We have had a pretty good week so far. We won a $50,000 Wide Open Allowance at Indiana Downs with DREAMIN BIG. Last night ROCKIN ROCKSTAR ran 4th in the $100,000 Karl Boyes Memorial Stake that was one second off the track record.

The highlight of the week was Jerry Merritt and Penny Lauers homebred SNEAKIN AWAY that won The $89,000 Snack Stakes for 3 year old Indiana Breds going one mile on the Turf. He won impressively by 8 1/2 lengths going the mile in 1:36.48. This was his third lifetime win and second of the year pushing his lifetime earnings over $100,000. To put icing on the cake his payoffs were: $58.40, $17.00, $12.00 which was helped by the 1-2 favorite finishing 4th. What made this more significant was that he was a homebred and we raced the mother who was a hard knocking mare that won right at $100,000 lifetime.

Better yet, the stake was named after a horse that Penny and I had bred and raised and was a special part of our family. Snack was on the Derby trail and we had sold 80% interest to Paul Reddham (I’ll Have Another owner) prior to his catastrophic ending at Santa Anita. We were honored when they named this race after our “SNACK“. We hope to run back July 11th in the $200,000 Indiana Signature Stake.

It has been quite a week. Even though it was terrible that I’ll Have Another had to be retired, they still ran the

Belmont and it was a hell of a race. Obviously Johnny Velazquez rode a great race. I don’t think Smith made as big of a mistake as some people are saying. Usually when a horse starts to get tired, they will drift a little as well as when you hit them left handed drifting will occur, (which unfortunutly for Smith )left enough space for Union Rags to gamely run through to win. It was a good race for Belmont having the largest attendance of 85,000 when there was no horse running for the triple crown, as well as the largest TV audience. It just shows there is still a lot of interest in Thoroughbred Racing across the country despite reports to the contrary. If the politicians and the “do gooders” would sit back and let it take its course, put their focus into promotion of the industry, racing might have a chance to pick back up.

The month of May always begins with a lot of excitement surrounding the Derby. This year it was all about the heat. Mid 80’s and quite humid for the big weekend. I’LL HAVE ANOTHER put on a great show and followed up with a great win in the Preakness. We are looking forward to the Belmont Stakes and the winning of the Triple Crown on Saturday June 9th. I definitely think he will be the winner.

One of the stables highlights of the month was the “horse for the course” ROCKIN’ ROCKSTAR winning an open allowance at Presque Isle making this his 7th win over that surface in the last three years. Congratulations to the owners and breeders Jack Danehy, Ralph Piercy, Terry Ward, Barry Ward, Kenneth Agronin, Steve Yamaguchi and Mary Ann Barth. This classy gelding has provided a lot of enjoyment for all concerned. He is over $325,000 in earnings.

Another highlight was the claiming of VIRGINIA ANN by Tim James and Penny Lauer. We claimed the 3 yr. old filly for $15,000 on May 17th and ran back for $20,000 eight days later where she was claimed again and finished a good second. Not a bad profit for eight days.

We also ran our first two year old of the year and finished 2nd in a maiden special. Great beginning.

May has ended with the stable having 3 wins, 7 seconds and 8 thirds. We would love to have turned some of those seconds into wins. We sure would like to reverse those numbers in June. We have gone over the half million mark in purses earned and according to Equibase went over 700 career wins. Those statistics didn’t begin until sometime in the mid to late 70’s when I had already been training for a few years. I don’t think I am a threat to the late Dale Baird’s record of over 9000 career wins.

On another note, we will be attending our youngest daughters (Abby) graduation from High School tomorrow. Not sure where the time has gone. Another milestone………………………

She will be attending the University of Kentucky in the fall.