The National Thoroughbred Racing Association
Preakness Stakes Preview – National Media Teleconference
May 9, 2024
1 PM
Operator: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. And welcome to the Preakness Stakes Preview National Media Teleconference Conference call. At this time, all lines are in listen only mode. Following the presentation, we will conduct a question-and-answer session. If at any time during this call you require immediate assistance, please press * 0 for the operator. This call is being recorded on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
I would now like to turn the conference over to Jim Gluckson. Please go ahead.
Jim Gluckson: Thank you, Allan. Good day everyone, and welcome to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Media teleconference, previewing the 149th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland, on Saturday, May 18th. Today we will be joined by trainers, Bob Baffert, D. Wayne Lukas, and Kenny McPeek. As a reminder, a recording of today’s conference and a transcript will be posted on ntra.com within 48 hours. Before we begin with our first guest, for opening remarks, I’d like to turn it over to the President and Chief Executive Office of the NTRA, Mr. Tom Rooney. Tom, please go ahead.
Tom Rooney: Thanks, Jim. Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining today’s call. I’d like to congratulate Churchill Downs and all the connections who ran last weekend, for a very successful Kentucky Derby. Obviously, a big congratulations to Kenny McPeek, who we’ll hear from shortly, for his success, in not only the Derby, but also the Oaks. As we turn to the second leg of the Triple Crown, we do so at a time of great transformation in Maryland racing.
Earlier today, Maryland Governor, Wes Moore, signed into law a bill that will use $400 million in state bonds to rebuild Pimlico Racetrack, and transfer the operations of the track to the State of Maryland. The State of Maryland is investing in the sport of racing in similar ways that New York has already done. As you all know, this year will be an historic rendition of the Belmont Stakes, to be run in Saratoga, while Belmont Park itself is completely rebuilt and modernized.
I know I speak for those of us within the sport. There’s a lot to be excited and optimistic about, as we continue through the Triple Crown season. Jim, I’ll now turn it back to you so we can highlight the stars of the show, some legendary trainers on today, the horses and the horsemen who will be competing in this year’s Preakness Stakes next weekend. Thanks, Jim.
Jim Gluckson: Tom, thanks very much. Now let’s bring in our first guest today, hall of fame trainer, an eight-time Preakness Stakes winner, including last year’s winner, National Treasurer, Bob Baffert. Bob, thanks for joining us today.
Bob Baffert: Thanks for having me.
Jim Gluckson: Great. Bob let’s just get an update on both Muth and Imagination, and their progress during the past few days and what’s coming up for them. First, the Arkansas Derby winner, Muth.
Bob Baffert: Yeah, Muth came out of his race really well. And he’s been breezing well. He is going breeze tomorrow. And that’ll be the last breeze, and he’ll ship out on Tuesday to go to Baltimore.
Jim Gluckson: All right. And San Anita Derby runner up, Imagination, was in a tremendous battle with Stronghold, in a very exciting and tough race. What about progress for him?
Bob Baffert: Yeah, he’s doing really well. Came out of his race well. And he’s a horse that, he’s developing every race. He’s just getting stronger, better. He’s going to also breeze tomorrow and ship — so as long as they’re both doing well, they leave Tuesday. Their bags are packed.
Jim Gluckson: All right. Very good. We have some media on the line today. So let’s go to the question and answer session. Allan, please take it from here. Thank you.
Operator: Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, we will now begin the question and answer session. Should you have a question, please press * 1 on your touchstone phone. You will hear a prompt that your hand has been raised. Should you wish to decline from the polling process, please press * 2. If you’re using a speakerphone, please lift the handset before pressing any keys.
One moment, please, for your first question.
Jim Gluckson: Can we have one question, one comment, please? Because, to start out, we’ve got a lot of people on the line today. Thank you.
Operator: Your first question comes from Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press. Your line is already open.
Stephen Whyno: Hey, Bob, thanks for doing this. Obviously, you’ve won this race more than anybody else. What is it that you love about the Preakness and Pimlico and everything that goes into it?
Bob Baffert: Well, I mean, compared to the Derby, it’s a very relaxed atmosphere. You’ve got — your Derby winner usually shows up there. We’re all in the same barn. It’s very relaxing, and it’s sort of fun. It’s — to me, it’s my favorite of the three, because everybody’s just relaxed.
There’s less stress, it’s a less stressful race. And it’s fun, and we have a good time. And the Classics are really exciting and they’re fun to win and to compete in them. So, it’s pretty exciting.
Stephen Whyno: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from Childs Walker of Baltimore Sun. Your line is already open.
Childs Walker: Yeah. Hi, Bob. Thanks for doing this. You just talked about what you love about the Preakness. At the same time, I know from being in Baltimore, there are worries about the race. We get fewer, seemingly fewer Derby horses every year. The crowds have been down in recent years. We all know the condition of the Pimlico grandstand.
Do you see any need to make significant changes to the Preakness, to revamp it, to get it back to what it was in certain ways? Or how do you sort of see the future of the race?
Bob Baffert: I don’t know. That’s a good question. I think it’s changed in a way; just to get to the Derby is a long process — the preps and everything, and then you run 20 horses, and then it’s chaotic. I think a lot of people just feel like, when it’s over, if you didn’t win it, or run (well), you’re dejected, you’re tired.
I remember when I first came in, the Preakness has always been a very historical race, and people like to run in the Preakness, you know, the Triple Crown and whatever. And so, I’m probably old school when I came in. So now there’s a different approach to it. You know, they want to give their horses extra time or whatever. And so I think a lot of it is just the trainers nowadays.
You see it in sports, analytics. It’s like, let’s not do this. You know, a pitcher can only pitch so many pitches before. Managers manage games. So, I think it’s changed in a way, where you give their horse extra time. There’s a different mindset now.
I remember Silver Charm, when he won the Derby. I think there were only 14 horses in the race. There were good horses. But everybody got a nice clean trip, and they ran their races. So, they came back and ran, you know, two weeks later. It was a great, great race. I remember with Lookin At Lucky, he was the favorite for the Derby — got completely wiped out by the horse that ran third, whatever, and hit the rail, ran sixth.
I had no intentions of running in the Preakness, until a week later. Finally, he came around, and then he ran, and he won it. So, I think it takes a week to realize if you’re going to run. And Point Given, same thing. I just couldn’t believe he got beat [in the 2001 Kentucky Derby]. He was a heavy favorite and didn’t run his race. And I was not going to run in the Preakness. And then, all of a sudden, a week later, he looks great. And we went to the Preakness and won it.
So, I think it takes a week to just get over — let the dust settle, and then you realize — you know what? — this is a very important race, and it’s an historical race, and it’s a very important race to win with a three-year-old. So, different trainers just have different ways of thinking. My thinking is (if) the horse is doing well, let’s run the horse, and try to win the Preakness.
Childs Walker: Thanks.
Operator: Your next question comes from Beth Harris of Associated Press. Your line is already open.
Beth Harris: Hey, Bob. The Preakness has kind of become a semi-regular reunion for you and Wayne. He’s got two horses in this year. You’re going to have two. What’s it like for you guys to spend some time together at this point in your careers?
Bob Baffert: Well, I mean Wayne is just an incredible trainer. I’ve known Wayne since I was 17 years old. He came in this little dusty fairgrounds with his shiny trailers. And he just changed the sport of Quarter Horse racing. I mean, really made it better and revolutionized it. Went to the Thoroughbreds, did the same thing.
People don’t realize what a true legend he is; the way he took over thoroughbred racing; changed it all, for the better. And so, to see him still competing — and he hasn’t lost. I talk to him all the time. He’s very competitive. He watches everything. He knows horses. He is a great horseman.
He knows horse flesh really well. And he gets there, he’ll sit in the corner, and then he’ll tell me — he’ll look at the other horses and he’ll say, I don’t think we got to worry about that one. We don’t have to worry about this one. I mean, he still has it. And so, we have a good time together, and we talk old Quarter Horse stories, because I grew up knowing the same sort of people that he knew.
So, it’s fun. We’re both outsiders. We came from the Quarter Horse business into the Thoroughbred business. And so, we have a lot in common.
Beth Harris: Can you see yourself still training at his age?
Bob Baffert: I don’t — that’s tough. I don’t — I can’t see that. I don’t know. You know, he gets on that horse every day. I mean, it’s incredible, his work ethic and getting on that horse at his [age] — he just — he loves it. But he loves what he does. And I think, if he wasn’t competing, I can’t see him retiring. He just wouldn’t know what to do with himself.
But you never know. I’m in awe of him, what he’s doing. And he is still very competitive. And I enjoy talking to him, because he’s so knowledge — I’ve always told him that the reason he was so successful, he’s so overqualified to be a horse trainer. And he’s got a master’s or whatever, he’s a coach, and that’s why he’s been so successful.
But he’s really been an inspiration. I mean, when I got in the Thoroughbred business, he was the bar, you know, in any sport, there’s the bar. And I think, people see, if you’re a quarterback, you want to be Tom Brady, or — whatever. And to me, he was always the bar. And he’s still the bar for me.
Beth Harris: Thanks.
Operator: Your next question comes from Jim Chairusmi of Wall Street Journal. Your line is already open.
Jim Chairusmi: Hey, Bob. Along those same lines as the earlier question about the Preakness — it seems like with current thinking, there is a movement of tweaking the Triple Crown schedule. You won the Triple Crown twice, recently. What are your thoughts on potential changes to the Triple Crown schedule?
Bob Baffert: Well, I’m a traditionalist. You know, you hate to see it move. Will it affect it? I think we’re getting to the age where things are changing. They got the pitch count, you know? You’ve got — and maybe we have to look at it in a different way. Because you want to see the best horses competing in all three races. So, if it takes that, then I’m open for (it) — I will be there. If I have a horse, I will be there, no matter what they do.
Jim Chairusmi: So, along those lines, would it be harder to win the Triple Crown, say if the races are spaced four weeks apart? You know, we’re talking about Memorial Day weekend, and then, the 4th of July, maybe, for the Belmont or something like that. Would that make the Triple Crown even harder to win, because the competition might be stiffer for all three races?
Bob Baffert: I don’t know. I really think that, to win the Triple Crown, you need a superior horse. And so, I got to have to have a superior horse. And that’s what the Triple Crown’s about. I think that — might be easier. I don’t know. I think it might be easier to give your horse that extra time.
Jim Chairusmi: Thanks, Bob.
Operator: Your next question comes from David Grening of Daily Racing Form. Your line is already open.
David Grening: Hey, Bob, could you just talk about these two horses and your confidence in them, to get the mile and 3/16? Obviously, it seemed like Muth’s last race was indication of that. But you know, how has he developed, from two to three?
Bob Baffert: Well, he was a precocious two-year-old. And he runs, he shows up, he runs his race every time, first or second. He has so much — he has a lot of quality. And he just keeps getting better and better. And his Arkansas Derby, he handled that really well, came back, wasn’t really tired.
So he is a good horse. And to ship, you know, it’s not easy to ship horses anymore, like the old days, without Tex Sutton, and — people aren’t familiar with Tex Sutton. Now you got to go to FedEx, and you got to get in a trailer for five hours. So it’s not easy. He’s handled that really well. So — and it takes a really good horse to be able to handle that.
David Grening: And then, with Imagination, what did you make of his Santa Anita Derby, and what makes him one that you think can go a little further?
Bob Baffert: We would like to have won it. But I liked the fact that he gutted it out pretty well. He’s still learning, we’re learning more about him. Frankie’s [Dettore]learning more about him. And he’s a horse that — he needs a target. And he just got out there, and that other horse that beat him, he is a nice horse. And so, they were just battling all the way down the stretch, and he came out of it really well.
And I think he’s improved. Every race he’s improving. And I think distance is not going to be a problem for him. And you it’s going to be a tough field. There’s good horses in there. The trip’s going to make a big difference. But he is doing really well. And — but I really think he’s improving, where Muth just needs to stay where he is at.
David Grening: Thank you.
Operator: There are no further questions. Sorry, go ahead.
Jim Gluckson: All right. Thank you. Oh, that’s all right. Thank you very much for all the questions. Bob, very much appreciate your time today. And thanks for joining us. And best of luck with your horses in the Preakness.
Bob Baffert: Thank you.
Jim Gluckson: All right, let’s bring in — we’ll bring in our next guest. He is the Kentucky Derby winning trainer, Kenny McPeek. And Kenny, we want to say congratulations, once again, on winning both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby. How are you doing today?
Kenny McPeek: I’m doing great.
Jim Gluckson: Great. Thanks. And we just want you to give an update for you today on Mystik Dan — had a gallop today. Can you describe what went on this morning?
Kenny McPeek: Well, in all honesty, I was at Keeneland this morning, because I had some young horses that I needed to oversee down there. So Robbie Alvarado went down and got on him this morning. And he was really pleased. I connected with him late morning. And then, also, my assistant, Greg, was real happy. So, the horse is doing really well. We’re feeling pretty good about where he is going.
And we’re still not going to make a decision until — over the weekend or into the weekend. And, while I heard Bob (Baffert) on the end of his call there, I want to tell you, Bob was one of the first people to call me. World of respect for Bob Baffert. And he and I had just (talked) from horseman to horseman — and not everybody calls you after you win a big race like that — but Bob’s great. And we had a good chat about it. And he was over the moon for me. And any notion that Bob Baffert isn’t special guy, he is, very.
Jim Gluckson: All right. That’s great to hear. I wanted to also follow up — about Mystik Dan, and his progression here. He had a “lights out”, really terrific race in the Southwest. But after a third place finish in the Arkansas Derby, he was overlooked in Louisville. But obviously, you had a great deal of confidence in going into the Derby. Just talk his progress going into the Derby, and your confidence level.
Kenny McPeek: Well, we purposely skipped the Rebel (Stakes), because we didn’t want a horse that was overdone, by the time we got to Kentucky. And we gambled on the Arkansas Derby points, that if he got the points, he’d be good. But the outside draw that day was probably what got him beat, more than anything. He really got hung out there, and then he got bumped pretty good. And it was one of those things, well, you know, it wasn’t a terrible race, but it wasn’t exactly what we wanted. And it’s fortunate that we got the points to get us into the Kentucky Derby, and obviously, we know the result.
Jim Gluckson: All right. Well, Kenny, I think we have some media on the line that would like to ask you a few questions. So, Allan, can you set up that portion of the call for us, please?
Operator: All right, ladies and gentlemen, as a reminder, if you have a question, please press * 1. And your first question comes from Jim Chairusmi of Wall Street Journal. Please go ahead.
Jim Chairusmi: Hey, Kenny, you’ve expressed some reluctance to run your horse back in two weeks. With the modern way of training racehorses, is it time to kind of think about tweaking the Triple Crown schedule?
Kenny McPeek: No, I don’t have any reluctance. I just don’t have to make a decision yet. Everybody wants me to make a decision. But I don’t really need to do that, because, I mean, I’ve said it repeatedly — an old friend of mine said, never make a decision until you absolutely positively have to. And there’s no reason to think that we have to commit now.
And look, horses are so — everyone’s different. You just really want to get through the weekend and make sure he’s in good shape. And we’ll, you know, wait until when we need to. And we’ll make the call when we’re ready. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the Triple Crown. Actually, I think it’s better since the removal of Lasix. I think the dehydration factor of Lasix, I think was problematic, at least it was for me.
And, the notion of changing it — you know, you could make some points. I’ve always said that, maybe, it should be the first Saturday in May, first Saturday in June, first Saturday in July. But I think that’d be great. Actually, I think you would have more of the horses coming back in those, if it were spaced like that. Then, it would make it harder to win, because you’d have more competition. But it is what it is. And I don’t have any control over what the entities do. And we’ll let them decide.
Jim Chairusmi: Thanks, Kenny.
Operator: Your next question comes from Childs Walker of Baltimore Sun. Your line is already open.
Childs Walker: Yeah. Hi, Kenny. Thanks for doing this. I know that you, obviously, have some wonderful memories associated with the Preakness. At the same time, do you worry at all that the race may be kind of losing a little bit of prestige, because of some of the calendar issues that we just talked about — you don’t get any horses from the Derby anymore?
You know, you’ve had — crowds have been down a little bit in recent years. You know, the grandstand needs to be refurbished. Where do you think we are, with the Preakness? And do you think anything needs to change to kind of revamp it a little bit?
Kenny McPeek: Well, I do think that the industry is so much more focused on, certainly, horse health, which it’s always been, really. But we don’t want anything to go wrong on those types of days. And I think trainers — and I can’t speak for all of them, obviously — but you focus, maybe, on your win percentage, or the fact that a horse might not run back well. I mean, you stick your neck out coming back in two weeks.
It’s a little bit of a tight rope you’ve got to walk. But the good horses that have done it deserve it. And I don’t believe that the Thoroughbred is any more fragile today than it was 50 years ago. I think that there are Thoroughbreds that are plenty capable of running back in two weeks and three weeks. And there’s horses all across America that run back in two and three weeks.
But this is what makes the Triple Crown difficult. And how the Preakness — the timing and everything — obviously, it’s getting a lot of scrutiny. But it takes an unbelievable horse to do it. And like I said, maybe that’s why it should stay the same. It’s, like I said, it’s not up to me.
Childs Walker: Okay.
Operator: Your next question comes from Joe Drape of New York Times. Your line is already open.
Joe Drape: Thanks, Kenny, for doing this. Can you talk — you’re involved in the auction rings, as well. And I know you have a unique inner ownership group with Mystik Dan. But when you go in and bid against the so-called avengers or sheiks, do you think this teaming up and these groups have sort of changed the nature of the game?
Kenny McPeek: I don’t think so. I think that buying horses at auction is a — well, it’s very artistic. And you’ve got — sometimes a small window to decide. And I think that, as a horseman, I think buying horses is much more difficult than training. I never could train a slow horse to run fast. And I’ve made a few fast ones run slow. But the auction ring is all the difference.
And you know, Bob just got off the phone with us. But look, Bob, when he had Real Quiet he bought him for 17 grand. That’s a talent. And it takes talent to work those sales. And you can’t throw money at it. You could team up with all the people in the world, and there are people that are out there that have the ability to beat you, because it — that’s a cool thing about horse racing. It’s a very — that that playing field can get leveled real quick. I’ve seen people that didn’t have much money at all win huge races and beat sheiks and others. So I think that’s why we love it so much.
Joe Drape: Real good. Congratulations. Thanks.
Kenny McPeek: Thank you, Joe.
Operator: Your next question comes from Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press. Your line is already open.
Stephen Whyno: Hey, Kenny. You’ve already won the Preakness. I’m wondering, the — Maryland’s pouring a bunch of money into renovating that place. And we all know, kind of about the conditions there. But do you have any sort of nostalgia for just the old Pimlico, and just how it really has been the same thing for the last 20 years?
Kenny McPeek: Well, I think, as long as they keep the Preakness barn, it’s still going to have the nostalgia. I hope that they don’t tear that barn down. I mean, that’d be remiss if they did. I mean, that barn is so special, and there’s been so many amazing horses that have walked through that barn. I think from the plans I’ve seen, that they’re not going to touch that barn.
And that’s where the world, the center of the universe is, on the Preakness, is the Preakness barn. And, what they do with the grandstand and the racetrack, I’ve seen some of the drawings. And they’re going to change the circumference of the track. And the grandstand, obviously, needs to be revamped. And that’s wonderful. I mean, I think we could take this sport into another era, with some changes there, and leave the Preakness barn alone. And that’s where the history exists.
Stephen Whyno: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from David Grening of Daily Racing Form. Your line is already open.
David Grening: Kenny, the first two times you ran the horse beyond a sprint distance, he didn’t fare too well, the allowance (race) and the Smarty Jones. What was it about him that made you continue on stretching him out? And has he surprised you at all that he handled the stretch out?
Kenny McPeek: Well, that was, humblingly enough, trainer error one and trainer error two, with him. He won so easily in his maiden race, that we had an a other than allowance going a mile on the end of the meet. And I was really on the fence to go with him. He left some feed. I was nervous, and I talked to Greg [Geier], my assistant, even my night watchman. And we went through it, and I ran him. And he coughed up a lung infection.
So it was like, oh, okay. And that was on me. I really, really thought we were trying to make the right decision, and it backfired. And then — so then we got him through that. We had to put him on some antibiotics and clean him up and get him ready again. And then Lance Gasaway and I were talking about the schedule. And we wanted to get a two-turn race in him.
And we knew we needed to kind of retool him, because he’s a five-furlong sprinter winner. And people — some people said, oh, he’s just a sprinter. Well, I’ve always been pretty good at stretching horses out. So we needed to kind of train him again and teach him to take his time. And so we got him ready for the Smarty Jones. And we knew we were a couple of works behind schedule. But we thought he needed a rate, and then learn to finish. And he just — he was a short horse that day.
And he was probably two works from being ready to run. But if we skipped that race, we were going to have to wait another four weeks for the spot we wanted. And so we said, okay, let’s get him in there. And Lance [Gasaway] and I knew going there. And we talked about it. I told him, I said, I think he’s a couple work shy, but he’ll run well, he’ll run okay. He ran okay. He got beat three lengths, right? So after that, we’ve done a lot right.
David Grening: Second question, if I could? Have you watched his replay recently? And do you get even more impressed with what Brian did?
Kenny McPeek: Oh, I watched it the first time. I didn’t need to watch it again. But of course, I have watched it again. You know, he just — it was a brilliant ride. I mean, difference in winning and losing — the two horses that were running him down ran great races. But their running style and their confirmation, or how they’re made and how they ran, as deep closers, the Kentucky Derby is certainly – you have to understand we want a horse that can go that far.
But the unique thing about Mystik, is that he is a bit like a little Maserati, that you can hit a hole and cruise and then hit a hole and cruise. He placed himself in a position to win. And because he is not a deep closer, he didn’t come from way back, have to circle horses. So I’m just really, you know, proud of the colt and Brian. But Brian put him up in there. The jump from the gate on Wednesday before the race, I think, was vital, but definitely the ride that Brian put on was the — what? — four inches difference that we needed.
David Grening: Thank you. Hope to see you next week.
Jim Gluckson: All right. Well, I really appreciate the time that, Kenny, you’ve given us today. And best of luck to you, Kenny, whatever you decide, going into the weekend. Thank you very much.
Kenny McPeek: Thank you.
Jim Gluckson: All right, Kenny McPeek, everyone. We’re now going to shift over to Hall of fame trainer, D. Wayne Lukas, who has won the Preakness six times, going back to his first one with Tartan Stables Codex, in 1980. Wayne, welcome. How are you today?
Wayne Lukas: I’m fine. You guys getting along okay with this thing?
Jim Gluckson: You said it, man. We’re doing great. Wayne, of course, has two prospects for the Preakness Stakes, in Just Steel, coming out of the Kentucky Derby, and Pat Day Mile winner, Steel the Grey, from Myracehorse Stable. Wayne, talking about the Derby first, and Just Steel — he got bumped hard at the start of the Derby, then settled down and ran solidly, near the lead, through three the first three quarters of a mile, and then dropped back. Since the days after the Derby, what has he shown to you that is making you convinced that the move to the Preakness is the right move for him?
Wayne Lukas: Well, let’s go back to the Derby for a second here. What happened is that he — like you just pointed out, he got roughed up a little bit. And it was uncharacteristic for him, but he grabbed the bit. And by that, I mean, he got aggressive. He’s very rateable, and he got aggressive. And Keith [Asmussen] didn’t want to struggle with him. And so he let him run and cleared that rough going and got clear of it, and got into a pace duel with another horse.
And the next thing you know, they’re throwing up 22, 46 and that just won’t work in the Kentucky Derby. He — like you said, he runs three quarters of a mile. But when you throw up those kind of fractions, those horses that were on the pace all faded. So that gave us, probably a reason to draw a line through that race.
Jim Gluckson: Okay. All right. And what is his work schedule, coming up in the next few days?
Wayne Lukas: Well, I’ve done it both ways. I’ve tried — in my Preakness winners, I’ve tried different things. I think you have to read the horses. And both of these horses came back very, very well. In fact, Just Steel actually, seems sharper to me this week than he did the prior week to the Derby. So what we’ll do is just monitor him every day.
It’s a day-to-day decision when training horses, that you read them and see what you think they need and don’t need. So I probably will let him extend himself a couple days. But I don’t think I’ll work him. I think he had a hard six furlongs in that race. And I think I won’t work him. But he’ll go to the track every day. And he is sharp, so we’ll play it day by day.
Jim Gluckson: All right. Now, as Seize the Grey, of course, made a big jump coming off a 7th place finish in the Bluegrass, to win the Pat Day Mile. What is it about his running style that suits him for the Preakness?
Wayne Lukas: I think he really fits it. I think, if he’d run that same race he just ran in a Pat Day Mile, he’ll be a factor in it. He’s got good tactical speed. He can dictate pretty much where he wants to be in a race. And I see no reason why he won’t finish the mile and 3/16. I feel comfortable with him. I think that, having a very positive race, going into the Preakness is going to help him very much.
Jim Gluckson: All right. Very good. let’s change over, now, to the question and answer section, from the media. Allan, please go ahead and set that up.
Operator: Thank you. Your first question comes from Jason Frakes of The Courier Journal. Your line is already open.
Jason Frakes: Wayne, thanks for joining us. When you look at the horses coming to the Preakness, from the Derby, there’s you, there’s Kenny. But recent history shows that a lot of the horses don’t come from the Derby to the Preakness. Why do you think that is? And do you think there might be, sort of a, almost a generational factor to it, that the younger trainers, for whatever reason, don’t want to run back so quickly?
Wayne Lukas: Well, the game has changed. You know, back in the early 1970s, 1960s, 1970s, we ran those horses — and I’m one of the old guys. So I think I can speak to this. But we ran them back in two weeks and didn’t have a lot of concern. I had really good luck in my six winners, knowing I thought would run better in the Preakness than they did in the Derby. And I got accused, sometimes, of using the Kentucky Derby for a prep race for the Preakness.
But I think that the general thought, with trainers nowadays, the younger trainers, is that they are a little bit protective of the horses. And they are a little bit reluctant to maybe try something like that. Same thing with fillies. But the other thing is, I think we’re breeding horses that are probably a little bit more geared to speed. And they probably don’t adapt to two, long races in a two-week gap, as well, either.
So I think it’s more of a mindset. But what — as a trainer, what you have to do is, you have to look at what’s in front of you. I got — my horses are filled up, they feel good, they look good. I know Kenny McPeek is analyzing his horse to see if he thinks he has got the energy that he needs, or whatever. And that’s what we have to do, as trainers. So you can’t just make a statement and say, I’m going to go back in there. You better look over what you got to train, and then make that decision.
Jason Frakes: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from Jim O’Donnell of The Daily Herald. Your line is already open.
Wayne Lukas: You there, Jim. We lost him.
Operator: All right. I will proceed to the next questioner. Your next question comes from Childs Walker of the Baltimore Sun. Your line is already open.
Childs Walker: Yeah. Hi, Wayne. Thanks for doing this. We know you’ve had about as much success and as much fun at the Preakness as anybody over the years. And you always find a way to come back. But I mean, do you worry, at all, that it is becoming a little bit of an unwanted stepchild, between the other two races? You know, you already talked about some of the calendar issues, crowds haven’t been what they were in recent years. I mean, what do you think is kind of the state of the race? And do you think any changes need to be made, to get it back to where it was?
Wayne Lukas: Well, first of all, it — that thought that you just threw out there about that, it’s the stepchild or becoming less of importance — sure doesn’t sit with the trainers. They have done such a beautiful job, that we — Bob Baffert and I were talking two days ago. And we look forward to it. The Preakness is the most fun of any of the three, by far.
We love to come to Baltimore for the simple reason they stable us all in one barn. It’s like sharing the locker room before a big game. And we have great comradery, and they make it so easy. I just paid $14,000 for a box to watch the Derby.
And, Phoebe Hayes [of Maryland Jockey Club/1ST] is going to let me walk up there with a — the box next to the Governor, and watch it for nothing. So the whole thing is really fun. I would hope that it would keep its status in the Triple Crown series, and would hold that status forever. I — we really like it.
Childs Walker: Thanks, Wayne.
Operator: Your next question comes from Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press. Your line is already open.
Stephen Whyno: Hey, Wayne, you’ve won this race a bunch of times. Bob’s won it eight times. He’s got, maybe, the favorite in this race. What makes Bob such a good trainer, for the Preakness, in particular?
Wayne Lukas: You talking about what makes Bob so effective?
Stephen Whyno: Yes. For this race, yeah.
Wayne Lukas: Those $2 and $3 million horses that he purchases every year make him pretty effective. And he’s an excellent horseman. He’s sneaky good. He tries to portray himself as, you know, that he is just having a lot of fun, and that some of this stuff just comes his way. Nothing can be further from the truth. He’s a damn good horseman, and he reads a horse very well.
But he is not exactly dealing with chopped liver, either. He buys those real, real strong horses. And then he knows what to do with them. There’s no accident — every time he shows up in one of these major races, you have to — as another fellow trainer, you have to deal with him. And he is going to come into this one, with not only two good horses, but they’re going to be fresh. And they will be ready. Anybody that thinks that they’re going to need a race or anything, is going to get an education, because they will be ready, and they are going to be — legitimate, in every sense of the word.
Stephen Whyno: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from Mike Kane of Preakness Notes Team. Your line is already open.
Mike Kane: Hi, Wayne. Thanks for taking our call today. Can you tell us how you bounced back to the levels that you’re accustomed to running in? In 2019, you had fewer than 200 starters, I think, for the first time in, like 25 years, maybe. And, at — and it started changing in 2022. I remember, after Saratoga, you signed tickets at that sale for $2.2 million in yearlings. How did you do it? How’d you get these new owners?
Wayne Lukas: Well, what happened, Mike, was we lost some great owners in and Bob Lewis, W.T. Young of Overbrook Farm, and Gene Klein. So we were depleted in our clientele, with those bank accounts. And it looked like, a lot of times, when you get into the late 1980s, they — the clientele might say, well, we’ve got to have a younger guy. But along came John Bellinger and Brian Coehlo, who I’d known for a while — two very prominent people in the cattle industry. And they decided they wanted to get in.
And the key of bouncing back, as you call it, is to have quality horses to work with. I’ve always had good luck, Mike, if I was able to get into the yearling market and select. Not only were we strong in the Saratoga sale, but we were very strong in the Keeneland sale, in September. Our two year olds this year, I feel like I’m going to just publicly say, we’re loaded. We are loaded.
And, we’ve got a pretty good set of three-year-olds, too. But that’s the key. If those clienteles will step — the clientele will step up, be committed, have a passion for it, and you get a little bit lucky in the sales, as long as you — and with some expertise, you got a chance to be in all of these.
Mike Kane: Okay. And did it — did they come to you, the two guys? How did they — did you arrive, to get them to start investing in some young stock with you?
Wayne Lukas: Well, they were my guests at the Derby, oh, maybe six, seven years prior. And John Bellinger called me up and he said, we’ve done some business deals. We’re in position to get in. We want to get in at the best, we want to get in at the top. And they said we’re going to turn you loose. And we’re going to try to, you know, do it the right way. So, this crop coming up is probably the strongest. But this three-year-old crop’s not bad, either. This — there’s a couple horses here that are pretty strong.
Mike Kane: Thanks very much, Wayne.
Wayne Lukas: You bet.
Operator: Your next question comes from David Grening of Daily Racing Form. Your line is already open.
David Grening: Wayne, could you confirm jockey assignments and shipping arrangements for your two Derby — Preakness horses?
Wayne Lukas: Yeah, for the Preakness, I cannot — I’m still scrambling a little bit for my Black-Eyed Susan rider. I offered it, of course, to Keith Asmussen. And he’s elected to run some stakes at Churchill here, and ride a few for his father. So, that one’s open. But Joe Rosario is going to ride Just Steel. And Jamie Torres. who won the Pat Day Mile, is going on Seize the Gray.
David Greening: Gotcha. And I was wondering, if you could just talk a little bit about your observations of Brian Hernandez, over the years, how much has he improved? I don’t know how much, if at all, you’ve used him. But just, you know, as an observer and evaluator of talent — what has impressed you the most about Brian
Wayne Lukas: Oh, I’ve watched him over the years. I haven’t ridden him, but a few times, here and there, when I — when he was available in a certain situation. But he rides very well. The big thing with him, he is very cool. He — by that, I mean, he’s very patient. He doesn’t panic, I don’t think, when he rides. I think he’s awfully, awfully good in these big races, because I don’t think anything phases him. I really am impressed with him. He is a class rider, with a lot of ability. He’s quiet, he slips around. Next thing you know, he is in the winner’s circle.
David Grening: And just going back to — when do you ship to Pimlico?
Wayne Lukas: The horses are Monday.
David Grening: Monday. Thank you, sir.
Operator: There are no further questions at this time. I would hand over the call to Mr. Jim Gluckson. Please, go ahead.
Jim Gluckson: Great. Well, Wayne, thank you so much for joining us today and taking questions. Best of luck to you in the Preakness, and all your horses, in the next several weeks. Good luck to you.
Wayne Lukas: Jim, what did my friend, Kenny McPeek have to say? Is he coming abroad?
Jim Gluckson: No. He’s not in yet. He’s going to wait until he’s ready, and not a minute before, is what he said.
Wayne Lukas: Well, tell him to make a decision about Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. We’re going to draw the race Sunday.
Jim Gluckson: Will do.
Wayne Lukas: All right. Thanks, guys.
Jim Gluckson: That concludes today’s media teleconference. An audio replay and a transcript will be on ntra.com, within 48 hours. And our next scheduled call will be previewing the 156th Belmont Stakes, which are now scheduled for Thursday, May 30th. Thanks, everyone. Have a great day.
Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today’s conference call. Thank you for your participation. And you may now disconnect.
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