Three Angels & her guardian angel Laurie ...

Florida-bred Three Angels raced a startling 44 times from the of age two to five. All but two of her starts took place at the now-closed Suffolk Downs oval in East Boston, Massachusetts. She was in the hands of only one trainer, Florence Gemma Siravo. Laurie Pagliarini Tuozzolo worked for Siravo at the infamous track. While looking after Three Angels, a cute brown filly with a split ear, Laurie became smitten.

On November 1, 2010, Siravo ran Three Angels in a $4,000-claimer--her 11th start in just over five months. Three Angels placed fifth. Tired and running wide, she was unable to gain a solid position from start to finish. This would be her last start.

In March 2011, Laurie, who quit her job [with Siravo] while Three Angels was still racing, received a tip that the mare who stole her heart was in the hands of notorious kill buyer Joseph F. ‘Spud’ Noone. Laurie raced to save Three Angels from imminent death. “I immediately contacted every rescue friend I could think of and sent them her pictures, tattoo number, and description of her left ear that is basically split in two,” said Laurie.

Laurie reached out to a front-line kill pen rescuer, Kelly Smith of Omega Horse Rescue, to see if Three Angels sold through the New Holland auction in Pennsylvania. New Holland is the number one dumping ground for thoroughbreds who have recently raced. Kelly told Laurie that Three Angels never went through the sale, nor could she find her in any trailer on the lot. Laurie was devastated. “I shed so many tears imagining how her life would probably end.”

Despite the dead end, Laurie stayed constantly on the phone and  computer trying to find leads.  Frustrated by the lack of answers, Laurie reached out to well-known West Coast advocate Deb Jones. Deb leveraged contacts and good faith through her underground network to locate Three Angels, who was miraculously still alive---awaiting transport to slaughter.

On March 29th, 2011, Laurie picked up her Angel. When Laurie finally got Angel home she spiked a fever which eventually led to a horrific case of strangles. "I had originally saved her with the intentions of finding her a good home, but after all we went through with her strangles and the bond we developed, I couldn't let her leave me,"  Laurie said. "She truly pays me back in spades. I know she remembers all those nights I laid down next to her in her stall begging her to hang on -- she came to far to give up."

Laurie's favorite thing about Angel is that when she looks at her she is constantly reminded that her life was saved."For me that fills my heart up,” says Laurie.

Laurie is a gifted poet. She asked that we conclude this post with her poem.

My Gift

Her trust was a bond 
Built day by day.
It could not be rushed
She did it her way.
Her loyalty is an honor,
What she's now willing to share.
It would be my reward 
For always playing fair.
Her friendship is my biggest treasure,
Days filled with happiness and love-
Something one can't measure.
Her beauty is timeless,
More precious than gold.
She is truly a gift
That I am blessed to behold.

(c) When They Whisper

To read more of Laurie’s poetry visit:  http://whentheywhisper.com/poetry.php