April 6, 2021

Arkansas Derby Preview

Guests:

  • John Ed Anthony, owner, Shortleaf Stable (Caddo River: Arkansas Derby)
  • Peter Miller, trainer (Get Her Number: Arkansas Derby)
  • Joel Rosario, jockey (Concert Tour: Arkansas Derby)

Audio of Teleconference:

 

Full transcript (note: transcript has not been edited)

Operator:               Good day, ladies and gentlemen.  Welcome to the NTRA conference call.  At this time, all participants are in a listen only mode.

 

                              Following their presentation, we will conduct a question-and-answer session, at which time, instructions will be provided.  For operator assistance during the call, please press “star,” “0.”  I would now like to turn the meeting over to Mr. Gluckson.  Please go ahead, sir.

 

Jim Gluckson:       Thank you.  And good day, everyone.  This is Jim Gluckson.  We’re here today to preview the Saturday’s one-million-dollar Arkansas Derby on the big racing day, the festival that’s out at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

 

                              With us today will be John Ed Anthony of Shortleaf Stable, owner of Smarty Jones Stakes winner Caddo River, Joel Rosario, the rider of Rebel Stakes winner Concert Tour.  And Peter Miller will be sending out his great one winner Get Her Number in the Arkansas Derby.

 

                              The Arkansas Derby of course will be drawn later today.  This race is very important because it’s the last of 170-point qualifiers or the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve with 100 points awarded to Saturday’s winner.  First run in 1936, the Arkansas Derby has produced Kentucky Derby winners, Sunny’s Halo, Smarty Jones and of course American Pharoah in 2015 on his way to becoming America’s 12th Triple Crown winner.

 

                              Before we begin with our first guest, I would like to point out that Alicia Hughes who has hosted these NTRA calls for the last couple of years has joined TVG as their new digital content editor.  The NTRA thanks Alicia for all her good work and wishes her the best of luck in her new role with TVG. 

 

                              So now, to begin, we would like to start with the first guest, a man who holds the record for most wins by an owner in the Arkansas Derby, Mr. John Ed Anthony who has won the race three times with Vanlandingham, Demons Begone and Pine Bluff.  On Saturday, his homebred son of Hard Spun, Caddo River, will be going for the win in the Arkansas Derby.  Mr. Anthony, welcome.  Thank you for joining us today.

 

John Ed Anthony: Thank you for having me. 

 

Jim Gluckson:       Great.  This is an anniversary of yours it – in this year’s 50th anniversary for you as you bought your first horse in 1971.  And it – many years in the sport for you, what has racing in Arkansas and of course specifically in the Arkansas Derby meant to you over the years?

 

John Ed Anthony: Well, it’s (my) hometown.  And I was (inaudible) by nature born here.

 

                              And the Oaklawn meet has always been a spring festival for people who live in Arkansas.  And it begins in January or February.  Dates move sometimes.  But – and in a timely fashion, before the Kentucky Derby with the Arkansas Derby course, they’ve extended the meet a little bit this year.  But it – that Arkansas Derby, it is – remains in the same spot.

 

Jim Gluckson:       OK.

 

John Ed Anthony: Lot of the people that live in Arkansas relate to Arkansas owned horses and – which we name our horses after locations in Arkansas.  And that creates a small fan base for those particular horses.  And there had been an awful lot of good horse names on horses that couldn’t run very fast.  But fortunately, Caddo River’s great name.

 

Jim Gluckson:       Yes.  Good.  Can you describe for us your team at the Shortleaf Stable please?

 

John Ed Anthony: Well, of course, Brad Cox trains these horses.  And I have a man who is an old Kentucky hardboot, John Gasper who has worked in the farms and around the tracks and trained horses himself that assist me and helping manage the stable.

 

                              And I have a son, Edwin Anthony.  And had some confusion between John Ed and Edwin.  But he is a pedigree analyst and has been – most of his adult life, he works for (Bill Ofenhein) in Lexington for many years and was prominent with the Three Chimneys and their mating schedules for a number of years. 

 

                              But he moved back to Arkansas and now is but right hand – right hand in up – in a sense of a – of a pedigree and breeding analysis.  And he’s responsible for the selection of this Hard Spun (inaudible) match that created Caddo River.

 

Jim Gluckson:       Very good.  I just want to mention obviously on Saturday, Caddo River breezed five furlongs in just a little over a minute coming out of that workout in discussions with Brad and coming out of the fifth-place finish in the Rebel.  Is there anything strategically we can expect different in the Arkansas Derby?  Or just that you can shed some light or any things you’ve learned coming out of the – of the Rebel.

 

John Ed Anthony: Well, I think the consensus in our group is that we ask the horse to do something he had never – going to ask to do before in the Rebel.  And he rescinded it and rebelled from it and didn’t run his race.  Goodness, he’s worked out faster than the race was run. 

 

                              So he knows he’s got the talent and the speed to accomplish the route – that route.  But we wouldn’t let him utilize his favorite running style, which is a free running horse.  And we tried to rate him in anticipation of a lightning-fast pace.  And it – nothing seemed to work that day.

 

Jim Gluckson:       Yes.  OK.  Well, we have some media on the line would like to ask you some questions here.  And so let’s turn it over to questions from them and get ready for the next segment of our call.

 

Operator:               OK.  To ask a question, you will need to press “star,” “1” on your telephone.  To withdraw your question, press the pound or hash key.  Again, it is “star,” “1” to ask a question.

 

Female:                 “Star,” “1” is the ask a question.  And established to answer it.

 

Operator:               There are no questions at this time – OK.  We have a question.

 

Jim Gluckson:       Hold on – no.  Hold on.  (Tucon), go ahead.

 

Operator:               Yes.  Your first question comes from the line of (Ed McNamara).  Please go ahead.  Your line is open.

 

(Ed McNamara):   John, you’d been in the game a long time.  You’ve changed a lot since 1971.  What do you like about the game now?  And what do you dislike about the changes?

 

John Ed Anthony: Goodness, I don’t think we probably have a time then that question fully.  But I enjoyed racing in the early stages.  And it would – had never been in the other – the other (weight) that was – that was medication free.

 

                              And throughout the years, the horses that raced for the initial stable I raised with a partner was Loblolly Stable.  And that’s when we did our major racing back.  Between ’71, ’72 is when we first raced.  And ’95 when the table – that was stable was (dispersed).  And it’s now Shortleaf Stable, which I own individually.

 

                              But throughout that period with that certainly at Oaklawn and with the New York tracks – and we prefer to race in New York and Arkansas.  And we’d spent the time In Kentucky.  At medication free was the name of the game.  Meant slowly but surely throughout ‘80s and early ’90s, race day medication crept into the systems.  And it’s – that’s my least favorite part of the changes that have occurred.

 

                              Certainly, casino gambling has entered the scene, which did not exist in – of that – in most of the early years of my career.  And now, it’s with us.  And it contributes fortunately.

 

                              There was a time when there was a question with the casinos at the race track were going to contribute to the purchase and the operation of the track.  And that’s been pretty well resolved I think across America.  Wherever there’s a casino with race track, then they found (inaudible) to the purchase is accomplished.  And that is (inaudible) purchase.  And more powerful for us to break even in this game.

 

(Ed McNamara):   OK.  Thank you very much.  Good luck on Saturday.

 

John Ed Anthony: Thank you.

 

Operator:               Your next question comes from Lynne Snierson.  Your line is open.

 

Lynne Snierson:    Hi there.  How are you?  Nice to talk to you again.

 

                              My question is your competition in the Arkansas Derby and how you evaluate that.  We’ve got Mr. Baffert coming in I believe with the two horses.  He ran one, two in the Rebel. 

 

                              And as we know, Bob has enjoyed a remarkable amount of success in the Arkansas Derby over the years.  So I was just wondering where you – where you put your horse, how he stacks up against that first and second Rebel finish who’s coming back.

 

John Ed Anthony: Well, if we didn’t think we would stack up, we wouldn’t be in the race.  So – but I guess that can be said of most trainers and owners at racehorses.  But frankly, I have only heard here in the last 30 minutes or so that there’re six, maybe seven entries. 

 

                              And other than Concert Tour and Baffert’s other horse, I frankly don’t know who they are.  And I should say I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about other people’s horses because working about your own is a full-time job.

 

Lynne Snierson:    Thank you.

 

Operator:               There are no further questions at this time.

 

Jim Gluckson:       All right.  I would just want to be sure.  Mr. Anthony, I appreciate the time that you have given us today for today’s call and your great years of ownership and support of thoroughbred racing.  Thanks very much.  And best of luck to you.

 

John Ed Anthony: Thank you.

 

Jim Gluckson:       All right.  John Ed Anthony, everyone. 

 

                              Wanted to remind all that this conference is being recorded and also it – and will be posted but later on today on ntra.com.  And also the transcript of this conference will be also posted on ntra.com in the next 24 hours.

 

                              I believe – yes, I think we’d like to move up for our next caller, our next guest, which will be Joel Rosario.   Joel, this is Jim Gluckson.  Good afternoon.  How are you today?  OK.  (Tucon), do we have Joel yet?

 

Operator:               Not yet.  We are still trying …

 

Jim Gluckson:       OK.

 

Operator:               … to reach out to him.  OK.

 

Jim Gluckson:       Please – they’ll try to reach him.  All right – all right.  Sure.  We’re little bit early.  OK.

 

                              Oaklawn had reported that flight, a (Tec Southern) flight with Concert Tour, Get Her Number at Hoosier coming in from California scheduled to arrive tomorrow.  OK.  We’re having a little trouble reaching Joel here.  So this should take another minute here.  And then we’ll move on and see if we can get him into the – into the queue.  And then if we – if we’re not able, we’ll try to go to Peter Miller next.

 

                              All right.  Well, if Joel’s not able to pick up …

 

Operator:               OK.  We are – well, we are unable to get – to get his – to get him.  We are getting his voicemail.

 

Jim Gluckson:       He did not pick up.  OK.  Let’s go then and dial up for Mr. Miller for now.

 

Operator:               OK.  Thank you.  One moment please.

 

  1. We also got Mr. Miller’s voicemail.

 

Jim Gluckson:       All right.  Maybe a little early for him.  Let me see if we can …

 

Operator:               OK.

 

Jim Gluckson:       … if we can get Joel here.

 

Male:                     Don’t know that we made – listen to this.  But might with him …

 

Jim Gluckson:       Hang on.  OK.  (Tucon), let’s try it one more time for Joel.

 

Operator:               OK.  We are doing that right away.

 

Jim Gluckson:       All right.

 

Male:                     You’re welcome.

 

Operator:               OK.  We have Joel on the line now.

 

Jim Gluckson:       Very good.  Thank you, (Tucon).  Joel, good afternoon.  Jim Gluckson here.  How are you today?

 

Joel Rosario:         I’m doing good, Jim.  How are you?  Good afternoon.

 

Jim Gluckson:       Good.  Thanks for joining us.  I wanted to congratulate you.  You’d – it – what a tremendous season.  You are the leading rider in the North America this year with more than $6.6 million in (prices) so far.  It’s tremendous …

 

Joel Rosario:         Yes.

 

Jim Gluckson:       … weekend.  It came in on Saturday winning five races.  And to even emphasize a greater, you won 16 graded stakes races this year, in 37 (inaudible) at 16, of 37 in graded stakes for a 43 percent clip, just an amazing start.  And I guess to begin with, what’s it like as a rider to be in that zone when you just keep winning stake after stake on a – on a race (card) such as you had on Saturday?

 

Joel Rosario:         Yes.  I mean that’s unbelievable.  You know it happened the way with (inaudible).  And thanks for all the people really make it (happen going).

 

Jim Gluckson:       All right.  I just think that it’s terrific.  And you run a great role here.  You’re on a terrific horse here in Concert Tour on Saturday.  Just looking back here and describing your victory in the Rebel that you – you’d seen – you (wrote), said you were very confident.  And you just looked at his ears and knew he was very happy during the race and knew what he’s doing.  And then every time …

 

Joel Rosario:         Yes.

 

Jim Gluckson:       … that horse came at him, which was Caddo River, he just took off.  And so you were in a high …

 

Joel Rosario:         Yes.

 

Jim Gluckson:       … (praise).  Talk about him and is – and some of the great things and some of the things that you noticed about him and in his development.

 

Joel Rosario:         I mean it’s very much exactly in how like you said.  I mean he was – is a – he’s a nice horse.  And he run tremendous that – in that day and first time going long in a stuff like that.  And so a very nice horse and easy to ride.  And just glad to have the opportunity to ride him.

 

Jim Gluckson:       And obviously, your sense here going a mile and an eighth for this race and each – and your confidence in him going further for a mile and a quarter.  You feel really his chances in – at going that distance are really in his – in his realm.

Joel Rosario:         Yes.  I – he’s a very talented horse.  And so it – I – it seemed to me like he probably had no problem with the distance.  But he had to win now.  We see when – we want to find out when they will – when we raced.

 

Jim Gluckson:       OK.  All right.  Joel, I think we have some questions from the media that are on the line.  So we can just stay and just wait here for a second.  And we’ll get that set up for you for the next section of the call.

 

Joel Rosario:         OK.  Thank you.

 

Jim Gluckson:       Sure.

 

Operator:               Again, it’s “star,” “1” to ask a question.  Your first question comes from the line of (Danny Bruwa).  Please go ahead.  Your line is open.

 

(Danny Bruwa):    Joel, you – you’ve – like Jim said, many won’t (budge) with the races.  And you won all over the country.  Is there – I mean obviously, you go to different tracks.  And you don’t necessarily have a – first, a home track.  Well – but you got a lot of familiarity.  Is that help you out?  I mean you’re good on the West Coast, you’re good on the East Coast, you’re good in the middle of the country, you’re good everywhere.  How about it?

 

Joel Rosario:         Yes.  I mean I think – as a rider, I think just it really help you when you’re being at (play) today and you arrive before and you know the track and the stuff like that.  So I think it really help to – help you ride I think a little better.

 

(Danny Bruwa):    Now, it – yes, you – you’re all – you’ve been on a lot of good horses.  I know that Pat Day once told me that (stock) was a key to all the races that he won.  When will it be decision time for you as far as who you’re going to ride in the derby?

 

Joel Rosario:         I’m sorry.  Can you say that again?

 

(Danny Bruwa):    What – when will you decide who you’re going to – I mean, because you’ve got several, Hot Rod Charlie, Concert Tour if (he) can come through. 

 

Joel Rosario:         Yes.

 

(Danny Bruwa):    You – you’ve got several horses that you’re riding here.  When will you decide …

 

Joel Rosario:         Yes.

 

(Danny Bruwa):    … who you’re going to ride in the derby?

 

Joel Rosario:         I mean it’s a decision my agent, Ron Anderson, and I.  So we decide.  But as much (as all – he decide) which one we probably ride.

 

(Danny Bruwa):    As far as this week in the Arkansas Derby, any different strategy with Concert Tour?  I mean we know he’s got a lot of front-end speed.  You just going to let him be him?

 

Joel Rosario:         I mean just depending on the race and see whether missed the (bar for that have to say).  And then we’ve all – we’re going to ask him whether he want me to go with him.

 

(Danny Bruwa):    Joel, I appreciate it.  And I wish you the best of luck.

 

Joel Rosario:         Thank you so much.  Appreciate you.

 

Operator:               OK.  There are nor further questions at this time.

 

Jim Gluckson:       Well, we’ll just wait a minute to see if anyone else has anything, just wait another second.  And here, (Tucon).  All right.

 

Operator:               Again, it is “star,” “1” to ask a question.

 

Jim Gluckson:       OK.  All right.  Well, if there are no further questions, Joel, I greatly appreciate your time coming on the call today.  And best of luck to you in the Arkansas Derby and all your races down the road.

 

Joel Rosario:         Thank you so much.  Thanks for having me.  I appreciate you.  Thank you very much.

 

Jim Gluckson:       Thank you.  Have a good day. 

 

Joel Rosario:         OK.  Bye.  You too (inaudible).  Thanks.

 

Jim Gluckson:       Thank you.

 

Joel Rosario:         Thank you this.

 

Jim Gluckson:       OK.  Let’s see if we now can reach out to Peter Miller and see if he’s available for us right now.

 

Operator:               Yes.  We are doing that right away.

 

Jim Gluckson:       Thank you very much.

 

Operator:               Welcome.

 

Jim Gluckson:       OK.  Right.

 

Operator:               Here, we keep on getting his voicemail.  But we’ll try again.

 

Jim Gluckson:       All right.  Hold on one second.  OK.  All right – all right.  (Inaudible).  Take another shot at it please.

 

Operator:               OK.  I will.  Thank you.

 

Jim Gluckson:       Thank you from being patient here.

 

Operator:               OK.  We got no response from him.

 

Jim Gluckson:       You do not have a response from Peter.

 

Operator:               No, sir – no, sir.

 

Jim Gluckson:       I’m sorry.  All right.  Hold on.  Yes, one second.  I think he got – I think I’ve made the connection.  Yes.  That you’re calling right.

 

                              Hold on.  I think we might be able to get him here.

 

Operator:               OK.

 

Jim Gluckson:       All right.  Try one more time.  I think he’s ready now.

 

Operator:               OK.  Peter Miller has joined.

 

Jim Gluckson:       Peter.

 

Peter Miller:          Yes.

 

Jim Gluckson:       All right.  Jim Gluckson here.  Good afternoon.

 

Peter Miller:          Hello.

 

Jim Gluckson:       Thank you.  Good morning actually.  Thanks for joining us.

 

Peter Miller:          Hey.  Yes.  No problem, Jim.

 

Jim Gluckson:       Great.  We’re glad that you – that you’re here on the line.  We’re just going to ask you – I – I’d ask a few questions here and I’ll turn it over to the media.  But you have here a great one, one of the American Pharoah Stakes winner in Get Her Number owned by Gary Barber.  He raced on that September 26th to win that race in California.  He did not race again until the Rebel on March 13th. 

 

                              He was in really – looks like a very good position coming off the top of the stretch in the Rebel.  And they got bumped by Big Lake.  And it took him off stride little bit.  And I think maybe you’re not “ the winner”  but I think  could have been in a – in a greater finishing position.  Can you take us through the race and the aftermath and how he’s done (something)?

 

Peter Miller:          Yes.  You know I don’t think – I don’t think we would get to win the race or even run.  So I think we could have been third.  Horse was making a run and kind of got side swiped.  I can’t remember who did it.  But they hit us pretty hard.  And the race was kind of at that point over for him.  He came out with some scrapes and scars and stuff from the – from the bump but set us back maybe a week.

 

                              But he seems good now.  And we’re excited to give him another shot.

 

Jim Gluckson:       All right.  Well, you had him – you had to work yesterday at (St. Louis Ray) in 48 in 2.  How did you assess his work?

 

Peter Miller:          Worked super, just very easy gallop in 101.  And then that was just what we were looking for, nothing too fancy. 

 

Jim Gluckson:       All right.  OK.  Well, Peter, we have some media on the line.  And let’s see if we have any questions here for you.

 

Operator:               OK.  To ask a question …

 

Peter Miller:          OK.

 

Operator:               … I’m sorry, to ask a question you will need to press “star,” “1” on your telephone.  Your first question comes from (EJ Clark).  Please go ahead.  Your line is open.

 

(EJ Clark):             Yes.  Good morning, Peter.  Thanks for being on the teleconference today.  Like to go back a little bit with Get Her Number.  You had two races at Del Mar last year both on the (inaudible). 

 

                              You started out in five-furlong race and then came back in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf where he set the pace in that particular race before he won the great one American Pharoah at Santa Anita.  Take us back what the thoughts were from going from turf and placing him in that stakes race after he ran fourth.

 

Peter Miller:          You know, well, he didn’t – he – excuse me, he’s been training pretty well on the dirt.  But the timing of the turf race came up.  And the timing was good.  And we thought – we bought him at OBS and he had some turf in his pedigree.

 

                              So we thought, well, let’s just (inaudible) him on the grass and see what happens.  And he won.  And then we came back in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf that you’re in.  Well, if we want to go to that, maybe the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf with him.  And he ran well in there.

 

                              But then Mr. Barber and I got to talk.  And is about how well he trained on the dirt.  And decided to give the American Pharoah a shot.  And he rewarded us. 

 

(EJ Clark):             Yes.  You certainly get in – he ran a very nice race up close and pretty much set all the (fractions) in the race. And then I know you talked about the Rebel.  But you had some trouble.  And Caddo River he will be running against on Saturday.  The chart says he was running. 

 

                              He actually – they were trying to ride him with (Jonly Amath) that he said earlier on the teleconference.  But just talk about a little bit more maybe in depth of – on the Rebel and the way your horse ran against the rest of them in the field.

 

                              And obviously, Concert Tour just jumped out there from (first) position number seven and took the lead.  And then Caddo River (bagged) the pothole on floor on head to pull him back and try to get him to (inaudible).  But what else can you say about the Rebel with your horse in the field?

 

Peter Miller:          Yes.  It all – I thought we were further back maybe than he normally wanted – wants to be.  And I thought – we were expecting a hotter pace and maybe that Caddo River and Concert Tour would battle it out.  But it didn’t kind of worked out that way. 

 

                              But again, it was just first race in a long time.  And we weren’t – we didn’t think he was 100 percent fit.  So we were pleased with the effort.  And we think that he will move – he will move forward from that race.  And I think he’ll be maybe a little closer – a little closer this time than he was last time.

 

(EJ Clark):             Pete, in the last few years, we’ve seen you bring more horses.  I’m speaking do you from Louisville to bring more horses in Kentucky.  (Visit) me in for you because point in your career to have a horse on the road to the derby and to come to Churchill Downs and have this horse Get Her Number progress for not only yourselves but for Gary Barber.

 

Peter Miller:          Now, I mean is not going to be the answer you want to hear.  But I’ve been vaccinated not only for COVID but for derby fever as well.  So – and I’m OK.

 

(EJ Clark):             No, that – no, that’s what we’re looking for.  You’re OK.  You can – you come back to me from (inaudible) …

 

Peter Miller:          I’m OK.  If I don’t – if I – I hit you now.  I know I’d been vaccinated for COVID and the derby, so derby fever.  So I’m OK.  I don’t – it’s not – it’s not – unlike most trainers, it’s not – it’s not as h