The Gamechanger

With the foundation in place and the rush of (minor) success coursing through our veins, we ventured to expand our operations.  It was then, in May of 2009, that we made the purchase that would change the face of our business and set us out on a course we never could have envisioned.  By way of private purchase, we acquired three horses:

• Party Jones (Elusive Quality – Spanish Falls (GB), by Belmez).  He was a big, well built gelding that showed some promise as a 3 year-old, winning twice and finishing in the money 5 other times in 13 starts.  Plus, he carried a bit of swagger, as in that same year (2004), his “half brother” Smarty Jones would go on to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness (you knew the name sounded familiar).  Unfortunately, by the time he arrived at our barn he was worn down by injuries that he nagged him throughout his career.  Having only run 3 races in 18 months with us, and battling a debilitating suspensory injury, we retired him to a life on the farm.

Party Jones, chillin

• Raging Meese (Artax – Meeses Pieces, by Grindstone).  Despite being fairly well bred (both Artax and Grindstone were solid racehorses), this gritty little gelding could never get on track.  In his best ever effort – a low level claiming race on 1/18/10 - he was edged out by a classier horse and never again sniffed the winner’s circle.  Yet, he never gave an inch and despite injuries and a lack of real speed, he ran his guts out every single time.  It was in his DNA to compete.  However, like Party Jones (and so many other racehorses), we were forced to retire him from the track.

• Meese Rocks (Rock and Roll – Meeses Pieces, by Grindstone).  This stocky bay mare, a half sister to Raging Meese, came to us after nearly a year away from the track due to shin splints.  While she showed flashes of promise as a 3 year-old, there could be no telling what the long layoff would do to her ability and willingness to compete.  She was a total wildcard.

The Moment

Saratoga, NY

August 9, 2009

The crack of the starter’s bell and snap of the gates broke the still that falls over a Saratoga crowd in the moments before the 11^th race, while most of them mull over their first drink at Siro’s.  Along the backstretch, beset by a gorgeous upstate New York backdrop, turf flew as jockey and horses muscled for position.  From post number 3, Meese Rocks broke like a firecracker, jockey Jorge Chavez clearly distinguishable in our blue and orange argyle silks (yes, for the Mets).  Horses coming off long layoffs have a tendency to be too “fresh” – that is, too aggressive for their own good.  But from where we sat, she appeared to be in control.  Still, we reserved our enthusiasm.

As the field of 12 hit the halfway point on the turn, the crowd started to stir, and our girl was still on the lead.  However, having been sent off at nearly 16-to-1, we felt like it was only a matter of time before she would be overtaken.  And if that weren’t enough, setting blazing fast opening fractions of 21.83 and 44.67 did not bode well for her prospects of shaking off the rust that comes with eleven months on the shelf.

Little did we realize that something special was happening right in front of our eyes.  Coming off the turn with a narrow lead, Meese Rocks put her head down and dug in (just as her half-brother had done in the past), fending off 2 challengers in the process.  With a race set up perfectly for closers, they could never get to her and she ripped past the finish line in a scorching 1:02.10 for five and a half furlongs over a turf rated as firm.  Jubilation and triumph washed over the stable and our entire extended network. 

A 16-1 maiden winner!  Drinks at Siro's!

After returning home to Belmont, she went 3^rd/2^nd/3^rd in allowance races, proving that the maiden victory in Saratoga was no fluke.  But it was not until the 2009 fall/winter meet at Aqueduct, when we switched her from the grass to the dirt, that we realized that we had a champion in the barn.  She ripped off 3 straight allowance wins (all in convincing fashion) before a hard-luck 4^th place finish after a stumble against an extremely tough field.  No matter, 12 days later she would see the winner’s circled once again, this time in the Personal Girl Stakes. A stakes win…for our little stable.  It was indescribable.

Our first stakes win - what a thrill!

 And she just kept getting better.  Subsequent stakes wins, punctuated by a 7 length romp in the slop at Saratoga (Union Ave Stakes) and a powerful 2 length victory in the Iroquois Stakes at Belmont on New York Showcase Day (10/23/10) became the expectation, and not the exception. 

Barker stretches Meese Rocks before the Union Ave

Meese Rocks in the beautiful Saratoga paddock

Meese Rocks opens up in the stretch

ROMP IN THE SLOP

Henry and Gary (assistant trainer) lead the big girl to the winner's circle

Winner's Circle / Saratoga / Union Ave Stakes - Incredible!

Barker and the boys celebrate at Siro's

The field turns for home (Meese on the far right, front)

Under Ramon Dominguez, the big girl motors home to win the Iroquois Stakes

Beautiful

Another incredible day at the track, joined by family and friends

Most recently, the big girl scored a convincing win in the Broadway Stakes at Aqueduct, a race that had eluded us a year earlier.  In running her co-best 94 Beyer figure, she showed us that she still has the drive and talent to thrill us every single time she hits the track.

Aqueduct paddock, before the Broadway...

...and the winner's circle after!

Meese Rocks is currently taking some much needed (and deserved) R&R.  At the moment, the plan is to bring her back in the late spring/summer to make another run at greatness.  At age 6, we continue to anticipate big things from the big girl – she has never given us a reason to expect anything less.