in the turn.  She carried her speed longer than she did in her debut, but that will be counteracted a bit by the extra furlong.

Kat comes into the race in fine form.  She has no issues to speak of and has been galloping very well.  Her last race was certainly a step up from her first but it’s important to remember that it was over a sloppy race track and that figures to be to her liking.  A couple of things to recall from the last race: she got off a step slow and when she was hustled to the front she had to steady a bit to avoid running up on the leaders heels.  She broke her momentum and lost a couple of lengths but was able to close well and really finish strongly.  The extra distance looks to be good for her as we have her pegged as a 7 furlong to a mile filly so she should really be coming into her own here.

Of course there are a myriad of ways that a horse can lose a race and with class droppers and a dry track, several others figure to give her a go in here.  If Eddie can rate her and she still has the ability to close into what should be a fair pace set by Analogy (hopefully pushed by Distinct Spirit) we should be in the mix coming to the wire.

E Sveikata Takes on Seven in Debut

                     E Sveikata as a foal (Even the Score-My Philly-Cimarron Secret) - Photo Credit: Gabe Puniska

The months of build-up are finally over.  Race day is here for E Sveikata (Even the Score-MyPhilly-Cimarron Secret) and we get to see what we have under the hood.  Prior to the end of the 7^th race at Calder tomorrow, everything is possible.  Win this race by daylight making very little effort; jump right into an overnight stake because she won THAT impressively; maybe one last start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies before turning out for a few months.  ALL of that is possible before the race is run.  After the race is finished we’ll know the reality.  The dream may still be alive or it may have just changed a bit…or a lot.  There is no way to tell until you run with meaning.

Two year old maiden races are always difficult to handicap for me.  I’m not a student of pedigree and tend to rely on others for that type of analysis.  More than anything, I tend to just pass these races and not even wager.  I probably will place a supportive wager on our gal here, though.  How can you not?  Here is a look at field and what passes as 2-year old maiden analysis for me (sometimes you just have to know what you’re not good at, right?!) for the $32,000 Maiden Claiming race going 5 ½ furlongs at Calder over the main track.

Pure Anticipation (Catanese/Cruz) 8-1 – One of four first time starters in the field.  The red hot Cruz aboard (though winless for Catanese this year).  Works have been solid though not spectacular. Trainer only 4% with first timers.

Emma’s Image (Rose/Argueta) 15-1 - Two solid early starts but simply blistered after the summer layoff in a Maiden $40,000 losing by over 47 lengths.  Drops a bit into here but seems to be less effective the longer she goes.

Classy and Serene (Pinchin/Jara) 8-1 – First time starter, one pedestrian work.  Trainer is 22% with first timers, though and 36% with a positive ROI in Maiden Claiming debuts.  Off just the single work you’d like to write her off, but hard to ignore those trainer numbers.

Seek the Dream (O’Connell/Galviz) 4-1 – Solid debut at this level on 9/2.  Kat’s stablemate is eligible to improve off her maiden effort where she showed some early speed before tiring late.  The reduction of a half furling won’t hurt either.

Eva’s Pearl (Gleaves/Jose Garcia) 5-2 – A sharp third at this level last out to repeat winner ($16,000CL nw2) Bel Dancing earned her position as the morning line favorite.

E SVEIKATA (O’CONNELL/NUNEZ) 6-1

Pine Walk (Fawkes/Rios) 8-1 – Badly beaten in a Maiden Special Weight last out, this type of class relief always helps, though there wasn’t much speed shown at all in that debut race.

Maddie O’s Prize (White/Saez) 3-1 – First time daughter of Graeme Hall is the second choice at 3-1.  A long, solid work pattern and a trainer that wins at a rate of 19% with first time starters.

Here is where I usually explain how our horse has a chance to win this race and how things need to come together.  This is an eight horse race with 4 first time starters and three others making only their second start – I have no idea what the hell is going to happen!

I think that Kat will show some speed.  Her mom won at first asking and was “get to the lead and catch me” kind of horse.  Eva’s Pearl and Seek the Dream both had reasonable debuts and certainly wouldn’t surprise anyone if they stepped up in this spot.  We could have rain tomorrow and that may impact her positively as well, though nearly every horse in the race has a high wet Tomlinson number.

Do I want a win in here?  You bet your boots I do!  But do I EXPECT a win in here?  No – I think that’s too much to ask from any 2-year old doing this for the first time.  But she’s proven that she is smart, quick, aggressive and relatively calm by nature so she certainly can’t be ruled out.

Unfortunately I will be on a plane tomorrow as the race goes off.  I may hook in to the wifi on board but we may be on our final approach and not be able to boot up the ipad or the computer to watch!  Like flying isn’t stressful enough…