Changing drivers could be the kiss of death
Bushwacker Looks To Buck Competition
In American National
The 2-year-old season is a learning process for some
horses, and this season has been that sort of journey for
Chris Ryder and his pacer Bushwacker.
Bushwacker is a son of Rocknroll Hanover out of Dolphins
Can Talk, the half sister to Put On A Show. He was bought
for $135,000 by Henderson Farms at the 2012 Lexington Selected
Yearling Sale. Henderson Farms principal Craig Henderson,
who lives in Chicago, shared ownership of Put On A
Show with Richard Young.
While Bushwacker displayed talent
for Chris Ryder in training, he
battled through various issues before
he pieced it all together.
“He was really growthy and slow
to mature. He was just a horse that
needed time,” Ryder said.
Bushwacker seems to have grown
past his early issues, leading to an impressive 1:51.4 victory
in the American National elimination at Balmoral Park last
weekend. With the victory, Bushwacker looks primed to
compete in the $113,000 final on Saturday night.
After a few qualifying starts early in the summer, Ryder
made the tough decision to geld the freshman.
“We had to geld him. It was a tough decision, but he just
wasn’t doing things right. He was making breaks, and it had
to be done,” said Ryder.
Bushwacker had breaking problems early in the season,
possibly mimicking his namesake, the top bucking bull in
the world. The bull, Bushwacker, is notorious for his aggression
with a cowboy on his back, and has only been ridden
twice in 50 tries. Luckily, Bushwacker the horse has not
maintained the same ornery attitude of the bull.
After qualifying in late August, Bushwacker has made
great strides to live up to the hopes that come with a yearling
who cost six figures. Ryder has seen progress every
week, but the Am-Nat elim victory was proof that the
youngster had put it all together.
“I was really happy with him. I expected it, honestly,”
Ryder said.
After popping out of the pocket to race by Somesizesomestyle
in the elimination, Bushwacker will take on the
top seven other finishers along with Let’s Drink On It and
Kingofthejungle, the recipients of a bye for the elimination,
in the final.
While Mike Oosting steered Bushwacker to victory in the
elimination, Ryder will hand the lines to Tim Tetrick for the
final. “I hated to take Mike (Oosting) off since he drove him
great last Saturday, but Tim Tetrick will be in town and he always
drives for me,” Ryder noted.
“We have high expectations for him. He should be a good
horse next year, but I think he will be one of the favorites
this weekend,” Ryder added.—
