Groupie Doll happy to be back at Churchill
May 9, 2013 23:08:00 GMT -5
Post by Jon on May 9, 2013 23:08:00 GMT -5
Let's hope she has re-grouped LOL
Groupie Doll happy to be back at Churchill
Groupie Doll, the champion female sprinter of 2012, returned to Churchill Downs on Monday after spending about three months at Indian Ridge Farm near Frankfort, Kentucky.
Trainer Buff Bradley, who owns Groupie Doll in partnership with his father Fred as well as Carl Hurst and Brent Burns, sent the five-year-old mare home in early February after she was not training to his satisfaction at Gulfstream Park.
That has not been the case this time around.
"Is it a 180-degree turnaround from Florida? Absolutely," Buff Bradley said. "She has really good energy and she wants to do it. I knew we were good and did not anticipate any problems bringing her back."
One of the reasons Bradley was confident about his star's return was the time spent at the farm sharing a pasture with the 12-year-old gelding Brass Hat.
"'Brass' was training her," Bradley said of the previous stable star who earned more than $2.1 million in his career. "They would run for 10 minutes and Brass was so smart, he would cut the corner on her and when they were done, she was really blowing."
Bradley plans to jog Groupie Doll all this month and not begin galloping until June with plenty of time to map out a campaign for 2013.
In Groupie Doll's absence, Aubby K took over her title in last Saturday's Humana Distaff. James Spence's homebred did not stick around Churchill Downs too long after her 1 1/2-length victory, her first in a Grade 1.
"She flew out the next day to Saratoga," trainer Ralph Nicks said of Aubby K. "She came out of the race fine. I have had the pleasure to be around some good horses and it feels good to have one of my own."
Although Nicks has his eye on the Princess Rooney at Calder going six furlongs on July 6, the seven-furlong Ballerina at the Spa August 23 is the primary goal.
"Our main summer objective is the Ballerina at Saratoga. She runs well fresh," the trainer added.
www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=36596&from=656
Groupie Doll happy to be back at Churchill
Groupie Doll, the champion female sprinter of 2012, returned to Churchill Downs on Monday after spending about three months at Indian Ridge Farm near Frankfort, Kentucky.
Trainer Buff Bradley, who owns Groupie Doll in partnership with his father Fred as well as Carl Hurst and Brent Burns, sent the five-year-old mare home in early February after she was not training to his satisfaction at Gulfstream Park.
That has not been the case this time around.
"Is it a 180-degree turnaround from Florida? Absolutely," Buff Bradley said. "She has really good energy and she wants to do it. I knew we were good and did not anticipate any problems bringing her back."
One of the reasons Bradley was confident about his star's return was the time spent at the farm sharing a pasture with the 12-year-old gelding Brass Hat.
"'Brass' was training her," Bradley said of the previous stable star who earned more than $2.1 million in his career. "They would run for 10 minutes and Brass was so smart, he would cut the corner on her and when they were done, she was really blowing."
Bradley plans to jog Groupie Doll all this month and not begin galloping until June with plenty of time to map out a campaign for 2013.
In Groupie Doll's absence, Aubby K took over her title in last Saturday's Humana Distaff. James Spence's homebred did not stick around Churchill Downs too long after her 1 1/2-length victory, her first in a Grade 1.
"She flew out the next day to Saratoga," trainer Ralph Nicks said of Aubby K. "She came out of the race fine. I have had the pleasure to be around some good horses and it feels good to have one of my own."
Although Nicks has his eye on the Princess Rooney at Calder going six furlongs on July 6, the seven-furlong Ballerina at the Spa August 23 is the primary goal.
"Our main summer objective is the Ballerina at Saratoga. She runs well fresh," the trainer added.
www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=36596&from=656
