Truth is stranger than fiction

[travelling_vic]

It came be a long night when you have 13 races to photograph and not long enough
in between races to run out to do too many things, so when we are not reading a
good book, Jo Ann (the director) and I often search the TV for something to
watch.

She told me a story yesterday that had such a good outcome that it is worth
sharing.

Jo Ann, during the T-bred meet, is a vets assistant, and a knowledgeable one to
boot. She told me about a very small two year old in Josie Carroll's barn
(trainer of last years dual Oaks and Queen's Plate winner, Inglorious) she was
asked to see a few years back. Never having seen the animal before and not
knowing his registered name, she was told simply "he's over there" and was
pointed to a stall.

On the front of the stall was a notation; Stall One. She said she asked if Stall
One was where the two year old was put, and quizzed looks greeted her comment.

"No, that horse's name is Stallone, you know like from Rocky?"

The little guy did not pan out as a race horse at the level of competition at
Woodbine so he was sold.

Who shows up last night at Penn National of all places, but old Stall One? At
16/1 and with his small stature never having altered too much, we watched to see
how he would fare. "He always had some speed," Jo Ann informed me as they went
to the post.

So old Stallone breaks on top and never looked back at 16/1.

You tell me that truth is not stranger than fiction!

6th race - Penn National - January 20, 2012

Off at: 8:09 Race Type: Claiming
Age Restriction: Four Year Old and Upward
Purse: $13,000
Distance: Six Furlongs On The Dirt
Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 1:11.08
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
3 Stallone Luis A. Belmonte 34.80 16.20 7.60
9 Sweetcandyman Matthew Rispoli 4.60 3.60
7 Brass Knuckles Manuel Chaves 5.00
Also ran: 2 - Storming Wolf , 6 - Mo's Rivera , 11 - Time Control , 10 - Slow
Nick C , 5 - The A. Train , 12 - Cherokee Romance , 4 - Roan Rooster , 8 - Gator
Champ , 1 - Camillus Drive

Still laughing about this one.