Angels

[irishtrekker]

No!!! Crap, I really loved him. What happened?

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by irishtrekker

No!!! Crap, I really loved him.

I'm really sorry.

What I heard was that he had the first workout this morning and..... and that they couldn't save him.

[irishtrekker]

Poor baby. I know he couldn't run a straight line, but he was striking. I always have a soft spot for the troublemakers. RIP, NJJ.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by irishtrekker

Poor baby. I know he couldn't run a straight line, but he was striking. I always have a soft spot for the troublemakers. RIP, NJJ.

I do too.

This just came up on Del Mar barn notes...

STAKES RUNNER NEW JOYSEY JEFF EUTHANIZED AFTER INJURY New Joysey Jeff, who finished third in the second division of the Oceanside Stakes on Del Mar’s opening day program July 19, suffered fractured sesamoids in his left front leg while working on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course this morning, and was euthanized. The 3-year-old son of Bright Launch, trained by Mark Glatt, was in the midst of a 5-furlong work when the injury occurred. He was the first worker on the course and the rest of today’s work schedule was canceled.

In the Oceanside, the colt got to the lead in mid-stretch but ducked out under left-handed whipping and was outfinished by winner Obrigado and Porto Santo. He was put on the steward’s list following that race. Jockey Corey Nakatani, who was on the horse for today’s work, said of the Oceanside incident, “He was lugging in on me and I was trying to straighten him out. I hit him left-handed and he ducked out severely. He’s a colt with a ton of ability, though, and we’ve just got to work to make him better.” In Hollywood Park’s Grade III Cinema Breeders’ Cup Handicap, his race prior to the Oceanside, the horse ducked out in the stretch and dumped rider Jose Valdivia, who suffered a broken collarbone in the incident.

Rest in peace.

[irishtrekker]

Man, that just stinks. I wonder if he would have been happier in another line of work...I've never heard of a horse breaking his seisamoids during a workout, although I'm sure it's happened. Maybe an underlying injury from the last race? Poor baby.

Thanks for the info, MMSC.

[my miss storm cat]

Knights Templar.

Rest in peace, beautiful girl.....

From DRF.....
For Vella, a weekend of grief and cheer

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - It would be an understatement to say the past week has been bittersweet for Woodbine-based trainer Danny Vella.
Last Saturday, the Vella-trained Like a Gem registered a major upset in the $252,800 Wonder Where Stakes. But just two days earlier, Knights Templar, Canada's 2-year-old filly champion under Vella's handling last season, had to be euthanized following a battle with lymphoma, a form of cancer.

Knights Templar, a Kentucky-bred, and Like a Gem, an Ontario-bred, had both come into the 2006 Woodbine meeting with high expectations. Knights Templar raced only once, however, finishing second in the six-furlong Star Shoot on April 30.

Knights Templar, who spent her last days at the Woodlands Farm of Gail Wood, underwent a series of tests before lymphoma was diagnosed.

"I have to commend Gail Wood and her crew," said Vella, who also was a member of the partnership that owned Knights Templar. "They did an amazing job, keeping her happy and comfortable. She didn't suffer a lot."

Knights Templar had stamped herself a cut above her peers here last year with a 13 1/4-length win in the Grade 3 Mazarine, a 1 1/16-mile race. She went on to finish sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Belmont under Gary Stevens.

This year, Knights Templar opened with a sixth-place finish in Gulfstream's Sunshine Millions Oaks before returning in the Star Shoot. Overall, she won 3 of 9 starts and finished second twice for earnings of $329,117.

Like a Gem began her season in promising fashion, with the Woodbine Oaks on June 11 her prime target. Her preparations were compromised this spring, though, when a virus swept through the Woodbine backstretch, and she finished last of 10 as the 4-1 second choice in the Woodbine Oaks.

"She seemed to be all right going into the Oaks, but obviously she wasn't," said Vella.

After getting a breather on the farm, Like a Gem made her turf debut in the 6 1/2-furlong Ontario Damsel here July 29, when she finished six lengths back in sixth place.

"She had a nightmare trip there," said Vella. "It's amazing she ran as well as she did."

Like a Gem, owned and bred by Garland Williamson, recorded her first stakes victory in the Wonder Where. She also has placed in two stakes on the main track.

"She's in tip-top shape right now, and we can run her where we wish to," said Vella.

Possibilities for Like a Gem's next race include the $150,000 Duchess, a 7 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies here Aug. 12, and the $125,000 Ontario Colleen, a one-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies here Sept. 2.

[my miss storm cat]

Early Ronan, trained by Gary Stute, suffered fractured sesamoids in her left foreleg this morning while working 4 furlongs on the main track. The 4-year-old filly was euthanized. It was the ninth equine death, the third during training hours, at Del Mar since the season opened, July 19.

Rest in peace.