O'Neill Pushing The Envelope Not

So much for the idea Doug O'Neill has learned anything.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/70109/oneill-no-workouts-for-ill-have-another

My original thought--and this is the 8ball phenomenon--was that the success of I'll Have Another was tied to a series of nice breeze work prior to the KY Derby followed by consistent fast galloping in the :14 sec/f range for some distances into the Derby and Preakness.  I'd posted that u'r unable to continue that sort of work without injuring ur horse, and hence the 8ball question.

To clarify the 8ball, if you have a trainers license there are lines u r unable to cross and still hold that license.  Interesting comment on Pressey's blog today perfectly illustrates the point to the effect the lady said that if IHA breezed 3 times between Preakness and Derby like Seattle Slew O'Neill would be ruled off.

If you're a trainer the Q is always--where is the line?  If u're unable to do 3 breezes without calling yourself into Q, what about two breezes.  If you're galloping IHA 2 m licks everyday with :14sec. bursts down the line and the colt would go down in the Belmont with a catastrophic injury where are u?  The buzzards would be circling over you and your horse.

To think this very possibility is anywhere except in forefront of O'Neill's mind is to never yourself have been there.  This Q is in every trainer's mind.

However, for those who want to work/race their horses hard, as I have in the past, albeit at smaller venues out of the limelight, you are still being watched.  Fellow trainers with their snide remarks because they think, likely correctly, that u r showing them up with their owners, the Stewards, the State Vet.  That meddlesome Bryce Peckham, when he was king of Eureka Downs as "Kansas State Vet" knew exactly that my horses were training hard and was on me constantly.

And so, if your planning your works for a race with hard training, you are in fact behind the 8ball in your decision as to where the line is that you must avoid crossing.  With O'Neill, quite obviously--looking at the IHA galloping vids on Daily Racing Form--he has made the line go away by declining to continue to work his colt.

Comment on specific IHA prep next post.