Hold Me Back ships in for Pacific Classic

Hold Me Back, 4, is a son of Giant’s Causeway who was bred in partnership, and is owned, by the WinStar Farm of Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt. Though he won the first two starts of his career, Willaford said he has come on in recent months.

“The Giant’s Causeways, they take a long time,” she said.

Hold Me Back had his final workout on Saturday at Belmont Park. “He was going to work Sunday, but there was rain in the forecast, so we backed up a day,” Willaford said. Hold Me Back flew here on Monday.

The traveling has become routine for him. “He jumped right into his feed tub,” Willaford said.

And he jumped right into his training. “He’s a little strong to gallop,” Willaford said.

Willaford thought about giving him a day off on Tuesday, but Hold Me Back would have none of that. “He gets kind of excited if you don’t go to the track with him every day,” she said. So he trained Tuesday. And Wednesday.

On the go. Always.