You never know what the trainer is thinking in terms of quality or whatever. I have to assume from the workout write up ( which are always trying to give owners reason for optimum, not that this is that), this horse sounds like although it has been a grind to get him to the races and ready to compete, sounds like he has a bunch of raw talent. The shins Batt, are very common and your trainer did what was necessary to let those calm down. Happens a lot.
No easy feat for the trainer to get the horse to run well around the turn when that has been an issue. Sounds like he was running with his mouth open and the rider had very little control because running that way takes away the riders leverage and command of the where and how, which the horse needs to concentrate on it's job , which is listening to the riders hands and focusing on relax and go when asked.
The figure 8 keeps his mouth closed, blinkers helps keep him focused. Probably runs in some sort of a prong bit to help around the turn. All fine if it works and it sounds like it does in the mornings.
As for scratching? I don't think I would but I no nothing about the everyday training of this horse. It seems like he has been pointed to this race from a timing aspect and I always felt that if I had a promising horse and was over shadowed by some big name pedigrees but my horse was sitting on ready, I looked at it like, go ahead.. beat me. But you better be able to run.
It has been an adventure to get this guy ready to perform and it sounds like he is ready to go. I personally would control what I can for this 1st race and run when I know my guy is sitting on go. As long as he is today, I would run him.
"Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am, stuck in the middle with you".
As long as my horse was perfectly setup my attitude would be ... there is nothing to lose and everything to gain.
GL Batt. Have a safe race and let's see if your firster can make a dent in the big guns.
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