2YO's in Training

[Mack Lobell]

Have enjoyed ITS for a long time and have a question...as a trainer, at what point do you realize you might have a good horse in training?  Have owned a handful of race horses in the past and recently decided to try one young one each year.  Do the good ones stand out even when they are only going 3 minute miles?  Or is it when the are trained down later in the Spring that you really "know " you have a good one on your hands?  Thanks for any input

[LVGaryD]

I always believed I had a good one from the moment I bid on it. Usually I was wrong-badly wrong.

To me, you can think you have something special the first time they get spooked and trot or pace a wicked fast short burst. Then sometimes you'll have one train like a monster in 2:!0 in May or June, then he bottoms out at 2:05, when you figured he was a great colt.

The real answer is no one really knows until they are racing. They can say they do but in my opinion, they are full of crap.

[JBamond]

I've always been told they can almost all go 2:00, you find out what you have when they are asked to pace 1:52 and under (may not be till 3 year old season).

[Just Saying]

I've raced several over the years, and I can think of about 6 or so that I was sure were RACE HORSES the 1st time I hitched them as babies. I always start mine out barefooted and decide how to shoe them from the way they travel. The best ones require nothing but a plain shoe to keep the hoof from breaking. My best trotting filly wore 4 aluminum plates, and a short foot. She was just a natural, and as a baby she could trot a 1:55 lick for short bursts if something spooked her, and never considered making a break.

A big trotting colt I had could trot effortlessly in 2:40 the 1st time I hitched him. He went on to be a nice 2yo, but got EPM at 3 and never reached his full potential. I switched him to the pace and he could pace around 1:53, so he made some money.

Others are really slow to come around but still make great horses. My downfall was always hanging onto ones with no talent hoping they would come around. That just wastes money. (belive me I know)

[Bettor]

Running in the field next to their momma. And the white glow around them dont hurt either ;o)

[Just Saying]

Running in the field next to their momma. And the white glow around them dont hurt either ;o)

... Or when a whole group of weanlings take off charging through the pasture and most are galloping, and one that's pacing or trotting can easily keep up with them.(or pass them) 

[beans and weenies]

... Or when a whole group of weanlings take off charging through the pasture and most are galloping, and one that's pacing or trotting can easily keep up with them.(or pass them) 

 

[Danville]

Have alwqays tried to judge attitude rather than pure ability early on.
If you find one with both ability and correct attitude then you have something special. The secret becomes harvesting the ability and turning the attitude into potential.

[beans and weenies]

Have alwqays tried to judge attitude rather than pure ability early on.
If you find one with both ability and correct attitude then you have something special. The secret becomes harvesting the ability and turning the attitude into potential.

anything can make a racehorse these days.  if the confirmation is there and the attitude is there , there is a good racehorse in the pedigree somewhere and you hope  that it  will show up in yours too.

[brownjug1]

You know you have a nice one when everyone comes to the rail when you are training. Looks like you have an aged horsed training with babies!

Been fortunate to be in that situation but usually we are the ones chasing one home in 2:25 to finish with the group!  :'(