If it was Joe Cirasuola who looked into a crystal ball last year, he would have balked at the very idea of believing a grey horse would bring him good
fortune.
For most of his career, the trainer admittedly wasn’t a fan of grey horses. But the words of a psychic and Ruff Me Up, a pacer on a six-race win streak, who’ll contest the $30,000 second leg of the WEGZ Series on Saturday evening at Woodbine, has definitely changed his mind.
Cirasuola still marvels at the way the mother of one of his workers can walk down his shedrow, analyze a horse’s current physical state, and be bang-on in her assessment.
So, when the woman told Cirasuola a grey horse would one day win a lot of races and money for him, he didn’t pass up the opportunity, just 48 hours later, when he had the chance to purchase Ruff Me Up, a pacing son of Real Artist, in 2011.
It wasn’t necessarily love at first sight.
“I never really liked grey horses and when we got this guy, the first three months, he couldn’t get out of his own way,” recalled Cirasuola. “He had issues his entire life, all kinds of things, and he just couldn’t seem to put it all together.”
Cirasuola then considered selling Ruff Me Up.
“I was going to sell him for $4,000 last fall at Sarnia after he didn’t fare well,” he remembered, of the horse that was originally a $61,000 purchase at the 2005 Lexington Select yearling sale. “But it didn’t happen, so we just moved on from there.”
Not long after, Ruff Me Up showed signs he was getting things on-track, punctuated by a strong second-place showing at Flamboro Downs on November 6, in a time of 1:54.2, after leading the field through a half-mile in a scorching :52.4.
An eight-length romp in his next start, at Windsor, was followed by a fourth at the same oval. After another win there on December 11, he finished second at the border track, a head loss, one week later.
Then, Ruff Me Up hit his best stride, literally.
A nearly 14-length score at Sports Creek Raceway in Michigan led to five more trips to the winner’s circle, one coming at Windsor, one at Western Fair, and the past three at Woodbine.
He’s been the favourite in just two of those six victories, including a 9-1 triumph at Woodbine on January 28.
“Shame on the public,” quipped Cirasuola. “His last effort (a two-length score in the first leg of the WEGZ Series), that’s the best he’s ever come out of a race. Ever since that second at Flamboro, he’s just been better and better each week.”
Ruff Me Up is also enjoying the fruits, so to speak, of his winning ways.
“He’s a really cool horse,” praised Cirasuola, of the lifetime winner of 20 races from 71 starts who has earned $212,166, for owner Shirley Halas of Northville, Michigan. “He’s got a great personality. Everyone comes over to see him and bring him carrots. He knows he’s doing well.”
And Cirasuola knows luck has smiled on him.
“I like grey horses,” he said. “I really do.”
Joe Cirasuola didn’t need a psychic to tell him that.
Ruff Me Up, with Keith Oliver in the bike, will leave from post four in the ninth race on Saturday night's card of harness racing. To view entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Woodbine Racetrack.
(WEG)
Well, here is some late info
Well, here is some late info re grey horses. I was told this a long time ago.
It seems the grey horses can frighten other horses who are not grey. They can reign supreme
in a field, in a qualifier or in an actual betting race.
For example, if a grey has the lead turning into the stretch, an outside horse will not always go by him.For some reason, the outside horse will hesitate and slow his gait enough to give the win to the grey horse.
Also, a grey horse is dangerous for stable help. Back in the past, at Greenwood, a horse by name of SILVER NIB LEE bit off the finger of a female who had connections with that horse. You almost never will see a grey go off stride. Getting back to SILVER NIB LEE , he was winning every week, and my cohorts were on him each time.
So, it seems that Greys can put fear into other horses and it gives the greys the edge.
I would like any trainers to give their opinion on this fact. A lot of people don't know about this, but watch the races and see them win.
RUFF ME UP in the story above this posting has won by 14 lengths with very average breeding; and sports a six race winning streak. Another grey was ADMIRAL'S EXPRESS.
I think he was a grey (not 100% sure) but he found his way to the wire more than most of the others in any race he was in.