Her Emmynency back in stakes company after bout with colitis

DEL MAR, Calif. – It was the sort of phone call a trainer hates to make and an owner dreads to receive.

Last October, Mike Stidham called his client, Ike Thrash, in Hattiesburg, Miss., to convey the news that the stakes winner Her Emmynency had been sent to a Southern California equine clinic because of a bout with colitis.

“We have to keep our fingers crossed,” Stidham told Thrash. “It can go south in a couple of days.”

Fortunately, the filly rebounded within days, so much so that she was eventually transported from the Chino Valley Equine Clinic to a local farm to continue her recovery.

Less than a year after the illness, Her Emmynency was back in action, and a winner in an optional claimer June 20 at Arlington Park. The victory has led to a start in Sunday’s $100,000 San Clemente Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Del Mar.

“I was so relieved to see her do what she did,” Stidham said Thursday at Del Mar. “You never know how they’ll run when you bring them back.”

Her Emmynency was the star 2-year-old filly for Stidham at the 2014 Del Mar summer meeting. She beat maidens in her career debut in early August and four weeks later was a game second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante, losing by a neck.

Stidham had approximately 12 horses at Del Mar last summer and won with 3 of 21 starters, earning $379,290. This year, he has increased the stable to 25 runners, with Her Emmynency again a prominent member of the team.

The decision to expand the stable was based to an extent on the economics of horse racing in the Chicago area.

“Part of it was the Arlington purses are so bad right now,” he said. “We worked on a plan to go with the horses we thought would fit. I have 25 now. I might bring a few more.”

Thrash and his wife, Dawn, have several runners with Stidham at Del Mar, including a promising 2-year-old filly in Annie’s Curls, by Curlin, who is expected to start in a maiden race next week. With a larger stable, there is optimism that last year’s wins and earnings can be surpassed at a competitive race meeting.

“I’m hoping that we can continue that,” Stidham said. “No one comes to Del Mar assuming anything. Everyone is trying to do the same thing.”

Recalling last October, Stidham said Her Emmynency was nearly lost.

“With colitis, it can go either way,” Stidham said. “We were lucky to get her there as quickly as we did to the clinic. She was not good. It was scary.”

The comeback race left Stidham encouraged. Her Emmynency closed on the inside through traffic to win by a head at 1-2 at Arlington Park.

“She was trapped inside and had to wait,” Stidham said. “When it was all over, I was glad that’s how the race worked out. I think she got a lot out of that race.”

If Her Emmynency runs well Sunday, she could start in the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks, a Grade 1 at 1 1/8 miles on turf Aug. 15. Last fall, she had been pre-entered for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita when the illness occurred.

“We thought we had a chance in the Breeders’ Cup,” Stidham said.

Beginning this weekend, the opportunities for a stakes win returns.