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Old 08-18-2008, 05:46 PM
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my miss storm cat my miss storm cat is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2006
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That's a shame.

* * *

DRF...

http://www.drf.com/news/article/97413.html

Bilo pulled up, back with Jones
Jay Privman

A little more than 13 months ago, Bilo won the Grade 1 Triple Bend Handicap. He followed that up with a victory in the California Cup Sprint Handicap, an emotional win for trainer Marty Jones, since it occurred just days after the passing of Bilo's owner and breeder, Ed Nahem.

Bilo, now 8, was subsequently sold to owners Scott Anastasi and Dan Capen and transferred to Mike Mitchell, but his form has gone south. After two poor tries in stakes races, he was dropped into a $62,500 claimer here on Aug. 2, and beat one horse. Then on Sunday, when plummeting to the $25,000 claiming level in a 6 1/2-furlong race, Bilo got about 50 yards out of the gate before jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. began to pull him up.

"He felt a little gimpy," Valdivia said Monday. "I hope he's okay."

There were no claims in for Bilo, a gelding, but he's changing barns. Mitchell on Monday gave the horse back to Jones.

"He hasn't run well for me, and Marty loves that old horse," Mitchell said. "I didn't think there was any way we were going to lose him on Sunday. I just wanted to get him in an easier spot and get him eligible for the starter-allowance race on Cal Cup Day. I thought I had him ready to go. I still think he's got some game left.

"The owners told Marty to train him, and if he thinks he should be retired, to retire him. If he wants to run him, he can run him. I've known Marty a long time. His father, Gary, is my best friend. I know Marty loves that horse. If he wants to retire him, I know he'll find him a nice home."

Bilo has won 7 of 19 starts and $524,436.
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