Lather Up to skip Meadowlands Pace
July 2, 2018,by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager
Ken Weingartner
Hightstown, NJ — After watching Lather Up’s first loss of the season in Saturday’s Max Hempt Memorial, George Teague Jr. is hopeful his team can get the 3-year-old male pacer back to the form that saw him begin the year with seven consecutive wins, including the North America Cup.
Lather Up, the 1-9 favorite in the $500,000 Hempt, went off stride on the final turn as he tried to pass leader Dorsoduro Hanover following a first-over march from fourth place. It was the first time Lather Up ever made a break in a race. The Hempt was eventually won by Springsteen.
Teague, who leads a training stable that includes Lather Up’s conditioner Clyde Francis, said the colt scoped sick following the Hempt and also presented driver Montrell Teague with steering issues because of a mouth sore. Teague also was testing to see if Lather Up suffered from muscle cramping.
New Image Media photo
Lather Up has won 11 of 15 career races and earned $544,765 for owners Gary and Barbara Iles.
“It was a combination of things, a perfect storm to have a bad night,” Teague said Monday morning. “He got a little bit of an ulcer in his mouth on the right line again. That’s a little bit of an issue, but I don’t think it’s permanent. I think he’ll be fine. We have a little bit of time now to work on him and get him cleared up (from being sick).”
Teague was uncertain when Lather Up would make his next start, but ruled out the upcoming Meadowlands Pace, which would have required a supplemental payment to make the horse eligible to start because he had not been staked to the event.
“Physically, he’s fine,” Teague said, adding with a laugh, “It was small things; small things that can add up to (losing) a lot of money. That’s horseracing. I can’t change what happened. We’ll just try to fix it and get him back on course. On to the next one.”
Lather Up, a son of I’m Gorgeous out of Pocket Comb, has won 11 of 15 career races and earned $544,765 for owners Gary and Barbara Iles, who also bred the colt. He was ranked No. 2 behind trotter Hannelore Hanover in last week’s Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll; this week’s poll will be released Tuesday.
- Lather Up wins Pepsi North America Cup (Saturday, June 16, 2018)
Lather Up proved he was a step above his competition by capturing the 35th edition of the C$1 million Pepsi North America Cup on Saturday night (June 16) at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Trained by Clyde Francis, Lather Up and driver Montrell Teague powered forward from the beginning and took no prisoners en route to a four length score in 1:48.1.
- Lather Up’s connections reflect on Cup, look forward to Hempt (Wednesday, June 20, 2018)
When owner Gary Iles reflects on Lather Up’s win in last week’s Pepsi North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park, he cannot help but feel blessed. Iles and his wife Barbara watched their homebred colt overcome a number of obstacles and horses to reach the top of the 3-year-old pacing ranks with his win in the C$1 million race.
- Springsteen pulls off upset in Hempt final (Saturday, June 30, 2018)
Springsteen rocked to a 15-1 upset in Saturday’s (June 30) $500,000 Max C. Hempt Memorial for 3-year-old male pacers at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, where favorite Lather Up went off stride and suffered his first loss in eight starts this year. Springsteen and driver Simon Allard used a three-wide move at three-quarters and overcame Nutcracker Sweet by a head to win in 1:48.3. Hitman Hill finished third.