Saints New Weapon

Born to Run Racing Partners

1/30/21 TRAINER UPDATE

How do you as a racehorse trainer determine whether you believe a racehorse can run short distance (250-350 yards) or long distances (400+ yards) better?

The first initial thought process comes from the build of the horse....how long they are and how tall. The second thing we look at is how the horse moves and how long their stride is. A short strided horse that beats the track harder will typically run better in short distances. Now although we are always evaluating a horse and what their strengths and weaknesses are, at the end of the day we never truly know until the horse runs down the track. Even when all of the signs tell us a horse will run a particular way, they can still surprise you!

What does the transition from the training farms to the race track look like for babies and older horses?

The older horses have been through the process so there are not too many changes for them. The babies have to be acclimated to the process prior to taking them to the track. We do not like breaking horses at the track as we feel there is potential for major disasters if the babies aren't ready. Our program usually sends the babies to the track about one week prior to them getting their first official workout.

How hard is it to get a race at Remington Park and why?

Remington Park is one of the premier quarter horse race meets in the country in terms of purse money and competition. With this being the case there are a lot of horses competing for an opportunity to get entered in races which makes the entry process difficult. In some races where they only take 10 or 12 horses we may have to draw in against 20-30 horses. At times it is simply luck of the draw to get in.

Do you enjoy training and running 2 year olds or older horses more?

There truly isn't a preference. All ages of horses have a lot of enjoyable things for a trainer to be watching.

How is Saints New Weapon doing?

He is on a little down time due to a sore growth plate in his knee. He is about to get back into training and we will be working him in late February if all goes as planned.

12/10/20 TRAINER UPDATE

What is the weekly training regime for the babies?

All of our babies are galloping on the track six days a week if the weather permits it. We are just now starting to introduce a little speed to the babies. All will be converting from western tack to flat tack in the very near future. Once we start adding speed on a more consistent basis we will back them down a day or two on going to the track.

What supplements do the racehorses receive while in training?

This time of year all of the babies are receiving supplements that are designed to protect and strengthen their bones, tendons and joints. After the first of the year they will start supplements that help performance and mental health

What is the most important trait that you want to see your racehorses have?

Intelligence is most definitely the most important trait that the majority of successful racehorses have. You can have all of the talent in the world, but if the horse doesn't know how to utilize it and how to focus and take care of themselves you will never get their full potential to show up in the races. A good horse knows that when they are in their stalls they should be eating and resting, but when they go to the track they are laser focused and ready to do their jobs. This is usually what separates the good horses from the great ones.

Why don't you typically run the majority of your 2 year old racehorses in schooling races?

The majority of the babies that we are training are typically running in futurities that are late enough that schooling races are not always a necessity. If we have time to get a baby in a maiden race vs a schooling race we would always prefer that not just because of the money they get to run for, schooling races have no purse money, but they also get even more of the actual live racing experience in an early maiden race. We have ran a lot of babies in schooling races over the years and if a particular situation requires us to run them in one it isn't a problem at all. Just not our preference.

Which racehorse is the fastest you have ever trained in your careers?

High Rate of Return. We have trained a lot of racehorses that were very good and had certain traits that were more impressive than High Rate, but in terms of speed alone High Rate of Return had to be the fastest. He was a freak.

Which racehorse has been your favorite to train over the years?

Ed's favorite was One Rare Bug. He was the first AQHA Champion that the Hardy's had ever trained and was just one tough SOB. In 2002, his championship year, he won one Grade 1 and four Grade 3 races. Unbelievable horse. Kari says she has a favorite every year but will never let anyone know who it is!

11/25/20 TRAINER UPDATE

Where are Saint and Pull Toy at mentally in the game?

Both of these horses are doing really well mentally. Both of them have different personalities. Saint is really aggressive and sometimes gets himself a little too tense so we are going to work on his nerves moving forward. Pull Toy is very laid back and calm which is very typical of the PYC Paint Your Wagon bloodlines.

When will you start schooling the babies in the starting gates?

They are both walking through the gates now and starting to be introduced to what they are all about. We will continue to take them to the gates slowly and just start adding speed as time goes by. The goal will be to start breezing them out of the gates around the 1st of the year and then progress to full works as soon as they are mentally ready.

What weaknesses do you see that we could possibly need to overcome?

Right now Saint is just pretty amp'd up and we need to get him to calm down a little. We have experience doing this with other horses that have acted like him in the past so we are confident we can get him where he needs to be.

What currently excites you about this colt?

We like the way Saint moves, the way he looks and the way he is bred. He has all of the tools to be a big time race horse.

11/6/20 TRAINER UPDATE

How is the horse doing and what are some of the things you like about them?

This horse really looks the part and is bred to do the job. He was a little squirrley at first but since he has went to work he has settled in and things are going well. He will be fun to see progress.

What are some things we would like to see improvements on?

Quiet down a little, but this "hotness" comes with the bloodlines.

What are future plans and hopes for this horse?

The plan will be to run him in a maiden allowance race at Remington Park prior to the Heritage Place Futurity trials that he is entered in.

785-614-1489

41071 OK-59 | Asher, OK, 74826

[email protected]

41071 OK-59,

Asher, OK, 74826

Phone: 785-614-1489