Originally scheduled plans to compete in this weekend’s Adios Pace eliminations at The Meadows have been canceled for North America Cup winner Sportswriter, who had one of those “if it could go wrong it did go wrong” road trips over the course of the last few weeks
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The foot problems that plagued him leading up the North America Cup were behind him as he headed to New Jersey to prep for the Meadowlands Pace, but a whole new set of problems arose.
Sweltering heat led to a tough week leading up to the Meadowlands Pace elims for the O’Brien Award winner, who was fortunate to back door his way into the final by virtue of being the fastest fourth-place finisher. And despite overcoming adversity en route to advancing to the big dance, he was dealt another mighty blow when the post gods issued him Post 10 for the final.
“With so much speed inside of him, he simply never got into the race,” trainer Casie Coleman told Trot Insider. “He was last and following cover at the three-quarter pole, and that’s a near impossible spot to come from against those type of horses.”
Sportswriter kicked out a :27.1 final quarter and wound up finishing seventh – a disappointing end result for the connections who had high hopes for the sophomore going into the Meadowlands’ marquee pacing event. It was the first race in which last year's O'Brien Award winner did not pick up a cheque.
“The decision to skip the Adios was an easy one,” added Coleman. “They’re calling for the temperature to be more than 100 degrees down here (New Jersey) again this week, and the heat leading up the eliminations really knocked him out. His temperature has been good since racing, but he’s been off his feed – and he’s a horse that always cleans up his feed tub. I talked to the other owners and we decided to simply get him out of here. So we’ll skip the Adios and try to get him healthy and happy again.”
With the Adios now off his dance card, the son of Artsplace-Precious Beauty is going to be pointed toward Flamboro Downs’ premier harness racing event, the Confederation Cup – a race that Coleman captured in 2005 with American Ideal.
“As long as he’s on his game we’ll shoot for a three-year-old Open at Mohawk and then go to the Confederation Cup,” added Coleman. “It would be great if it turned out to be a one-shot deal as opposed to going heats, but that’s out of our hands. I’m really looking forward to taking him to Delaware for the Little Brown Jug, so in a perfect world it would be nice to avoid two-heats before going to Delaware.”
Sportswriter, who is owned by Steve Calhoun, West Wins Stable and Southwind Farm, owns an 8-for-14 record and has banked in excess of $1.6 million to date.
For all you people out there
For all you people out there who are cutting Coleman down about the comments - I know her as I have owned horses with Bill Davis in British Columbia when she was a stablehand for Davis and learnig her craft. I knew her father Phil who races in Ontario. She of all people is as honest as the day is long and a credit to the game. Maybe you people who have bad comments on Sportswriter lost come money at the windows, but your negative comments on Coleman are not warranted, we need more people like her in the industry.
I THINK THAT FOLKS SHOULD
I THINK THAT FOLKS SHOULD SHOULD STOP TAKING POT SHOTS AT CASEY, SPORTSWRITER OR ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE HARNESS RACING COMMUNITY WHO IS DOING WELL. IT IS A REALLY HARD TIME FOR THIS INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW AND NEGATIVITY WON'T HELP. CASEY COLEMAN IS A TOP TRAINER AND A TERRIFIC AMBASSADOR FOR RACING AND SHOULD BE REGARDED AS SUCH. AT THIS TIME THE RACING COMMUNITY SHOULD SHOW NOTHING BUT SUPPORT FOR AND CONFIDENCE IN EACH OTHER IF IT WANTS TO SAVE ITSELF. FORGET YOUR PETTY JEALOUSIES AND STAND UNITED TO SAVE YOUR SPORT.
Horses are not machines &
Horses are not machines & are going to handle things differently. Here we have a very nice colt who did not take to the hot conditions & the trainer was asked about what she thought might have caused his sub-par performances & she answered honestly........& gets knocked for it....And we wonder why the game is dying???
I see a trainer doing the
I see a trainer doing the best for her horse. I am pretty sure Coleman isn't calling around to tell her story and make excuses. People that interview ask for reasons and she tells them. All horses are different. I get that fact that it is nice for owners and trainers to eat alittle humble pie from time to time but give me a break. Coleman is a top conditioner and owners like Calhoun are good for the business and horses like Sportswriter are good stories to follow-up on.
In reply to I see a trainer doing the by Sivraj Hicr
Not sure where the word
Not sure where the word excuse comes from. Seems like people ask Casie these questions and she gives an answer back. To me anybody that is involved in horse racing knows that what she says happens. I am pretty sure I heard lots of stories the last couple of years about a top 3 year old, then age pacer from the east that had lots of problems. Unfortunately this stuff happens and with the advancement of media we hear more of this insider information. There is a old saying that says SSSS happens and in horse racing it usually does.
Good luck
Sonny
maybe alaska lol
maybe alaska lol
Ann, I am getting very tired
Ann, I am getting very tired of hearing ALL the excuses, the crying and the whinning regarding Sportswriter. How many other horses that raced in the NA Cup Final also shipped to the Meadowlands and trained and raced in that intense NJ heat? How many other horses had some aches or pains going into the M-Pace Final? Our horse's van broke down and he had to ship him back in 100+ degree heat just days before the elimination. Did anyone hear George Teague of Brian Sears making excuses about finishing fourth in the M-Pace Elimination? What about O K Commander's bad luck...where is that story? Did anyone interview O K Commander's connections to hear their thoughts regarding their unfortunate experience? All we ever hear about are the excuses for Sportswriter. I for one have read my last of these sad stories!
If he can't handle the heat,
If he can't handle the heat, he might love the mountain air of Western Pennsylvania.
How about talking about the
How about talking about the horses that are heading to the Adios? Feet problems, heat problems, trip problems, trucking problems. The stories are plentiful when this horse wins and when he does not excuses galore. He is simply not the best in his division and will not dominate. End of story.