Flirtin Man changing shoes

August 02, 2007

Flirtin Man�s shoe collection doesn�t match the thousand pairs reportedly owned by the infamous Imelda Marcos, but he�s gaining on her. In Saturday�s Hambletonian, Flirtin Man will start wearing a new set of shoes for the fourth time in his last four races.

Trainer Gary Napierala credits his stepfather, Hall of Famer Chuck Sylvester, for helping him find the right footwear for the fast youngster.

"Chuck Sylvester is a master at shoeing a trotter,� says Napierala of the man who trained Mack Lobell, Park Avenue Joe, Muscles Yankee and Chip Chip Hooray when they won the Hambletonian.

One reason why Flirtin Man has worn different shoes is that Napierala has had to cope with a quarter crack problem that has plagued the colt this summer. The son of Angus Hall seriously injured his foot in a race on June 9 in Ontario and was out of action for more than a month.

The crack in the hoof wall was patched and is now growing out nicely, says the 42 year-old horseman.

Last year Flirtin Man was trained by Sylvester and made a break in his only start in the Horseman Stake at the Indiana State Fair.

�Chuck is not one to hurt a 2 year old, so he turned him right out after that,� said Napierala. �He had shown signs of talent, but he had some soundness problems.�

Speed was never in question for Flirtin Man, says his trainer. The challenge was to get him to carry his speed for a full mile. Because of his leg problems, swimming has been a vital part of his conditioning.

When the post positions were selected for Saturday�s $1.5 million final, Flirtin Man was one of the final two horses to draw. Only posts one and 10 were still available. Napierala groaned when Flirtin Man got post 10. He insists, however, that the post doesn�t rule out a victory.

�We�ve got John Campbell driving and who else would you want if you had the 10 hole?� he asks. �He�s the greatest driver and he�s won so many big races from the 10-hole. He�ll just have to watch the race unfold.�

Napierala said that shoeing changes on Flirtin Man were designed to help him leave the gate and get a good position. He knows that his horse won�t be on the front end. That�s simply not his style of racing.

�I look for Great Success and Xactly Hanover to leave out of there fast,� he says. �I wouldn�t be surprised to see a first quarter in 26 and change and a half around 54 seconds. John might never see the wood with Flirtin Man, but a fast pace will help us.�

Napierala said that Flirtin Man came out of Saturday�s elim in fine shape.

�I turned him out in the paddock at 5:30 on Sunday morning,� he says. �It was foggy and he just put his tail up over his back and tore off through the paddock. He was feeling great.�

He continues to be in good spirits this week although Napierala says, �It�s hard to tell when it�s almost 100 degrees out.�

Flirtin Man�s training regimen includes no fast miles this week. He�ll be turned out early each morning and then swim for about 20 minutes.

Napierala points to Pampered Princess as the horse to beat in the Hambo final, and laughs when he says, �I�d love to see a speed duel between Pampered Princess and Donato Hanover. That would be great. But they�re too smart for that.

�Tim Tetrick (driver of Pampered Princess) is amazing. I can�t say enough good things about that him. That kid has accomplished so much.�

He looks for Flirtin Man to be rallying in the homestretch.

�He�s a great competitor and loves to pass horses on the track,� says Napierala. �He even loves to pass other horses in the pool when he�s swimming. I�ve never seen a horse swim so fast.�

Napierala hopes that Flirtin Man�s new footwear enables him to pass horses in the Hambletonian. After all, he�s got to pay for all his shoes. (Hambletonian Society)

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