[Kasept]

Just getting chance to catch up on Sunday. Overall, a positive experience to kick off Cannon's 5yo year despite having to settle for show money. The trip wasn't awful with the perceived 'trouble' -- as usual -- brought on by Toy Cannon's own interest in how close horses are to him. And even with the blinkers, he was trying to lug in in the stretch, which Alvarado tried hard to control.

Toy Cannon's failure to 'hit the hole' when available stems from him not having his head pointed forward when needed. You can't accelerate forward when you're turned sideways. And his falling out of it a bit early was due to clipping heels in the first 50 yards and the slight stumble that you can see best from the head on. Junior let him settle after that before starting to engage him on the backstretch.

On the plus side, he was away 6 months and is not a horse that can get fit with morning exercise since he won't work hard, so he had to need this and racing will tighten him up. When he came back through the tunnel after, he was still blowing pretty hard indicating he was predictably less than 100% fit for this. While the mile distance is OK for him, the 8.5f is where we'll see him most often. Another positive was Junior saying he felt strong and eager under him and never stopped trying. He was also on his toes in the paddock, something you don't typically see from him. A 77 Beyer for the effort, his 10th straight race with a fig between 73-79. Good jump off point for the handsome gelding.

Hope everyone enjoyed. Should be a good summer with him. Hoping to get a race out for My Pal of Pals next..