Greatest Training Achievements

re: Greatest Training Achievements

Tim Tecmo — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 19:14:05 GMT

I'd throw a vote at Greg Gilchrist, too. That Lost in the Fog campaign was incredible. That horse was a consummate pro and so is Gilchrist.

re: Greatest Training Achievements

Horswld — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:50:41 GMT

GunBow,

I must whole heartedly agree with you about Southern Image. Great racehorse and very underrated. Very hardknocking kind of horse.

I want to thank you so much for bringing Southern Image to everyone's attention for this horse is one of my personal favorites. He deserves to be reconized. Thanks once again.

By the way, I really enjoy reading your blogs. You put alot of thought into them, and even though I might not always agree with everything, I thank you for your point of views, facts and wisdom.

Once again, thanks.

re: Greatest Training Achievements

Swapsfan — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:51:36 GMT

To Backside Sweetie, sky fire, Sherpa and other Jonathan Sheppard supporters, here's an excerpt from the 12/11/09 Chronicle of the Horse about Mixed Up, a 10-yr-old steeplechaser Sheppard trains. The story was about his win in the Colonial Cup, his 2nd Grade 1 of 2009, "putting himself at the top of the list for the Eclipse Award for steeplechasing...A few years ago, Mixed Up was coming into his own; he won Saratoga's $150,000 New York Turf Writers in 2006 and the Smithwick in 2007. But by the end of the year he was...saddled with enormous weights, and he just couldn't get it done. In 2008 he never saw the winner's circle. So for 2009, after nearly collapsing after a race with a potassium imbalance, Sheppard took him off the drug Lasix...'I hope everyone takes their horses off it now,' Sheppard said. 'It's not always needed.'"

re: Greatest Training Achievements

robinm — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 02:46:41 GMT

First, will someone please clarify "decade"? Personally, I always thought a new decade started with "0" and covered a 10-yr span ending with "9". (same as "century" starting with "00" and ending with "99" - wasn't the Y2K fiasco suppossed to affect computers 1/1/00?).

Regarding the training feats themselves; keeping a horse sound and undefeated over a 24-month period, mostly in graded stakes company is a remarkable accomplishment. I don't think I'd place John S and Zenyatta first on this list because I think keeping a horse sound from late in the 3rd year to late in the 5th year while running only 14 times is not as great a feat as some others on the list or some others I can think of, but certainly Zenyatta and connections deserve to be on anybody's Top 10 in this category. Also, if synthetic tracks really are easier on a horse, keeping Z in Cal. may have contributed to this record as well. Maybe Rick Dutrow's training of Big Brown deserves to be on the list, but I wouldn't rank it nearly as high. Personally, I think Tiznow, Afleet Alex and Laura D's training of Azeri deserve to be way up there. I would also have included Smarty Jones. I wouldn't put Giacomo on the list at all. I believe circumstances more than an extraordinary training job contributed to Giacomo's win in the KY Derby.

Thank you, Steve, for continuing to offer the fans and handicappers a venue to discuss horses and horse racing with other like-minded folks!

re: Greatest Training Achievements

Daylami — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:51:33 GMT

@ Coldfacts

Mate... Look at the horses you mentioned, "Hard Spun, Street Sense, Any Given Saturday" 6month wonders!!! Maybe (hopefully) better as Stallions. The horses you're knocking lasted longer and actually created a bit of a following, not just P.E.'s like the ones you're pushing!!!

re: Greatest Training Achievements

Cindy — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:15:07 GMT

I think that the fact that Peppers Pride beat the records of "major stakes" horses distinquishes her sufficiently for her accomplishment not to be lumped into a list that "would have gone on forever." With all due respect, I think that the lists are simply incomplete without including her &/or her trainer and the rationalization for excluding her is weak. Thanks.

re: Greatest Training Achievements

GunBow — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:46:29 GMT

One more honorable mention:

Mike Machowsky: Southern Image

Southern Image was one of my personal faves of the decade. After winning a maiden race and running 3rd in the 2003 San Vicente, he came up with an injury and was off about 6 months. Machowsky brought him back ready to run, winning an allowance at Del Mar and then, after a 2 month hiatus, taking the gr.1 Malibu in impressive fashion.

After the 7 furlong Malibu, Machowsky stretched Southern Image out to win the 2004 $1million Sunshine Millions Classic. Machowsky then set an even higher goal, and Southern Image again proved up to the task by winning the 10 furlong Santa Anita Handicap. Following the Big Cap, Machowsky shipped Southern Image to Baltimore and the colt won the gr.1 Pimlico Special with a 118 Beyer. Having now won 5 straight races and 3 gr.1s, Machowsky took Southern Image to the Churchill for the gr.1 Stephen Foster. Facing top horses like Peace Rules, Perfect Drift, and Midway Road on an extremely sloppy track, Southern Image put in a winning performance, fighting off the other speed horses before kicking again in the stretch. Unfortunately for him, Calvin Borel had the longshot, Colonial Colony, running the race of his life and flying on the outside while carrying 9 lbs less than Southern Image. After it appeared that Colonial Colony was going to blow right past Southern Image, Southern Image somehow kept finding more on the inside before ultimately losing a nose decision. Clearly, weight was the deciding factor, and it is fairly certain that had Southern Image not had to carry 9 lbs more than Colonial Colony, Southern Image would have won his 4th gr.1 race. Sadly, the Foster was his ast race.

At the end of 2004, most had forgetten about Southern Image's early exploits, and he finished behind Ghostzapper, Roses In May, and Presently Perfect in the Eclipse voting. Southern Image remains one of the most underrated horses of this decade.

re: Greatest Training Achievements

Joe B — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:53:24 GMT

I happen to think the Pick Six scandal over shadowed one of the great training feats of our time.

VOLPONI!

That fiasco did something that in my view is almost criminal. One of the greatest horse men of our time P.G. Johnson did a magnificant training job and won what is considered by many the most important race of the year with a horse many felt didn’t belong. P.G. knew different. As such the glory, attention and the recognition for one of the great upsets by any horse or trainer was over shadowed.

This is a bit personal for me. F.B Lantz, who I worked for for years was an assistant trainer for P.G. before going off on his own. Frank was closer to me then my father ever was and over the years, I learned what a great trainer P.G. was, not only from him but watching after Frank died. He's in the Hall of Fame for a reason!

On top of that, I worked for the tote company involved for 29 years. We are still suffering the effects of that scandal in the industry today with the perception of wagering integrity being questioned every moment.

To this day, all we ever see about that day anymore is “THE SCANDEL” And a great training feat by one of the best goes largely ignored. Again. Criminal!

re: Greatest Training Achievements

GunBow — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:35:03 GMT

Steve, thanks for all of these wonderful lists.

I have to agree with some previous commenters for an honorable mention to:

Steve Asmussen/ Hal Wiggins- Rachel

Helen Pitts/ Asmussen- Curlin

Carl Nafzger- Street Sense

Greg Gilchrist- Lost in the Fog

John Servis- Smarty Jones

and 5 not earlier mentioned:

Bruce Headley- Kona Gold(as well as many other veteran horses, most sprinters). Good to see him win the gr.1 Malibu on Saturday. A great old-school trainer, who works his horses fast, runs them often, and keeps them sound.

William "Buff" Bradley- Brass Hat(how many injuries has this horse overcome?)

Murray Johnson- Perfect Drift

Helen Pitts- Einstein

Bill Mott- Shakespeare(this horse won the gr.1 Joe Hirsch at age 4 in 2005, was off about 2 years, then won the gr.1 Woodbine Mile in 2007 over Kip Deville).

re: Greatest Training Achievements

Steve Haskin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:06:40 GMT

Regarding Pepper's Pride, as I stated, because of the number of great individual training accomplishments I had to restrict it to major stakes horses or it would have gone on forever. Same would have applied to Hallowed Dreams.

I agree that John Servis should have been included. That was an oversight on my part. When dealing with so many lists and so many years and horses and performances and accomplishments to go back on, some unfortunately are going to slip through the cracks.

re: Greatest Training Achievements

Steve — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:09:59 GMT

According to Ray Paulick of the Paulick Report, John Shirreffs has ZERO doping violations. Unlike East Coast Writer, I'm thrilled to see turf writers finally have a "love affair" with such a clean trainer. I'm sick to death of the trainers with doping rap sheets as long as my arm getting all the accolades and attention.

re: Greatest Training Achievements

rick mckenzie — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:22:07 GMT

Steve, Bobby Frankel's 25 Grade I wins in 2003 is above all else. This wasn't a one day accomplishment, or a one horse wonder.This is a record that stands tall and all by itself.

re: Greatest Training Achievements

CajunCountry — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:04:28 GMT

I'd like to second Greg Gilchrist/Lost in the Fog. Can't believe you'd leave them out.

Also, count me as another stickler peeved by this premature 'decade' stuff. The decade runs from 2001-2010.

re: Greatest Training Achievements

Mike E. — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:59:34 GMT

What great fun to rehash all these great horses, trainers and their accomplishments.

Steve Haskins for Writer of the Year!

re: Greatest Training Achievements

Lost in the Fog — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 03:30:13 GMT

Probably the most impressive training job in the past decade was the Wiggins/Asmussen job with Rachel Alexandra. Most of you have no idea how hard it is to keep a horse in top form for that long without a break. It is still mind boggling that they actually pulled it off. And what about Greg Gilcrist's job with Lost in the Fog? That is probably the second best training job of this decade. Zenyatta is third in my book because it was a light campaign and she didn't travel much. It's a lot easier to keep a horse in top form with a light campaign in which they don't travel. Rachel and Foggy traveled all over the country, and still won everything (except for the BC in Fog's case, but he probably had cancer at that point as well). Also, Asmussen's job with Curlin has to be mentioned. It was brilliant as well.

re: Greatest Training Achievements

Backside Sweetie — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:16:15 GMT

I do agree that the trainer of Peppers Pride should be mentioned because keeping a horse sound and most of all,keeping their spirits up and the will to want to race and win is quite an acomplishment.It can only be done by someone who loves not only the game but the horse and sees each and every one as an individual that has different needs and talents.Steve you do a great job,and I am thrilled that you gave my favorite trainer Jonathan Sheppard honorable mention as he has all of the qualitys I've mentioned and more.He has had a great year and he deserves it,as he never forgets the little people behind the scenes,or the horses that he trains that may never win a race.Thanks again Steve for a great job.

re: Greatest Training Achievements

Karen in Indiana — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:58:04 GMT

About Michael Dickinson - oops! You're right, wrong decade. I just got carried away.

re: Greatest Training Achievements

GreyK — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:46:50 GMT

First, I am eagerly anticipating this print issue of The Blood Horse and woinder why the editors couldn't find room for more of Mr. Haskins's work. It elevates the sport and educates readers at every level of the game. Thank you, Steve. Second, to East Coast Writer: I'm an East Coast girl and totally in the tank for Rachel Alexandra as HOY, but seriously, don't be an idiot. The entire Zenyatta team and their magnificent mare deserve heaps of praise and honor forever for the accomplishments of a horse for the ages.

re: Greatest Training Achievements

MTBFan(still) — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:33:31 GMT

Steve...

Please, please take Dutrow off the list. I don't care about neutrality and racing being a business, that smug know-it-all pushed Brown way too hard.

Glad to see a couple of lesser-known trainers up there. And Alex's training regimen! Keeping the horse well-muscled. :) Not for every horse, but a message: build our horses better!

re: Greatest Training Achievements

jamesb — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:38:43 GMT

Sorry if I missed it, but did the job Asmussen/Gaines did with Curlin get mentioned?

He was a maiden on Jan. 1 who went on to win HOY.

re: Greatest Training Achievements

Linda — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:12:55 GMT

What about John Servis and his little blue colar team of nobodies coming out of nowhere to send Smarty Jones to the pinacle of racing, the triple crown races? The little colt kept on pushing and his Preakness was a joy to see. I admit they miscalculated in the Belmont, they could have done it with Smarty, but to get that far from out of nowhere is a great feat.

re: Greatest Training Achievements

Linda in Texas — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:03:06 GMT

Re:East Coast Writer's comments.

Went back and read his article on Zenyatta winning The BC in the Washington Post. 17 people commented, none positive and soon comments were closed. Nuff said. Me thinks he has some resentment someplace. He did himself no bueno either for garnering any savvy, prospective readers. If the BC had been on dirt,slop or nails Zenyatta would have been there. It was a gutsy call to enter her and everyone else had the same chance. Of course, some chose not to. Call me biased, Zenyatta and team are to be commended for keeping her healthy. And God

Speed to all winners and losers past, present and future, American or European,here now or gone to that great paddock in the sky. Ya' gotta love them all. And i do. Please keep Kip Deville in your thoughts.

re: Greatest Training Achievements

Soldier Course — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:23:41 GMT

John Servis deserves to be on this list with Smarty Jones.

I was flabbergasted when I saw Dubious Dutrow at No. 2. Battling foot injuries with Big Brown?

How about John Servis' battling a broken skull that nearly killed Smarty Jones, and then bringing him along to be the first undefeated Kentucky Derby winner since Seattle Slew?

re: Greatest Training Achievements

Linda — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:22:32 GMT

I like Zenyatta, alot, but one big race doesn't make you immortal. I haven't been excited about racing in a very long time and the horse that brought me out of retirement was Rachel Alexandra. Big, tough and a trier. She needs to be in the top 10.

re: Greatest Training Achievements

Don from Delaware — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 13:01:42 GMT

Quite amazing compilation Steve, thanks...