“The beginning of the 2014 was sad because he came off a great year, especially for a newer owner like me, then something like this happens and it pulls you back to reality.”
At the start of this year, the connections of Vegas Vacation had to sit down and consider a difficult decision. Scratched from the Progress Pace at Dover Downs in November of last year, the son of Bettors Delight faced a tricky suspensory injury. Though we won’t see him make the transition from three to four trackside, part-owner Adriano Sorella says the talented gelding is slated to return in 2015.
“At the beginning of the year, we staked him to all the big races, hoping we would have enough time but time just wasn’t on our side. It was a slow process coming back, but with the miles the older pacing horses are going, we decided to turn him out. Going from three to four is hard enough, but he can't head to the breeding shed, so you want to protect him as he’ll hopefully be racing for many years.”
Vegas Vacation has hit the board in 22 of 30 lifetime starts, amassing a bankroll exceeding one million dollars in purse earnings for owners West Wins Stable, Adriano Sorella, Anthony Beaton and Phyllis Saunders. The future looks bright for the pacer, with his recovery optimistic.
“We sent him to Kentucky about two months ago; he’s now turned out at one of the vet’s farms. Everything seems to check out, he’s almost 100%. You always wonder, but you never know for sure if they will make it back or not. End of November, he’ll ship to Florida with some other horses for the winter.”
The unforgiving older pacing class this year has shown no mercy with no room for error or weakness. A superstar at three, Captaintreacherous is one of those who have graduated to the upper ranks of racing and proven it’s no easy feat.
“A few horses retired this year like Pet Rock, so it looked like it would become easier, thinking you just had to worry about Captaintreacherous and Foiled Again. Now these other horses are popping up with incredible miles and week after week, they’re going hard.”
Though 2014 will not offer the opportunity to prove himself, Sorella believes Vegas Vacation has what it takes to rank among the best.
“He’s not one to give up; he’s giving everything he’s got. He’s a smart horse, knows how to save his energy and knows when to dig in on the track. I think that will benefit him in the years coming, smarter horses are able to channel their energy in a certain way throughout the race.”
‘Vegas’ showed promising potential as a two-year-old, finishing in the money in all but two starts. Coming into his own at three, he put together a sophomore record reading 10-4-1 in 20 starts while banking $976,037 in purses with major wins in the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes, Empire Breeders Classic, Simcoe Stakes, Little Brown Jug and the Matron Stakes. He was also a close runner-up in the Hempt Memorial, the Tattersalls Pace and the Adios. The season propelled Vegas Vacation to divisional honours with Canada's O'Brien Award.
“Last year we had a lot of hard breaks; as good of a season as we had, it was a strong three-year-old class. In the open classes, horses are going at each other every week, instead of one getting to the front with only one or two horses to challenge. He’s gritty and can come with the best of them. He can close off a helmet and some of his biggest wins have been first up.”
“For as many ups, there are downs. I’m optimistic about the future and I’m looking forward to seeing him down in Kentucky next month. He’ll be back and it’s going to be tough racing, but he won’t mind a bit.”
(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Hannah Beckett)