Mr. Fantasy - Status Update - June 1, 2009

From Terry

Just wanted to give you an up to the hour update on our colt.
I just talked to Kiaran from his barn at Belmont. He, along with his main assistant Artie, and the barn vet went over Mr. F. from head to toe this morning.
By way of review, late yesterday Kiaran instructed Artie to have the hind glue oneshoes removed just see what kind of difference that made. Our colt jogged on the road today better, but not perfect. He's a touch off right front and also a touch off left hind.
Bottom line, we, collectively made the right call by not pushing on here. These little issues almost always turn into large, and often career ending, injuries if adequate care and time is not given. I always tell myself this industry would be a whole lot easier if we were dealing with machines - we're not - we are dealing living, breathing creatures made of bone and muscle.
So, where do we go from here? We'll have this colt in to have a full body scintigraphy within the next 48 hours. The procedure should pinpoint exactly what is going on inside his body.
What's the most likely outcome? My guess is he has a strained muscle or bruised bone somewhere and a little time off and TLC will do the trick.
Over the years, we've found the most effective treatment for any horse is giving them time out of training. An old saying on the track "Either you give them time, or they will take it themselves" may very well ring true here with this colt.
I understand this is a disappointing turn of events for everyone involved. Please trust we will do everything in our power to get him back to the races so he can be all that he can be.