Tom Amoss
Birthdate: Nov. 17, 1961
Birthplace: New Orleans, La.
Years as a Trainer: 25th
First Win: March 24, 1987, Sportsman’s Park (Illinois) at age 25 (Prize Dream)
Most Wins, Single Year: 158 (2008)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $4,643,669 (2000)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 21 (1994)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 6 (2000)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
50
|
16 (3)
|
0
|
9
|
7
|
32.00%
|
64.00%
|
$311,276
|
|
2010 Fall
|
19
|
3
|
0
|
4
|
4
|
15.80%
|
57.90%
|
$144,454
|
|
Career
|
1,301
|
333 (7)
|
13 (23)
|
250
|
171
|
25.60%
|
58.00%
|
$11,123,050
|
Career Record: 1987-2010
|
Year
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
9,792
|
2,391
|
222
|
34
|
1,725
|
1,357
|
24.40%
|
55.90%
|
$60,705,865
|
|
Career
|
9,792
|
2,391
|
222
|
34
|
1,725
|
1,357
|
24.40%
|
55.90%
|
$60,705,865
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Began 2011 as Churchill Downs’ seventh all-time leading trainer with 333 wins.
- Two-time Churchill Downs champion trainer (Spring 2002 and Spring 2008).
- Conditioned multiple Grade I-winner and $2.3 million-earner Heritage of Gold to victories in the Diana H. (G2) in 1999; Oaklawn B.C. (G3), Apple Blossom (G1), Louisville B.C. (G2), Fleur de Lis H. (G3) and Go For Wand H. (G1) in 2000; and Oaklawn B.C. (G3) in 2001. She finished third in 1999 and 2000 Breeders’ Cup Distaff and was second to Beautiful Pleasure in the voting for 2000 champion older filly or mare.
- Other graded stakes winners include favorites Rush Bay, Williams News and Fly Cry as well as Backtalk, Baghdaria, Boss Lafitte, Dernier Croise-FR, Festive, Finally Here, Graeme Six, Hattiesburg, Hoh Dear-IRE, Hot Wells, Indian Chant, Jarraar, Lakeshore Road, Link, Lone Star Sky, Marastani, Miss Lodi, No Jacket Required, Ron the Greek, Royal Spy and Sky Blue Pink.
- Also trained multiple stakes winner Blissful Union as well as 1998 Preakness fourth-place finisher Hot Wells (a $12,500 claim).
- Nine-time leading trainer at Fair Grounds.
- Inducted into the Fair Grounds Hall of Fame in 1999.
- Also, a leading trainer at Presque Isle, Ellis Park and Kentucky Downs.
- Recorded his 2,000th career win on April 29, 2008 at Churchill Downs with Cat Splendor.
- Saddled the 1-2-3 finishers in three stakes at Louisiana Downs: the 1990 Old South Handicap, 1994 Spanish Moss Handicap and 1995 Barksdale Handicap.
Background
- Graduated from Louisiana State University in 1983 with a degree in marketing.
- Was a hot-walker for Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg while attending high school. While attending LSU and after graduating, he worked for Frankie Brothers. He also had a short stint as a veterinary assistant before becoming Larry Robideaux’s assistant for two years. He also was an assistant to John Parisella in New York for a year.
- Won his first stakes race with Fire the Shot in the 1988 Gator Handicap at Louisiana Downs.
- Won his first graded stakes races with Festive in the 1990 New Orleans Handicap.
- Lost his New Orleans home in Hurricane Katrina.
- Clients include Last Mango Racing Stable, a syndicate that includes New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton and singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett.
- Major change to the stable occurred on July 1, 2010 when longtime assistant Frank Bernis left to become jockey Jamie Theriot’s agent. Frank had been a Day 1 employee with Amoss. Key assistants include Kathy Sanchez, Shane Jolivette and Joel De La Cruz.
- On the side, he serves as an analyst on TVG’s “The Works,” which annually airs on the days leading up to the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
- Hobbies include golf, reading and working out at the gym.
Steve Asmussen
Birthdate: Nov. 18, 1965
Birthplace: Gettysburg, S.D.
Years as a Trainer: 26th
First Win: July 19, 1986, Ruidoso (New Mexico) at age 20
Most Wins, Single Year: 650 (2009) – North American Record
Most Earnings, Single Year: $24,223,187 (2008)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 82 (2008)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 21 (2009)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
126
|
24 (1)
|
4
|
25
|
16
|
19.00%
|
51.60%
|
$1,212,739
|
|
2010 Fall
|
57
|
16 (1)
|
1
|
8
|
8
|
28.10%
|
56.10%
|
$592,173
|
|
Career
|
1,943
|
394 (5)
|
38
|
324
|
285
|
20.30%
|
51.60%
|
$17,070,404
|
Career Record: 1986-2010
|
Year
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
2,412
|
506 (1)
|
39
|
8
|
429
|
326
|
21.00%
|
52.30%
|
$16,308,920
|
|
Career
|
26,988
|
5,694
|
645
|
121
|
4,578
|
3,809
|
21.10%
|
52.20%
|
$170,464,044
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Two-time Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Trainer: 2008-09.
- Three-time trainer of Horse of the Year: Curlin (2007-08) & Rachel Alexandra (2009) – both owned by Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stable.
- Champions trained: Curlin (2007 Horse of the Year & Three-Year-Old Male), Curlin (2008 Horse of the Year & Older Male), Rachel Alexandra (2009 Horse of the Year & Three-Year-Old Filly) and Kodiak Kowboy (2009 Sprinter).
- Trained Summerly (14-6-1-2—$907,652) to a two-length victory under Jerry Bailey in the 2005 Kentucky Oaks.
- The first trainer in Thoroughbred racing history to win 500 races in a single year (555 wins in 2004 which crushed Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg’s 28-year record of 496 wins in 1976). Later became the first trainer to win 600 races when he won 621 races in 2008 and a North American record 650 in 2009.
- Won a North American record 10 races, including three stakes, from 16 starters at five racetracks around the country (Delta Downs, Fair Grounds, Oaklawn Park, Sam Houston Race Park and Sunland Park) on Feb. 7, 2004.
- Began 2011 as Churchill Downs’ fifth all-time leading trainer with 394 wins.
- Nine-time Churchill Downs champion trainer (Fall 2001, Spring 2004, Fall 2004, Spring 2007, Fall 2007, Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Spring 2010 and Fall 2010).
- Became the youngest trainer at age 39 to win 3,000 races (18th overall) when Forest Music won the Grade II Honorable Miss at Saratoga on Aug. 5, 2005.
- Became the eighth trainer in history to record 4,000 wins when J J’s Bud won at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 17, 2008.
- Became only the fifth trainer in history to record 5,000 wins when Passion Rules prevailed at Woodbine on Sept. 11, 2009.
- Seven-time winner of the national training title in races won: 2002 (407 wins), ’04 (555), ’05 (474) & ’07 (488), ’08 (621), ’09 (record 650) and ’10 (506).
- Rachel Alexandra (19-13-5-0—$3,506,730) had a perfect 8-0 season in 2009, including historic triumphs over males in the Preakness, Haskell Invitational and older males in the Woodward. Asmussen took over as trainer just days after Jess Jackson privately purchased Rachel Alexandra in partnership with Harold McCormick, following her record 20 ¼ -length victory in the Kentucky Oaks.
- Curlin (16-11-2-2—$10,501,800) won to back-to-back Horse of the Year crowns in 2007-08. The Smart Strike colt followed his outstanding 2007 campaign that included victories in the Preakness and Breeders’ Cup Classic with triumphs in the 2008 Dubai World Cup, Stephen Foster Handicap and Jockey Club Gold Cup. The victory in the Gold Cup pushed Curlin’s career earnings past the $10 million mark, making him the richest American-based horse of all-time. He retired to Lane’s End Farm near Lexington, Ky. after finishing fourth in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
- Kodiak Kowboy was crowned 2009 champion sprinter for a trio of Grade I victories in the Carter Handicap, Vosburgh and Cigar Mile Handicap. Asmussen took over training duties from Larry Jones for the latter two races.
- Other Grade I winners trained: Haynesfield, Majesticperfection, Hot Dixie Chick, Student Council, Lady Tak, Cuvee, Cashier’s Dream and Dreams Gallore (his first when she won Belmont Park’s Mother Goose on June 26, 1999).
- Two-time winner of the national training title in money won: $24,223,187 (2008) and $21,884,695 (2009).
- Has also won numerous training titles at Ellis Park, Fair Grounds, Keeneland, Lone Star Park, Monmouth Park, Oaklawn Park, Remington Park, Retama Park, Sam Houston and Sunland Park.
Background
- Born into what has arguably become the first family of Texas horse racing. His mother (former trainer Marilyn “Sis”) and father (former jockey and trainer Keith) hold down the fort at the Asmussen Horse Center and El Primero Training Center, which, for more than four decades, has been internationally known for boarding and breaking young horses.
- Brother Cash Asmussen was the 1979 Eclipse Award-winning apprentice and French champion jockey.
- In September 2005, Asmussen’s sister-in-law Cheryl, Cash’s wife, took out her training license won her first race at Retama Park.
- Grew up in the horse racing industry and helped his parents around the stable by mucking stalls and walking horses as early as age.
- Lost part of his thumb in a childhood accident while holding a horse through a chain link fence.
- Graduated from United High School in Laredo, Texas in 1985.
- Before taking out his trainer’s license in 1986, he was a jockey in New Mexico, California and New York who won 63 races and $687,224 (he won his first race on April 4, 1982). He was forced to retire from riding because he grew too big; today he stands over 6’0 tall and is about twice his former riding weight.
- The first horse that put Asmussen on the national map was Valid Expectations, a $596,092-earner, who in 1996, gave Asmussen his first two graded stakes wins – the Grade III Derby Trial at Churchill Downs and the Grade III Sport Page Handicap against elders at Aqueduct.
- In addition to Kentucky, his powerhouse operation of about 200 horses includes stables in California, New York, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma.
- Asmussen’s chief assistant is Scott Blasi, a native of Caney, Kansas, who began working with Asmussen in 1995, and usually oversees Asmussen’s strings at Fair Grounds, Kentucky and New York. While talking over for Asmussen during suspensions, he had won 224 races, including six graded stakes, and $7,460,662 from 1,108 starters – a 20.2% win-clip (through Jan. 10, 2007). He also won the 2006 Churchill Downs Fall Training Title with 17 winners.
- Resides in Arlington, Texas, a few miles from Lone Star Park.
- Was inducted into the Lone Star Park Hall of Fame in 2007.
- Was honored in 2008 at Lone Star Park with a “Steve Asmussen Bobblehead Doll Giveaway”.
Greg Foley
Birthdate: Dec. 27, 1957
Birthplace: Somerset, Ky.
Years as Trainer: 31st
First Win: Jan. 7, 1981, Fair Grounds (Louisiana) at age 23
Most Wins, Single Year: 71 (2006)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $2,017,295 (2004)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 10 (2004)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 3 (2004)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
74
|
15 (4)
|
0
|
13
|
4
|
20.30%
|
43.20%
|
$312,956
|
|
2010 Fall
|
30
|
4
|
0
|
5
|
7
|
13.30%
|
53.30%
|
$102,159
|
|
Career
|
2,020
|
326 (9)
|
4
|
275
|
248
|
16.10%
|
42.00%
|
$6,462,786
|
Career Record: 1981-2010
|
Year
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
316
|
51
|
0
|
0
|
46
|
35
|
16.10%
|
41.80%
|
$1,046,580
|
|
Career
|
6,566
|
1,140
|
63
|
6
|
974
|
850
|
17.40%
|
45.10%
|
$18,693,646
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Began 2011 as Churchill Downs’ ninth all-time leading trainer with 326 wins.
- 1991 Spring Meet champion trainer with 17 wins, two more than runner-up Gary Hartlage.
- Five-time leading trainer at Turfway Park: 2003 Holiday Meet, 2004-06 Winter/Spring Meets and 2006 Holiday Meet.
- Also has been leading trainer at Ellis Park.
- Has cracked the Top 5 at Churchill Downs on five other occasions: 2nd 1992 Fall (six wins); 3rd 2009 Spring (17 wins); 4th 1991 Fall (five wins) and 2010 Spring (15 wins); and 5th 2004 Spring (15 wins) and 2006 Spring (18 wins).
- Best horse trained was Lloyd Madison Farms’ millionaire Champali (22-11-2-4—$1,073,794) – named after boxing great Muhammad Ali. The Glitterman colt won the Iroquois (GIII) at age 2 in 2002; the Turfway Preview, WEBN, John Battaglia Memorial and Northern Dancer at 3 in 2003 (also was third in the Grade III Derby Trial, second in the Grade II Lane’s End and third in the Grade III Kentucky Cup Sprint); and Aristides (GIII), Smile Sprint Handicap (GIII) and Phoenix (GIII) at 4 in 2004 (also finished seventh in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Sprint and eighth in Grade I DeFrancis Memorial Dash).
- Saddled Golden Marlin (25-7-7-4—$389,667) to victory in the 2003 Dogwood (GIII) at Churchill Downs.
- Won the 2007 Gardenia Handicap (GIII) at Ellis Park with Pleasant Hill.
- Saddled his 1,000th career winner when Cherokee Nation prevailed at Turfway Park on Jan. 23, 2008.
Background
- Son of late owner/trainer Drago Foley.
- Sister Vickie Foley also is a trainer.
- Selects many of his client’s horses at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
- Attended Western Kentucky University but left after a year to work for his father.
- Races primarily year-round in Kentucky where he consistently ranks among the top trainers.
Eddie Kenneally
Birthdate: June 19, 1966
Birthplace: County Waterford, Ireland
Years as Trainer: 19th
First Win: Dec. 1, 1993, Turfway Park (Kentucky) at age 27
(Mertensia)
Most Wins, Single Year: 71 (2009)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $2,828,419 (2009)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 10 (2009)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 6 (2010)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
62
|
12 (5)
|
1
|
11
|
13
|
19.40%
|
58.10%
|
$518,545
|
|
2010 Fall
|
38
|
6 (6)
|
1
|
2
|
7
|
15.80%
|
39.50%
|
$330,716
|
|
Career
|
786
|
133
|
7
|
106
|
124
|
16.90%
|
46.20%
|
$4,784,843
|
Career Record: 1993-2010
|
Year
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
304
|
56
|
7
|
6
|
53
|
49
|
18.40%
|
52.00%
|
$2,521,772
|
|
Career
|
2,785
|
452
|
36
|
18
|
395
|
380
|
16.20%
|
44.10%
|
$15,376,074
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Trainer of multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire gelding Kelly’s Landing, who won the Group 1, $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen at Nad Al Sheba in 2007.
- In addition to the Golden Shaheen, Kelly’s Landing, who won 10 of 27 starts & $1,853,831 from 2004-09, won the 2005 Aristides Handicap (GIII), 2006 Phoenix (GIII) at Keeneland and 2007 Mr. Prospector Handicap (GIII) at Gulfstream Park. While winning the Aristides on June 25, 2005, Kelly’s Landing ran six furlongs in 1:07.59, which eclipsed Kona Gold’s 2000 track record of 1:07.77 (since broken by Indian Chant’s 1:07.55 on July 8, 2007).
- Also trained three-time Grade I winning filly Bushfire, who won the Ashland at Keeneland & Acorn and Mother Goose at Belmont in 2006.
- Trainer of Grade II winners: Belle of Perintown (2003 Silverbulletday – his first CD stakes win), Mary Delaney (2007 Madison at Keeneland), Warbling (2010 Inside Information at Gulfstream), My Jen (2010 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont) and Santiva (2010 Kentucky Jockey Club).
- Trainer of Grade III winners: Catcominatcha (2003 Iroquois), Saratoga Sinner (2009 Holy Bull at Gulfstream), Ballymore Lady (2009 Endevour at Tampa Bay), Custom for Carlos (2009 Jersey Shore at Monmouth, 2010 Mr. Prospector at Gulfstream and 2010 Count Fleet Handicap at Oaklawn) and Buckleupbuttercup (2010 Eight Belles).
- Also campaigned Grade I-placed horses, Keep the Peace (second in the 2009 Princess Rooney Handicap at Calder) and Aspire (third in the 2009 Champagne at Belmont).
- Leading trainer at Turfway Park’s 2007 Fall Meet.
Background
- Raised in Ireland where his family was involved with horses. His father had field hunters. His uncle John finished second as the jockey aboard Purple Silk in the 1964 Grand National at Aintree (he led the race until the final fence and was beaten a nose by Team Spirit) and later became a trainer.
- His brother, Johnny Kenneally, operates Erinvale Thoroughbreds, one of the largest consignors in Australia.
- Came to the United States in 1987 to work with sales yearlings at Pegasus Stud.
- Eventually went to work as an exercise rider for Rusty Arnold at Keeneland in Lexington and Payson Park in Florida.
- Later worked for trainers Tom Skiffington and Niall O’Callaghan.
- Trained privately for the late Jack Kent Cooke’s Elmendorf Farm from 1993-97. Cooke, a Canadian entrepreneur, owned the NFL’s Washington Redskins, the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.
- Opened a public stable in 1997 upon Cooke’s death.
- Trains approximately 50 horses, wintering at Palm Meadows in Florida and dividing the rest of the year between the Kentucky circuit and Saratoga.
- Kelly’s Landing still plays a vital role for the barn, serving as the trainer’s lead pony since he was retired after his 2007 campaign.
D. Wayne Lukas
Birthdate: Sept. 2, 1935
Birthplace: Antigo, Wisc.
Years as Trainer: 35th
First Thoroughbred Win: Oct. 20, 1977, Santa Anita (California) at age 42
Most Wins, Single Year: 343 (1987)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $17,842,358 (1988)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 92 (1987)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 53 (1987)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
54
|
3
|
0
|
9
|
9
|
5.60%
|
38.90%
|
$313,468
|
|
2010 Fall
|
36
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
2.80%
|
11.10%
|
$439,482
|
|
Career
|
2,901
|
478
|
|
382
|
350
|
16.50%
|
41.70%
|
$30,972,064
|
Career Record: 1977-2010
|
Year
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
389
|
47
|
2
|
0
|
47
|
55
|
12.10%
|
38.30%
|
$2,645,181
|
|
Career
|
26,818
|
4,607
|
1,053
|
607
|
3,886
|
3,397
|
17.20%
|
44.30%
|
$257,027,485
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Enshrined in Horse Racing’s Hall of Fame in 1999.
- Began 2011 as horse racing’s clear-cut all-time leader in money won with $257,027,485.
- Shares the record for most Triple Crown victories, 13, with “Sunny” Jim Fitzsimmons.
- Four-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer: Winning Colors (1988), Thunder Gulch (1995), Grindstone (1996) and Charismatic (1999).
- Five-time Preakness Stakes winning trainer: Codex (1980), Tank’s Prospect (1985), Tabasco Cat (1994), Timber Country (1995) and Charismatic (1999).
- Four-time Belmont Stakes winning trainer: Tabasco Cat (1994), Thunder Gulch (1995), Editor’s Note (1996) and Commendable (2000).
- Won a record six consecutive Triple Crown races: 1994 Preakness (Tabasco Cat), ’94 Belmont (Tabasco Cat), ’95 Kentucky Derby (Thunder Gulch), ’95 Preakness (Timber Country), ’95 Belmont (Thunder Gulch) and ’96 Kentucky Derby (Grindstone). He made it 7-of-8 Triple Crown classics when Editor’s Note won the 1996 Belmont.
- In 1995, he became the first and only trainer to sweep the Triple Crown classics in the same year with different horses.
- Four-time Kentucky Oaks winning trainer: Brush With Pride (1982), Lucky Lucky Lucky (1984), Open Mind (1989) and Seaside Attraction (1990).
- Fourteen-time national leader in money-won (1983-92, ’94-97).
- Four-time Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Trainer: 1985-87, ’94.
- Three-time 3-time Horse of the Year trainer: Lady’s Secret (1986), Criminal Type (1990) and Charismatic (1999).
- Trainer of a record 24 Eclipse Award champions: Landaluce (1982 Two-Year-Old Filly), Althea (1983 Two-Year-Old Filly), Life’s Magic (1984 Three-Year-Old Filly), Life’s Magic (1985 Older Female), Family Style (1985 Two-Year-Old Filly), Lady’s Secret (1986 Horse of the Year & Older Female), Capote (1986 Two-Year-Old Male), North Sider (1987 Older Female), Sacahuista (1987 Three-Year-Old Filly), Winning Colors (1988 Three-Year-Old Filly), Open Mind (1988 Two-Year-Old Filly), Gulch (1988 Sprinter), Steinlen-GB (1989 Turf Male), Open Mind (1989 Three-Year-Old Filly), Criminal Type (1990 Horse of the Year & Older Male), Timber Country (1994 Two-Year-Old Male), Flanders (1994 Two-Year-Old Filly), Thunder Gulch (1995 Three-Year-Old Male), Serena’s Song (1995 Three-Year-Old Filly), Golden Attraction (1995 Two-Year-Old Filly), Boston Harbor (1996 Two-Year-Old Male), Charismatic (1999 Horse of the Year & Three-Year-Old Male), Surfside (2000 Three-Year-Old Filly), Orientate (2002 Sprinter), Azeri (2004 Older Female) & Folklore (2005 Two-Year-Old Filly).
- Began 2011 with a record 1,053 career stakes wins, including an unprecedented 607 graded stakes victories.
- Began 2011 as Churchill Downs’ all-time earnings leader with $30,972,064.
- Began 2011 as Churchill Downs’ third all-time leading trainer with 478 wins.
- Eleven-time Churchill Downs champion trainer (Fall 1988, Spring 1989, Fall 1989, Spring 1990, Fall 1990, Fall 1991, Spring 1993, Spring 1995, Spring 1996, Fall 1996 and Spring 2000).
- Owns Breeders’ Cup records for wins (18), earnings ($20,005,520) and starters (149).
- Three of his 18 Breeders’ Cup wins came during the 1988 renewal at Churchill Downs: Is It True (Juvenile), Open Mind (Juvenile Fillies) and Gulch (Sprint). In fact, Lukas’ Open Mind, Darby Shuffle and Lea Lucinda ran 1-2-3 as part of a five-horse entry.
- Won the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Gulfstream Park with 19-1 longshot Cat Thief.
- Record five-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile: Capote (1986), Success Express (1987), Is It True (1988), Timber Country (1994) and Boston Harbor (1996).
- Record five-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies: Twilight Ridge (1985), Open Mind (1988), Flanders (1994), Cash Run (1999) and Folklore (2005).
- Record four-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic: Life’s Magic (1985), Lady’s Secret (1986), Sacahuista (1987) and Spain (2000).
- Two-time Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner: Gulch (1988) and Orientate (2002).
- One-time Breeders’ Cup Mile winner: Steinlen-GB (1989).
- Started a horse in the Breeders’ Cup every year from its inception in 1984-2006. Also had runners in the 2008 & ’10 events; his only starter in the latter was Hamazing Destiny, who finished second at odds of 23-1 in the Sprint.
- Won 92 stakes races in 1987, a record held until his former assistant Todd Pletcher won 100 in 2006.
- Won 53 graded stakes races in 1987, a record held until Pletcher won 57 in 2006.
- Earned $17,842,358 in 1988, a record held until Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel won $19,147,129 in 2003.
- Passed legendary Hall of Fame trainer Charlie Whittingham as the sport’s all-time leading money winner in 1988.
- Became the first trainer to amass $100 million in career earnings in 1990 and $200 million in 1999.
- Collected career win No. 4,000 on May 7, 2001 at Delaware Park with Added Spice.
- Other Grade I winners include Grand Canyon (1989 Norfolk and Hollywood Futurity); Farma Way (1991 Santa Anita Handicap and Pimlico Special Handicap); A Wild Ride (1991 Shuvee Handicap and Hempstead Handicap); Corporate Report (1991 Travers); Salt Lake (1991 Hopeful); Twilight Agenda (1991 Meadowlands Cup Handicap); Harlan (1994 Vosburgh); Hennessy (1995 Hopeful); Tipically Irish (1995 Oak Leaf), Cara Rafaela (1995 Hollywood Starlet); Honour and Glory (1996 Metropolitan Handicap); Sharp Cat (1996 Matron and Hollywood Starlet and 1997 Las Virgenes, Santa Anita Oaks and Acorn); Marlin (1996 Secretariat, 1996 Hollywood Derby, 1997 San Juan Capistrano and 1997 Arlington Million); City Band (1996 Oak Leaf); Victory Speech (1997 Strub); Pearl City (1997 Ballerina Handicap); Grand Slam (1997 Futurity & Champagne at Belmont Park); Love Lock (1997 Hollywood Starlet); Cape Town (1998 Florida Derby); Well Chosen (1998 Ashland); Tactical Cat (1998 Hollywood Futurity); High Yield (1999 Hopeful at Saratoga and Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park and Blue Grass at Keeneland in 2000); Yes It’s True (1999 DeFrancis Memorial); Yonaguska (2000 Hopeful at Saratoga); Scorpion (2001 Jim Dandy at Saratoga); Snow Ridge (2002 San Carlos Handicap at Santa Anita); Stellar Jayne (2004 Mother Goose and Gazelle at Belmont Park); Consolidator (2004 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland); and Dublin (2009 Hopeful at Saratoga).
- Conditioned Serena’s Song (1994-96) to become North America’s leading money-winning female with $3,283,388, a mark eclipsed by the Lukas-trained Spain (1999-2002) with $3,540,542, and later by the Lukas-trained Azeri (2001-04) with $4,079,820 (Note: the current record has since been eclipsed by Zenyatta with $7,304,580).
- Took over the training of Azeri from Laura De Seroux in 2004 when owner Michael Paulson brought her out of a brief retirement. She earned her fourth year-end honor after Grade I wins in the Apple Blossom, Go For Wand Handicap and Spinster. Rather than try for the Distaff as the favorite, Lukas and Paulson opted to face males in the Classic and she finished fifth.
- No stranger to pitting females against males with success: Winning Colors won the Santa Anita Derby by 7 ½ lengths and the Kentucky Derby in 1988; Althea won three graded stakes in five tries against males, including the 1984 Arkansas Derby; Lady’s Secret, who had seven attempts against males, won the 1986 Whitney Handicap; Serena’s Song, who faced males seven times, won the 1985 Haskell Invitational and Jim Beam (she was 16th in the 1995 Kentucky Derby); and Surfside won the 2000 Clark Handicap by four lengths in her second attempt versus the boys (she was fifth in the 2000 Santa Anita Derby). Other females Lukas tested against males included Life’s Magic, who was second in the 1983 Norfolk and 1985 Brooklyn Handicap (she finished eighth in the 1984 Kentucky Derby); Sacahuista, who was beaten a nose in the 1986 Del Mar Futurity; Family Style, who finished third in the 1986 Arkansas Derby; Cara Rafaela, who was fourth in the 1996 El Camino Real Derby; Sharp Cat, who finished sixth in the 1997 Santa Anita Derby; and Azeri, who finished eighth in the Metropolitan Handicap and fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2004.
- Penchant for victories in the main arena at long odds, including: Spain in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at 55-1; Cash Run in the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at 32-1; Charismatic in the 1999 Kentucky Derby at 31-1; Stellar Jayne in the 1994 Mother Goose at 29-1; Codex in the 1980 Santa Anita Derby at 25-1; Thunder Gulch in the 1995 Kentucky Derby at 24-1; Cat Thief in the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Classic at 19-1; Commendable in the 2000 Belmont at 18-1; Harlan in the 1994 Vosburgh at 18-1; Cape Town in the 1998 Florida Derby at 12-1; Honour and Glory in the 1996 Metropolitan Handicap at 12-1; Scorpion in the 2001 Jim Dandy at 11-1; and Is It True over odds-on favorite and eventual juvenile champion Easy Goer in the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at 9-1. Lukas had often said: “You can’t win it if you’re not in it.”
- Eight-time winner of the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park.
- In addition to his training titles at Churchill Downs, he’s been the leading trainer at Belmont Park, Hollywood Park, Keeneland, Oak Tree, Santa Anita, Saratoga and Turfway.
- Presented with The John W. Galbreath Award for Outstanding Entrepreneurship in the Equine Industry in 1998 by the University of Louisville’s Equine Industry Program for applying success-management methods and practices to raise the standard of race training.
- Honored by the Thoroughbred Club of America at its 67th annual testimonial dinner in 1998.
- Honored with the Turf Publicists of America’s Big Sport of Turfdom Award in 1999.
- Received the United Thoroughbred Trainers of America’s Trainer of the Year Award in 1999.
- Keynote speaker at the 2004 Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony and ’06 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention.
- Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2007, making him the first person to enter both the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse halls of fame.
- Second of three children
- Raised on a 10-acre farm outside of Antigo, Wisc., a small farming community.
- Raced his pony at the Antigo County Fairgrounds.
- Began developing skills for evaluating & buying horses before he was in high school.
- With the help of his friend Clyde Rice (a successful horseman and father of trainers Linda and Bryan Rice), Lukas bought mustangs headed to the slaughterhouse, broke and trained them and resold them in auctions.
- Graduated with a master’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin, where he later worked as an assistant basketball coach for two years.
- Taught high school and was a head basketball coach for 9 years, which included a 7-year stint in LaCrosse, Wisc.
- In 1968, he began to train and race Quarter Horses at Park Jefferson in South Dakota during the summers before turning to training full-time.
- Settled in California in 1972.
- Established himself as a top Quarter Horse trainer, averaging more than $1 million in purse earnings a year and developing 23 Quarter Horse champions.
- Three-time leading Quarter Horse trainer in earnings (1974-76) and races won (1970, ’74-75).
- Regards legendary Quarter Horse Dash For Cash, the 1976-77 World Champion, as the best horse he’s started. “Bubba” Cascio was the colt’s trainer, but Lukas saddled the colt for his starts in California, which resulted in wins in the Los Al Derby trials and final and Champions of Champions in 1976, and Vessels Maturity, Los Alamitos Championship and Champion of Champions in ’77.
- Turned to training Thoroughbreds on a full-time basis in 1978 with seven horses. Arrived at Santa Anita and trimmed his barn with white picket fencing, beds of flowers and freshly painted feed tubs used only for decoration – a trademark he still uses today.
- First major horse on the national stage was Terlingua, the dam of Storm Cat and one of the best juvenile fillies of 1978.
- First big break with Thoroughbreds came in 1979, when Hall of Fame trainer John Nerud, the manager of Tartan Farm, gave him Codex to train. The following year, Codex scored an upset win in the March 30 Santa Anita Derby and then won April 13 Hollywood Derby by two lengths. He wasn’t nominated to the Kentucky Derby (he nominated five horses to the Derby but chose to leave off Codex; it was son Jeff who added him to the Preakness nominees) so he was pointed to the 1980 Preakness and won by 4 ¾ lengths after surviving a claim of foul for possibly interfering with Kentucky Derby winner Genuine Risk while swinging wide under Angel Cordero Jr. on the turn for home.
- Revolutionized the training of Thoroughbreds in the late 1970s and 1980s
- Has been described as flashy, self-confident and a sharp dresser.
- Well-known for his sharp eye for yearlings at auction.
- On behalf of a four-man syndicate made up of himself, Bob French, Eugene Klein and Mel Hatley, he was the underbidder on the world-record $13.1 million yearling that sold in 1985.
- Once famous for maintaining high-powered satellite stables under up-and-coming assistants, the Wayne Lukas “training tree” includes former assistants Bobby Barnett, Randy Bradshaw, Mark Hennig, Mike Maker, Kiaran McLaughlin, Todd Pletcher, Dallas Stewart and George Weaver.
- Lukas’ only son and chief assistant Jeff suffered devastating injuries during morning training at Santa Anita on Dec. 15, 1993 when precocious 2-year-old and emerging star Tabasco Cat broke loose from his handlers at Barn 66. Jeff Lukas, 36, stepped in front of the runaway horse and tried to stop him, but Tabasco Cat dipped his shoulder like a fullback and slammed into him with such force that it shattered his skull and left him in a coma for several weeks which resulted in permanent brain damage. Wayne Lukas watched the accident while standing just 20 feet away. Ironically, while Jeff was bravely recuperating from the debilitating setback, his renowned father trained Tabasco Cat to victory in the last two legs of the 1994 Triple Crown. Jeff recovered well enough to eventually return to work on a part-time basis on June 27, 1994 (he even saddled Southern Tempo on his own for a third-place finish in the Remington Futurity at Remington Park on Oct. 23, 1994), but it lasted for a brief period. Today, he resides in the small town of Atoka, Okla.
- Among his many important clients through the years have been former San Diego Chargers owner, the late Eugene Klein; William T. Young’s Overbrook Farm; Beverly Lewis and her late husband, Bob; Michael Tabor; David Reynolds; Mary Lou Whitney; and Scott and Joe Ford’s Westrock Stables.
- Also trained for M.C. Hammer, Mike Francesa, Bobby Knight, Pete Newell, Bill Parcells.
- Has consolidated his operation in recent years (he discontinued his California operation in March 2006); he currently is based at Oaklawn Park during the winter, Churchill Downs and Delaware Park during the spring, Saratoga in the summer and Churchill Downs in the fall.
- Took over the training duties of 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in May of 2010, but the gelding failed to return to his Derby form and was retired at year’s end.
- After a victory, he typically invites a randomly chosen child from the grandstand to join him in the winner’s circle for the winning photo.
- The gap at Churchill Downs near the six-furlong pole is commonly referred to as “The Lukas Gap” because it’s near his Barn 44.
- His given first name is Darrell.
Background
- Second of three children
- Raised on a 10-acre farm outside of Antigo, Wisc., a small farming community.
- Raced his pony at the Antigo County Fairgrounds.
- Began developing skills for evaluating & buying horses before he was in high school.
- With the help of his friend Clyde Rice (a successful horseman and father of trainers Linda and Bryan Rice), Lukas bought mustangs headed to the slaughterhouse, broke and trained them and resold them in auctions.
- Graduated with a master’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin, where he later worked as an assistant basketball coach for two years.
- Taught high school and was a head basketball coach for 9 years, which included a 7-year stint in LaCrosse, Wisc.
- In 1968, he began to train and race Quarter Horses at Park Jefferson in South Dakota during the summers before turning to training full-time.
- Settled in California in 1972.
- Established himself as a top Quarter Horse trainer, averaging more than $1 million in purse earnings a year and developing 23 Quarter Horse champions.
- Three-time leading Quarter Horse trainer in earnings (1974-76) and races won (1970, ’74-75).
- Regards legendary Quarter Horse Dash For Cash, the 1976-77 World Champion, as the best horse he’s started. “Bubba” Cascio was the colt’s trainer, but Lukas saddled the colt for his starts in California, which resulted in wins in the Los Al Derby trials and final and Champions of Champions in 1976, and Vessels Maturity, Los Alamitos Championship and Champion of Champions in ’77.
- Turned to training Thoroughbreds on a full-time basis in 1978 with seven horses. Arrived at Santa Anita and trimmed his barn with white picket fencing, beds of flowers and freshly painted feed tubs used only for decoration – a trademark he still uses today.
- First major horse on the national stage was Terlingua, the dam of Storm Cat and one of the best juvenile fillies of 1978.
- First big break with Thoroughbreds came in 1979, when Hall of Fame trainer John Nerud, the manager of Tartan Farm, gave him Codex to train. The following year, Codex scored an upset win in the March 30 Santa Anita Derby and then won April 13 Hollywood Derby by two lengths. He wasn’t nominated to the Kentucky Derby (he nominated five horses to the Derby but chose to leave off Codex; it was son Jeff who added him to the Preakness nominees) so he was pointed to the 1980 Preakness and won by 4 ¾ lengths after surviving a claim of foul for possibly interfering with Kentucky Derby winner Genuine Risk while swinging wide under Angel Cordero Jr. on the turn for home.
- Revolutionized the training of Thoroughbreds in the late 1970s and 1980s
- Has been described as flashy, self-confident and a sharp dresser.
- Well-known for his sharp eye for yearlings at auction.
- On behalf of a four-man syndicate made up of himself, Bob French, Eugene Klein and Mel Hatley, he was the underbidder on the world-record $13.1 million yearling that sold in 1985.
- Once famous for maintaining high-powered satellite stables under up-and-coming assistants, the Wayne Lukas “training tree” includes former assistants Bobby Barnett, Randy Bradshaw, Mark Hennig, Mike Maker, Kiaran McLaughlin, Todd Pletcher, Dallas Stewart and George Weaver.
- Lukas’ only son and chief assistant Jeff suffered devastating injuries during morning training at Santa Anita on Dec. 15, 1993 when precocious 2-year-old and emerging star Tabasco Cat broke loose from his handlers at Barn 66. Jeff Lukas, 36, stepped in front of the runaway horse and tried to stop him, but Tabasco Cat dipped his shoulder like a fullback and slammed into him with such force that it shattered his skull and left him in a coma for several weeks which resulted in permanent brain damage. Wayne Lukas watched the accident while standing just 20 feet away. Ironically, while Jeff was bravely recuperating from the debilitating setback, his renowned father trained Tabasco Cat to victory in the last two legs of the 1994 Triple Crown. Jeff recovered well enough to eventually return to work on a part-time basis on June 27, 1994 (he even saddled Southern Tempo on his own for a third-place finish in the Remington Futurity at Remington Park on Oct. 23, 1994), but it lasted for a brief period. Today, he resides in the small town of Atoka, Okla.
- Among his many important clients through the years have been former San Diego Chargers owner, the late Eugene Klein; William T. Young’s Overbrook Farm; Beverly Lewis and her late husband, Bob; Michael Tabor; David Reynolds; Mary Lou Whitney; and Scott and Joe Ford’s Westrock Stables.
- Also trained for M.C. Hammer, Mike Francesa, Bobby Knight, Pete Newell, Bill Parcells.
- Has consolidated his operation in recent years (he discontinued his California operation in March 2006); he currently is based at Oaklawn Park during the winter, Churchill Downs and Delaware Park during the spring, Saratoga in the summer and Churchill Downs in the fall.
- Took over the training duties of 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in May of 2010, but the gelding failed to return to his Derby form and was retired at year’s end.
- After a victory, he typically invites a randomly chosen child from the grandstand to join him in the winner’s circle for the winning photo.
- The gap at Churchill Downs near the six-furlong pole is commonly referred to as “The Lukas Gap” because it’s near his Barn 44.
- His given first name is Darrell.
Mike Maker
Birthdate: Feb. 2, 1969
Birthplace: Garden City, Mich.
Years as Trainer: 11th
First Win: April 28, 1993, Detroit Race Course (Michigan) at age 24
Most Wins, Single Year: 154 (2009)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $4,407,579
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 13 (2009)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 3 (2009, ’10)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
66
|
11 (7)
|
0
|
8
|
9
|
16.70%
|
42.40%
|
$326,531
|
|
2010 Fall
|
34
|
3
|
0
|
6
|
3
|
8.80%
|
35.30%
|
$119,216
|
|
Career
|
590
|
132
|
2
|
91
|
66
|
22.40%
|
49.00%
|
$3,254,317
|
Career Record: 1993-2010
|
Year
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
605
|
126
|
7
|
3
|
90
|
68
|
20.80%
|
46.90%
|
$3,950,853
|
|
Career
|
2,766
|
642
|
40
|
8
|
417
|
315
|
23.20%
|
49.70%
|
$16,806,982
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Trainer of 2009 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Furthest Land
- Churchill Downs’ 2008 Fall Meet champion trainer with a Fall Meet record 31 wins during the 26-day meet (crushed the previous record of 20 wins established by Dale Romans in 2003).
- Trainer of 2009 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Furthest Land, who scored a 21-1 upset. The 4-year-old gelding, who was claimed for $35,000 a year earlier by owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, had won the Grade II Kentucky Cup Classic in his previous start.
- Other top graded stakes winners include Accredit (Grade II Churchill Downs in 2009 at 4-1); Dean’s Kitten (Grade II Lane’s End in 2010 at 6-1); Maybesomaybenot (Grade II Sanford in 2010 at 9-1); Stately Victor (Grade I Blue Grass in 2010 at 40-1); and With a City (Grade II Lane’s End in 2008 at 48-1)
- Took over as the trainer for Freefourinternet in the summer of 2004 and Maker scored his first graded stakes win when the 6-year-old won the Grade II Hawthorne Gold Cup by 1 ¾ lengths over Perfect Drift at odds of 6-1.
- Winner of the 2008 Keeneland Fall Meet training title.
- Five-time leading trainer (all consecutive) at Turfway Park: the Holiday Meet in 2007; the Winter/Spring, Fall and Holidays meets in 2008; and the 2009 Winter/Spring Meet.
- Has also won training titles at Ellis Park and Kentucky Downs.
Background
- Got his start with his father, trainer George Maker, at Michigan’s Hazel Park and Detroit Race Course, as a hotwalker and working his way up to assistant trainer.
- Bought his first horse at age 13 from money earned through a Detroit Free Press paper route and racetrack work on weekends. The horse won in his first start for Maker.
- Took out his trainer’s license in 1993 and won with 19 of 94 starters that year. Opted to learn more about his craft under Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas where he worked under assistant Dallas Stewart and later became an assistant to Lukas. Maker ran Lukas’ Churchill Downs shedrow when Stewart went out on his own in 1997.
- While with Lukas, he helped develop such stars as 1999 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Horse of the Year winner Charismatic; Breeders’ Cup winners Cash Run (1999 Juvenile Fillies), Cat Thief (1999 Classic), Spain (2000 Distaff) and Orientate (2002 Sprint); and multiple graded stakes winner Surfside.
- Started own stable in 2003.
- Chief client is Churchill Downs’ kingpin owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey.
- Trains approximately 100 horses in training and races primarily in Kentucky, New York, New Jersey and Florida.
Steve Margolis
Birthdate: Sept. 8, 1963
Birthplace: New York, N.Y.
Years as Trainer: 13th
First Win: Nov. 29, 2000, Turfway Park (2000) at age 37
Most Wins, Single Year: 71 (2010)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $2,683,600 (2010)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 11 (2010)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 3 (2003)
Career Record: 2000-2010
|
Year
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
287
|
71
|
11
|
1
|
42
|
40
|
24.70%
|
53.30%
|
$2,683,600
|
|
Career
|
1,922
|
350
|
27
|
6
|
289
|
262
|
18.20%
|
46.90%
|
$11,448,716
|
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
48
|
10 (9)
|
0
|
6
|
8
|
20.80%
|
50.00%
|
$334,152
|
|
2010 Fall
|
27
|
5 (8)
|
0
|
6
|
5
|
18.50%
|
59.30%
|
$183,283
|
|
Career
|
604
|
97
|
0
|
96
|
84
|
16.10%
|
45.90%
|
$3,102,955
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Trainer of 2003 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Cajun Beat, who scored a 22-1 upset at Santa Anita, and developed millionaire Request for Parole.
- Margolis took over the training duties of Cajun Beat (19-7-3-0—$1,159,100) from Cam Gambolati following the gelding’s seventh start. He made seven starts for Margolis with three wins, three seconds and a fourth before ending his career under the care of Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel. For Margolis, Cajun Beat rattled off three graded stakes wins: the Grade III Kentucky Cup Sprint, Grade I Breeders’ Cup Sprint and Grade III Mr. Prospector Handicap.
- Other graded stakes winners: Baileys Edge (Grade III Mr. Prospector Handicap in 2003), Bouquet Booth (Grade III Delta Princess in 2010) and Whirlie Bertie (Grade III Gardenia Handicap in 2009).
- Other top horses trained include A Little Gem, Cash Refund, Change Up, Cool Bullet, Country Day, Due Date, Key to the Cat, Jet Prospector, Lady Chace, Marina Ballerina, Marwood, Neverbeendancin’, Northern Belle, Pickapocket, Request for Parole, Stay Put, True Course, Visavis and Vote Early.
Background
- Worked at Belmont Park after graduating from high school and rubbed horses for Hall of Fame trainer John Veitch.
- Later worked for Pat Byrne and Howie Tesher before joining Stan Hough in the 1990s; came to Kentucky in 1997 as Hough’s assistant.
- Started own stable in the fall of 2000.
- Hough’s primary owners, Robert and Bea Roberts, began dispersing their bloodstock in 2000. The following year they sent some horses to Margolis, including 2-year-old Request for Parole (51-10-7-4—$1,372,224), who broke his maiden and then was sold privately to Jeri and Sam Knighton. A stakes winner and graded stakes-placed as a juvenile, Request for Parole won Turfway Park’s WEBN and John Battaglia Memorial, was third in the Lane’s End Spiral (GII) and finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby (GI) before being returned to Hough for a career on the East Coast.
- Hasn’t had the numbers to crack Churchill Downs’ Top 5 among leading trainers for a given meet, but has often boasted an exceptional win-clip with limited starters.
- Trains approximately 45 horses in training and splits his time between Churchill Downs, Fair Grounds and Delaware Park.
- Top clients include veteran and successful Churchill Downs owners Richard, Bertram and Elaine Klein.
Paul J. McGee
Birthdate: July 10, 1962
Birthplace: Louisville, Ky.Years as Trainer: 25th
First Win: June 23, 1987, Churchill Downs (Kentucky) at age 25 (Pabarene)
Most Wins, Single Year: 66 (1999)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $1,996,263 (2005)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 7 (2000)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 3 (2000)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
44
|
11 (7)
|
0
|
8
|
6
|
25.00%
|
56.80%
|
$379,917
|
|
2010 Fall
|
20
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
5.00%
|
30.00%
|
$91,412
|
|
Career
|
1,646
|
287
|
10
|
224
|
241
|
17.40%
|
45.70%
|
$9,587,603
|
Career Record: 1987-2010
|
Year
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
177
|
31
|
2
|
1
|
30
|
20
|
17.50%
|
45.80%
|
$1,242,728
|
|
Career
|
4,704
|
890
|
59
|
16
|
689
|
656
|
18.90%
|
47.50%
|
$26,518,253
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Began 2011 as Churchill Downs’ 14th all-time leading trainer with 287 wins.
- Trained Grade I winners Honor in War (Grade I Woodford Reserve Turf Classic and Grade III Arlington Handicap in 2003), I Believe in You (Grade I Hollywood Starlet in 2000), millionaires Bet On Sunshine (Grade III Aristides Handicap in 2000-01 and Grade III Phoenix in 2001) and Suave (Grade III Northern Dancer in 2004, Grade II Saratoga Handicap in 2005 and Grade II Washington Park Handicap in 2006) plus graded stakes winners Balthazar B. (Grade II Clark Handicap in 1988), Demarcation (Grade III River City Handicap in 2008 and Grade III Ack Ack Handicap in 2009), Dream Run (Grade II Gulfstream Park Sprint Handicap in 2002), Dubious Miss (Grade III Ben Ali in 2010), Miss Pickums (Grade II Golden Rod in 2000) and Twilight Road (Grade III Ack Ack Handicap in 2002).
- McGee considers Bet On Sunshine (47-22-7-10—$1,449,882) as a “foundation horse” for him. He finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint twice – 1997 at Hollywood Park and 2000 at Churchill Downs. He raced until age 10 when he was retired to a life of leisure at Hermitage Farm near Goshen, Ky. in 2002.
- Leading trainer at Turfway Park’s 2007 Winter/Spring Meet.
- Has finished among the Top 5 in the Churchill Downs trainer standings on nine occasions, including a trio of seconds: 1998 Spring Meet (15 wins, two back of Elliott Walden), 1999 Fall Meet (11 wins, two back of Bobby Barnett) and the 2001 Fall Meet (10 wins, three back of Steve Asmussen).
Background
- Grew up in Louisville where he and his three siblings developed their interest in horse racing through their close proximity to Churchill Downs.
- Got his start in racing at age 15 as a hotwalker for trainer Jerry Calvin and later galloped horses for trainers Angel Montano Sr. and Carl Bowman.
- Opened public stable in 1987.
- Trains approximately 50 horses and races in Kentucky as well as Fair Grounds and Arlington Park and Churchill Downs.
- One of his top clients is the Jay Em Ess Stable of Jan, Mace and Samantha Siegel.
- Brother Marty McGee is a reporter and handicapper for Daily Racing Form; younger sister Amy is married to trainer Ron Ellis and manages his stable’s payroll; and older sister Susan once worked in the group sales department and Turf Club at Hollywood Park.
- Hobbies include golf.
- After attending Louisville’s St. Xavier High School, he graduated from Bellarmine University with a degree in chemistry (his father sells water treatment chemicals).
Ken McPeek
Birthdate: Aug. 2, 1962
Birthplace: Fort Chaffee, Ark.
Years as Trainer: 27th
First Win: Oct. 27, 1985, River Downs (Ohio) at age 23
Most Wins, Single Year: 103 (2009)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $6,647,289 (2002)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 19 (2002)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 12 (2002)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
50
|
8
|
0
|
12
|
3
|
16.00%
|
46.00%
|
$513,031
|
|
2010 Fall
|
47
|
8 (4)
|
2
|
6
|
7
|
17.00%
|
44.70%
|
$802,031
|
|
Career
|
1,852
|
267
|
17
|
239
|
246
|
14.40%
|
40.60%
|
$11,298,168
|
Career Record: 1985-2010
|
Year
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
434
|
68
|
10
|
4
|
67
|
61
|
15.70%
|
45.20%
|
$3,829,437
|
|
Career
|
7,274
|
1,127
|
112
|
47
|
967
|
942
|
15.50%
|
41.70%
|
$45,913,086
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Began 2011 as Churchill Downs’ 18th all-time leading trainer with 267 wins.
- Trainer of 2002 Belmont Stakes winner Sarava, who denied War Emblem of a Triple Crown sweep with a half-length victory over Medaglia d’Oro at odds of 70-1.
- Also trained multi-millionaire Take Charge Lady (22-11-7-0—$2,480,377), a winner of eight graded stakes, including the Grade I Ashland in 2002 and back-to-back Spinsters in 2002-03, and Tejano Run (21-8-4-6—$1,166,842), who ran second to Thunder Gulch in the 1995 Kentucky Derby.
- Other Grade I winners include: Dream Empress (2008 Alcibiades), Hard Buck-BRZ (2004 Gulfstream Park Handicap), Harlan’s Holiday (Florida Derby and Blue Grass in 2002), Noble’s Promise (2009 Breeders’ Futurity), Prince Arch (2005 Gulfstream Park Handicap).
- Also conditioned multiple stakes winner Repent, winner of the Kentucky Cup Juvenile (GIII) and Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) in 2001 and Risen Star (GIII) and Louisiana Derby (GII) in 2002. Was forced to miss the Kentucky Derby when he underwent ankle surgery following a second-place finish in the Illinois Derby (GII).
- Champion trainer of Churchill Downs’ 2002 Fall Meet with 15 wins.
- Won the training title at the 2009 Keeneland Fall Meet.
- He and wife Sue were honored with the Turf Publicists of America’s Big Sport of Turfdom Award in 2002.
Background
- Despite being born in Arkansas, McPeek considers himself a Lexington, Ky. native because he moved there as an infant.
- The son of horse owner Ron McPeek played football at Lexington’s Tates Creek High School.
- Graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts in business.
- After graduating from UK, he went to New York to interview for a position as a stockbroker, but says he took a job as a hotwalker for trainer Shug McGaughey instead.
- Makes frequent trips to South America to purchase horses in training.
- Took a self-imposed sabbatical from training for nearly a year in June 2005 because he felt his and his clients’ interests would be better served with him concentrating his efforts on being a bloodstock agent. He transferred many of his 160 horses – which ran in Illinois, New York and Kentucky – to his assistants, including Helen Pitts-Blasi.
- Has saddled horses at Royal Ascot, including Hard Buck-BRZ (second in the 2004 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth) and Noble’s Promise (fifth in the 2010 St. James Palace).
- On the Board of the Directors of the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA), an organization of approximately 6,000 owners & trainers.
- Wife Sue, a professional equine photographer, is a cancer survivor, who had a malignant tumor removed from her jaw on Oct. 9, 2000 – two weeks before delivering their daughter Jenna.
- Operates 115-acre Magdalena Farm, the old Pillar Stud property in Lexington that they purchased and renamed for the woman they believed to be the matriarch of the original family to live there.
- In addition to Magdalena, he keeps a division at nearby Keeneland Race Course, and races at Gulfstream Park in the winter, Saratoga in the summer and Kentucky in the spring and fall. All told, he trains approximately 85 horses.
- His team for developing young horses includes bloodstock agent Rory Callis, who previews prospects at public auctions to create a short list for McPeek to evaluate, and Dominic Brennan, who has been developing McPeek’s young horses at his Ocala, Fla. base since 1993.
- Has had success with modest purchases who would become stakes winners. Some examples are Tejano Run ($20,000 yearling), She’s A Devil Due ($30,000 yearling) and Dream Empress ($60,000 yearling).
- One of his most savvy auction purchases was two-time Horse of the Year and 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Curlin, a $57,000 buy at the 2005 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Bill Mott
Birthdate: July 29, 1953
Birthplace: Mobridge, S.D.
Years as Trainer: 43rd
First Win: 1968, Park Jefferson (South Dakota) at age 15
Most Wins, Single Year: 176 (1996)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $11,789,625 (1995)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 45 (2007)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 27 (1998)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
45
|
7
|
3
|
0
|
9
|
15.60%
|
35.60%
|
$480,644
|
|
2010 Fall
|
29
|
7 (5)
|
1
|
4
|
4
|
24.10%
|
51.70%
|
$1,316,115
|
|
Career
|
3,177
|
640
|
79
|
545
|
468
|
20.10%
|
52.00%
|
$23,895,536
|
Career Record: 1968-2010
|
Year
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
693
|
119
|
21
|
16
|
84
|
95
|
17.20%
|
43.00%
|
$8,821,635
|
|
Career
|
19,843
|
4,052
|
693
|
348
|
3,163
|
2,698
|
20.40%
|
50.00%
|
$188,980,171
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Enshrined in Horse Racing’s Hall of Fame in 1998, and was the youngest trainer ever inducted at age 45.
- Began 2011 as Churchill Downs’ all-time leading trainer with 640 wins.
- Two-time Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Trainer: 1995-96.
- Champions trained: Theatrical (1987 Turf Male), Paradise Creek (1994 Turf Male), Cigar (1995-96 Horse of the Year & Older Male), Ajina (1997 Three-Year-Old Filly) and Escena (1998 Older Female).
- Trainer of 2010 Belmont Stakes winner Drosselmeyer.
- Winner of six Breeders’ Cup events: Theatrical-IRE (1987 Turf), Fraise (1992 Turf), Cigar (1995 Classic), Ajina (1997 Ladies’ Classic), Escena (1998 Ladies’ Classic) and Unrivaled Belle (2010 Ladies’ Classic).
- Nine-time champion trainer at Churchill Downs: (Fall 1980, Fall 1981, Spring 1982, Spring/Summer 1983, Fall 1983, Spring/Summer 1984, Fall 1984, Fall 1985 and Fall 1986).
- Lengthy list of 21 Grade I winners since 2000: Angara-GB (2005 Beverly D. and 2006 Diana), Court Vision (2008 Hollywood Derby), Down the Aisle (2000 United Nations), Dream Supreme (Test and Ballerina in 2000), Drosselmeyer (2010 Belmont), Dynaforce (2008 Flower Bowl and 2009 Beverly D.), Go Between (2008 Pacific Classic), Gun Salute (2005 Secretariat), Majestic Warrior (2007 Hopeful), Mr. Sidney (2009 Maker’s Mark Mile), Mushka (2009 Spinster), My Typhoon-IRE (2007 Diana), Proviso-GB (Frank E. Kilroe Mile, Just a Game, Diana and First Lady in 2010), Royal Anthem (2000 Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup Handicap), Sand Springs (2005 Diana), Shakespeare (2005 Turf Classic Invitational), Snow Polina (2000 Beverly D.), Stroll (2004 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic), Subtle Power-IRE (2001 Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup Handicap), Sweet Symphony (2005 Alabama) and Unrivaled Belle (2010 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic).
- Some other Grade I winners prior to 2000: Ajina (Mother Goose, Coaching Club American Oaks and Breeders’ Cup Distaff in 1997), Bail Out Becky (1995 Del Mar Oaks), Broadway Flyer (1996 Sword Dancer), Chief Honcho (1992 Brooklyn Handicap), Confessional (1998 Frizette), Dahlia’s Dreamer (1994 Flower Bowl), Duda (1995 Matriarch), Escena (Ramona in 1997 and Apple Blossom, Vanity and Breeders’ Cup Distaff in 1998), Fraise (Sword Dancer and Breeders’ Cup Turf in 1992 and Hollywood Turf Cup in 1993), Geri (1996 Oaklawn Handicap), Lassigny (1995 Rothmans International), Link River (1994 John A. Morris), Missed the Storm (1993 Test), Northern Emerald (1995 Flower Bowl), Scuffleburg (1992 Pegasus and 1994 Gulfstream Park Handicap), Wekiva Springs (Gulfstream Park Handicap and Suburban in 1996), Yagli (Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup Handicap, Manhattan and United Nations in 1999).
- Became only the ninth trainer to win 4,000 races on Aug. 7, 2010 when Mystic won at Saratoga.
- Won a record 54 races during the now-defunct 93-day Spring/Summer Meet at Churchill Downs.
- Trainer of two-time Horse of the Year Cigar (1995-96), who is considered to be one of the greatest Thoroughbreds of the latter half of the 20th century. After less than stellar early success on grass, Mott moved Cigar to the dirt, a surface over which the Allen and Madeline Paulson homebred would string together 16 consecutive victories – a phenomenal run that include the 1995 Breeders’ Cup Classic and inaugural Dubai World Cup in 1996. Cigar completed his 1996 campaign with what was a record single-season earnings of $4.91 million and his long winning streak (snapped in the 1996 Pacific Classic) matched a modern day record of consecutive wins that had been set by 1948 Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown winner Citation. Mott: “He’s the best horse I’ve ever trained. He may be the best horse anyone has ever trained.” Cigar retired as the highest money-earner of all time with $9,999,815 (since passed by Curlin). After a public retirement ceremony at Madison Square Garden in New York, Cigar was to join the stallion band at Ashford in Versailles, Ky., but due to infertility, he’s living out his days as a star attraction at the Kentucky Horse Park.
- Also has won 10 training titles at Belmont Park, nine at both Saratoga and Gulfstream and five at Keeneland.
- Honored with the Turf Publicists of America’s Big Sport of Turfdom Award in 1996 as part of Team Cigar.
Background
- Father was a veterinarian. Would follow him around as he made calls. Knew early that his life would be spent with horses.
- Owned and trained his first horse at age 15, a $320 mare named My Assets. Mott ran My Assests at unrecognized meetings in South Dakota and later won his first race at a recognized track with her at the now-defunct Park Jefferson Racetrack. With purse earnings from My Assets and his savings, he purchased Kosmic Tour for $2,000. Won the South Dakota Futurity at Park Jefferson with Kosmic Tour before he was out of high school.
- Spent three years working for Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg.
- Started own public stable in the fall of 1978.
- Surpassed Henry Forrest as Churchill Downs’ all-time leader in races won and Ben A. Jones as Churchill Downs’ all-time leader in stakes races won in 1986.
- Became private trainer for Bertram and Diane Firestone in 1986 until they sold many of their horses in 1992.
- Trains approximately 100 horses, based primary in Florida in the winter and New York and Kentucky the rest of the year.
Todd Pletcher
Birthdate: June 26, 1967
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas
Years as Trainer: 16th
First Win: Jan. 26, 1996, Gulfstream Park (Florida) at age 28 (Majestic Number)
Most Wins, Single Year: 294 (2006)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $28,116,097 (2007) – North American Record
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 100 (2006) – North American Record
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 57 (2006) – North American Record
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
49
|
12 (5)
|
6
|
9
|
6
|
24.50%
|
55.10%
|
$2,405,646
|
|
2010 Fall
|
40
|
9 (3)
|
3
|
6
|
5
|
22.50%
|
50.00%
|
$2,890,956
|
|
Career
|
629
|
112
|
34 (4)
|
100
|
70
|
17.80%
|
44.80%
|
$16,519,504
|
Career Record: 1996-2010
|
Year
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
1,082
|
274
|
85
|
45
|
179
|
151
|
25.30%
|
55.80%
|
$23,157,098 (1)
|
|
Career
|
12,221
|
2,708
|
720
|
375
|
1,981
|
1,573
|
22.20%
|
51.20%
|
$194,909,208
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Trainer of 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver. Ended an 0-for-24 streak, when Super Saver, one of four starters for Pletcher, received a patented rail-skimming ride from jockey Calvin Borel to wear the roses. Roller-coaster week began with the declaration of Eskendereya, who would have been the Derby morning line favorite.
- Two-time Kentucky Oaks winning trainer: Ashado (2004) and Rags to Riches (2007).
- Five-time Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Trainer: 2004-07, ’10. Joined Laz Barrera (1976-79) and Bobby Frankel (2000-03) as the only trainers to win four in a row.
- Trainer of 10 championship campaigns (nine horses): Left Bank (2002 Older Male), Ashado (2004 Three-Year-Old Filly), Speightstown (2004 Sprinter), Ashado (2005 Older Female), Fleet Indian (2006 Older Female), Wait a While (2006 Three-Year-Old Filly), Lawyer Ron (2007 Older Male), English Channel (2007 Turf Male), Rags to Riches (2007 Three-Year-Old Filly) and Uncle Mo (2010 Two-Year-Old Male).
- Trainer of 54 Grade I winners between 1998-2010: Adieu (2005 Frizette); Any Given Saturday (2007 Haskell Invitational); Ashado (2003 Spinaway; Kentucky Oaks, Coaching Club American Oaks and Breeders’ Cup Distaff in 2004; and Ogden Phipps Handicap, Go For Wand Handicap and Beldame in 2005); Balto Star (2003 United Nations Handicap); Bandini (2005 Blue Grass); Bishop Court Hill (2006 Carter Handicap); Bluegrass Cat (2006 Haskell Invitational); Circle of Life (1999 Spinaway); Circular Quay (2006 Hopeful); Cotton Blossom (2007 Acorn); Devil May Care (2009 Frizette and Mother Goose and Coaching Club American Oaks in 2010); Discreetly Mine (2010 King’s Bishop); English Channel (Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, United Nations and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational in 2006 and United Nations, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational and Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2007); Eskendereya (2010 Wood Memorial); Fleet Indian (2006 Personal Ensign and Beldame); Flower Alley (2005 Travers); Forest Danger (2005 Carter Handicap); Game Face (2009 Princess Rooney Handicap); Go Deputy (2006 Sword Dancer); Harlan’s Holiday (2003 Donn Handicap); Harmony Lodge (2003 Ballerina Handicap); Honey Ryder (2005 E.P. Taylor and 2006 Flower Bowl Invitational); Host-CHI (2005 Shadwell Turf Mile); Jersey Girl (1998 Acorn, Mother Goose and Test); Lawyer Ron (2007 Whitney Handicap and Woodward); Left Bank (Vosburgh and Cigar Mile Handicap in 2001 and Whitney Handicap in 2002); Life At Ten (Ogden Phipps Handicap and Beldame in 2010); Lion Tamer (2004 Cigar Mile Handicap); Magnificent Song (2006 Garden City); Marley Vale (1999 Test); Malibu Prayer (2010 Ruffian Handicap); Marylebone (2003 Matron); Monba (2008 Blue Grass); Octave (2007 Mother Goose and Coaching Club American Oaks); More Than Ready (2000 King’s Bishop); Panty Raid (2007 American Oaks and Spinster); Pool Land (2006 Ruffian Handicap); Purge (2005 Cigar Mile Handicap); Proud Accolade (2004 Champagne); Quality Road (Donn Handicap, Metropolitan Handicap and Woodward in 2010); R Heat Lightning (2010 Spinaway); Rags to Riches (2007 Las Virgenes, Santa Anita Oaks, Kentucky Oaks and Belmont Stakes); Red Giant (2008 Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship); Scat Daddy (2006 Champagne and 2007 Florida Derby); Speightstown (2004 Breeders’ Cup Sprint); Spun Sugar (2006 Apple Blossom Handicap and Go For Wand Handicap); Sunriver (2007 Hollywood Turf Cup); Super Saver (2010 Kentucky Derby); Take the Points (Secretariat and Jamaica Handicap in 2009 and 2010 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap); Trippi (2000 Vosburgh); Tweedside (2001 Coaching Club American Oaks); Unbridled Belle (2007 Beldame); Uncle Mo (Champagne and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in 2010); and Wait a While (2006 American Oaks and Yellow Ribbon in 2006, ’08).
- Five-time national leader in money-won (2004-07, ’10).
- Stable earned a record $28,116,097 in 2007.
- Became the first trainer to amass $20 million in a single year when his horses won $20,867,842, which broke Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel’s 2003 record of $19,147,129.
- Won 100 stakes races in 2006, which broke Wayne Lukas’ record of 92 stakes wins in 1987.
- Won 57 graded stakes races in 2006, which broke Wayne Lukas’ record of 53 graded stakes wins in 1987.
- The historic victory by the filly Rags to Riches over Curlin in the 2007 Belmont Stakes – the first filly to win the classic in 102 years – was voted the “NTRA Moment of the Year.”
- Collected his 2,000th career win on Jan. 13, 2008 with On the Vig
- 11-time leading trainer at Belmont Park:
- Seven-time leading trainer at Gulfstream Park: 2004-10
- Six-time leading trainer at Saratoga: 2002-06, ’10.
- Four-time leading trainer at Aqueduct:
- Two-time leading trainer at Keeneland
- Also has won training titles at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, Gulfstream Park and Keeneland.
Background
- Grew up in the horse racing business, helping his father, Jake (J.J.) Pletcher, who trained Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses throughout the Midwest and California. His father continues to work with Thoroughbreds at a training center in Ocala, Fla.
- While in college, Pletcher spent his summers working with trainers Henry Moreno, Wayne Lukas and Charlie Whittingham.
- Graduated from the University of Arizona in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in Animal Science.
- Went to work as an assistant for Lukas two weeks after college graduation.
- Trains approximately 200 horses.
- After seven years with Lukas, he opened his own public stable with seven horses in December 1995 at Hialeah.
Dale Romans
Birthdate: Aug. 14, 1966
Birthplace: Louisville, Ky.
Years as Trainer: 26th
First Win: Feb. 15, 1987, Turfway Park (Kentucky) at age 20 (Miss Mindy)
Most Wins, Single Year: 134 (2006)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $7,081,653 (2004)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 18 (2004)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 12 (2004)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
117
|
19 (2)
|
1
|
15
|
19
|
16.20%
|
45.30%
|
$848,432
|
|
2010 Fall
|
70
|
10 (2)
|
0
|
9
|
7
|
14.30%
|
37.10%
|
$572,486
|
|
Career
|
3,022
|
517 (2)
|
24 (7)
|
459
|
407
|
17.10%
|
45.80%
|
$19,532,312
|
Career Record: 1986-2010
|
Year
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
535
|
83
|
11
|
6
|
77
|
66
|
15.50%
|
42.20%
|
$5,377,229
|
|
Career
|
8,715
|
1,390
|
137
|
53
|
1,278
|
1,141
|
15.90%
|
43.70%
|
$57,639,994
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Began 2011 as Churchill Downs’ second all-time leading trainer with 517 wins.
- Trainer of 2004 Eclipse Award champion turf male Kitten’s Joy (14-9-4-0—$2,075,791), who finished second to Better Talk Now in that year’s controversial Breeders’ Cup Turf at Lone Star Park.
- Won the 2005 Dubai World Cup with Roses in May (13-8-4-0—$5,490,187), who finished second to Ghostzapper in the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Lone Star Park.
- Experienced his breakout year in 2004 thanks in part to Kitten’s Joy and Roses in May, his first Breeders' Cup starters.
- Conditioned Tapitsfly to win the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita.
- Grade I winners: Dawn of War (2005 Breeders’ Futurity), Kitten’s Joy (2004 Secretariat and Turf Classic Invitational), Paddy O’Prado (2010 Secretariat), Swift Temper (2009 Ruffian Handicap), Thorn Song (2008 Shadwell Turf Mile and 2009 Shoemaker Mile)
- Other graded stakes winners include: Added Edge, Angela’s Love, B. A. Valentine, Bayou’s Lassie, Bright One, C.S. Silk, Duveen, Eaton’s Gift, Halory Leigh, Hull, Joint Effort, Just Louise, MB Sea (who he campaigned from 2001-09), Point Prince, Quiet Temper, Roza Robata, Sassy Image, Sharp Humor, Victor Avenue and Will He Shine.
- Finished third in the 2010 Kentucky Derby with Paddy O’Prado, who posted a 10-4-2-2—$1,579,950 record in 2010.
- Ran second in the 2010 Preakness Stakes and third in the 2010 Belmont Stakes with maiden winner First Dude.
- Eight-time Churchill Downs champion trainer (Spring 2000, Spring 2001, Spring 2002, Spring 2003, Fall 2003, Spring 2005, Fall 2005 and Spring 2006).
- Leading trainer at Keeneland
- Leading trainer at Turfway Park’s 2003 Holiday Meet (a title shared with Bernie Flint and Greg Foley).
- Won his 1,000th race on June 14, 2006, at Churchill Downs with C F O Lite.
Background
- Grew up on the Churchill Downs backstretch learning his trade from his father, trainer Jerry Romans, who passed away in 2000. A trainer on the Kentucky circuit for nearly 35 years, he was the leading trainer at Ellis Park twice and Turfway Park once.
- Also says he learned from watching other trainers at Churchill Downs, particularly Don Winfrey, Greg Foley, Angel Montano Sr. and Bernie Flint. “I watched the people at the gap, watched what they’ve done right and what they’ve done wrong, and taken a little bit of good from all of them,” he said.
- Vice President of the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA), an organization of approximately 6,000 owners & trainers.
- Brother Bruce Romans co-produced and acted in the movie “Sweet William,” loosely based his family’s life at the track. Scenes were shot at Churchill Downs in the summer of 2004.
- Longtime partner is former jockey Tammy Fox. Although they have never been legally married, they have been together for more than two decades and have two children. Fox exercises many of the Romans horses.
- Fittingly, he occupies the historic Barn 4 at Churchill, where his father had his office for many years.
- He trains horses year-round for various clients, and also sends strings to Gulfstream and Saratoga.
- Credits his father with having the greatest influence on his career: “The biggest thing he ever taught me: the racetrack is a small world. Don’t cheat anybody if you want to survive.”
- In addition to working for his father, Romans worked for Hall of Fame trainer Woody Stephens for four months.
- Took out his trainer's license in 1986 and saddled his first winner at Turfway Park on Feb. 15, 1987 with a filly named Miss Mindy, whom he bought for $1,500.
- Scored his first stakes win with Morning Punch in the 1991 Florence Stakes at Turfway Park.
- Won his first stakes race at Churchill Downs with B.A. Valentine in the 1997 Providian Mile.
- Romans’ preparations of Sharp Humor for the 2006 Kentucky Derby were a focal point of the documentary “The First Saturday in May.”
- Key assistants are Baldemar Behena (Churchill Downs and his private Liberty Lane Training Center) and Mary Doser (New York and Florida).
Al Stall Jr.
Birthdate: Oct. 10, 1961
Birthplace: New Orleans, La.
Years as Trainer: 21st
First Win: Aug. 15, 1991, Arlington Park (Illinois) at age 29 (Scottish Fantasy)
Most Wins, Single Year: 75 (1995)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $6,256,602 (2010)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 16 (2010)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 7 (2010)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
28
|
8
|
1
|
5
|
6
|
28.60%
|
67.90%
|
$562,355
|
|
2010 Fall
|
14
|
6 (6)
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
42.90%
|
50.00%
|
$2,890,902
|
|
Career
|
745
|
141
|
8
|
107
|
101
|
18.90%
|
46.80%
|
$8,446,375
|
Career Record: 1991-2010
|
Year
|
Sts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
283
|
61
|
16
|
7
|
48
|
37
|
21.60%
|
51.60%
|
$6,256,602
|
|
Career
|
5,470
|
1,042
|
102
|
19
|
871
|
749
|
19.00%
|
48.70%
|
$33,951,297
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Trainer of 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and champion older male Blame (13-9-2-2—$4,368,214).
- Graded I winners: Blame (Stephen Foster, Whitney Handicap over Quality Road and Breeders’ Cup Classic over Zenyatta); J.B.’s Thunder (2010 Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity); and Joyeux Dansuer (1998 Early Times Turf Classic).
- Other graded stakes winners include: Apart (Grade II Super Derby and Grade III Ack Ack Handicap in 2010); Bright Valour (Grade III Hanshin Handicap via disqualification in 2000 and Grade III Hanshin Handicap in 2001); Discreet Hero (Grade III Round Table in 2001); Formal Tango (Grade III Eatontown in 1999); Juliannus (Grade II Razorback Handicap in 1996); Lattice (Grade III Louisville Handicap in 2008); My Pal Charlie (Grade II Super Derby in 2008); and Terrain (Grade III Arlington-Washington Futurity via double disqualification in 2008).
- Blame’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, denying Zenyatta’s attempt for a 20th consecutive victory, was voted the 2010 “NTRA Moment of the Year.”
- Also campaigned millionaire Louisiana-bred Star Guitar, who had won 15 of 21 starts through 2010; multiple stakes winner Moonlight Dancer, who earned more than $400,000 and ran third in the 1995 Louisiana Derby; and multiple sprint stakes-winning filly Daylight Ridge.
- Two-time leading trainer at Fair Grounds, winning the title outright in 1997-98 and tying fellow LSU-grad Tom Amoss for the title in 1998-99.
Background
- Graduated from Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in geology.
- Father and grandfather were breeders and owners. His father, Albert M. Stall, is a member of the Fair Grounds’ Hall of Fame and was chairman of the Louisiana Racing Commission for 28 years until retirement in 2004.
- Stall Jr. and his three siblings spent time at racetracks since they were young children, but Stall Jr. is the only one making his living in the sport.
- Worked at racetracks as a teen during school vacations and while he was a college student. Among his employers was Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg and Frankie Brothers.
- Opened his own public stable at Arlington Park in 1991 with one horse.
- First big break came with owner B. Wayne Hughes in 1997, who wanted to send some horses from California back east.
- Has handled some horses for Claiborne Farm for several years, but became the primary trainer for the legendary Central Kentucky farm in November 2007 when his former mentor Frankie Brothers retired from training.
- Also trains horses for the Claiborne-Adele Dilschneider partnerships, as well as horses that Dilschneider breeds and runs in her own name. Other clients include Columbine Stable, Brittlyn Stables and Lazy Lane Farm.
- Trains approximately 45 horses with operations in Kentucky and Louisiana.
- Worked for Pel-Tex Oil Company while a student at LSU and took a job with that firm after he graduated. The sale of Pel-Tex pushed the 26-year-old out of the oil business and back into racing. “When they shut the New Orleans office down, everybody was on their own,” he said. “It was either go to the racetrack or go to graduate school, and I wasn’t doing that. I went back to work with Frankie Brothers, who I had worked for during the summers and holidays.”
