It was quiet at trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.'s barn on the backstretch at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 11.
Joseph and his staff were remembering an old friend.
The day before, during the running of the Tale of the Cat Stakes, Joseph's 4-year-old colt Awesome Gerry was pulled up sharply by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. on the far turn and had to be euthanized on the track.
The 4-year-old gray son of Liam's Map had won two of his four starts this year and could not have been doing better. Joseph was expecting a solid second half of the year for Awesome Gerry, who was owned by John Fanelli, LC Racing, Paul Braverman, and Timothy Pinch.
"He was a cool horse to be around and was in the best form of his life," Joseph said. "Something like this happens, it just knocks you out. You never expect it. You don't know why it happens but when it does happen, it takes away your confidence, that's for sure."
Life went on at the barn. Joseph continued to train his horses, taking them to the main track for daily exercise. He did it because it was his job. His heart and his mind, well, they were with Awesome Gerry on this day.
"Sometimes, you have horses that are funny movers and nothing ever happens to them," Joseph said. "And others... you can blame this or point to that but you are never going to get an answer. You wish you could because then you could prevent it from happening."
Awesome Gerry was bred in Kentucky by John Liviakis. In his 18-race career, he had four wins, two seconds, and three third-place finishes. He had earned $325,469.
When it was suggested that a victory at the races might lift up the spirit of the barn, Joseph shook his head with a sad smile.
"Even a win won't pick you up," he said. "It takes a while to get over something like this, at least it does for me. It's definitely not easy."
