With scorching temperatures in Southern Ontario on the verge of setting local weather records, trainer Pat Keetch and his gelding Roberto know exactly what to do
: take a dip.
According to Keetch, Roberto, a three-year-old son of Astreos, loves to get in the infield pond at the Tony Dangelica farm in Troy, Ont., which is located just a short drive from Flamboro Downs in Dundas. With the humidex factored in to the equation, today's temperature in Dundas rang in at a sweltering 41 degrees Celsius.
Sporting a career record of 2-7-2 and purse earnings of $38,360 from 25 starts, Roberto has proven that he likes to put his best foot forward on track. When it comes to getting down to his laps in the drink, Keetch, 38, says the gelding isn't shy when it comes to getting its hooves wet.
"We just got out the water about 10 minutes ago," Keetch said when he was contacted by Trot Insider early this afternoon. "We had to scratch him out of his race this past Saturday due to a bit of sickness and a spike in temperature."
Keetch said that that applying cold water to Roberto's feet has helped in bringing the gelding's temperature under control, but getting into the pond has done wonders.
"I walk into the water and he just comes on in right behind me," Keetch, 38, told Trot Insider. "He actually loves it when I get right up on his back in there."
Keetch explained that his veterinarian has said that the swimming is fine for the gelding, but the sessions should last no longer than 20 minutes, something which Keetch strictly adheres to.
Owned by Keetch, Janice Hubbard and Tony Dangelica, Roberto is supposed to be racing this coming Saturday at Kawartha Downs, but his trainer thinks that plans could change. "I think I may sit him out and maybe enter him for an overnight a couple of weeks from now in Sarnia," he explained.
As for the swimming, the trainer told Trot Insider that even more may be on the horizon.
"With this weather, he's been getting in quite a bit recently. I usually go a couple of miles with him in the morning and then head back to the stall for about a half hour. After that, it's out for a swim. It's good for him: it cools him off and gets him working a lot of muscles that he wouldn't be otherwise."