Dilemma

Posted by Avram Freedberg

Ahvee’s Destiny had another “bullet workout” yesterday. She was the fastest of all those who worked 4 furlongs on the grass. When I heard that she had no heat in her feet, I was excited… until Linda said she wore down her rear hooves. This would indicate that she may be experiencing some discomfort and running in an unusual manner to relieve the discomfort. Linda will be watching her carefully over the next few days.

Ahvee’s Destiny was the Queen of Linda’s Stable for a while. However, when Canadian Ballet beat her and went on to win several other Stakes races, Ballet became Linda’s turf darling, just as Mother Russia is her darling on dirt (both are owned by Obviously New York Stable whom we’ve partnered with on 4 2-yr.olds). The reason I’m bringing this up is because I have a dilemma. Ahvee’s Destiny is our darling. Since the two darlings run in similar races, Linda seems to be giving preference to Canadian Ballet. For example, she is pointing Ballet to the Keeneland race with the $100,000 purse that she at first said Ahvee would run in (Ballet was going to run in a higher level Stakes called a Grade 3 Stakes) for the same purse money. Ahvee’s race was not Graded. This was okay with me. However, she has now opted to aim Ahvee for a much cheaper race at Gulfstream, while putting Ballet in the easier $100K race at Keeneland (easier than the Graded Stakes which would attract a higher level crowd and is open to the boys as well as the girls).

She feels that Ahvee has done so well because Linda has placed her in the right kind of races. Good management for a good horse (but not as good as Ballet). Well, I feel that Ballet is a good horse too but we’re not scared of facing her, if need be. Ahvee’s Destiny HAS been the beneficiary of Linda’s good management. No doubt. However, Ahvee’s Destiny also has talent and a lot of heart. So, it is hard for me to want to take a backseat to Ballet.

Linda also is fixated on Ahvee’s Destiny being a turf sprinter at no more than 5 ½ furlongs. She may be right but in my business, we test such theories. Even when we’re sure we’re right, we test. Often, we find we weren’t so right. The next grand slam product turns into a bunt… or even worse, a strikeout! So, Ahvee maybe exactly what she thinks she is but if she can do more, there are many more opportunities, many more races to choose from and more purse money to be won.

What are our choices? We can insist that she enter the horse in the races we believe she should be entered in. We can insist she runs her at different distances, maybe even on different surfaces (in addition to dirt, there are many synthetic tracks). However, this sets up an adversarial relationship with the trainer. Further, if the trainer does not believe a horse can do certain things, she might not train them in a way that would be most helpful to the horse’s competing successfully. She might even (subconsciously, of course) train her to lose to prove her point. Is that professional? Certainly not… but its been known to happen. I can guarantee you when you send back an overcooked fish you ordered in a restaurant, the replacement will be almost rare a goodly percentage of the time.

Of course, you can go with another trainer. This happens all the time. However, for me, there is discomfort in going that route too. Linda found this horse. She’s trained her for almost 4 years. We had many exciting races together. Etc. Etc. Etc. It is a difficult decision. One owner had his horse claimed away when Linda thought the horse’s soundness was in question and the new trainer got him to win 2 Graded Stakes in a row after claiming him for $25K. So, Linda can be wrong.

Anyway, that is the dilemma. It’ll be a tough decision.

Speaking of claiming horses. Holy Blitzer just won at the $12,500 level and Linda has entered her again this Saturday to run at the $15,000 level… not a big jump. Are we ready to lose her? I sure was after her first start but now that she’s a winner… I guess we’ll see what happens with this horse too.

Hope you’re enjoying your Passover, Easter or just the current and upcoming good weather.

Best,
A.

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