Boots on Sunday's comeback short-lived

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Boots on Sunday, who came out of retirement for one race earlier in the meet at Lone Star Park, is going to resume being a stable pony, his trainer, Danny Pish, said Wednesday.

"We're going back to the big saddle," said Pish.

Boots on Sunday made his first start since August 2002 in the $40,000 Carter McGregor Memorial here June 17, when he pushed a hot pace and finished eighth. Now 9, he was originally retired with a bowed left front tendon. The tear healed, and earlier this meet, Pish began working Boots on Sunday.

"The horse told me that he wanted to try it again, and so we tried it again," he said. "But he's not telling me that now. Before the race, he was begging to get to go do it again, and now he's not telling me that, so I'm going to try and listen to what the signs tell me."

Pish said Boots on Sunday will stick around Lone Star through the end of the meet July 23. He will then head to San Antonio with the trainer, who later this summer will be based at Retama Park. The activity will serve Boots on Sunday well, said Pish.

"My whole reason that we tried this [comeback] is because he's a horse that wants to do something," said Pish. "He does not like to stand around and do nothing."

Pish said Boots on Sunday is "the picture of health" right now. A gelding, he retires with 14 career wins from 36 starts. Boots on Sunday won seven stakes during his career and $417,965. He is by Pine Bluff out of the mare Richsis, who has had three other winners at the current Lone Star meet: Rain on Monday, Popped Corn, and Moody Goose.

Forrest G. to return soon

Forrest G. will soon be back from a freshening. The winner of last year's $100,000 colts and geldings division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity at Lone Star, he has been working at a training center in north Texas and is about 30 days away from a race, said his trainer, Marvin Hayes.

"Wherever there's a road and there's a racetrack and a purse that will fit him, that's where I'll go," said Hayes.

Forrest G. last raced in April, finishing fourth in an allowance at Sunland Park. He placed in two other stakes during the New Mexico meet, including the Riley Allison Futurity. Hayes said he is looking at comeback options at Retama Park and Remington Park for Forrest G.

"Whatever might fit him," he said. "I'm kind of interested in stretching him on out, but of course the first start back will probably be a sprint and then we'll see about stretching him out."

Hayes said he plans to remove blinkers when Forrest G. returns to racing.

Sprinters clash in optional claimer

A competitive group of eight sprinters will meet in Friday's featured ninth race, a 6 1/2-furlong optional claimer. Among those in the race are Lumbre, Grand Bank, Marq French, and Matty's Song, who finished first through fourth at this level in their last start on June 24. Adding further depth to the field is Nuttyboom, who in his last start was second in the Carter McGregor.

The other top race on the card is a first-level allowance for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on turf. Cat Hop, who was a fast-closing second at this classification last time, and Ever and Anon, who was also second in an allowance last out, appear to be the top contenders. Others of interest include sprint stakes winner Hosanna Hit.

Goosey Moose to Bob Johnson

Pish said Goosey Moose, third last Saturday in the $75,000 Assault, will move to turf next for the $40,000 Bob Johnson Memorial. The one-mile race will be run here on July 22.

Pish said Mary's Gray Boy, who finished third to Be a Resident in the $125,000 colts and geldings division of the Texas Stallion Stakes, could make his next start in the $65,000 Middleground Breeders' Cup here on July 23.