Courageous Cal-Bred Colt Wins at Santa Anita

Tough Sunday defied the odds of a difficult birth and multiple serious health issues as a youngster to finally become a winning racehorse Dec. 28 at Santa Anita Park.

 

A 3-year-old California-bred by Grazen trained by Steve Miyadi for owner/breeder Nick Alexander, Tough Sunday broke his maiden in fine style in his third career start, scoring in the second race by an emphatic 6 1/4 lengths.

 

It's not only amazing that Tough Sunday made it to the races, it's a miracle the colt is even alive.

 

Alexander, a Santa Ynez ranch owner and supporter of California racing for 36 years, gave the following detailed account of Tough Sunday's extreme ordeal at his birth on March 23, 2012.

          

"This colt had a tough beginning," Alexander said. "He was very big and got stuck during delivery, and in struggling to get out his (umbilical) cord was severed and by the time we pulled him out, he had been without oxygen for some time.

          

"We rushed him and his mom (Sunday Dress, by General Meeting) to Alamo Pintado Clinic just a few minutes from our ranch in Santa Ynez. The news was bad: He was blind, deaf, had no nursing instinct, and a heart murmur.

          

"Dr. Erin Burn and her staff worked around the clock to stabilize him, but he developed pneumonia. He could stand up but couldn't lie back down. He looked like a pin cushion with so many tubes, IVs, etc.

          

"Because he didn't know how to nurse, his mom abandoned him. About the fifth day, he wasn't improving and I was told to make a decision whether or not to keep at it. The next morning I went to the clinic, and as I walked up to his stall, his eyes followed me.

          

"That was enough progress for me, but he still was in an ICU almost a month before he was strong enough to bring home. We pail-fed him and eventually got his mom to accept him, although he never did learn to nurse.

          

"A month or so later, we turned him out with other foals and mares."

 

The colt made steady progression toward his breakthrough victory. He was third in his career debut Oct. 29 at Santa Anita, and then second Dec. 18 at Los Alamitos Race Course, both at six furlongs, before finding the winner's circle when stretching out a furlong further.

 

With Tyler Baze aboard, Tough Sunday dueled for the early lead before settling into a stalking trip in the maiden special weight race. He bid for command again off the turn and led in early stretch by two lengths before drawing off unchallenged as the 7-10 favorite in the seven-horse field. The time was 1:21.90 on a fast track.

 

If there were an Eclipse Award for courage, Tough Sunday would be a prime candidate.