by Greg Gangle, WEG Communications
Toronto, ON — When David Shea attended the 2010 Canadian Yearling Sale, he went there expecting to buy one horse, not two. Luckily, it turned out to be twice as nice for the longtime owner.
He purchased the horse he was looking for in Giddy Up Cam, but when Shea, who calls Campbellville, Ontario, home, was set to leave the sales pavilion, another horse caught his eye.
Shea is certainly glad he made the decision to net Giddy Up Blackfly.
A son of Whosurboy, Giddy Up Blackfly has banked $21,385 in career earnings, sporting a record of 4-2-0 from 11 starts and a life’s best clocking of 1:54.2.
“I went to the sale looking to buy one horse (Giddy Up Cam), which we got, but when I was ready to leave I noticed this horse was getting ready to sell, so I went over to see what kind of number he would bring,” Shea recalls.
Giddy Up Blackfly, then known as On My Way There, was anything but a decadent purchase.
“He was the only horse in the sale sired by Whosurboy,” Shea said. “Mark Ford, who trained Whosurboy, is a good friend of mine who has trained horses for me in the past, so that’s one of the reasons why I went to look at the horse. I was happy to get him for $6,500.”
Giddy Up Blackfly surfaced in July of his 2-year-old season this past summer. After a shaky start to his career, the decision was made to give the youngster some time off in preparation for the winter months.
“We decided to geld him,” Shea said. “He wasn’t lame or anything, but his mind wasn’t on his business during the race. When we brought him back in December, he has been a different horse.”
Since his return, Giddy Up Blackfly has fashioned a record of 3-2-0 in his last five appearances including a second-place effort in the first leg of the Snowshoe Pacing Series. Shea’s cousin, Joey, conditions the sophomore, while up-and-coming reinsman Bill Davis, Jr. handles the driving assignments.
Shea confirmed that after the series, Giddy Up Blackfly will receive some well-deserved time off in preparation for the summer racing season.
“I think he has enough talent to be a Gold (Ontario Sires Stakes) horse this summer,” Shea said. “Anything can happen in this business, but for now, he’s getting better with every start and is on the right track.”
Shea has a lot to look forward to in both his Canadian Yearling Sale purchases as Giddy Up Cam recently scored an impressive 1:58.1 qualifying victory in his career debut.
“He qualified very well for us,” he said. “Hopefully we have two nice horses come this summer.”
Giddy Up Blackfly will begin from post one in the third division (Race 9) of the Snowshoe Series on Thursday evening.
The C$30,000 divisions will line up as follows.
First Division – Race 3
1. Western Bandit
2. Warrawee Nonsuch
3. North Shore Boy
4. Pisti
5. Some Mach Some Win
6. Wisher
7. Wizard Of Art
8. Piston Broke
Second Division – Race 7
1. Cobalt Man
2. Weigh The Odds
3. Windsong Harley
4. Lucky Flier
5. Big League
6. Emerging Grin
7. Pictonians Matador
8. Windsong Hardrock
9. C Major Hanover
Third Division – Race 9
1. Giddy Up Blackfly
2. Mr Big Head
3. Gunpowder
4. Solid Performance
5. Modern Legend
6. Lucky Lime
7. As Duharas
8. Manchester Hanover
Also on Thursday evening, the second leg of the C$30,000 Blizzard Pacing Series will take place featuring three divisions.
The fields will line up as follows.
First Division – Race 1
1. Emerald Rihanna
2. Lollipop Girl
3. Shine N Shimmer
4. Dreamfair Misty
5. The Prophet Mary
6. Ms Curator
7. Cocoa Beach
8. Kami Card Tricks
Second Division – Race 4
1. Caviart Mandy
2. Bee Fullof Steinam
3. Carly Hollywood
4. Autumn Seelster
5. The Summer Wind
6. Trama Unit
7. Ms Raq N Flash
8. Silky Britches
Third Division – Race 11
1. Cards That Count
2. Dream Outloud
3. Bruisers Sister
4. Joltimatum
5. Rock Ann Rolling
6. D Gs Tinkerbell
7. Artistic Music
8. Machleen