Hip #17 The Tangled Webs

Eugene's Third Son on the outside above finishing second in the Lane's End Stakes at Turfway.  I always say a trainer that will put so much equipment on a horse that it can't see is a blithering idiot. Blinkers and a giant shadow roll will do that to a horse.  Put another way, would we like our horse to see where it is putting it's feet at 40 mph?.  Caveat--I used to think a tongue tie was a dumb piece of equipment.  Sometimes we discover there's reasons for what they do. I have yet to figure the shadow roll, obviously.

Enter the fellow in the sun glasses, the trainer of Eugene's Third Son, a fellow named Patrick Byrne.  Trained Awesome Again to the 1998 BC Classic.  Undefeated or close.  And 2 yr. old Champ Favorite Trick and a few others.  Been in decline according to an April 2012 Paulick Report post.  One may guess why.  1998 was the epitome of the soft training era.  Byrne would have beat others just like himself.  An indicator of his actual ability is that Eugene's Third Son broke his leg and was retired finishing second in the Arkansas Derby in 2003.  As I noted from the equipment, a probable training idiot, except to note that's purely by circumstantial evidence--unknown really.  Just a suspicion.

And, whoooops.  More evidence.  Take Charge Indy.  This very blog noted before 2012 Florida Derby that due to it's pitiful training Take Charge Indy would likely be injured in the race.  Was retired after the race.  Trainer:  Patrick Byrne, and the prosecution may almost rest.

And so--there's some background on Eugene' Third Son, the sire of Hip#17, formerly a colt, but as of 1:30 p.m. today, a gelding--the deed is done.  Would think it fairly impressive to finish second in two of the major KY Derby Preps, Lanes End and Ark. Derby with a broken leg.  He's by Indian Charlie out of an Afleet Mare--and now stands in the Philippines for 50,000 pesos.  Oh well.

Here he is: ETS in first 15 sec.--left click to full screen and pause at the conformation photo. Hip #17 is a bit of a spitting image of his pop.