Trainer Jeff Gillis and driver Jody Jamieson expressed shortly after Federal Flex won last Saturday night’s Goodtimes final at Mohawk Racetrack that they didn’t believe the horse was 100 percent, and Gillis told harnessracing.com Monday morning that post-race tests showed the 3-year-old colt trotter was indeed sick.
“He didn’t scope very good. He had some airway swelling and a slight trace of blood. Actually, a small ulcer on his palate,” said Gillis. “So there is lots of reason to think he can be better, it’s just a matter of addressing him right now.” Sent off the prohibitive 2-5 favorite in the $333,200 Goodtimes final, Federal Flex and Jamieson took the lead at the :57.2 half. Federal Flex reached three-quarters in 1:26.3 before coming home in :27.4 to win in 1:54.2, holding on over longshot Truth In Action by a quarter-length in what was a four-horse blanket finish.
“We have such a high opinion and such high expectations for this horse, he just doesn’t get to the wire struggling like that. That’s just not him,” said Gillis. “Off those fractions he would normally put three lengths on them coming out of the turn. To a casual observer, it might look like he raced pretty good, we just know he’s so much more than that.”
Gillis noted that Federal Flex, who won last year’s Valley Victory final and is now two-for-two in 2009, wasn’t scheduled to race again until the Stanley Dancer July 17 at the Meadowlands. The Hambletonian eliminations are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 1, with the nationally-televised final on Aug. 8.
“He wasn’t scheduled to race for the next three weeks, so we do have time to treat him accordingly and go from there,” he said. “All in all, we’re pretty thrilled with how courageous an effort it was (in the Goodtimes) under the circumstances.”
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