Two Punch euthanized at 28

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

The San Miguel was his 3rd race of his 2yo year. Essentially, all horses buck their shins to one degree or another. Certainly not a shocking turn of events for a fast working, early 2yo type and certainly not a malady isolated to the Gary Jones barn.

Wow. If you can't see the difference between a 2yo that bucks it's shins and one that is run intentionally with bucked shins, than you are either hopeless or disingenuous.

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Obviously, he didn't do a very thorough job of ruining the colt. He ran until he was 6 years old and placed in multiple stakes (sprints of course) at age 5.

So, let me get this straight. He starts off his career four for four, not all in state bred company, winds up 5 for 21, and that is just because he was running against open company? Yeah.

In his fifth start, and I don't care what you say, Best Pal was a very nice 3yo, and Dinard? He was a freak, and he gave Dinard all he could handle.

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Again, who were these promising horses you speak of? Timebank was another breakneck speedball that no one would have kept going. Other than the odd Saron Stable or Allen Paulson horse, I'm not sure he had a steady supply of young horses to trash in the first place.

He had numerous two and early three year olds that went one or two starts and done, while showing much promise. I can think of a few, but the names elude me right now.

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

If Jones had a major fault compared to anyone else in CA it was that he loved to ship his good horses all over the place. He probably knocked more out criss-crossing the country back and forth than he did sending to early retirements.

That's funny you say that. That's the one thing I respected about him, that he wasn't a ***** about shipping. I don't remember, however, him shipping his horses nearly as much as you are making that out to be.

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Actually, as soon as he was back sprinting all he did was tie the world's record for 5.5f on the turf at Hollywood Park. Of course, once he had to start facing real sprinters he was further exposed from a class standpoint.

As soon as he was back to sprinting? He routed twice! He didn't beat Forest Glow in that 'world record' race as an early season 3yo.

You also know as well as I do that the 5.5f turf world record was set about 72 times over that HP turf course in two years. Seeing as that was his only win past about January or so of his three year old season, I would not trump that as evidence that all was right with him.

As for your comment about him being exposed from a class standpoint, that's nonsense. One, the Apollo that won the San Miguel would have beaten most sprinters in the country that day, as a freaking 2yo. The Sanford winner was in the race, don't forget. Formal Dinner, I thought, was underrated, and certainly was no Cal bred.

Also, he was not running in top company at all the last couple of years. Unless you count GGF as top flight racing.

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Again, blame the owners. Gary Jones never thought the horse was a Derby candidate. He was forced to run him in the San Rafael instead of $100 grander at Golden Gate. Ironically, its the performance you seem to champion most in the horse's career, yet fail to see it as the most likely point where he busted his gut.

I'll concede that one to you. About the owners that is.

Ironically, you said he had his own way in the San Rafael, so I'm not really sure how he busted his gut.

I just found this old Bill Christine article. You might enjoy it.

He actually was a pretty good writer, looking back.

http://articles.latimes.com/1990-12-..._1_santa-anita