Better Talk Now

Every sport has its warriors who seem to play forever. I watched a repeat of the Roy Jones Jr. fight last night, and he just isn’t the same guy I’m used to watching. The Roy Jones Jr. I know is fast and arrogant and one of the best boxers alive. He was struggling to keep up in this fight, but still hung in there for the entire twelve rounds.

Near the end of the fight you could see Jones talking to his opponent, Joe Calzaghe. I’m not sure what he was saying, but it was probably something like “you can’t knock me out”. Although Jones was made to bleed for the first time in a fight and was clearly going to lose, he still had that swagger you except from a champion.

Better Talk Now, winner of the 2004 Breeders Cup Turf and earner of $4.2 million will return to racing at the age of 10. Just like Jones, Better Talk Now is well past his prime. The son of Talkin Man is winless since taking the Grade 1 Manhattan at Belmont Park in 2007. That isn’t to say he hasn’t put together some nice performances.

In his attempt to defend his Manhattan title in 2008, he was forced to check hard while making a winning move. He then went on to finish third in the Grade 1 Man O’ War, taking on Horse of the Year, Curlin and 2006 Breeders Cup Turf winner, Red Rocks. Better Talk Now would follow that up with his best finish of the year, a second place performance in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational.

He has been racing in Grade 1 company consistently for over two years, and though he isn’t winning, he is running well. With a drop to Grade 3, or even Grade 2 company he could probably win several races in 2009. Trainer Graham Motion said a win in a Grade 1 race, preferably the Manhattan, would be the goal for this year. Better Talk Now has been one of my favorite horses over the years and I would like nothing more than for them to accomplish that goal. Good luck old boy!