The Lumber Guy gets pointed at the Jerome Handicap after the Wood Memorial
Michael Hushion found out in the Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct that his trainee, The Lumber Guy, isn’t cut out for nine furlongs, as he set the pace that day but gave way to finish fifth on the day.
It calls for a suitable race for the New York bred to keep the feel good factor going, and Michael Hushion has found one for him. The Grade 2 Jerome Handicap is a one mile contest over the Aqueduct racetrack’s dirt course on 21 April, 2012, as The Lumber
Guy will cut back in distance from 1 1/8 to 1 mile in 2 weeks time.
Though, Hushion is happy with the distance and the dynamics of the race, but he isn’t too pleased with the timing of the race, and he said that ideally he would’ve liked a week more to train The Lumber Guy, but it was either going to be a run in the Jerome
Handicap or train the 3-year-old for 6 more weeks.
Barry K. Schwartz’s The Lumber Guy was introduced to Thoroughbred racing this year on 28 January, 2012, as he debuted at Aqueduct and broke his maiden at first asking going over a distance of 6 furlongs.
He then started at Laurel Park in the seven furlong long Miracle Wood Stakes, and downed the distance in 1 minute and 23.22 seconds, while defeating Brimstone Island in second and Rocky Gap in third on 25 February, 2012.
His first blemish was in the Wood Memorial where he set the pace, but gave way in the end to finish 6 ¼ lengths off the winner, Gemologist.
“I think in hindsight getting beat 6 1/2 lengths under those conditions, being green like we were afraid of, being a race away from being ready for a mile and an eighth like we were afraid of, there’s nothing wrong with the race,” Hushion said. “I still
believe he’s a good horse. I like the way he’s acting. He shows all the signs you want to see. He’s nice and bright, in front of the stall, his hay rack’s empty.”
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