Hall of Fame trainer Bob McIntosh patiently waited two years for his millionaire pacer, Nebupanezzar, to show him he was healed and ready to race again.

When he did return, the five-year-old gelding gave him the answer he had hoped for. Nebupanezzar surfaced at Mohawk Racetrack's Friday morning (July 1) qualifiers with an off-the-pace effort in an impressive 1:51.1. But it was a long, arduous journey to get the winning pacer back to form.

McIntosh’s star pupil, who took the 2008 O'Brien Award as Canadian harness racing's two-year-old colt pacer of the year, suffered a bowed tendon as a three-year-old. After surgery to repair the tendon, the gelding was given a year off to heal.

When McIntosh brought Nebupanezzar back, his tendon flared again and the decision was made to shut the then four-year-old down and send him back to where he had his surgery and to the care of Dr. Larry Bramlage of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky.

“I was very disappointed at that stage because he is such a great horse with a huge motor, a great gate and loved to race,” recalled McIntosh.

The Windsor, Ontario native discussed options with Dr. Bramlage, who suggested they try stem cell injections, which would hopefully grow new tissue for the tendon.

“It was the first one I have ever done,” McIntosh said of the stem cell procedure. “I was very pleased with the way he responded. His legs look great, but it is a week at a time. Right now, he is very sound.”

The four-time O'Brien Award-winning trainer admits he couldn’t have brought Nebupanezzar back without the help of owner Bob Glazer, the man behind Peter Pan Stables Inc.

“It was a very long process and costly,” he stated. “My hat is off to Bob because he was willing to put the money into the horse and take the time. He never pressured me one minute to bring him back and told me to take my time. That’s what we did.

“We talked it over and we weren’t going to race him at all if he didn’t come back 100 per cent. If he didn’t make it back to the races, he had a home on my farm for the rest of his life with my broodmares.”

It would take McIntosh around six months to train his gelding back.

Taking Dr. Bramlage’s advice, he trained Nebupanezzar as though he was a two-year-old: extra cautious, extra mileage and slow miles.

Even after the recent qualifier, McIntosh will take it week by week, knowing his pacer has the potential to go with the top Open stars if he can stay sound.

“He’s trained back excellent. I trained him a couple of times at my farm track in 1:54 and I knew he was ready to go a big mile. The way it set up was perfect for him. I was very please with how easy he did it. I think he can race with the best there is.”

McIntosh hinted he might enter Nebupanezzar for next Saturday, but acknowledges it will take a few starts to see just how far he’s come.

Regardless, McIntosh is thrilled to see his talented and tenacious horse back on track.

(WEG)