Quote from Bgtolex25 on June 9, 2026, 3:26 PM

All can be true, although as much as I am a “horse” person and have spent a good bit of my life taking care of them, I try to stay away from the strict personification labels.  Many trainers are the opposite, because it gives them cop out excuses or worse.  The “horse whisperers” are the ones that figure out what makes each individual perform at its best.  Sometimes the “best” is as a riding horse.  Time will tell with HH.

Quote from Bgtolex25 on July 19, 2026, 7:57 PM

2 in a row with another 2nd and 3rd since going to the Burke barn.  Has made back the overwhelming majority of his purchase price in 2 months.  Won in 53.3 at Scioto with a broken hopple hanger causing the right rear hopple to smack unnaturally low on right rear.  Just won at Northfield in 1:55 in BCS, which he will have ample opportunity to do further damage.

Would have loved to been along with him.  With his gait and pedigree he should just be getting into his groove.  

Quote from Bgtolex25 on July 30, 2026, 8:02 AM

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.

1.  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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Dozens of thoughts running thru my pea brain, but best discussed over a glass of fine bourbon 🥃.

To summarize:

6 starts under Burke’s program after purchasing HH for $18 k on May 11.  Do the math, that is less than 3 races a month.

3 wins, a second, a third and a sixth.  Earnings in excess of $21k.  Just took his 3rd win in a row last night in  a gate to wire 1:52.3.

Still 2 legs of the BCS to go and a final.  Currently, sitting 6th in the standings.  So that is two $15k races guaranteed where he will be one of the favorites.

A three year old that took him over 12 months to exceed his best personal time, which was previously posted in the Next Gen in which he got a 4 hour round trip in a horse van and dirt in the face for his efforts.

Just some data to ruminate over as we all analyze the 2 year olds.  They are eligible to race thru age 14 and can live productive lives in other disciplines well into their 20s.  

I’ll hold off on that bourbon until tonight.

Quote from Lonnie on July 30, 2026, 11:39 AM

Pass the bourbon!  And I don't drink bourbon.  Make mine a tequila, please!

Going into last night's race:

Last nights rompathon:

Quote from Purple Aura on July 30, 2026, 12:44 PM

Quote from Lonnie on July 30, 2026, 11:39 AM

  I don't drink bourbon.  

 

<img src="data:;base64," alt="" data-opt-id="1006689893" data-opt-src="https://mlpcljue00uv.i.optimole.com/w:auto/h:auto/q:mauto/ig:avif/https://talkinghorseracing.com/wp-content/uploads/tfaf/2026/07/30/20260730000002.png" />

Love this site but this disappoints me.     🙂

Quote from Lonnie on July 30, 2026, 1:31 PM

Quote from Purple Aura on July 30, 2026, 12:44 PM

Quote from Lonnie on July 30, 2026, 11:39 AM

  I don't drink bourbon.  

 

<img src="data:;base64," alt="" data-opt-id="1006689893" data-opt-src="https://mlpcljue00uv.i.optimole.com/w:auto/h:auto/q:mauto/ig:avif/https://talkinghorseracing.com/wp-content/uploads/tfaf/2026/07/30/20260730000002.png" />

Love this site but this disappoints me.     

What disappoints you?

Quote from Purple Aura on July 30, 2026, 2:15 PM

Call it a failed attempt at humor. I've become quite the bourbon fan in my later years. Never really much of a drinker. More of a pothead. You drink whatever you want Lonnie and have a great time doing it. When's the next contest?

Quote from Bgtolex25 on July 30, 2026, 7:57 PM

Before I was granted Kentucky residency, I had to complete the following criteria:

1.  Profess my love for horses.  ☑️
2. Visit 3 distilleries and pass a test on how bourbon is made. ☑️
3. Properly use “y’all” and “all y’all” in sentences.  ☑️

Quote from Lonnie on July 30, 2026, 10:37 PM

Quote from Purple Aura on July 30, 2026, 2:15 PM

Call it a failed attempt at humor. I've become quite the bourbon fan in my later years. Never really much of a drinker. More of a pothead. You drink whatever you want Lonnie and have a great time doing it. When's the next contest?

@purple-aura, I thought it might have something to do with bourbon, but I wasn't positive.

Cheers!