Illness holding back Groupie Doll

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hallandale Beach, FL (Sports Network) - A problem with her blood work is keeping champion sprinter Groupie Doll from her workouts at Gulfstream Park. The winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint is waiting to receive the 'all clear' to begin training.

"Her blood work hasn't been just right yet, so we haven't even taken her to the track yet. She's eating good; her temperature's normal; she's not coughing; but she's had to be put on antibiotics, trying to get her blood right," said trainer and co-owner Buff Bradley. "It's showing there's some kind of infections she's fighting. We pulled it again on Monday, and it's getting better. So we thought we'd walk her another five days and pull it again and see how that's like. We've been pulling bloods to make sure the horse is right before we go back with her. We're not pushed for time or anything."

A finalist for the Eclipse Award as champion Female Sprinter, Groupie Doll was beaten a nose by Stay Thirsty in the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Nov. 24. Bradley, who co-owns the 5-year-old mare with his father Fred, is hoping to start her in the $200,000 Inside Information at Gulfstream on Mar. 17.

"She's been very healthy. She's had all her vaccines and everything, it's just may be a bug or something," the trainer said. "She really hasn't shown a big sickness or anything, which is good. But I don't want to start her training and knock her back, because that's what would happen."

The Bradleys sold shares in Groupie Doll to longtime clients Carl Hurst and Brent Burns.

"It's pretty exciting knowing that she ought to have the Filly & Mare Sprint division wrapped up pretty good. I always wanted to walk up there and get a little horse, that statue," said Bradley. "It's great to know that a horse we bred and raised right from the start is a champion. The whole team and family are excited and proud."

Along with winning the Filly & Mare Sprint, Groupie Doll notched victories last year in the Vinery Madison, Humana Distaff, Presque Isle Downs Masters and Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes. For the year she earned $1,385,314.