WARD: Strong Contender Likely Through

[Kasept]

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL -- John Oxley's multiple graded stakes winner Strong Contender, scratched as second choice the morning of Saturday's Donn Handicap (Gr. I), has possibly suffered a career-ending injury according to trainer John Ward.

Strong Contender, the 2006 Dwyer (Gr. II) and Super Derby (Gr. II) winner, was reported by barn staff to Ward Friday evening as sore in his stall and uncomfortable. An examination Saturday morning revealed a significant tendon tear which Ward believes he may initially suffered in the Hal's Hope (Gr. III) January 6 and further aggravated in a gate work this week.

A chestnut son of Maria's Mon out of the Dynaformer mare Kopenhagen, Strong Contender had been scheduled to appear in the Santa Anita Handicap after his start in the Donn. A debut winner at Arlington at 2, Ward had frequent trouble stringing starts together with the $800,000 Keeneland (April) '05 Sale purchase.

After thirds in the Blue Grass (Silver Minister) and Peter Pan (Sunriver), Strong Contender earned black type at Belmont in the Dwyer with a runaway victory over Doc Cheney and Da Stoops. Third to Bluegrass Cat and Praying for Cash in the Haskell (Gr. I), Strong Contender annexed the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs in an exciting stretch duel with Lawyer Ron.

[KirisClown]

That's too bad...

[randallscott35]

Sorry to hear that. Thought he would have had a nice 4yr old season. Shame.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

thats a shame...i can see him getting hit with a skillet by his old lady..

does he ever get one to four..oh wait ..1 has made it.and who was that 1 for 2 rattles

[Cannon Shell]

Though I appreciate the timely info I really could care less about any horse John Ward trains after about 5 starts. Of course very few of them ever make it that far. I love the part where he thinks the injury may have happened in his last race as he blamed that on a bad break, strained muscles, etc. Since then he works him in 59 15 days later and follows that up with a gate work and now he says it happened in his last race?

John Ward has had some real nice horse flesh and not alot to show for it. Real shame what happened to this horse.

[The Bid]

Sharp guy eh Cannon

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by The Bid

Sharp guy eh Cannon

He must have the goods on Oxley

[Danzig]

with a goat maybe...


makes no sense to say that he suffered a tear like that, then, and no indication all this time? but then, that would excuse the loss now, wouldn't it?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

thats a shame...i can see him getting hit with a skillet by his old lady..

does he ever get one to four..oh wait ..1 has made it.and who was that 1 for 2 rattles

Still waiting

[SniperSB23]

Sorry to see that. As everyone knows I don't think much of the horse and thought he was very overrated but at least it looked like they had plans to dance all the big dances and we need any horses we can get in the older male division.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Sorry to see that. As everyone knows I don't think much of the horse and thought he was very overrated but at least it looked like they had plans to dance all the big dances and we need any horses we can get in the older male division.

Thats all they ever have is plans. Guy has 40 horses in training and makes 75 starts per year.

[The Bid]

Hahahaa. Man, great stock at that, can only imagine what a trainer would do with those horses

[txshorns02]

He was retired due to a tendon tear....

http://ntra.com/content.aspx?type=news&id=23217

[POINTGIVEN1985]

cannon shell it seems that you dislike john ward, is there a specific reasson for that ? i mean i dont know everything about this game but, i do look at him as a very good horseman.

[Gander]

Point, not sure if you were at simulcast on Saturday, but a guy there was touting Torini as Ward's Derby horse. He ran in the last race at Gulf on Saturday, the race where I needed Silver Express and Hals My Hope beat me a bob at ridiculous odds.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by POINTGIVEN1985

cannon shell it seems that you dislike john ward, is there a specific reasson for that ? i mean i dont know everything about this game but, i do look at him as a very good horseman.

I have no reason to dislike him personally. I believe that John means a lot of what he says but I disagree with almost all of his positions on almost everything.

As far as a horseman, why cant he ever get his horses to the races and why do his talented horses fail to ever have long useful careers with very few exceptions?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I have no reason to dislike him personally. I believe that John means a lot of what he says but I disagree with almost all of his positions on almost everything.

As far as a horseman, why cant he ever get his horses to the races and why do his talented horses fail to ever have long useful careers with very few exceptions?

I second this post.

Case in point.....he started zero 2YOs the entire Saratoga meeting.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I have no reason to dislike him personally. I believe that John means a lot of what he says but I disagree with almost all of his positions on almost everything.

As far as a horseman, why cant he ever get his horses to the races and why do his talented horses fail to ever have long useful careers with very few exceptions?

I believe its a fair criticism. I've wondered the same thing myself.

What about someone like Ronny Werner? It seems like I only hear his name being associated with 2 year olds. Am I wrong? If not, what happens to them down the road?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

I believe its a fair criticism. I've wondered the same thing myself.

What about someone like Ronny Werner? It seems like I only hear his name being associated with 2 year olds. Am I wrong? If not, what happens to them down the road?

Ronny is good at getting them to the races and winning early. He has had more success the last few years at winning with other types of horses. He does not get anywhere near the stock the Ward does.