Of course I had to go say goodbye this morning, as Sumwon prepares to ship tomorrow afternoon for her late summer home at the Spa. I was kinda hoping the Ledgers would be there, but not this morning.
First, Brass Hat went out at the same time ("I got to see Brass Hat!") - boy, he looks good, guys. I was standing behind who I believe his trainer as he worked (I don't know what Buff Bradley looks like, could ask Chuck if that was him) - DRF lists Brass Hat as 5f in 59.8, and the trainer clocked him 4f in 47. He was smoking, easily! To give you an idea, the bullet on the listed works this am came in at 49.1. Geesh, this horse looks great!
Sumwonlovesyou looks great, too, and is feeling fine. While Cherie was tacking her up, she tried to get Sumwon to show how she would grab the back of Cherie's jeans, and pull her around the stall. No, she didn't do it for me
It was very busy on the track this morning. Cherie did her usual warmup routine down in the chute, then brought her out and let her gallop around. Chuck asked for something easy, just a little blowout in 50, which is just what was delivered. She came back feeling well and jaunty. This girl does love to run, and wants to go on. Cherie said she got all her lead changes readily and easily today.
Cherie and I were talking a bit about what Sumwon felt like galloping - Cherie said she's a little up and down and poundy until she's allowed to run on (which Sumwon wants to do), then she opens up, levels out, and is very smooth and comfortable.
Sumwon looks great when she moves out, big stride, a very smooth way of going - you can appreciate that on her Arlington replay. Compare her 2-year-old races at the Mountain, even her first CD race, to her current form when running - quite a difference. She's learned to be a race horse.
Cherie was recalling what Sumwon was like when she first arrived - "Whew, she was a handful!" Cherie has worked so hard with this horse. Just after the work Cherie left for New York, and I was very happy to hear Cherie will be at Saratoga, continuing to be Sumwon's exercise girl.
Note to GPK - I put in a good word for you with Cherie. You owe me
There has been such a change in this horse since Chuck acquired her for us and has been working with her. Sumwon just turned three April 4th, and is really maturing now. She's big, with well-developed muscles. I stood up to her and measured her, she every bit of a full 16.2. Chuck guessed she might weigh out at 1100 now.
Certainly she filled out and gained weight once she had a month under Chuck's care last spring, but now her chest has dropped and widened, and she has a powerful, gorgeous hind end. Look at her Arlington "down the stretch" picture and you can see how much bigger, wider and filled-out she is compared to the other two fillies.
After her bath, I ate two peppermints, and Sum got two. I think Chuck is going to make some house rules for daily peppermint ingestion limits at the Spa
Chuck is all in "Saratoga mode". He got barn info at SAR this morning, and I imagine he'll post that for everyone.
Wait until the "eastern" partners get to see your filly in person - she's impressive!
That's all I got. Goodbye from Kentucky, Sumwon, travel safe!
