So ... How About That DunkirK??

[Beezer]

While giving absolute props to the Bird boys (and their classic-winning pop! :yes: ), I cannot help but give a shout-out to the (gorgeous) Dunkirk, an inexperienced colt who obviously learned from his throw-down in the Derby and returned to lead the way in the Belmont, battle through the stretch and gallantly finish second, while still fighting.

Way to go, my would-be wonderful show hunter! :lol: :D :lol:

Travers and Breeders Cup, here we come!! (Unless, of course, his owners want to send him to a lusting would-be owner who will give him a forever home and teach him to love hunter courses, peppermints, lazy days hanging out, more peppermints, some cookies, lots of grooming, a few grids and mindless under saddle classes, some more peppermints and cookies....)

[War Admiral]

He's awesome. I'm thinkin' that lonnnnnng stride might give you some probs in the hunter ring though Beezer. ;)

[Foxtrot's]

Yes, Like I said on another post, there was a section of the tape where you could see Dunkirk's stride beside another horse and the comparison was amazing...his stride made him look slower than the faster striding horse next to him.

[workinggirl]

Loooovvveee that horse!

[workinggirl]

I know what you mean, he looked like he was lazily galloping in the fron of the field, I was like look at that gorgeous hunter!

[Good Old Sledge]

I don't know how happy he'd be in the ring. Cross country, though, were he could open up - clearly he wants to be a fox hunter.

[Lincoln]

You hunters don't need that length of stride anymore, what with the demise of outside courses. He needs to come be an event horse... such a lovely mover, effortless gallop and what heart! Actually, with the demise of the long format, maybe we don't need that economy of stride either. Maybe he'll just have to sire more $3+ million yearlings that we can all enjoy watching race.

[aahunterjumper]

No, no y'all. With that incredibly long stride, I see him as a horse for long, gallopy Nations Cups - think Spruce Meadows. If he can jump half as well as he runs, he'd be great.

Seriously, he's a "homebred" and he's just the latest of successful horses from his owners. He didn't run as a 2yr old (proof that one doesn't HAVE to run them at two).

[pinkdiamondracing]

Another vote here for making Dunkirk a steeplechaser!!! We need another McDynamo and Good Night Shirt is gettin up there in years!! I would love to see him in the Queen's Challenge @ Keeneland!! :yes::yes::yes:

[vineyridge]

Don't think I'd want him to chase since he's by Unbridled's Song. I'd worry about whether he could hold up to running, jumping and landing in stride. But that's just me.

[pandorasboxx]

Gorgeous horse.

[lesson junkie]

Yes-in light of vinyridge's observation, he needs to start doing doing the local adult hunters without delay!

[LaurieB]

Beautiful horse. Beautiful way of going. It's nice to see him finally begin to live up to hype-machine that's been touting his (not yet achieved) greatness all year.

[Vesper Sparrow]

Beautiful horse, lovely way of going and a lot of heart and toughness to have kept the lead for so long and then to have battled to get it back. I'd breed to him in a second. I have a young Unbridled's Song grandson and today was his first "away" dressage show so I whispered in his ear that he should channel his cousin, Dunkirk...

[Dispatcher]

Oh, Dunkirk is definitely a looker! I would NOT want to see him run over timber. But I sure could see him fox hunting! I can see Mine That Bird being the perfect handy hunter. Would LOVE to see him have a second career as a local hunter and show horse. Forget that A-circuit, give him a home where he can show his stuff and have fun--along with the rider having fun. Let's not forget Kelso......

[Foxtrot's]

He can hang out in my barn - psst - is he still a stallion? I have a girlfriend for him.

[evans36]

To hijack just a bit... Dunkirk is beautiful, but I am not a fan of greys and the maintenance that comes with keeping them clean. BUT I spent all day's coverage yesterday drooling over Mr. Hot Stuff. Did anyone notice how clearly miserable that horse was while running in some of the pics? Made me want to cry. And take him home. Even if he couldn't jump and was uncomfortable to ride (which he didn't look)... just to look at him in the pasture. How well-named!

[Drvmb1ggl3]

I think this horse probably impressed me the most yesterday. I really thought he would only get a mile and half in the back of a trailer. But not only did he go the distance but he did it off the front, totally at odds with his previous come wide and close deep style. When I saw Valasquez take him to the front I thought he would be cooked for sure.

[LaurieB]

To hijack just a bit... Dunkirk is beautiful, but I am not a fan of greys and the maintenance that comes with keeping them clean. BUT I spent all day's coverage yesterday drooling over Mr. Hot Stuff. Did anyone notice how clearly miserable that horse was while running in some of the pics? Made me want to cry. And take him home. Even if he couldn't jump and was uncomfortable to ride (which he didn't look)... just to look at him in the pasture. How well-named!

I'm with you. If someone would like to send Mr. Hot Stuff to my farm, I wouldn't turn him away at the gate. :lol:

[Laurierace]

Word is Dunkirk fractured a hind leg on Saturday. I haven't found an official link confirming that as of yet so take it for what its worth.

[DownYonder]

Word is Dunkirk fractured a hind leg on Saturday. I haven't found an official link confirming that as of yet so take it for what its worth.

Holy cow. I assume it happened AFTER the race?

No racing expert here, but doesn't Unbridled's Song have a bit of a reputation for soundness issues in his get?

[pinkdiamondracing]

No racing expert here, but doesn't Unbridled's Song have a bit of a reputation for soundness issues in his get?

Yes, he does-- his babies are fragile,fragile,fragile ( Eight Belles & Old Fashioned) just to name two high profile horses.

[gholem]

Word is Dunkirk fractured a hind leg on Saturday. I haven't found an official link confirming that as of yet so take it for what its worth.

So it couldn't have been that bad (ie life threatening), right?

You'd think Pletcher and his staff would've noticed something by Sunday morning when he said the following -
"He put in a big effort and was tired after the race. His energy levels seem to be up. He was bright and alert this morning. I was proud of his determination."

Or maybe the confusion is the word "fracture". I'm taking that to mean two disconnected pieces of bone. Maybe the meaning is more like a stress fracture? Cracks in the bone, but it is still one piece?

[Laurierace]

Fracture definitely can mean different things. A complete fracture as described above seems highly unlikely. The closest thing I can find to a link is the very end of this radio show.
http://www.clearstreaming.com/radiostreams/attheracesandbeyond/attheracesandbeyond.asx

[Linny]

I know Steve and I'm sure he's trying to get more info.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

No racing expert here, but doesn't Unbridled's Song have a bit of a reputation for soundness issues in his get?.

Stats show that his starters per foals and starts per runner are on par with most top stallions, ergo he gets as many to the track and they race the same number of times as other top stallions get. You can't judge on a a couple of high profile breakdowns.

[War Admiral]

ABR is reporting a non-displaced condylar fracture of LH; surgery today.

Jingles for a very brave horse.

[War Admiral]

Confirmed now by Bloodhorse:

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/51170/surgery-on-dunkirk-for-condylar-fracture?utm_source=BreakingNews

Interestingly, way before the Belmont I got a tip on Twitter from an agent who said he didn't pass the vet for a private purchase at age 2. I didn't say anything b/c hey, it's Twitter & you don't know who you're talking to, but... there ya go...

[QHEventr]

IMHO it gives me more respect for Dunkirk that he could run such a big race, even with such an issue. I would imagine that he ran through the injury

[Vesper Sparrow]

Jingles for Dunkirk.

[DickHertz]

Another Unbridled's Song with an injury early on in their racing career...

[Beezer]

See?? All the MORE reason for him to come be an old lady's hunter and pet in Southern California! :D

But seriously, my heart just sank when I got the email alert from Bloodhorse. Fortunately, it sounds like they expect him to return to the races later in the year, but I'm not holding my breath ... although I suppose that since most mares are in foal already, there's really no incentive to charge him off to the breeding farm. ;)

And Drvm, your comment about him only being able to get a mile and half in a trailer made me laugh out loud; I feel rather chuffed that you, too, thought he turned in an excellent Belmont effort. :yes:

[Pirateer]

I love him. He was my Derby pick :)

[Angel Undercover]

Sending huge jingles... I love him too, what a great horse :sadsmile:

[blue&blond]

Does anyone know how his surgery went? I haven't been able to find anything on line.

[pinkdiamondracing]

Surgery successful, from what I heard from a friend in the know!!! Dunkirk resting comfortably.

[Barnfairy]

from the Blood Horse: Dunkirk Resting Comfortably After Surgery (http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/51221/dunkirk-resting-comfortably-after-surgery)

[blue&blond]

Ah, thanks guys.

Glad to hear. :)