The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Kentucky Derby Preview, National Media Conference
April 25, 2024
1:00 PM ET
Operator: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Kentucky Derby Preview, National Media Teleconference. Let me introduce our host, Mr. Jim Gluckson.
James Gluckson: Thank you very much, Lester, and good day, everyone. And welcome again to the NTRA National Media Teleconference previewing the 150th Kentucky Derby, presented by Woodford Reserve, taking place on Saturday, May 4, at Churchill Downs.
With the post position draw for the Derby just two days away, we will be joined today by leading trainers Todd Pletcher, Chad Brown, Brad Cox, and Phil D’Amato to talk about their contenders for the first jewel of racing’s Triple Crown.
Now, this will be the first of three Triple Crown media teleconferences that the NTRA will be hosting this year. The second conference call will take place on Thursday, May 9, previewing the 149th Preakness Stakes. And the preview for the 156th Belmont Stakes will then be held on Thursday, May 30.
I want to remind everyone that today’s call is being recorded, and a playback of the call and a transcript will be posted on ntra.com in the next 48 hours. Before we begin with our trainers today, we’d like to have opening remarks from the President and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Mr. Tom Rooney. Tom, please go ahead.
Tom Rooney: Thanks, Jim. Good afternoon, everyone, and thanks for joining today’s call. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association is excited to bring back these teleconferences in advance of this year’s Triple Crown to highlight the stars of the show, the horses and the horsemen, of which we have an A list here today, that will be competing in this year’s 150th Kentucky Derby.
As always, the safety of our equine and human athletes are our absolute top priority. This week, the NTRA, in conjunction with our industry’s partners, launched a campaign, Safety Runs First, that highlights the significant improvements and investment the sport of racing has made to ensure the safest possible environment and the best ecosystem of care around every horse.
The industry has risen to the challenge by utilizing new technologies and data analytics under stricter uniform rules and regulations by HISA, and we are seeing real results. There’s always room for improvement, and we’re constantly working and striving to strengthen the care around each and every horse.
So next week, our eyes turn to the most exciting two minutes in sports, the Kentucky Derby, a time-honored tradition, one of America’s oldest and most treasured. And I look forward to hearing from our guests, and I’ll turn it back to you, Jim.
James Gluckson: Thank you very much, Tom. Let’s bring in now our first guest, Hall of Famer, eight-time Eclipse Award winning trainer, Todd Pletcher. Todd, of course, trains Repole Stables home-bred Fierceness, last year’s two-year-old champion and this year’s Florida Derby winner. Todd has saddled two Kentucky Derby winners, with Super Saver in 2010 and Always Dreaming in 2017. Todd, how are you today?
Todd Pletcher: Great, Jim. Thank you.
James Gluckson: Thank you for joining us, Todd. Fierceness galloped today. Can you just comment on how he’s doing?
Todd Pletcher: He’s doing really, really well. He came out of the Florida Derby in excellent condition. We kept him in Florida for a couple of weeks. He had two breezes in Palm Beach Downs, both of which were very pleasing. And he has settled in well here at Churchill and right now is scheduled to have his final workout tomorrow morning at 7:30.
James Gluckson: What kind of distance for the workout?
Todd Pletcher: Probably going to go four furlongs, similar to what we did in the Florida Derby.
James Gluckson: All right, very good. Based on his ability for breaking fast and establishing position, what kind of post position would you be looking for if it came up the way you wanted it to?
Todd Pletcher: Well, the main thing that we’re hoping for is a clean start. A couple of times, he hasn’t run to expectations. He’s gotten away and poorly, again, bumped at the start. And so, I feel like that has compromised his chances. So, it’s really not so much about what number he draws. Just hopefully, he draws next to some horses that are going to break straight, and hopefully, he can get away cleanly and get into his rhythm.
James Gluckson: All right, very good. At this point, why don’t we open it up for questions from the media that’s on the line. So, Lester, can you take it from here, please?
Operator: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. We will now begin the question-and-answer session. Should you have a question, please press star followed by the number one on your touch-tone phone. You will hear a prompt that your hand has been raised. May we please request to limit your question to a one question and one follow-up only, please. Thank you.
Your first question comes from Jim Chairusmi from Wall Street Journal. Your line is now open.
James Chairusmi: Hi, Todd. You mentioned that Fierceness was training great heading into the Holy Bull, and then right out of the gate, he got slammed pretty hard. As a trainer, how do you prepare a horse to deal with adversity, especially in a race with 20 runners?
Todd Pletcher: Well, there’s not a whole lot you can do to prepare for getting bumped from both sides like he did in the Holy Bull. It was kind of unfortunate circumstances, not something you could really prepare for. The thing that we can do, hopefully, is make sure that we got him gate schooled properly and that he loads well and stands correctly and breaks sharply. And really, what happens on both sides of him, hopefully, is we draw next to horses who are going to break start and hold a straight course, and that allows him to get away cleanly.
James Chairusmi: Thanks, Todd.
Operator: Your next question comes from Byron King from BloodHorse. Your line is now open.
Byron King: Hi, Todd. I wanted to pick your brain a little bit in terms of, with Fierceness, if there’s been any takeaways you’ve had in terms of how you’ve prepared him. Obviously, in his losses, he’s had various excuses, catching the mud in the Champagne and then breaking poorly and rushing up in a comeback race in the Holy Bull.
But, I was curious if you’ve found there were–in comparing his brilliant performances with his losses, if there were certain takeaways that you found in how you prepared him that might help you going forward to Derby day.
Todd Pletcher: Well, I think a couple of things that we adjusted for the Florida Derby. We did a little more standing at the gate with him, and he was a little bit fractious in the Champagne and just got a little bit restless in the Holy Bull. So, we did a little more gate going with him.
We also shipped him over on to Gulfstream on Wednesday, got him settled in for a few days, paddock schooled him. And the one thing in common with the Holy Bull and the Champagne, aside from the fact that he got bumped pretty hard in both races leaving the gate, was that he shipped over from Belmont to Aqueduct the day of the race, which–obviously, we didn’t have a choice. That’s just the way it’s set up at Aqueduct at the moment.
But, we did adjust that by shipping him over on Wednesday to Gulfstream to give him a few days to settle in, so those are the only two things I can really find in common. I put more stock into the fact that he was bumped pretty soundly in both races than the shipping over on race day, but those were a couple things that we felt like we could alter.
Byron King: And then secondly, I wanted to ask you about Leslie’s Rose. She obviously had a great bounce-back performance in the Ashland after running third–and the Davona Dale. How do you feel about her as coming off that fine win heading toward the Oaks and the kind of groove you might have her in?
Todd Pletcher: I thought she worked really, really well this morning, seemed to get over the Churchill track pretty smoothly, put in a nice, strong gallop out, settled in really well. I thought the Ashland proved that she can handle two turns. I think the mile and an eighth, she’s going to enjoy, and so we’re really, really happy with where she is at the moment.
Byron King: Thank you, Todd.
Operator: Your next question comes from Lynne Snierson from NBC Sports. Your line is now open.
Lynne Snierson: Thank you. Hey, Todd, how are you?
Todd Pletcher: Good, Lynne.
Lynne Snierson: Good. This is a question about the Modesty. Are you going to run Surprisingly, and if so, could you talk a little bit about her, please?
Todd Pletcher: Yes, we plan to run in The Modesty. Very, very happy with her two performances for us since Mike Repole bought her in November. [She]Just missed in the Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf. And we experimented a little bit stretching her out in the Orchid and thought she ran very well to be second again. So, I think backing up to the mile and 3/16th is something that should benefit her. And we’re happy the way she’s coming into it.
Lynne Snierson: Thank you so much. Good luck.
Todd Pletcher: Thank you.
Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, as a reminder, should you have any question, please press star followed by the number one. Your next question comes from Nick Hahn from The Racing Biz. Your line is now open.
Nick Hahn: Yes. In previous years, you’ve brought multiple horses to the Derby, and it’s worked out for you. How do you feel about this year just showing up with a big horse, a single horse? Is it significant, or does it matter at all?
Todd Pletcher: Well, it’s all about showing up with the right one, obviously a little disappointed that we aren’t better represented. I thought maybe we zigged when we should have zagged in a couple of the preparations we chose, but it’s also encouraging to be here with a horse that’s potentially the favorite and coming off a very impressive win in the Florida Derby. So hopefully, it’s a case of bringing the right one as opposed to bringing several.
Nick Hahn: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from Beth Harris from Associated Press. Your line is now open.
Beth Harris: Hi, Todd. We’re headed into the 150th Derby. This is a race that has survived so much over the years in terms of the pandemic, world wars, and it just keeps on going. What is it that makes the Derby the Derby, a race that everyone wants to win and have on their resume?
Todd Pletcher: I think part of what you just said that it’s been around for so long, this being the 150th running. And it’s–I think it’s the one moment of horse racing that really everyone wants to see. And it has become such an American tradition. I’ve heard a lot of people say it’s on their bucket list to attend and the one horse race that they watch every year. Hopefully, the excitement of that generates more interest throughout, but it seems like the one mainstay that we can really rely on.
Beth Harris: Thanks.
James Gluckson: All right.
Operator: There are no further questions. Jim, please go ahead.
James Gluckson: All right. Thank you. Todd, thanks so much for joining us today for our session here on the call, and best of luck to you with all your horses in the coming days at Churchill Downs and, of course, in the Kentucky Derby.
Todd Pletcher: Thank you, Jim, appreciate it.
James Gluckson: Thank you, Todd Pletcher, everyone. Now, I’d like to bring in our next guest. He is Chad Brown. Chad Brown is a four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer who trains Sierra Leone and Domestic Product. Sierra Leone owned by Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith Westerburg, and Brook Smith, coming here off two outstanding performances in the Risen Star Stakes and The Toyota Blue Grass. Chad also trains Klaravich Stables home-bred Domestic Product, winner of the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby.
Chad, good afternoon. How are you today?
Chad Brown: Good. Thank you for having me.
James Gluckson: Great, Chad. Sierra Leone has this extremely relaxed running style. And the way he has won his last two races from coming off the pace to win must give you great confidence to be able to win the Derby in such a large field of horses.
Chad Brown: Yeah. Well, with his running style, it does create a more challenging trip, having to pass a large number of horses potentially in the race. But, in the manner in which he runs, he has a lot of confidence, given the mile and a quarter distance, which a lot of horses in this race prove not to be able to quite handle, particularly in May of the three-year-old year. So, he does have that going for him.
James Gluckson: What are your plans for both your horses as far as the workouts and–final workouts coming into the weekend?
Chad Brown: Well, for both of the Kentucky Derby horses I have, I’m planning on having their final workouts on Saturday.
James Gluckson: And how far will they go, or you haven’t determined that yet?
Chad Brown: I haven’t quite finalized that yet.
James Gluckson: And just a talk aboutDomestic Product, from his victory in Tampa Bay, if you could touch on that for a second and how well he has come out of it since then.
Chad Brown: Yeah, his race at Tampa I thought was quite impressive, given the pace is quite slow, and he was pulling on the rider a little bit during the race, wanting to go. And he was still able to overcome that tick pretty good and put his nose down first on the wire. He’s clearly going to have a much deeper field to face in the Kentucky Derby. He’s got to prove he can get the mile and a quarter distance.
But, I love the way he’s feeling. He’s fresh. He’s an improving horse each time he runs. He’s likely to get a much stronger pace in the Derby, which is what he’s been looking for to run his best race. I couldn’t be happier how the horse is coming into the race.
James Gluckson: Excellent. Well, now let’s turn this over to questions from the media on the line. So, Lester, let’s get ready for that right now, please.
Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, if you want to ask a question, please press star followed by the number one. Your first question comes from Lynne Snierson from NBC Sports. Your line is now open.
Lynne Snierson: Hi, Chad. My questions are for a couple of the Undercard races. When are you going to run Aspen Grove in The Modesty and Delahaye in the Distaff Turf Mile? And if so, start with Aspen Grove and how she is doing and what she’s been like since she came to you, please.
Chad Brown: Actually, Aspen Grove was not transferred to me. So, I don’t train that horse.
Lynne Snierson: Oh, okay. Well, pardon me.
Chad Brown: Now, over to the Distaff Turf Mile, so I’m planning on running three horses in there, actually. Delahaye, correct, this horse is coming off a nice win in her first Stakes try at the Fair Grounds and seems to be an improving horse that we’ve always thought a lot of, and she got a late start. So, she’s making a big step-up into a Grade 2 on Derby day here in a race that we’ve had a lot of success. But I do love the way she’s developing.
Additionally, in that race, I’m going to run a horse named Chili Flag that’s coming off a nice win in the Honey Fox down at Gulfstream, another one that seems to be improving quite a bit and ready for a nice step-up into a race of this caliber.
The third horse I’m planning on entering is a European import, first time in the country, owned by Juddmonte Farm named Coppice [GB]. This filly–I’ve been very impressed with her. For me to run her first time for me in this country in a race that’s of this level really shows I have a lot of confidence in her, so we’ll see if she does.
Lynne Snierson: Thank you very much, and good luck. Appreciate it.
Chad Brown: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from Chelsea Hackbarth from The Paulick Report. Your line is now open.
Chelsea Hackbarth: Thanks, Chad. Can you talk a little bit about the gate schooling that’s been done with Sierra Leone since the Blue Grass?
Chad Brown: Sure. So, Sierra Leone visited the starting gate at Churchill the last two days. He’s done quite well. He had a little bit of a longer session yesterday with the starter, Scott Jordan, who I know very worked with him a bit. And towards the end of the session, he was very pleased with him.
I brought him right back today, just for good measure. And it was a pretty quick schooling session because he just walked in and out a couple times with no issues. So, I feel like we’re in really good shape.
Chelsea Hackbarth: Was this the standard starting gate or the Derby starting gate? I understand there’s a slight difference in the width of those two.
Chad Brown: I’m not exactly sure, to be honest. What I did–there’s two choices to make when you’re schooling horses in the morning, either at the top of the stretch where they do load or in the chute where it’s a little quieter. I just went to the top of the stretch to put him in the same area where he’s going to be loaded, and he did quite well.
Chelsea Hackbarth: Thank you.
Chad Brown: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from Paul Halloran from The Saratoga Special. Your line is now open.
Paul Halloran: Hey, Chad. Chad, could you talk just a little bit about trying to strike a balance between not having a horse get away from his [Sierra Leone’s] running style, which has obviously been a deep closer, yet being cognizant of the fact that losing contact with a 20-horse field can be a tall order and still win.
Chad Brown: Yeah. So, good question. We definitely don’t plan on taking this horse out of his running style. Even though he hasn’t run many times, he seems to adapt to the pace a bit. When he was in Risen Star, talking about Sierra Leone, I’m assuming, he was a little closer in that race when the pace was slower in a muddy track and all that.
If the pace is quite fast, like it was in the Blue Grass, he’s going to find himself back further naturally. He’s a pretty smart horse. I feel if he breaks okay from the gate, Tyler will be able to let him find where he wants to be and where he’s supposed to be, according to the pace.
Much the same with Domestic Product. If the pace is faster than what he’s been used to, I think this horse is going to find himself in a pretty good position in the second flight of this field potentially, not pulling on the rider for one because the pace will be just quick enough to try to get him off the bit, so to speak, just a little bit.
Paul Halloran: Can I ask just a quick follow-up, Chad, if I could? Looking at him up close at Keeneland and watching him work, it just seemed–talking Sierra Leone now–it seems like he has kind of an athletic build to him that he might be okay with the maneuvering that goes on in the Derby. Is that a reasonable deduction?
Chad Brown: Yeah, it is. He’s–when you get close to him and stand into him, he’s quite a big, heavier sort of horse. But, when you see him under (inaudible) moving, as you pointed out, he’s got a magnificent, efficient stride, where he can get over a lot of ground quickly once he gets going. And he does handle the turns well. So, I think that’s one of his many positive attributes he has.
Paul Halloran: Thanks, Chad.
Operator: Your next question comes from Byron King from BloodHorse. Your line is now open.
Byron King: Chad, thanks for coming on the program. We appreciate it. I have two questions. Sierra Leone’s prep races that you chose for him, I think a lot of observers, myself included, viewed both the Risen Star and the Blue Grass as two of the strongest and deepest preps on the trail this year. I was curious if you share that assessment and, if so, if you think that kind of battle-tested preparation gives them an advantage in the Kentucky Derby.
Chad Brown: Yeah, I do feel that. I think they were certainly two of the stronger preps, but I think they were very deep fields. There was a lot of traffic to overcome. There were some really quality horses in there. The figures–these figures going into the race look strong, particularly with the top handful of horses in the race.
And just the overall experience about maneuvering around a full field and some weather down in New Orleans for the Risen Star on a wet track, all that, I would hope, really benefit them from an experience standpoint in a race like the Derby.
Byron King: And then, my second question would be Tyler Gaffalione. Obviously, Chad, you’ve used a lot of riders through the years. The Ortiz brothers have long been popular choices for you, Rosario, Prat. You just had (inaudible) win a great one at Keeneland. But, talk to me about how this kind of association has grown with you and Tyler Gaffalione and how you settled on him to ride Sierra Leone. And for that matter, he was on your Tampa Bay Derby winner as well.
Chad Brown: Yeah, I’ve been using Tyler a lot more in recent years. I’ve been very impressed with him. He’s a very talented young man, and he’s very smart. He works hard at always getting better at what he’s doing, understanding races and various horses, both going into the race and exiting the race. He’s got a great memory in recall. And I like to align myself with people who are always trying to get better, particularly with the jockeys that we’re choosing.
Another factor with moving over to him on this horse was that he has been the leading rider at Keeneland and Churchill for many weeks in a row now, and I knew my plan was going to be to come that direction with this horse. And I felt good about having a commitment through the Derby with somebody who has been the leading rider in both Kentucky tracks.
Byron King: Great. Thank you. Good luck, Chad.
Chad Brown: Thank you.
Operator: Your last question comes from Ed Derosa from Horse Racing Nation. Your line is now open.
Ed Derosa: Thanks. Hey, Chad.
Chad Brown: How are you doing?
Ed Derosa: Good luck next week.
Chad Brown: Thank you.
Ed Derosa: Not too bad. On Sierra Leone, if things go exactly as you have planned in your mind as you try it out, do you see a fast-closing finish to nail the leader on the wire? Or would you like to be taking command, turning for home, or by the eighth pole?
Chad Brown: Good question. With that daunting long stretch at Churchill, I don’t know with a horse that likes passing horses that you’d want to make the lead too soon. You certainly wouldn’t want to never make the lead by the time the race ends, so my biggest thing is I hope the pace is solid enough.
And if the pace is solid enough, then it just comes down to him taking to the surface and getting through most of the field without having been stopped. I’d put it this way. I’d love to see those silks in sight when they turn for home. I think if that’s the case, he does at least have a chance.
Ed Derosa: Great. Thank you.
James Gluckson: All right. Well, Chad, I greatly appreciate the time that you have taken today to talk about your horses for this year’s Kentucky Derby. And again, good luck to you in the Derby and all of your horses racing at Churchill in the coming days.
Chad Brown: Thanks for having me. I appreciate the opportunity.
James Gluckson: You’re very welcome. Thank you. Chad Brown, everyone. Now, let’s–I’d like to bring in our next guest here. Joining us is Louisville native and two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer, Brad Cox.
Brad has three horses in training for the Kentucky Derby in Catching Freedom, the TwinSpires Louisiana Downs Derby winner for the Albaugh family stables, Just A Touch, second in the Blue Grass for Qatar Racing, Resolute Racing, and Marc Detampel, and Godolphin Racing’s, Encino, winner of the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes.
Brad, welcome. How are you today?
Brad Cox: I’m great, Jim. How are you doing?
James Gluckson: Good. Very well, thank you. Thank you for joining us. Since you have three horses scheduled for the Derby, can you just give us an update on the upcoming workout schedule for all three horses, starting with Catching Freedom, please?
Brad Cox: They’re all due to breeze on Saturday morning. I’m not sure exactly which time yet, but that’s our plan as of right now.
James Gluckson: Specifically on Catching Freedom, I mean, that last win in the Louisiana Derby, running a mile and 3/16th, he seemed quite capable of handling the mile and a quarter distance. So, comment on that. And if you could, what kind of post position would you be looking for to suit his style?
Brad Cox: Yeah, we’ve kind of always thought since he was there, the second time at Churchill going a mile and 1/16th in November, that he would be able to handle a mile and a quarter. He’s obviously showed up in all three of his Derby preps and acted as if a mile and a quarter is definitely in his wheelhouse.
So, he’s a horse that–not certain where he’ll land in the race. He did bump the gate with his head in his last run there in Louisiana. The horse on the inside of him broke through the gate. He lunged for it himself, kind of banged himself up a little bit on the gate, nothing bad. But, Flavien said it kind of jarred him up a little bit.
I think that’s one reason why he broke and was not involved at all. We didn’t expect him to be that far back in the Louisiana Derby, but ultimately, it worked out, and he closed into what I thought was somewhat of a slow pace. So, I thought it was a very good run from him, and I think that he’s–there’s still room for improvement. I think he needs to move forward with his numbers. And if he does, I think he’s definitely in the mix.
James Gluckson: And Just a Touch looked like a winner in the Blue Grass before being caught by Sierra Leone in deep stretch. Despite the defeat, what is the outlook on him and his style of running for the Derby?
Brad Cox: Obviously, he’s a little more–he has more speed than Catching Freedom. I thought he stepped close to what looks to be one of the hotter paces contested in all of the Derby preps so far. Lightly raced, big colt, lot of leg, ready to get the mile and a quarter with being by a Triple Crown winner out of Touching Beauty.
I think he can handle the mile and a quarter, given the right setup. Once again, he should be able to break and hopefully get a good early position–not sure where that will be. We’ll have to wait for the post position draw.
But, I think he’s in a great spot. I really do. I think he’s got the numbers that stack up with the group overall. I think he’s one of the faster horses in the race, and if he takes a step forward, he’s one that’s definitely a player.
James Gluckson: All right, Brad, very good. Let’s see now if we have any questions on the line from members of the media, please.
Operator: Thank you. Your first question comes from Jim Chairusmi from Wall Street Journal. Your line is now open.
Jim Chairusmi: Hey, Brad. You’re considered a Derby winner, but given the circumstances of how that race went, do you feel like if you win this next Saturday, it will feel like a first-time thing?
Brad Cox: Yeah, for sure. The Derby, it’s a race with a lot of excitement, a lot of buildup. There’s no other race in North America like it. And I think that we’re all trying to win this race to experience the thrill of victory, and we’ve yet to do that.
So, I’ve always said I feel like there’s a Derby with my name on it. I haven’t experienced winning the Derby so looking forward to it. Hopefully, next Saturday will be the day. And, I don’t know what it feels like and looking forward to hopefully experiencing it some day.
Jim Chairusmi: Thanks, Brad.
Brad Cox: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from Lynne Snierson from NBC Sports. Your line is now open.
Lynne Snierson: Hey, Brad. Hey, Brad, how are you?
Brad Cox: Hi. Good, Lynne, how are you?
Lynne Snierson: I’m good, thank you. I’m just curious if you are intending to run Best Actor in the Knicks Go, and if so, how the horse is doing and also what the race means to you, considering your relationship with Knicks Go and that you did win it last year.
Brad Cox: Yeah. That is the intent, to run Best Actor in the Knicks Go. In regards to the way the race is ridden, the condition of the race, it looks to be tailor-made for him with having not won a graded stake in, I believe, 2023 and 2024, and he won a graded stake in 2022.
I like the idea of cutting him back to a one-term mile. He’s performed well at Churchill and Aqueduct going a one-turn mile. So, I like the distance, I like the way the race is ridden. We were able to win the race last year with Zozos, so we’ve had some–it’s obviously a race that’s only been around a few years, and we were able to win it last year. So, it’s something we’ve been pointing toward since the New Orleans Handicap with Best Actor.
Lynne Snierson: Thank you. And also, a little extra because it’s named for Knicks Go.
Brad Cox: Yeah, for sure. I mean, it’s–obviously, there’s a race later in the meet, (inaudible), that we would like to win as well, so we’ll hopefully have some success in both of them.
Lynne Snierson: Thank you so much. Good luck.
Brad Cox: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from Byron King from BloodHorse. Your line is now open.
Byron King: Hey, Brad. I was hoping you could expand upon John Stewart, Resolute Racing. If I’m not mistaken, he became a part owner in Just a Touch after the maiden win. Talk to me about your experiences with him and the impact that he’s had on the sport in a relatively short period of time that he’s been involved over the past year.
Brad Cox: Yeah, he’s made a huge impact in racing. Obviously, I think it all started for him at the September Keeneland sale. He’s, yeah, I mean, definitely jumped into the deep end of the pool, and he seems to be swimming along just fine. Yeah, a very nice fellow. I had dinner with him last September, and he seems to have come a long way in a short period of time–has purchased a lot of very, very nice blood stock.
And, look, he’s wanting to play in the high end, and he is. Obviously, like you said, he bought into Just a Touch after he broke his maiden. And we saw a good bit of him before he made his first start, and he was able to acquire a part of him after that maiden breaking score.
And I think he’s set up for a big run in the Derby, so it would be huge for John and his operation to be part of a Derby winner in, I guess you would say year one, and looking forward to having more horses for him. We have a few young horses in training for him now that–and Youalmosthadme as well. So, he seems to be very patient and willing to do what’s right for the horse, first and foremost, and I’m sure it’s going to lead to big things for him down the road.
Byron King: And then, I’ve got another question for you. You obviously won the Oaks with Monomoy Girl in 2018, Shedaresthedevil a couple years later. How do you compare Teresa to–her prospects compared to them and some of the other nice fillies you’ve run in the race through the years?
Brad Cox: Look, this filly is very good. She’s showed up and had a great winner at the Fair Grounds, had three wins all around two turns. And she actually overcame a good bit last time in the Fair Grounds Oaks. And it was a short field, but she had a little bit of a rough run to the first turn and kind of was pulling a little bit going up the back side after–had to take up a little bit going into the first turn or through the first turn.
And for her to stay on and finish up the way she did last time, I thought really showed how good she really is. And based off the pedigree, I think she can handle the mile and an eighth and looking forward to giving her an opportunity next Friday.
Byron King: Thank you, Brad. Good luck.
Brad Cox: Thanks, Byron.
Operator: Your next question comes from Dan Wolken from USA Today. Your line is now open.
Dan Wolken: Hey, Brad. This question is a little bit out of left field, but it seems like over the last several years, there’s fewer trainers that have pointed fillies toward the Derby. I mean, you’ve had some unbelievable fillies. I was just curious if you had ever considered pointing any of them to the Derby and what that might look like or what it would take for you to think about that.
Brad Cox: Well, to be honest with you, I think the point system makes it a little bit tough to pursue the Derby with a filly. I think a couple years ago, Secret Oath tried the Arkansas Derby prior to obviously settling on the Kentucky Oaks, but she did acquire some points. I’m not certain if she would have got in or not. I don’t–I think she may have been second or third in the Arkansas Derby.
But it does make it a little bit tougher since the point system has been in play. You obviously can’t have a filly march through all of the filly races and acquire any points, so–but there is opportunity if you want to run against the boys prior to the Kentucky Derby.
But oftentimes, we just find ourselves just taking the path of–with trying to win the Kentucky Oaks with our fillies. And honestly, I have not had a filly to date that I felt like I wanted to try against the boys to accumulate points for the Kentucky Oaks–or Kentucky Derby, I should say.
Dan Wolken: Is it something that, from a trainer’s perspective, that looks risky maybe to go down that path, just in terms of the physical development and the long-term–what you–the races you want to win over the long haul?
Brad Cox: Yeah, it’s hard to say. I mean, I think we saw Rachel Alexandra win the Oaks, and then she was able to carry that over to winning the Preakness. And then, a few years ago, Shedaresthedevil won the Oaks. (Inaudible) I believe was second or–I believe second in the Oaks that year behind us. And then, she was able to parlay that into a win in the Preakness against the Derby winner.
So, I don’t know. I think it just depends on the individual and the opportunity that presents itself. It’s really hard to say. But, I do think it is tough to try to get into the Derby with these fillies. Once again, you have to have enough confidence in them leading up to prep against the boys. It’s really the only way you can do it.
Dan Wolken: Thanks, Brad.
Brad Cox: No problem.
Operator: Your next question comes from Beth Harris from the Associated Press. Your line is now open.
Beth Harris: Hi, Brad. As a hometown guy, you grew up on this race. And now, you’ve been in it the last few years. So, what makes the Derby the Holy Grail?
Brad Cox: I think just how big it is, how many years it’s been around, actually, how hard it is to win. I mean, it’s incredibly hard. It’s an incredibly hard race just to get into, let alone win. It’s the only race in America where we run 20 horses. Most all of our other races are limited to 10, 12, 14 horses.
So, it’s–you get one shot. These horses are only three-year-olds one time with each individual. And it’s very tough to keep them on the path to get to the Derby, get into the Derby, and then hopefully, it all goes well, and you get a good, clean trip. It’s a very difficult race to, like I said, just to get into, let alone win.
Beth Harris: Thanks.
Brad Cox: Thank you.
Operator: There are no further questions.
James Gluckson: Thank you.
Operator: Jim, go ahead.
James Gluckson: Yeah, so thank you, Brad. Thanks so much for joining us today. And I wanted to thank you, and good luck to you in the Kentucky Derby and for all the other races that you’ll be entering horses at Churchill Downs in the coming days. Thanks very much.
Brad Cox: Thanks, Jim. Thanks for having me on. We’ll talk soon.
James Gluckson: Thank you, Brad, very good. Brad Cox, everyone. We will now shift to our final guest for today. He is Phil D’Amato. Phil is starting his first horse here in the Kentucky Derby, which is, of course, Santa Anita Derby winner, Stronghold, or Eric and Sharon Waller. Phil, welcome.
Phil D’Amato: Thanks, Jim. Thanks for having me.
James Gluckson: Great. Thanks for joining us today. I have to ask this basic question. You arrived at Churchill on Tuesday. And again, you’re starting your first horse ever in the Derby. And while, of course, you’re focusing and getting your horse ready for the race, what does this feel like being at Churchill for the Derby and making your first start in the Derby?
Phil D’Amato: This is pretty much what I’ve worked my whole career to get to this point. It’s been my dream to have a horse in the Kentucky Derby. And to finally achieve that, I’m still taking it one day at a time, but just–I can’t really put it into feelings. And to be able to share it with my friends, family, and owners, it’s just a good feeling.
James Gluckson: Great. Now, to be accurate, Stronghold broke his maiden at Churchill Downs on October 1 of last year. He defeated Derby contenders, Resilience and Track Phantom, which, of course, turned out to be a key race. Can you go back and talk to us about that race and how you felt going in and what your reaction was afterwards now that we’re fast forwarding here to the first Saturday in May?
Phil D’Amato: I thought it was a breakthrough performance for my horse. He had previously run a really good second to a nice horse of Brad Cox’s at Ellis Park. And he had been training at Churchill Downs prior for the whole time as his two-year-old career had started. So, second time out, we were expecting big things off of his first performance.
And he did things the right way and galloped out really well, and it kind of just gave us all the feeling, hopefully, we’ll be here–we’ll be at Churchill Downs with him as a three-year-old in May. And just race by race, it’s progressed that way, and thankfully, we’re here.
James Gluckson: Very good. Now, shifting gears back to the Santa Anita Derby. It was a terrific stretch battle that Stronghold won over Imagination in that race and a very determined ride by Antonio Fresu, who was also riding in his first Kentucky Derby.
Now, since coming to the U.S. about a year ago, Antonio has been quite successful. Can you comment on his riding style and the things that he has done. He’s an experienced rider, butut here in the U.S., he’s taken the place by storm in California. Can you comment on his attributes as a jockey and why you picked him to ride this horse?
Phil D’Amato: Well, I’ve seen a lot of good, young European riders come from overseas to the U.S. and do very well. I think just their ability to adapt to various situations. They’re shifting all the time from various tracks, surfaces, and situations. And Antonio is a relatively young rider, yet with a lot of experience. And he’s ridden in the Dubai World Cup and won big races overseas.
But, I think he’s just bringing those similar attributes to the States, where he was able to adapt to riding dirt races just as well as the turf. He came here with a bang and started winning races left, right. And he just really clicked with myself and my barn. So, we’re just kind of rolling with the wave here.
James Gluckson: All right, very good. Well, let’s see, Phil, if we have some questions from the media on the line. So, Lester.
Operator: Thank you. Your first question comes from Dan Wolken from USA Today. Your line is now open.
Dan Wolken: Yeah, Phil, to just follow up on the point you made about always wanting to have a horse that you could bring to the Derby, I mean, you’ve had a very successful career. You’ve won almost 1,000 races, a lot of graded stakes wins. Why is it so hard for somebody who has been as successful as you to get that kind of quality three-year-old? I mean, is it trainers just kind of get type cast and so many of the numbers go to the Baffets and Pletchers of the world? Kind of how do you view that and the odds that you face if you’re not one of those “Derby trainers?”
Phil D’Amato: No, I think definitely there is–there is definitely some of that. Myself, I started dabbling in training more turf horses than dirt horses just kind of by pocketbook. It’s a lot easier on the pocketbook to buy Europeans or grass horses, and the demand for quality well-bred dirt horses, it’s just a lot more money.
So just thankfully, in the last couple of years, we’ve been able to buy some more dirt horses, some more yearling prospects that will hopefully develop into nice dirt prospects as well. But, I mean, that’s just kind of the situation. Thankfully, Eric and Sharon Waller, they kind of run a small breeding operation.
I trained Stronghold’s mom, Spectator, and she was a very nice dirt horse. And they were fortunate enough to breed her to a very nice stallion in Ghostzapper, which gave us Stronghold here, so definitely a bit of luck involved. And I just think you need a bigger bankroll to compete with dirt pedigree horses, more so than the grass horses.
Dan Wolken: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from John Cherwa from Los Angeles Times. Your line is now open.
John Cherwa: Hey, Phil. When we talked very briefly after the Santa Anita Derby, you said that you were going to consult some other trainers who had been to the Derby, such as Doug O’Neill and others. So, who have you talked to, and what have they told you about what to expect and what you should so?
Phil D’Amato: I mean, I talked to Doug for a while, and Doug–you have to know him. But, he was just like, “Hey, you do your thing, you know your horse.” And he didn’t want to give me any bad advice, put it that way, or something that wouldn’t fit my horse. And I think that’s kind of how I took it. And you know your horse well enough, you know what to do and how to ship them. And you do all those things right, you’re going to get the best results you can possibly get.
And I’ve shipped to Churchill Downs, I’ve had a string here. I’ve run horses plenty of times on Derby Day. So, I’m kind of level-headed in that respect, winning many good races, nothing in the likes of the Kentucky Derby, which is what I hold most precious here. But I just think that I know my horse and the crew I have behind me. And like I said, I’m just going to kind of take it day by day and just treat it as any other big race that I normally run on a weekend.
John Cherwa: Okay. Thanks, Phil, see you next week.
Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, as a reminder, should you have any questions, please press star followed by the number one.
James Gluckson: Phil, while we’re waiting another question here, I just want to ask about the work schedule for Stronghold in the coming days.
Phil D’Amato: I think I’m going to breeze him on Sunday. I have Joe Talamo lined up to breeze him for me on Sunday. Joe was very instrumental in developing him as a two-year-old and rode him at Churchill Downs when he broke his maiden. Antonio is going to be riding for me at Santa Anita on the weekend, but I’m lucky to have Joe, who knows the horse very well, and Churchill Downs; he’ll give him probably just like a steady 5/8 of a mile.
James Gluckson: Okay, let’s go to our next question here, please.
Operator: Your next question comes from David Grening from Daily Racing Form. Your line is now open.
David Grening: Hi, Phil. I was just curious what you think is the biggest improvement that your horse has made from two to three.
Phil D’Amato: I just think it is just his focus. He seems like a horse that–he really knows his job. And if you looked at him today, he just–before he started to gallop, he just sat there with the pony. He was out on the track the longest. And with the little bit of crowd we got on the back side that you get Derby week, he didn’t turn a hair. I don’t think anything really phases him.
And that mental fortitude, the strength, I think helps in just kind of conserving your energy, knowing your job, and using all that when the gates open instead of before the gates open. So, I think all those things, just helping him focus, and physically maturing, and just kind of all coming together at the right time.
David Grening: And as a follow-up, just who do you see at, when you watch the races, the preparations from afar, who stood out to you, if anybody, and do you think that there’s a lot of catch up for you to do or not really?
Phil D’Amato: Yeah, obviously, he’s going to need to run his best race. If you look at the strength of the Southern California horses, just by–look at what Muth did in the Arkansas Derby. And, I mean, my horse, he got beat by Nysos which, I think, at the time, the best three-year-old in the country.
And other than that, he’s been competing with the East Coast horses, even in his maiden races, and being right there. So, I think in terms of strength, he beat a really nice Bob Baffet horse in the Santa Anita Derby, and that’s hard to do.
So, his numbers might be a little light “Beyer-wise,” but to me, you put him in the race with these horses, I think he stacks up very well and right with them. In terms of the strength of the race, I think it’s a nice, well-matched race with some really nice horses.
I was impressed with–definitely impressed with Todd Pletcher’s horse, Fierceness. I mean, he won the Florida Derby pretty impressive. And Chad Brown’s Sierra Leone came with a really big, giant run there in the Blue Grass. I think those are definitely the two main contenders. But I would say my horse is very tactical, and those kind of horses come in handy on races where you can kind of be versatile, depending on pace scenarios. So–and again, he’s won on this track and trained on it before. So, I think he definitely fits with these.
David Grening: Thank you, and good luck.
Phil D’Amato: Thank you.
Operator: There are no further questions at this time. Jim, please go ahead.
James Gluckson: All right. Let’s just give it another second here and see if anyone else wants to jump in at the last second. All right. Well, Phil, we have reached the conclusion of our call. Thank you very much for taking the time today to talk about Stronghold. And good luck to you in the Kentucky Derby,
Phil D’Amato: Thank you so much.
James Gluckson: Great. Thanks, everyone, Phil D’Amato here with us today. I would like to thank all our guests that joined us for our call today. An audio replay of this conference call and a transcript will be posted on ntra.com in the next 48 hours. So, thanks all for joining us today, and have a good day, everyone.
Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today’s conference call. Thank you for joining. You may now disconnect.