Among The Pines

The one detail worth watching is the gap since its last race. Among The Pines has been off the track for roughly five months, which is a meaningful absence. Horses come back from breaks for all sorts of reasons — a minor setback, a trainer deciding to wait for the right opportunity, or simply giving a young horse time to mature. At four years old, there is still room for improvement, and it would be unfair to write off any horse on the basis of four early runs. Some horses take time to figure out what racing is asking of them.

Trainer M C Grassick has sent out 6 winners so far this season, which suggests the yard is in reasonable form and capable of placing horses to win. The hope for Among The Pines will be that the break has done some good, and that a return to racing reveals a more competitive animal than the form book currently suggests. For now, though, it is a horse with everything still to prove.