Sunday, July 25, 2010
MAYBESOMAYBENOT PROVIDES INSPIRING WIN IN
By Jon Forbes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Maybesomaybenot may have provided the best medicine possible on Sunday when he ran off to a 1 ½-length victory in the 96th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Sanford at Saratoga Race Course.
Hustled from post position one, Maybesomaybenot led through fractions of 22.21 and 45.65 as he was pressed by Another Silver Oak. Put to a drive at the top of the stretch, Maybesomaybenot opened on that opponent and was kept to task to hold off the late rally of Nacho Saint, who collared Another Silver Oak in the final sixteenth to get up for second.
Maybesomaybenot races for his breeders, Arthellor and Carolyn Scisney, and their daughter-in-law, Karen, to whom they gave a 25-percent interest in the gelding as she battles lupus.
"We've worked hard all our lives, and this is a joy," said Arthellor Scisney, who was holding back tears in the winner's circle. "My daughter-in-law spoke to us on the phone. She just had bypass surgery on Monday and already has lupus. She has lost 60, 70 pounds. I hope this picks her up. If the Lord does nothing else for me, I'll be all right."
The second highest price in the field at 9-1, Maybesomaybenot returned $21.20 for a $2 win wager and earned $90,000 to improve his career earnings to $125,700. His record now stands at 2-0-1 from three starts.
Third on debut at Churchill Downs June 11, the son of Sunday Break returned to graduate by six lengths at that venue July 3. His trainer, Michael Maker, explored a number of options for the gelding's next start before ultimately deciding to take a shot in the
"The owners are the nicest couple you'd ever want to meet," said Maker. "They've had some lesser horses who were stabled where I train my horses, and he'd always tell me 'When I get a good horse, I'll bring it over to you.' He came over to me this spring, and said, 'I think I have a good horse for you.' As for the horse's next start, anything's a possibility. We'll just play it by ear."
Lou Brissie and Chipshot finished fourth and fifth, respectively, while Bail Out the Cat, the 9-5 favorite, checked in sixth after acting up in the starting gate and missing the break. Blue Right By and Commonwealth Rush completed the order of finish.
Maybesomaybenot's name is based on a parable that Mr. Scisney read a number of years ago.
There was an old man in a village who people went to for advice. A farmer whose ox died was concerned that he wouldn't be able to plow his field, and went to the old man for advice. When he asked the old man if this was the worst thing that could have happened, the man's response was, "Maybe so, maybe not."
The farmer thought the old man was crazy, but he ended up finding a horse that pulled the plow and yielded the best crop the farmer ever had. The next year, the farmer's son was riding the horse and broke his leg, rendering him unable to help with the crop.
Once again, the farmer went to the old man asking him if this was the worst thing that could have happened, and he responded, "Maybe so, maybe not."
The farmer thought the old man was crazy, but the next day, troops arrived to take every able-bodied young man in the village to fight in a war. The farmer's son was the only one that wasn't selected to go, and ended up surviving, proving that once again, the old man was very wise.
After reading the story, Mr. Scisney decided that the next good horse he owned would be named Maybesomaybenot.
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