Updates

Phosphorescent has gone to the racetrack the past two days and is moving 100%. We are all systems go for the $100,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint on Saturday, October 2nd at Laurel.
Rain is expected in Maryland today and tomorrow, but the forecast is sunny the rest of the week. It is very unlikely that the race is taken off the turf, but we have nominated to the $100,000 Woodford Stakes (G3) on October 9th at Keeneland as a backup plan.

Click here to see the past performances.
Date: Saturday, October 2nd
Track: Laurel
Conditions: Maryland Million Turf Sprint
Distance: 5 1/2 furlongs (Turf)
Race #: 5Time: 2:42 EDT
Post position: 7 of 11
Jockey: Victor Molina
Purse: $100,000



From Terry:
I got a text from Mike Hushion at 6 am on Sunday to call him about Mr. Fantasy. "I knew we had an issue - what a sick feeling". Mike mentioned our colt had quite a bit of filling and pressure in one ankle and higher than normal pressure in the other.
All summer long Mike Hushion and the West Point Team talked about running in a softer spot so he could "feel good about himself once again". Like a maestro, Mike bought him along slowly and knew in his heart the horse would shine if given plenty of time. The horse told us he was ready. We got the final Saratoga condition book, and there was our target - a two other than allowance going six furlongs that would test our colt but allow him to dominate his opponents if he was anything near the horse he was in 2009.
Everyone who saw him that day in the paddock and on the racetrack knew this was a different horse. No more fretting. No more antics at the gate. Just a professional effort from a superbly talented horse.
It's tough to have a horse come up sore six days before a Grade One race he most likely would have been favored in. I've been attached to this horse since I laid eyes on him as a yearling on the sales grounds at Saratoga. Every trainer who's had him (Nick DeMeric as a yearling, Kiaran as a two and three year-old and now Mike Hushion) can't say enough about his courage and talent. It's sad but true - fast horses and brave horses are usually the ones with higher injury rates (the slow one don't run fast enough to injure themselves).
A good number of trainers would have just worked this colt, injected his ankles, ran him in the Vosburgh, and hoped for the best. However, when you love horses the way we do - you always put their interests above all else. Mike is a veteran horseman who knows his horses inside and out, just like any top notch trainer does. Instead of getting to the Vosburgh on the skin of our teeth, Mike did the right thing.
We'll get him down to Dr. Baker over the weekend. Mr. Fantasy most likely either has another chip in his ankle or cartilage damage. Baker is the man for the job since he can compare where we are now to Mr. Fantasy's ankles in May of 2009.
More to follow - just know he is in great hands and we'll do everything we can to get him back to the races (that is, if he has a decent shot to return at the same level). Plenty of horses have come back to successful racetrack careers after repeated ankle issues.
Please know this was a tough one for all of us. I just very glad that whatever happens with his physical condition - our colt is going to "be all right

Brave Monarch had some inflammation in his ankles this week. Mike’s vet took precautionary x-rays and found no structural damage. Many two-year-olds go through stages of minor aches and pains. Because of this, Mike is training this horse on a day to day schedule. Once our colt’s ankles settle down, his training intensity will be increased. This sets his race schedule back, but the good news is there is no structural damage


The Defense Rests continues walking the shedrow twice a day at Kirkwood. He is also turned out in a small paddock for a few hours each day to enjoy the sunshine. Kip Elser has him on schedule to resume jogging next week. After jogging for a few weeks, TDR will resume gallops. We are holding a conference call with Kip on Tuesday, October 5th at 2pm to discuss our horse’s progress. Details to follow.

The Highs and Lows

Mr. Fantasy was scheduled to work on Sunday morning at Belmont. However, Mike noticed significant swelling and pressure in both of his front ankles, and he was not comfortable breezing.
Very bad timing to say the least as we are forced to skip the Vosburgh this weekend. We understand that this is an extremely frustrating situation, but we want to do the right thing by this horse.

We plan to send Mr. Fantasy to Dr. Baker in Kentucky over the next few days so he can do a full evaluation of our colt. Dr. Baker treated him last year and will be able to give us the clearest view as to where we stand. It is not known if surgery is necessary at this point in time, and we will be back in touch after conferring with our chief veterinary consultant.


Phosphorescent worked five furlongs in 1:01.89 on Saturday morning at Parx Racing at Philadelphia. The work was 15th of 26 at the distance. Lupe actually caught him in a minute and change. Lupe said, “That was a good work for this horse. He is not the fastest work horse in the world, especially on dirt.”

Phosphorescent took an awkward step in the gallop out of the breeze and pulled up slightly off in his right front leg. Lupe called Dr. Hanf out to the barn to have Phosphorescent evaluated. X-rays of his right front revealed no structural damage. There was also no heat or swelling in the leg. Dr. Hanf concluded that our colt just stung himself a little bit, and suggested giving the leg one round of shockwave treatment on Sunday morning. Dr. Hanf also scoped our turf lover, and he scoped CLEAN. Good news

On Sunday morning Lupe reports that Phosphorescent jogged completely sound. Dr. Hanf still shockwaved him because he felt it couldn’t hurt and could alleviate any very minor stiffness in the leg. Phosphorescent was sound this morning as well. However, he did not train because the track was a sloppy mess due to the rain. More rain is expected overnight, so he will likely skip training tomorrow.

We fully intend on running the $100,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint on Saturday, October 2nd at Laurel. Entries are taken on Wednesday. Both Lupe and Dr. Hanf are confident that our colt is 100% and that we dodged a bullet here. It has been quite a roller coaster ride with this horse over the past few weeks, but hopefully it will all be worth it on Saturday.

Cartoon

Workout

Phos worked at at Parx racing at Philly Park going 5 F in 1:01:89 15 of 26

Belmont Park Notes

Belmont Park Notes: "The Grade 1, $350,000 Vosburgh Invitational at six furlongs is expected to draw Girolamo, who will be making only his second start of the year after achieving three wins from four starts during his 2009 campaign, with the only loss coming in the Breeders’ Cup Classic; Latigo Shore, coming off of a third place effort in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga Race Course; and Mr. Fantasy, who was an easy winner in his last race at Saratoga. Also probable for the race is the 5-year-old veteran Riley Tucker; Temecula Creek, a recent stakes winner at Monmouth Park; Snapshot, making his first Grade 1 start after back-to-back Grade 2 starts, including a runner-up in the True North this June at Belmont; and Wall Street Wonder, looking to get back on track after his last victory in the Grade 3 Toboggan in March at Aqueduct. Richard Dutrow trained Golden Spikes is listed as questionable."

Updates

Mr. Fantasy came out of Saturday’s work in great shape. He is scheduled to have his last work in preparation for the Vosburgh on Sunday or Monday. Click here to see a video of Saturday’s work

Phosphorescent is set to breeze over the weekend. Dr. Hanf will scope him after the work as a precaution before the race. We are on target for the $100,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint on Saturday, October 2nd at Laurel. Nominations close for the race tomorrow. Phosphorescent has been nominated to the race. We enter a week from today. Victor Molina remains our pilot even though Phos was feeling so good on Tuesday that he tried to dump him

Brave Monarch continues galloping each morning at Belmont. Mike wants to give him an extra week of galloping before resuming speed work. This colt is doing great physically; Mike just wants to get some extra fitness back into him before he starts back on the worktab. We remain on target to see this colt debut in November if all goes well.

The Defense Rests continues walking the shedrow twice daily at Kirkwood Farm. Kip Elser has been at the Keeneland yearling sales, and is set to return to the farm over the weekend. He wants to take a look over this colt before he goes back into training. He expects he will resume jogging in early October with the plan of galloping in November. We have mentioned the possibility of sending this horse to both New York and Florida once he gets a foundation back underneath him. Once he starts speedwork at Kirkwood, we will confer with Mike Hushion and see where he would like him go to continue training for a return to the races

Workout

Mr Fantasy worked out this morning over the Belmont Main Track going 4f in 48.44 4 of 51

Mike was pleased with the work. Mr. Fantasy just cruised around the racetrack. Most importantly, he cooled out well after the work. We remain on target for the $350,000 Vosburgh Invitational (gr. I) going 6 furlongs on Saturday, October 2^nd at Belmont Park. Mike spoke with racing secretary PJ Campo and he indicated that it will likely be a 7 or 8 horse field, with the most notable entrant being Vineyard Haven. Ramon Dominguez has committed to ride Mr. Fantasy

Workout

Phos worked out this morning at the newly named PARX RACING AT PHILADELPHIA PARK firing a 5F bullet in 1:01:88 1of 5 looks like he has recovered nicely and working well

Lupe said, "He breezed very, very well." He has been doing well and Dr. Hanf was out at the barn this morning so Lupe went ahead and breezed our turf lover. Dr. Hanf scoped him after the work, and there was a little mucus, but not enough to cause much concern. Dr. Hanf did not think there was enough to warrant putting him on antibiotics. He will continue training normally and have his final breeze next week in preparation for the $100,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint on October 2nd at Laurel. Victor Molina has committed to come down to ride.

RaceDay

Sew Your Notes is going to make her maiden race Saturday Sept 18th at Finger Lakes in the 5th Race .

Updates

Mr. Fantasy is doing well since his romp at Saratoga. Mike reports that he is training very comfortably each day and he is set to breeze on Saturday morning at Belmont. If he comes out of the breeze in good shape, we will take dead aim on the $350,000 Vosburgh Invitational (gr. I) on October 2nd at Belmont. We think that our patience has paid off, and we think are in a good spot to notch a Grade 1 victory if Mr. Fantasy runs back to his last effort

Phosphorescent will be scoped over the next day or two in anticipation of a scheduled breeze on Saturday. Lupe wants to scope him on Friday before the work to make sure there is zero sign of mucus or irritation in his respiratory tract before the breeze. Lupe plans to breeze Phosphorescent this weekend then again next weekend in anticipation of his start in the $100,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint on October 2nd at Laurel. Victor Molina has committed to come down to ride

Brave Monarch is back galloping at Belmont Park and doing very well. Mike indicated that he will return to the worktab next week. Both his splint and quarter crack are no longer an issue. If all goes well, we should see him debut in November at Aqueduct

The Defense Rests had a blister applied to both front legs earlier this week. He is walking the shedrow daily and will resume jogging at the end of this month or in early October. He will jog for about a month before galloping. If all goes well, we will likely see him return to the races early in 2011 at Aqueduct

Updates

Phosphorescent is doing well and has shown no more signs of the lung infection. Lupe has decided that our best path to the Breeders' Cup runs through the state of Maryland and the $100,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint on October 2nd at Laurel Park. The race is restricted, and Phosphorescent would in Lupe's estimation be an odds-on choice in the race.
Phosphorescent was further flattered when Chamberlain Bridge easily won the Turf Monster on Monday. We legitimately were a diminishing half-length from probably the second best turf sprinter in the United States when we ran at Penn National. Lupe feels, when looking at last year's field for the BC Turf Sprint that Phosphorescent would get in if he won the Maryland Million. The selection committee, that fills out the final spots in the field, takes into account success on the turf, who's in good form, etc. With two allowance wins and the runner-up in the Governor's Cup, our resume is not empty. If we cannot win the Maryland Millions, we would not want to run in the BC anyway. While anything can happen, you don't get a chance to be odds-on for 100k too often. From a spacing standpoint, Lupe also really likes the race as we will have five weeks between the Maryland Millions and the Breeders' Cup.

Mr. Fantasy shipped back to Belmont and went back to the track for the first time since his win yesterday. Mike said his ankles are a still a bit puffy from the race. This is to be expected since we operated on his ankles. We know that they are not perfect and will have to be managed throughout the rest of his racing career.
We are going to take a hard look at the $350,000 Vosburgh Invitational (gr. I) on October 2nd at Belmont if everything is going well. We would love to use this race as a springboard for the Breeders' Cup Sprint on November 6th at Churchill Downs. We will have a more solid gameplan once Mr. Fantasy works back. Mike has not put a date on when this colt will work back, but it will likely be in about 10 days.

Brave Monarch has shipped from Saratoga to Belmont and settled in nicely. He returned to the track this morning and moved well. The splint is cold and is not bothering him after the freeze firing. The quarter crack on his foot is no longer an issue. Mike will have him jog for a few days before resuming gallops. We remain on target to see him debut this fall.

The Defense Rests had a little bit of heat in his knee earlier this week. They took an x-ray and did not find anything serious. The knee will never be perfect radiographically, but the fracture line has healed very nicely. They noticed some mild demineralization in the bottom joint. Kip's vet injected the joint with hylaronic acid and they gave him a shot of Polyglycan. Within a few days, the heat had subsided. The vet recommended putting a blister on both front legs to help promote blood flow to the area and to tighten things up before this horse resumes training. They will apply the blister in short order. He is walking the shedrow each day now, and will resume jogging a couple weeks after being blistered.

Bullet Workout

Sew Your Notes fired a bullet workout at Finger Lakes this morning going 5F(gate) in 1:01:30 1of 8

Mr Fantasy Post Win Comments

He's back! It's safe to say that when Mr. Fantasy is right he is one of the fastest horses in the country. After a few fits and starts, Mr. Fantasy returned to the starting gate and unleashed a tour-de-force performance in the "two other than" allowance at Saratoga.
Mr. Fantasy broke well and set the early pace through pressured early fractions of 21.4 and 44.2. Mr. Fantasy scooted away on the turn and opened up a daylight lead entering the stretch. He would improve his position from there drawing off to over a four-length win. He stopped the teletimer in a sharp 1:09.4. The chart description described just how easy the win was when it said, "light hand ride."
Click here for a pdf race chart and running line. .

Mike Hushion said, "I know everyone has been anxious about when this horse was going to run. I wanted to get him in a spot where we could see him finish off a field with that big gear he has on the turn. He hadn't really run away from them this year like that yet. We saw it in this race. His middle fractions are lights out. He will run you off your feet. This was a big race. We'll just have to see where we can go from here."

Ramon Dominguez said, "I just tried to keep my horse nice and relaxed. I didn't want to ask him until I had to. When I let him go, he took off. I didn't have to do too much with him. I just shook the reigns at him. They weren't going to get him."

Mr. Fantasy earned a dazzling 104Beyer for the race. He came out of the race well. We have not picked out our next race yet, however, we will keep all our options open. When Mr. Fantasy is right he is brilliant, so we have to take a look at where we could go to spring board us to the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Mr Fantasy Wins

A Outstanding performance by Mr Fantasy at Saratoga yesterday winning by 41/2 F with a easy handride . He was not his usual self in the saddling enclosure which is a good thing ..lol he was calm and saddled well .At the gate he loaded and made a great break unlike his last 2 starts if he can keep this up with his speed on the track we could soon see a huge race out of him .. Mr Fantasy earned a 104 beyer

Winners circle picture courtesy of Neema Ghazi of NYRA taken with his cellphone from clubhouse roof .

Mr Fantasy at Saratoga

Updates

Phosphorescent has jogged since Monday, but today was the first day that he did not cough at all. The cough has been persistent despite the bloodwork being normal. Lupe said that he will jog Phosphorescent for another day or two then turn him around to begin galloping. Lupe said there ard a few possible courses of action. We're not going to force it to make the Breeders' Cup. We are only a four-year-old, so we hopefully will have a long career ahead of us. Here are the most likely options as Lupe sees it:

Get an allowance race written at Philadelphia toward the middle of the month and use that as a prep race for the Nearctic(G1) on October 16th at Woodbine and have normal rest between races. The Nearctic is a win and you're in (Breeders; Cup) race.

Run in the Maryland Million Turf Sprint on October 2nd at Laurel. We'd likely be a heavy favorite. We could look to wheel back on short rest in the Nearctic, but Lupe would prefer three or more weeks between races.

Run in the Woodford Stakes(G3) on October 9th at Keeneland. Even though it is not a win and you're in race, a win should be enough to get us into the turf sprint. Lupe likes that timing into the Breeders' Cup the best as we'd have four weeks after the race.

We will see how he trains in the next few weeks before firming down a spot. We would love to make it to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, but things will need to fall into place over the next several weeks for us to commit.
At this point, we still have numerous paths open to us, so we're going to be flexible.

The Defense Rests has arrived at Kirkwood Farm in South Carolina. We followed up with the vet who x-rayed him when he was at Stonewall and he reported that the fracture in the knee has healed very nicely. The fracture line is barely visible on the radiograph. He would like The Defense Rests to be turned out for the next three weeks just be to completely sure that the line has filled in before resuming light training.

Brave Monarch had his splint freeze fired earlier this week. Mike reports that his quarter crack has resolved itself on its own, and was less of a problem than originally thought. Brave Monarch will return to the track in about a week. He will jog for a few days before galloping. With the minor setback, we are now looking at a late October or early November debut for this colt.

Race Day

Mr Fantasy drew into the race Saturday Sept 4th its the third race on the card PP1 with Ramon riding