Quote from Lonnie on June 23, 2026, 4:26 PM

Quote from Bgtolex25 on June 11, 2026, 7:21 AM

Quick summary:

Got away good and pocket trip but just ran out of steam by the 5/8ths.

Winning mile went in 2:02 and change with 58 and change back half, although the winner came first over from 4th or 5th and threw down a 57 and change back half.

With his lazy training, he hasn’t earned the right to a quick excuse.  But they are scoping him and drawing blood.  Waiting on results.  

I was morose after his pre-race warm up, when he came back seemingly excessively overheated and blowing hard.  The warm up was only 1.5 miles at a 50 clip.  The caretaker did his best to cool him down.  It was hot and muggy and unfortunately he was standing in the afternoon sun for most of the day.

So who knows?
1. He could just be not good enough

2. he could have been physically compromised 

3. both can be true

time will tell

@bgtolex25, any update?

Quote from Lonnie on June 23, 2026, 4:27 PM

Sorry... I posted without reading your latest reply.

Good luck on Wednesday!!

Quote from Bgtolex25 on June 23, 2026, 4:45 PM

@lonnie I have nothing.  Family visitors here and family items in Ohio have kept me distracted, which was a good thing.  My pointed questions on bloodwork got vague responses, so I just dropped it.   He is a good looking horse and gaited well.  Pedigree is deep, including some current good aged pacers in Ohio.  Maybe it will be better to shut him down and try to market his potential to a different trainer and ownership vs. pushing now.

We will watch tomorrow and go from there.

Quote from Lonnie on June 23, 2026, 5:10 PM

Quote from Bgtolex25 on June 23, 2026, 4:45 PM

@lonnie I have nothing.  Family visitors here and family items in Ohio have kept me distracted, which was a good thing.  My pointed questions on bloodwork got vague responses, so I just dropped it.   He is a good looking horse and gaited well.  Pedigree is deep, including some current good aged pacers in Ohio.  Maybe it will be better to shut him down and try to market his potential to a different trainer and ownership vs. pushing now.

We will watch tomorrow and go from there.

@bgtolex25, you know that we are all rooting for you and your horse!  Go Monte!  Go!!

Quote from Bgtolex25 on June 24, 2026, 6:10 PM

Ok, the OHHA feed was down, but it came up just in time for the race.  Each of the colts had either a fair or qualifying line(s).  Based on those, I thought we would be lucky to get a check in a field of 6.  Mile in 2:02.4.

Finished a laboring 4th after going to front off the fold and then inheriting the pocket.  Half in 1:01.2.  Again, at the 5/8ths he started gapping, but he looked a little more conditioned.  While no where near the top 2, he battled for third to the top of stretch before staggering home for 4th money.  His mile was 2:04 and change based on my estimation.  Lines not posted yet.

Less than ideal condition?  Will leave the gait sharply but  the tank empties early.

Lacks the spirit?

Compromised in an area that hasn’t been determined?

Mentally immature?  He has a goof ball barn attitude.  Doesn’t like to train hard.  Late May foal.  His siblings are huge, so maybe he grows into his pedigree.

Will keep you posted as we all take in the journey on our babies.

Quote from Lonnie on June 24, 2026, 9:59 PM

She made it to the races.  Things can only look up from here!  🙏🍀

Quote from Lonnie on June 29, 2026, 11:18 AM

Good luck today, @bgtolex25!

Quote from Bgtolex25 on June 29, 2026, 11:22 AM

Will just hope for improvement.  Thanks @lonnie and @pcmark15

Quote from Bgtolex25 on June 29, 2026, 1:00 PM

Some fresh observations after watching on YouTube:

1.  David Hawk got the driving nod.  Not sure why Nisonger didn’t drive today, but Jeff will try another driver to get fresh eyes and perspective from time to time.  He was scored down relatively sharply and looked good compared to his sluggish look at Paulding.

2. For the 3rd time in 3 starts, Monte Vista left the gait alertly and pocketed up.
3. Again, around the 5/8 pole, the leaders accelerated and would go on to finish off the back half under a minute.  (Very ice colts to do that at this track). Meanwhile MV obviously cannot do the same at this point.  His back half was 1:03 and 33.1 last quarter.  So obviously, he comes up short at the end of his miles.
4. I spoke with one of the grooms on Saturday night at Scioto, and they are still hopeful that he comes around.  But given the immediate family production and large physical sizes of the siblings, one possibility is to shut him down soon to let him mature physically and mentally.
5. The downside of investing heavily into one horse is the obvious if they don’t come out guns blazing.  But it also puts a premium on patience and playing the long game.  It’s all good and learning more everyday.