Highest Honors
Quote from Bgtolex25 on April 2, 2026, 4:10 PM@pcmark15
I believe that the USTA did pass some measures related to 2- and 3-year-olds, but any new changes would not preclude those you listed. 2-year-olds cannot be raced in back-to-back days, which the Cleggs (and maybe others) had done in 2024.
Since we are sharing opinions, others may or may not agree with my following take.
As for Highest Honors, AMac was surprised that the horse was "docile" in the first quarter, unlike his form last year when he could be aggressive on the bit. Hallelujah...for the love of common sense, you don't want a horse aggressive on the bit, especially at a young age. Trainers sometimes over value aggressiveness in young horses as a "winning determination". They expend so much unproductive energy being aggressive. Mentally, they do not analyze what they are doing. Just keep them comfortable, mentally happy, reduce or eliminate aches and pains, and hope the pedigree produces good results. My 2-year-old with Jeff Nisonger is getting labeled as lazy. I argue...good. Just get him in shape and conditioned to go competitive miles. I will take a lazy, sound, happy horse any day. Once the bright lights come on, there is a good chance that they will perk up. Or take them to a fair and let them watch the carnival rides. Or throw a saddle on them and ride them a couple of times a week. It is amazing what some new experiences will do to a horse's attitude.
I believe that the USTA did pass some measures related to 2- and 3-year-olds, but any new changes would not preclude those you listed. 2-year-olds cannot be raced in back-to-back days, which the Cleggs (and maybe others) had done in 2024.
Since we are sharing opinions, others may or may not agree with my following take.
As for Highest Honors, AMac was surprised that the horse was "docile" in the first quarter, unlike his form last year when he could be aggressive on the bit. Hallelujah...for the love of common sense, you don't want a horse aggressive on the bit, especially at a young age. Trainers sometimes over value aggressiveness in young horses as a "winning determination". They expend so much unproductive energy being aggressive. Mentally, they do not analyze what they are doing. Just keep them comfortable, mentally happy, reduce or eliminate aches and pains, and hope the pedigree produces good results. My 2-year-old with Jeff Nisonger is getting labeled as lazy. I argue...good. Just get him in shape and conditioned to go competitive miles. I will take a lazy, sound, happy horse any day. Once the bright lights come on, there is a good chance that they will perk up. Or take them to a fair and let them watch the carnival rides. Or throw a saddle on them and ride them a couple of times a week. It is amazing what some new experiences will do to a horse's attitude.
Quote from MaywoodAl on April 2, 2026, 8:45 PMIn the freshman colt pace division, Fired Up Henry L (LeVan) opened as the 5-2 favorite. Fifth in the OFC standings, the Catch The Fire gelding has hit the board in 14 of 19 starts this season with seven wins and $43,800 in earnings. Trained by LeVan, he owns a lifetime mark of 1:58 and will leave from post three. I Am The Sea (Noble) and Worknupalather (Nick Clegg) share co-second choice honors at 7-2. I Am The Sea sits atop the standings with 671 points while Worknupalather is second with 638. Leaving from post four, I Am The Sea has hit the board in 20 of 27 starts this season with eight wins and $38,904 in earnings. He is a Downbytheseaside gelding trained by Herman Hagerman with a lifetime mark of 1:58.2. The Betty Clegg-trained Worknupalather will leave from the rail. A Lather Up gelding, he has seven victories in 27 starts this year and has bankrolled $37,272. His lifetime best is 2:01.1. Pumpkin Skin (Braiden Rhoades), who is third in the standings, will leave from post seven.
https://www.ohha.com/Article/460AF0252200B144A848F91042853947
In the freshman colt pace division, Fired Up Henry L (LeVan) opened as the 5-2 favorite. Fifth in the OFC standings, the Catch The Fire gelding has hit the board in 14 of 19 starts this season with seven wins and $43,800 in earnings. Trained by LeVan, he owns a lifetime mark of 1:58 and will leave from post three. I Am The Sea (Noble) and Worknupalather (Nick Clegg) share co-second choice honors at 7-2. I Am The Sea sits atop the standings with 671 points while Worknupalather is second with 638. Leaving from post four, I Am The Sea has hit the board in 20 of 27 starts this season with eight wins and $38,904 in earnings. He is a Downbytheseaside gelding trained by Herman Hagerman with a lifetime mark of 1:58.2. The Betty Clegg-trained Worknupalather will leave from the rail. A Lather Up gelding, he has seven victories in 27 starts this year and has bankrolled $37,272. His lifetime best is 2:01.1. Pumpkin Skin (Braiden Rhoades), who is third in the standings, will leave from post seven.
https://www.ohha.com/Article/460AF0252200B144A848F91042853947
Quote from Bgtolex25 on April 3, 2026, 7:17 AM@maywoodal
thx for the research. Way back in 1980 my uncle raced a 2 year old gelding a bit over 40 times. That was a different era for sure.
thx for the research. Way back in 1980 my uncle raced a 2 year old gelding a bit over 40 times. That was a different era for sure.
Quote from Bgtolex25 on April 3, 2026, 9:58 AMQuote from Bgtolex25 on April 2, 2026, 4:10 PMOr take them to a fair and let them watch the carnival rides. Or throw a saddle on them and ride them a couple of times a week. It is amazing what some new experiences will do to a horse's attitude.watching a HRU interview with Linda Toscano. She does a good job of talking about the mental happiness angle. https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx_rpa93_pfpF7d1ftoGfeELGptCF2O3FP?
Try as I might to add another clip, the best line wasn’t included in my clip. But she further discusses tapping into what makes a horse happy and how that can make a difference in their performance.
Quote from Bgtolex25 on April 2, 2026, 4:10 PMOr take them to a fair and let them watch the carnival rides. Or throw a saddle on them and ride them a couple of times a week. It is amazing what some new experiences will do to a horse's attitude.
watching a HRU interview with Linda Toscano. She does a good job of talking about the mental happiness angle. https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx_rpa93_pfpF7d1ftoGfeELGptCF2O3FP?
Try as I might to add another clip, the best line wasn’t included in my clip. But she further discusses tapping into what makes a horse happy and how that can make a difference in their performance.
Quote from Bgtolex25 on April 23, 2026, 8:15 AM⚠️ Some critical thinking to follow.
Highest Honors is yet another in a recurring pattern. It can be argued that his best self was his first start as a 2 year old.
sorry…wrote and deleted the rest. It just comes across with the wrong tone.
⚠️ Some critical thinking to follow.
Highest Honors is yet another in a recurring pattern. It can be argued that his best self was his first start as a 2 year old.
sorry…wrote and deleted the rest. It just comes across with the wrong tone.
Quote from Lonnie on April 23, 2026, 11:19 AMQuote from Bgtolex25 on April 23, 2026, 8:15 AM
Some critical thinking to follow.
Highest Honors is yet another in a recurring pattern. It can be argued that his best self was his first start as a 2 year old.
sorry…wrote and deleted the rest. It just comes across with the wrong tone.
It appears that Highest Honors really doesn't have a competitive spirit. At least right now. I hope he will make a good Fair horse.
Some critical thinking to follow.Quote from Bgtolex25 on April 23, 2026, 8:15 AM
Highest Honors is yet another in a recurring pattern. It can be argued that his best self was his first start as a 2 year old.
sorry…wrote and deleted the rest. It just comes across with the wrong tone.
It appears that Highest Honors really doesn't have a competitive spirit. At least right now. I hope he will make a good Fair horse.
Quote from Bgtolex25 on June 5, 2026, 7:08 AMWhen the race goes off Monday, it will be 4 full weeks since the sale. Curious to see if there are any changes in his performance.
When the race goes off Monday, it will be 4 full weeks since the sale. Curious to see if there are any changes in his performance.
Quote from Bgtolex25 on June 5, 2026, 6:05 PM@lonnie this is related to my logic on Judy. Burke bought Highest Honors for $18 k with a strategy in mind.
- He thinks that he can improve the horse vs. previous trainer. Can he? I am impressed that they had the horse a few weeks before sticking him in the box. AMac buys a horse on line and barely knows if the horse has 4 legs before putting them in to go.
- Highest Honors only has 1 win. Say that point 1 is true and he can win 3 times at this class without financial risk, because the NW of 4 claim tag with allowances is $33,250.
- convinced that Burke likes to stick it to everybody else, whenever he can. NW to Grand Circuit. They don’t play. Don’t want to root for Burke but I do want to root for the horse.
@lonnie this is related to my logic on Judy. Burke bought Highest Honors for $18 k with a strategy in mind.
- He thinks that he can improve the horse vs. previous trainer. Can he? I am impressed that they had the horse a few weeks before sticking him in the box. AMac buys a horse on line and barely knows if the horse has 4 legs before putting them in to go.
- Highest Honors only has 1 win. Say that point 1 is true and he can win 3 times at this class without financial risk, because the NW of 4 claim tag with allowances is $33,250.
- convinced that Burke likes to stick it to everybody else, whenever he can. NW to Grand Circuit. They don’t play. Don’t want to root for Burke but I do want to root for the horse.
Quote from Bgtolex25 on June 9, 2026, 6:43 AMAMac and Leland Hanover held off by a head the passing lane surge by Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. and Highest Honors in 1:56.2 last night. Definitely, the best HH looked all year.
AMac and Leland Hanover held off by a head the passing lane surge by Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. and Highest Honors in 1:56.2 last night. Definitely, the best HH looked all year.