Tom Pedulla presents five key takeaways from the $1.65 million Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, and other developments this weekend at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
Month: May 2023
‘Quiet’ Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Chill For Stressed-Out Steeds
Recognizing signs of stress in horses isn't always easy, because they don't always weave or call incessantly when anxious. Some horses can seem outwardly calm, yet still be fretful.
Horses cope with stress in different ways: proactive and reactive. Proactive or active copers try to get themselves out of the situation that is causing stress, often by bucking, balking, rearing, biting, kicking, weaving or in any other negative expression of energy. Reactive or passive coping includes trying to adapt to the situation, often by becoming still.
This “quietness” is why it can be difficult to recognize that these horses are stressed; horses that are often seen as lazy or stubborn may actually be exhibiting stress responses. A horse that refuses to get on the trailer by simply planting his feet and not moving is trying to tell the handler that they find the trailer scary, but their personality doesn't make them want to bolt – they freeze.
Studies have found that stress levels are not indicative of coping styles. Passive copers may be more stressed out than reactive copers, despite appearing outwardly calm.
A 2018 study published in Science Direct used 46 privately owned horses to in two separate handling tests: one that asked a horse to be led across a tarp and a second that asked the horse to be led through a curtain of streamers. The eye temperature, heart rate, and heart rate variability were recorded for each horse before and after each test. Each of these are reliable stress response indicators.
Also recorded was the time it took for the horse to cross the obstacle, as well as their behavior during the test.
Any time a horse stopped for more than 10 seconds was categorized as either a proactive stress response (where the horse was still moving) or reactive stress response (where the horse stood still).
[Story Continues Below]
When the physiological measurements were compared, the team found that more-compliant horses did not necessarily have lower stress levels than the horses that refused to walk over or through the test. There was also no correlation between physical measurements and reactive horse behaviors.
The scientists concluded that a horse that appears calm can still be very stressed and that compliance is not a good indicator about how a horse is feeling.
A horse with reactive coping strategies may still be exhibiting stress behavior like blinking frequently, wrinkling his eyes, dilating his nostrils, refusing to eat hay, or whinnying. The horse's facial expression is often one of the first indicators that something is worrying him.
Read more at the Equine Ethologist.
The post ‘Quiet’ Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Chill For Stressed-Out Steeds appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Kentucky Derby Runner-Up Two Phil’s Possible For Matt Winn
Patricia's Hope, Phil Sagan and Madaket Stables' Two Phil's, the runner-up in the Kentucky Derby (G1), is possible to return to Churchill Downs in June and compete in the $400,000 Matt Winn Stakes (G3), according to trainer Larry Rivelli.
Two Phil's returned to Rivelli's base at Hawthorne shortly after the Kentucky Derby on May 6. The son of Hard Spun led the field of 18 3-year-olds into the top of the lane in the “Run for the Roses” under jockey Jareth Loveberry but finished second, one length behind winner Mage.
Rivelli stated Two Phil's, who won the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park in his start prior to the Derby, could run in either the June 11 Matt Winn or Ohio Derby (G3) June 24 at Thistledown. The Matt Winn or Ohio Derby would be used as preps for the Haskell Stakes (GI) July 22 at Monmouth Park and Travers (G1) Aug. 26 at Saratoga.
Two Phil's also finished second in the Lecomte (G3) and third in the Risen Star (G2), both at Fair Grounds, on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
Nominations to the Matt Winn, which will be run the day after the Belmont Stakes (GI), close Saturday, June 3.
The post Kentucky Derby Runner-Up Two Phil’s Possible For Matt Winn appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Liberty Island Secures Two-Thirds Of Japan’s Fillies’ Triple Crown With Dominating Oaks Win
Heavy favorite Liberty Island continued to validate her 2022 champion 2-year-old filly status and last month's triumph in the Oka Sho (G1) (Japanese 1000 Guineas) by staging another dominant performance in the Yushun Himba (G1) (Japanese Oaks) on Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse.
Sunday Racing Co.'s Duramente filly, who won by six lengths, followed last year's winner, Stars on Earth, as the 17th horse to capture the first two jewels of the fillies' Triple Crown–the 1000 Guineas and Oaks–while becoming the first since 1975 to win by a margin of six lengths—2012's fillies' Triple Crown victress Gentildonna was the closest with her five-length margin in recent years.
With Yuga Kawada riding for trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida, Liberty Island was unhurried out of the gate and in hand, around seventh from the leader, along the rails. Kawada continued to keep the keen filly under control while measuring his timing to steer her slightly out for a clear run soon after the last turn. As soon he gave her the signal, she unleashed her terrific turn of speed to catch the leader at the furlong pole and continued to pull away uncontested for an overwhelming victory.
“Having (won) the Oka Sho and being transported here to Tokyo for another big race, the filly was quite tense coming into this race, so I had to make an effort to reserve her energy and calm her down before the race,” said Kawada, who guided Gentildonna to victory in the 2012 Oaks. “She settled well once in the gate, allowing us to make a safe start, and we were able to race in good rhythm while I still had the task of keeping her under control up to the critical stages. I knew we were already in a position to finish clear of the other horses once taking the lead, but I wanted her to finish off the race strongly to the wire so I kept driving her to the wire which led to a big margin.”
Second pick Harper was positioned right behind the eventual winner under Christophe Lemaire throughout most of the trip and followed that foe to the outside, rounding the final turn. While unable to keep up with the Liberty Island's explosive burst of speed going up the uphill stretch, the Heart's Cry filly continued with good late speed to overtake Ravel in the last 50 meters while managing to hold back the fast-closing Dura by a neck margin for second.
Lightly regarded 15th choice Dura raced off the pace, around fifth from the rear, and came into the homestretch still well behind the leaders, where the Duramente filly exerted an impressive late speed once angling out just before the 400-meter pole and closed in well to finish just a neck short of second place.
Liberty Island covered 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) in 2:23.1 on turf rated as good to firm.
Bred in Japan by Northern Racing, Liberty Island was produced by Yankee Rose, by All American. Her record includes a victory in 2022 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1).
The third jewel of Japan's fillies' Triple Crown is the Shuka Sho (G1), set for Oct. 15 at Kyoto.
The post Liberty Island Secures Two-Thirds Of Japan’s Fillies’ Triple Crown With Dominating Oaks Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
