Churchill 5th.. 12yo mare off 9 year layoff?

[cakes44]

Maybe it's like the movie "The Rookie" and the horse lost a bet.

[Kasept]

Here are the details from TTimes...

Mare returns after nine-year layoff Wednesday at Churchill
by Ed DeRosa

Grand Forks, a 12-year-old stakes-winning Quiet American mare, will make her first start in more than nine years on Wednesday at Churchill Downs in a $5,000 claiming race.

Kathleen Costello said she bought the mare privately from Rick Trontz of Hopewell Farm this spring after Grand Forks went five consecutive years without producing a foal. She delivered a Skip Away filly in 2004, but the foal died a month later.

“[Hopewell] basically gave up on her because she couldn’t carry a foal to term,” Costello said. “They were looking to give her away this spring, and I got the bug to start riding again, so I bought her.

“She loved to gallop and had so much spirit, so I decided to give her a shot and took her to the track.”

Ian P. D. Jory claimed Grand Forks for Trontz for $32,000 on August 7, 2000, at Del Mar. Trontz retired her soon thereafter. She won three of 11 starts, including a pair of stakes races at Turf Paradise, and earned $80,900.

Grand Forks’ start will not only be her first in more than nine years but also the first of Costello’s career.

“I’m definitely hoping to have more horses, but I’m a little strapped for cash right now,” Costello said. “I intend to bet on her, and she’ll be a big price, so maybe I can grow my stable that way.”

Costello named S. Justin Bishop to ride her mare. The ten-pound apprentice is winless in 86 starts this season, including ten at the current Churchill meeting.

Grand Forks is listed as 50-to-1 on the morning line in the 6 1/2-furlong race that attracted a full field of 12 entrants. She had three published workouts at the Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, including a gate workout in :50 for four furlongs on November 7.

A representative of the steward’s office said on Wednesday from Churchill that the mare is clear to run.

[jms62]

Great story if she wins.

[richard]

Quite a team . Hope they can do it .

[Cannon Shell]

Ridiculous that this horse is allowed to run. A clueless trainer running a 12 year old horse off of a 9 year layoff on a muddy track. Brilliant. 1-9 to not finish. BTW the bug boy begged off and Bonnie Castanada will ride.

[MISTERGEE]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Ridiculous that this horse is allowed to run. A clueless trainer running a 12 year old horse off of a 9 year layoff on a muddy track. Brilliant. 1-9 to not finish. BTW the bug boy begged off and Bonnie Castanada will ride.

besides the situation seeming ridiculous is I guess there is nothing in writing keeping it from running?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by MISTERGEE

besides the situation seeming ridiculous is I guess there is nothing in writing keeping it from running?

Not exactly though the track and stewards have discretion. Told one track official who asked how to keep this from happening, just put in a rule saying that no horses with a layoff of 5 or more years allowed. He thought it was a good answer. Didnt have the heart to tell him I was joking.

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by Kasept

“I’m definitely hoping to have more horses, but I’m a little strapped for cash right now,” Costello said. “I intend to bet on her, and she’ll be a big price, so maybe I can grow my stable that way.”

[pba1817]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Here are the details from TTimes...

Mare returns after nine-year layoff Wednesday at Churchill
by Ed DeRosa

Grand Forks, a 12-year-old stakes-winning Quiet American mare, will make her first start in more than nine years on Wednesday at Churchill Downs in a $5,000 claiming race.

Kathleen Costello said she bought the mare privately from Rick Trontz of Hopewell Farm this spring after Grand Forks went five consecutive years without producing a foal. She delivered a Skip Away filly in 2004, but the foal died a month later.

“[Hopewell] basically gave up on her because she couldn’t carry a foal to term,” Costello said. “They were looking to give her away this spring, and I got the bug to start riding again, so I bought her.

“She loved to gallop and had so much spirit, so I decided to give her a shot and took her to the track.”

Ian P. D. Jory claimed Grand Forks for Trontz for $32,000 on August 7, 2000, at Del Mar. Trontz retired her soon thereafter. She won three of 11 starts, including a pair of stakes races at Turf Paradise, and earned $80,900.

Grand Forks’ start will not only be her first in more than nine years but also the first of Costello’s career.

“I’m definitely hoping to have more horses, but I’m a little strapped for cash right now,” Costello said. “I intend to bet on her, and she’ll be a big price, so maybe I can grow my stable that way.”

Costello named S. Justin Bishop to ride her mare. The ten-pound apprentice is winless in 86 starts this season, including ten at the current Churchill meeting.

Grand Forks is listed as 50-to-1 on the morning line in the 6 1/2-furlong race that attracted a full field of 12 entrants. She had three published workouts at the Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, including a gate workout in :50 for four furlongs on November 7.

A representative of the steward’s office said on Wednesday from Churchill that the mare is clear to run.

Sounds like she would fit in perfectly at Charles Town, or Penn National... with all the high class characters that train horses there.

[MISTERGEE]

the local characters are disapearing from the penn nationals and the charlestowns. for example yesterday at penn among the winning trainers were, anthony pecoraro, jaime ness, david geist, tim ritchey, larry rivelli. mostly guys who didnt even have horses at penn before for example. now that the purses are jacked at these tracks all the $ is being scooped up by "out of town" trainers and owners. so those local characters are probably telling themselves be careful what you wish for. because the purses are up but the $ is going elsewhere.

[slotdirt]

Lake also seems to be spending a lot more time in Pennsylvania these days.

ETA Granted, that's where he got his start, but still, he seems to be every where in the mid-Atlantic.

[TouchOfGrey]

She really is an idiot

"She had so much spunk and, every time I rode her, she got higher and higher," said the 27-year-old Costello, who has not previously started a horse in a race. "She has been really happy, and she loves to run. Honestly, I did it for her."

Costello said she is aware she could face some backlash for trying to run a horse off a nine-year layoff, but she maintains that Grand Forks will eventually return to the track.

"You know, (the backlash) might happen the first time I run her but, when she wins that race and comes back fine, I think people will accept it," she said.

[DaTruth]

If her goal was to make racing news, then she accomplished that. The folks in Colorado who pretended their toddler floated off in a homemade balloon have set the bar low for those seeking to make a news splash.

[kgar311]

Ill be expecting some backlash here but am I the only one that would of liked to see that horse run yesterday? I campaigned a 12yr old 10 years ago and he won 10 of 24 races for me albeit not off a 9yr layoff. Tons of heart and loved to run at his old age. Horses will let you know if they dont want to run anymore.
This horse had been training at a center and had 3 published works. Whats the problem?