NEWS HEADLINE!
NEWS HEADLINE!
NEWS HEADLINE!



SURPRISE!
SURPRISE!
SURPRISE!

PLEASANT SURPRISE!



Sentimental favorite Theravada returns to give it another round to try to live up to high hope and expectations when she faces 11 3yo maiden fillies in the one-mile turf race at Keeneland race 9 (October 23, 2025).

Theravada is listed as the longest odd in the 12-horse field at 30-1 with the favorite is Lady Iva at 3-1 and Triumphant Spirit at 4-1 second choice.

But the horse I see as the one to beat is a well-bred 3yo filly Pretty Tapit by Tapit out of a War Front mare Pretty At War, by War Front, trained by Steve Asmussen.

This makes Pretty Tapit (ML 10-1) and Theravada (ML 30-1) as distance cousins.


Last seen in action was on August 31, 2025, when Theravada finished last of ten -- actually, she was being eased as the last horse to cross the wire.

Theravada showed five workouts since August 31:

Oct. 15, 2025, Kee 4f :50 B (18/25) fast
Oct, 7 2025, Kee 4f :48 4/5 B (1/5) sloppy
Sept. 30, 2025, Kee 4f :48 B (4/40) fast
Sept. 22, 2025, Kee 4f :49 2/5 B (2/8) fast
Sept. 13, 2025, Kee 4f :49 4/5 B (41/51) fast

Go Theravada go!


UPDATE: October 23, 2025 (at 4:30 P.M. Central)

RESULT:

1. Triumphant Spirit at 7-2 second choice
2. Lady Iva at 7-1 fourth choice
3. Auntie 8-1
4. Pretty Tapit 11-1



The 9-5 post time favorite The Palace Girl (Ger), whose ML was at 8-1, finished a distance 7th.

Theravada finished 9th at the longest odd at 71-1, beaten 8 lengths.

Theravada was off among the three quickest from the gate but a few jumps later she tried to veer inward causing the jockey to pull her outward to straighten her up for the run.

That incident caused her forward position and ended up being settled in mid-pack soon thereafter while racing evenly when they crossed the wire for the first time.

On the first turn, there was a lot of scrambling for position among the mid-pack runners, including Theravada, and the mid-pack group found themselves further back in relation to the front runners.

On the backstretch, the jockey took Theravada to the outside as the inside part of the field was congested.

Theravada, still in mid-pack, was always three to four wide on the far turn, and even more wide, about five wide, turning for home.

Theravada put in a mild run in the stretch and flatten out to the wire to finish 9th out of 12 horses, beaten 8 lengths.


Next time!


YES, NEXT TIME IS INDEED!

The fact that she is still competing and not heading to the breeding shed is good enough for me to celebrate.

I'M GOING OUT FOR A THINK THIS EVENING!

That works out perfectly as the Minnesota Vikings Football Team is playing a Thursday Night Football game (October 23, 2025).

Next up is Phnom Penh, perhaps in the month of November (2025), and I'm really looking forward to see him tries to carry the family banner to glory.

As for Theravada, I don't expect her to accomplish anything after seeing her five races thus far, as I think there is still some soundness issue with her and her connections are not able to train her as hard as if she is a normal healthy horse.

So for me from here and on, I'll just take thing as it comes and if she goes on and accomplish something -- GREAT!

But if she won't accomplish anything -- so be it!

But the anticipation and excitement of seeing her competing is still tremendous on my part.

Go Theravada go, next time!