After recovering from knee surgery and making it back into training, Dan Patch and O'Brien Award winning pacer I Luv The Nitelife has faced a second setback in her return to the races.
Richard Young, who co-owns the pacing filly along with Joanne Young, told Trot Insider that the four-year-old Rocknroll Hanover mare suffered a spell of atrial fibrillation in training last week. After spending the weekend at Hogan Equine under the watchful eye of Dr. Patty Hogan and her staff, Young reports positive news.
"They made a few attempts to get her to convert back and it was successful [Monday] morning. She should be fine," said Young. "She will rest this week and go back in training next week."
Young reports that the knee issue that originally had the world champion pacer sidelined is properly healed. Initially, the Youngs had hoped to have I Luv The Nitelife back for the major stakes events such as the Lady Liberty in July at The Meadowlands. Those plans have been set aside.
"To be ready to race at the level she races at, July is not realistic," continued Young. "There are no stakes until the Milton [in September] so she now will have the time to properly train and get a couple of races in before the Milton."
I Luv The Nitelife (Rocknroll Hanover - Lisjune) concluded her sophomore campaign with 13 wins in 15 starts for the Youngs and trainer Chris Ryder. Lifetime, she's won 17 races in 25 starts with earnings in excess of $1.94-million -- the most in harness racing history for a pacing filly at the conclusion of her three-year-old campaign -- en route to divisional honours both in Canada and the U.S.