THE SATURDAY POST

Throughout history, no female trainer has ever won the Kentucky Derby.

Only a handful of female trainers have ever tried their luck in the race.

Shannon Ritter is setting out to challenge those odds in her first start as a trainer in the upcoming Kentucky Derby.

Prior to becoming a trainer, Ritter worked as an exercise rider and jockey. Five years ago, she began training horses on her own after learning from Elliott Walden, racing manager at WinStar Farm.

In February, Ritter raced Endorsement in a maiden race at Oaklawn Park. The race was on the undercard of the Grade III $250,000 Southwest Stakes – which Conveyance won.

In an impressive 2 ½ length victory, Endorsement broke his maiden on his third career start.

After his maiden win, Ritter entered Endorsement in the $800,000 Grade III Sunland Derby. In that race, Conveyance was the favorite at odds of 3-5.

In an authoritative three-length victory, Endorsement won the Sunland Derby.

The win secured Endorsement a spot in the upcoming Kentucky Derby.

As Ritter prepares the horse for the race, she remains actively involved in his training. On April 17, Endorsement worked five furlongs at Keeneland in 1:01.60.

During the workout, Ritter rode the horse herself.

When asked who would work him leading into the Kentucky Derby, Ritter explained, “I haven’t decided yet who will work him, but it will probably be me.”

Clearly, Ritter isn’t afraid of hard work and tough odds.

She takes them with stride.

In a recent interview, Ritter talked about her career in the racing industry and her first start as a trainer in the Kentucky Derby with Endorsement.

JW: What first inspired you to work with horses in life?

SR: I think I was just born with it in my blood. I grew up in Minnesota, where there weren’t any race horses. I had just seen them on TV.

I always loved horses as a little girl. It was just something inside me.

When I graduated high school, I decided to leave Minnesota and pursue my dream of being with race horses.

JW: How does it feel for you to go to the Kentucky Derby for your first time in your training career?

SR: It’s every trainers dream. It’s such a prestigious race in the racing industry. Every trainer has the dream of having a horse in the Derby, as well as winning it.

It’s been real exciting. We’re looking forward to Saturday and all the excitement of Derby day.

JW: If you were to win the Kentucky Derby, you would be the first female trainer in history to win the race. How do you feel about having the opportunity to make history?

SR: I feel really good. It would be amazing to make that kind of history as a female in the racing world. Not only for me - but for all females.

JW: You have worked as an exercise rider and jockey. What inspired you to become a trainer?

SR: After I quit riding, I became an assistant trainer for Elliot Wallace. I’m the type of person who is always challenging myself to move forward and try different things.

As an assistant trainer, you’re basically a trainer without having the complete responsibility and making all of your own decisions. So, I just wanted to go ahead and try it and see how it went.

JW: You just rode Endorsement in a workout on April 17. Do gain any special understanding of your horse by being the rider during workouts?

SR: No doubt about it. I have experience riding from being a jockey.

Sometimes as a rider, you can feel things that you might not see in the eye while watching a horse.

For me, the breeze is important, but the gallop out is just as important. The way a horse gallops out can give you an indication of how well he is doing.

[As the rider,] I have the opportunity to make that decision – to let the horse ease up on his own or let him gallop out if they are doing extremely well. If they don’t need to gallop out, I can make that choice as well.

JW: What strengths do you see in Endorsement?

SR: One of his strengths is that he’s a pretty cool customer. He handles everything well and he doesn’t let things upset him too much.

He knows how to rest when he needs to rest. He eats well. He’s been traveling well. It didn’t seem to upset him traveling when we went to Sunland Park.

I think that’s going to be his biggest asset. I think he’ll handle all the hoopla well on Derby day.

JW: Does Endorsement have any favorite items or things?

SR: He likes both peppermints and apples. He likes anything – he’s a pretty good eater.

He’s been devouring peppermints lately.

JW: What is the general temperament of Endorsement?

SR: He’s pretty professional and nice to be around.

He likes to have friends. He’ll nicker a little bit at some of the other horses. It’s not bad – he just wants to be friends.

JW: What makes the Kentucky Derby a special race for you?

SR: For me, my dream was to ride in the Kentucky Derby since I was a rider. I loved to ride. I still love to ride.

After not being able to do that, this has been pretty special to train a horse for the Derby. To train a horse for Winstar Farm and go to the Kentucky Derby for them just makes it really special.

In two weeks, Trainer Mike Maker is going to the Kentucky Derby for the first time in his career with two contenders - Stately Victor and Dean’s Kitten.

As the horses approach the starting gate, Maker has demonstrated the ability to upset the odds and draw hidden talent from a horse.

Although Maker is a new face at the Kentucky Derby, he has maintained his own racing stable since 2003 and spent his life around race horses.

Growing up in Michigan, Maker’s father was a trainer and the family raced horses at Hazel Park and Detroit Race Course.

At age thirteen, he purchased his first horse with money he had saved from delivering newspapers and hot walking horses at the track. When the horse won its’ first start, Maker found his fate in life.

From his first horse at age thirteen, Maker has maintained his dream of winning the Kentucky Derby. With two contenders in the gate, he might beat the hardest odds in history.

However, if his history indicates anything, it shows that Maker isn’t afraid to put his faith in a long shot.

They have rewarded him plenty.

Stately Victor: The Longest Odds in the Bluegrass.

When Stately Victor set foot on the track at Keeneland to run the Bluegrass Stakes, many bettors had written him off as being outclassed after glancing at his past performance record.

In seven career starts, his sole win came in his maiden victory. The racing program descriptors for his remaining races fell along the lines of “tired” and “no threat.”

He certainly didn’t garner much fan fare at the gate.

His co-owners, Jack and Tom Conway, barely held a poker face for Stately Victor. When Jack learned that his father, Tom, had entered the horse in the race, he reportedly responded, “Really?”

His racing record didn’t exactly harvest enthusiasm.

To the surprise of many, Stately Victor had his own agenda that day.

As he blazed down the stretch in an authoritative 4 ¼ length victory, the horse became the biggest long shot to win the Bluegrass in its’ 86-year history.

In the same moment, Stately Victor claimed his spot in the Kentucky Derby.

After the Bluegrass, Maker responded to the upset with a testament to his faith in Stately Victor. “After a while, when a horse underachieves, you kinda forget about him. But I never quit believing in this horse.”

Dean’s Kitten: The Other Side of the Gate.

On March 27, Dean’s Kitten stepped onto the track at Turfway Park with odds of 6-1 in the Lane’s End Stakes. As he paraded toward the gates, the betting public focused much of its’ attention on Connemara, the 8-5 favorite, and Northern Giant, the second choice in the race.

Like Stately Victor, Dean’s Kitten didn’t arouse strong enthusiasm as he marched past the stands.

The owners, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, were across the world for the Dubai World Cup when Dean’s Kitten entered the gates. In Dubai, the Ramseys were watching their horse, Furthest Land, compete in the 14-horse field.

The horse ultimately finished dead last.

In their place, the Ramseys sent their son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Patricia Ramsey, to watch Dean’s Kitten ride in the Lane End Stakes.

Prior to the Lane’s End Stakes, Dean’s Kitten had made ten career starts and produced only two wins – including his maiden victory.

Similar to Stately Victor, Dean’s Kitten’s racing record was checkered with such descriptors as “no menace” and “no factor.”

When the gates sprung open in the Lane’s End, Dean’s Kitten covered the 1 1/8 mile distance in 1:50:59. With Northern Giant and Connemara trailing respectively in second and third place, Dean’s Kitten won the race in an impressive 2 ½ length victory.

As Dean’s Kitten headed toward the winner’s circle, Ken and Sarah Ramsey had just learned that their home-bred horse had secured a position in the Kentucky Derby.

This was no small moment.

Despite winning more races than any other owners at Churchill Downs, Ken Ramsey has never had a horse win the Kentucky Derby. Ramsey has been said to joke that he wants to “get into that other winner’s circle,” referring to the sacred ground at Churchill Downs that is reserved solely for the Derby winner.

Standing in the winner’s circle at Turfway Park with Dean’s Kitten, Jeff and Sarah Ramsey received a cell phone call from Ken Ramsey in Dubai.

When Sarah picked up, she responded, “We’re busy taking a photo!”

As the trophy was presented, two couples – in two different continents - smiled with excitement.

In a post-race interview, Maker explained, “We pointed to this race in it paid off for us.”

It sure did.

With two horses starting in the Kentucky Derby, Maker’s faith in the talent of his horses has paid him much success.

In a recent interview, Maker answered my questions about the two Kentucky Derby contenders as they head toward the starting gates.

JW: How does it feel to go the Kentucky Derby for the first time in your training career?

MM: I feel very blessed to make it to the Kentucky Derby. It’s also a feeling of accomplishment because each horse earned their way. It has been a lifelong dream to win the Kentucky Derby.

JW: You currently have two horses expected to start in the Kentucky Derby. Did you ever imagine you would have two starters in your first trip to the Kentucky Derby?

MM: I have imagined having more starters, actually. As a child, I kinda dreamt of having the whole field.

JW: In regard to Dean’s Kitten, what do you see as the strengths in this horse?

MM: Dean’s Kitten’s greatest strength will be his ability to handle a 1 ¼ mile race. He has no distance limitations.

JW: How would you describe the general temperament of Dean’s Kitten?

MM: Dean’s Kitten is a very laid back horse. He’d make a lazy work horse.

JW: In regard to Stately Victor, what do you see as the strengths in this horse?

MM: Stately Victor is just like a pretty girl - when he goes by, you can’t help but look. He always trains impressively and has a great big stride.

JW: How would you describe the general temperament of Stately Victor?

MM: He can be a bit of a show off when he’s playing - jumping on his hind legs. But, when it comes down to race time, he is a complete gentleman.

JW: From a young age, you dreamed of winning the Kentucky Derby. What makes the Kentucky Derby so special for you?

MM: The Derby is a special race for me because of all the history.

No matter where I go, if someone asks what I do, they ask if I have won the Kentucky Derby or ran in it. It’s their way of relating to what I do.

It is also special because I grew up watching it and was a horseracing fan as a child.

Every now and then, you find a story in this sport that rivals the greatest of fairy tales.

To me, the journey of Sidney’s Candy going to the Kentucky Derby is among those stories.

The story began several decades ago, when a married couple set out to win the Kentucky Derby. After purchasing several horses and failing in their Derby efforts, the couple decided to breed their own Thoroughbreds. Before their first home-bred colt entered the gates on Derby day, the husband tragically died of cancer. He left behind one wish in life – winning the Kentucky Derby.

In the same race, a 19-year-old jockey was scheduled to ride the morning line favorite in his first outing at the event. Before he was given a chance to enter the gates, the horse was scratched that morning due to injury. He left Churchill Downs with one dream – to ride in the Kentucky Derby.

On the same day, the couple raced their first home-bred colt in the Kentucky Derby. After placing eleventh in the race, the horse left behind one hope – a two-year-old colt that held a chance to win the Kentucky Derby.

Roughly nine months later, the same two-year-old colt set foot on the track at Santa Anita to make his three-year-old debut.

The colt’s owner was the Sid and Jenny Craig Trust.

The colt’s jockey was twenty-year-old Joe Talamo.

The colt was Sidney’s Candy – the namesake to the man who died with the dream of winning the Kentucky Derby.

“Once Upon a Time:” Racehorse Owners Sidney and Jenny Craig Chase the Dream.

The name, “Jenny Craig,” is usually associated with the empire surrounding the weight-loss maven.

However, “Jenny Craig” is more than a brand. She is a woman with humble beginnings, a hard-work ethic, and a history of owning champion racehorses.

During her youth, Jenny Craig’s confidence and drive took her on a journey that would not only lead to her ultimate career success, but also, to meeting her husband – Sid Craig.

In 1970, Sid Craig ran an ad in the New Orleans newspapers to staff his Body Contour Figure Salons. Jenny answered the ad and worked for Sid Craig for a number of years – opening and supervising three centers, as well as traveling to various salon locations throughout the United States.

After forming a friendship through their business relationship, the pair eventually married in Las Vegas in 1979.

In regard to their relationship, Jenny Craig wrote in her 2004 autobiography:

I’ve learned everyone has a soul mate somewhere, and if we’re lucky enough to find them to share our life with, then we are more fortunate than most. I thank God every day for allowing me to find mine. Sid has enriched my life in more ways than I can count.

Throughout nearly three decades of marriage, Sid and Jenny Craig maintained a mutual passion and devotion for racing, which led to their ownership of several horses.

One of the most infamous purchases was Dr. Devious. Jenny Craig had purchased the horse as a $2.5 million birthday gift to her husband when he turned 60 in 1992. Although Dr. Devious ran in the 1992 Kentucky Derby, he failed to produce a victory for the Craigs.

As part of the same gift, Jenny Craig purchased a filly named Crownette for $190,000. Although Crownette did not achieve the same success as Dr. Devious had on the track, she proved her value many years later in a union with Candy Ride.

Candy Ride, who was unbeaten in six career starts, was purchased by the Craigs after he won his first three races in Argentina. He was ultimately bred to Crownette and produced 2009 Kentucky Derby contender, Chocolate Candy. Despite Chocolate Candy’s failure to capture a Derby victory, the race demonstrated Candy Ride’s ability as a sire to produce a colt that could garner a highly-coveted spot in the Derby field.

In a sad twist, Sid Craig would not live to see Chocolate Candy enter the gates in the Kentucky Derby.

After a fairy tale life, he died with one regret: He never had a horse win the Kentucky Derby. Jenny Craig explained, “Near the end of Sid’s illness…, I asked him if there was anything he wished that he had achieved, and he said, ‘Yes. Winning the Kentucky Derby.’ It really was the ultimate dream for him.” She went on to explain, “We thought as one – and I shared all his dreams.”

Through the work of Jenny Craig, her husband’s dream of winning the Kentucky Derby has been carried on past his lifetime.

Prior to his death, the Craigs bred Candy Ride with a broodmare named Fair Exchange.

The union produced a colt. In honor of the late Sid Craig, the colt was named “Sidney’s Candy.”

The Horseless Rider: The Empty Gate in the 2009 Kentucky Derby.

In 2009, Jockey Joe Talamo, had his own dream – to ride his first horse in the Kentucky Derby.

At age 19, Talamo was set to ride morning line favorite, I Want Revenge in the Kentucky Derby. After starting his career as a jockey at Louisiana Downs in 2006, I Want Revenge was his first Derby mount. He was among a handful of riders who had reached the Kentucky Derby at such an early point in their career.

On the morning of the Kentucky Derby, I Want Revenge was scratched. The decision was made when a soft tissue injury was discovered in the left front ankle of the horse on the day of the race. The trainer for I Want Revenge, Jeff Mullins, stated, “Your biggest dream is to get here. Your biggest nightmare is to get here and scratch.”

As a result of the scratch, Talamo’s dreams of getting to ride a horse in the Kentucky Derby disappeared in a moment.

The Second Shot: Sidney’s Candy Bullets Toward the Roses.

Roughly three months after his horse scratched at the Kentucky Derby, Joe Talamo began riding Sidney’s Candy.

At the time, the horse was trying to break his maiden.

After a relatively average two-year-old season, Sidney’s Candy pointed to Santa Anita for his three-year-old debut.

On February 15, Joe Talamo entered the gates at the San Vincente Stakes aboard Sidney’s Candy as the colt made his debut. In a breathtaking finish, Sidney’s Candy won the San Vincente Stakes with a 4 ¼ length victory.

In the wake of his impressive three-year-old debut, Sidney’s Candy was entered in the San Felipe Stakes on March 13. When Talamo shot out of the gates aboard the horse, the colt ran in front throughout the entire race. As he claimed a second consecutive victory, Sidney’s Candy cemented himself as a legitimate contender for the Kentucky Derby.

On April 3, Sidney’s Candy entered the Santa Anita Derby with a field of top-notch rivals in the race. With Talamo again as his rider, Sidney’s Candy ran ahead of the pack - delivering an impressive 4 ½ length victory.

With Talamo aboard, Sidney’s Candy heads into the Kentucky Derby. In an interview following the Santa Anita Derby, Talamo stated:

To have a horse in the Kentucky Derby, any kind of horse, is a tremendous feat. I feel very honored and blessed just to make it back this year, after what happened last year.

We’ll see how good he is in the Derby. But, the way he handled himself today was unbelievable. He relaxes so well and he does things three-year-olds don’t do.

But he does it.

Post Time: The Kentucky Derby.

As twenty of the greatest three-year-old horses in our nation approach the gates for the Kentucky Derby, the actions of the athletes and their connections are perhaps the strongest testament to the beauty of this sport.

One horse can deliver a dream to so many people.

One person can spend a lifetime inside the dream.

One race can make a dream come true.

On a sunny Friday afternoon, I arrived at the gates of Churchill Downs to interview John Asher about the history of the Kentucky Derby. Asher, Vice President of Racing Communications at Churchill Downs, has been working in the thoroughbred industry for over two decades – serving on boards, acting as a publicist, and providing award-winning media coverage of the sport. He joined Churchill Downs in 1997.

In his coverage of horse racing, he has achieved celebrity status in his own right. On Kentucky Derby day, it would be near-impossible to watch any major televised report about the race without seeing John Asher appear on the screen. Amidst the crowd of racing enthusiasts, he is the man to follow on Kentucky Derby day.

When first I met Asher at Churchill Downs, it came as no surprise that it would be in a grand fashion. To me, the Kentucky Derby is all about excitement, tradition, pageantry, and witnessing history in motion. Churchill Downs is the cathedral for this one-of-a-kind event. After my entry to through magic gates, everything that followed was spun like a fairy tale adventure.

Asher appeared for the interview in the Director’s Room at Churchill Downs. This sacred ground is the site upon which the Kentucky Derby winners celebrate their win with a champagne toast following their victory.

In the center of the room, the press was gathered around a small table to view one of the most largely-coveted items in horse racing - the winner’s trophies for the 2010 Kentucky Derby.

The Winner’s Trophies for the Kentucky Derby.

Carefully handling each trophy with white gloves, the CEO of New England Sterling, Marc Forbes, informed me that the first person to personally touch each trophy would be the respective winner on Kentucky Derby day.

Forbes explained that the largest trophy, awarded to the owner of the winning horse, is comprised of sixty ounces of 14-karat gold and has remained largely unchanged from its’ original design, dating back to 1924. In the three major milestone races – the 75^th, 100^th, and 125^th anniversaries the Derby, the trophy was modified to include diamonds, emeralds, and rubies.

Among the historical variations on the trophy, the major alteration came in 1999 – when the horse shoe in the center of the trophy was reversed to point upward. Forbes explained, “Racing lore has it, that [when] a horse shoe is facing downward, the luck runs out of the horse shoe. So, in 1999, the horse shoe was changed and facing upward.”

Forbes stated that fifty employees are involved in the 1,600-hour process of handcrafting the owner’s trophy- comprised of 25 different components. The company also creates three smaller sterling silver replicas of the gold trophy, which are awarded to the trainer, breeder, and jockey of the winning horse.

As I marveled at the beautiful trophies that we set before me, I envisioned the past Derby winners who have stood in this room, clutching their trophies, in a champagne toast to beating the mind-bending odds to win the Kentucky Derby.

The historical wonders of Churchill Downs would soon be illuminated through my interview with Asher. After the trophies were carefully placed back in their cases, Asher led me outside to begin the journey through the history of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

The Kentucky Derby is America’s Oldest, Continuously Held, Sporting Event.

From our Eagle-eye view of the legendary Churchill Downs dirt track, Asher explained, “The track dates back to 1875, when the first Derby was held. We have run the Derby every year, without interruption, since 1875. This year, May 1^st, will be 136 consecutive years.”

Asher then elaborated, “We are America’s oldest, continuously held, sports event. We have survived two world wars, The Great Depression, [and] the flood of 1937, which had us underwater.”

In a few sentences, I learned my first lesson. The Kentucky Derby is a testament to perseverance. Not only for the lucky handful who arrive in the winner’s circle – but to those who ensure that the race is run in the first place. And, as Asher would soon explain, Matt Winn embodied the spirit of perseverance.

Matt Winn: The Architect of the Revival.

Although the Kentucky Derby had been running for 27 years, the track had never turned a profit at the time Matt Winn began managing Churchill Downs in 1902. When Winn arrived at Churchill Downs, he had a powerful vision for the track. Asher explained:

He really led the revitalization of the track. He had three goals… he wanted the Derby to be a major league sports event – a prominent sports event. …He wanted the race to be much more than a horse race – he wanted the fashion aspect, … the celebrity, all that. He wanted it to be just a huge celebration. Not just of the sport, not just of racing. And, also, he wanted Churchill Downs to be an important part of life in the community year-round, not just when we were racing.

Winn’s vision paid off the following year when Churchill Downs turned its’ first profit in 1903. However, Winn didn’t slow his efforts to revive the track in the wake of his initial success. In furtherance of his vision, Winn would eventually host state fairs on the grounds, locomotive collisions in the infield, bring pari-mutuel machines to the racetrack, and begin radio broadcasts of the Derby.

Asher explained that the community outreach initiatives of Churchill Downs even extended to the Catholic Church. “From the mid-1940s to the mid-1970s, there was a Roman Catholic archdiocese that held a religious celebration here every year – the feast of Corpus Christi. Thousands of people would come out. There was a procession on the track… it was a huge religious celebration.”

Through hosting community events, the track went beyond horse racing for many guests. In reference to “The Feast of Corpus Christi” celebration, Asher noted, “When you think of the people who came out here, the thousands that came out here, a big chunk of those people would never come to Churchill Downs for a horse race, or to bet a nickel on the nose of a horse. They came out here because Churchill Downs was special to them. Those Twin Spires were special, because of the experience they had here. That’s part of the emotional investment people have in this place.”

In the eyes of Asher, Winn’s vision has become a reality at Churchill Downs today. “Most of the times in a year, you can come up and find something going on. This year, we have Derby and Oaks, which will draw 250,000 people here.” Churchill Downs also hosts weddings, music festivals, and various other events – ranging from the previously hosting a Rolling Stones concert to the upcoming Breeder’s Cup Championship races in 2010.

The Artist’s Muse: Artwork at Churchill Downs.

In a painted collage at Churchill Downs, stands a quote by Irvin S. Cobb, Kentucky native and writer.

“Until you go to the Kentucky Derby with your own eyes, behold the Derby, you ain’t never been nowhere and you ain’t never seen nothing.”

As you walk through the halls of Churchill Downs, the work of many artists is on display in their effort to add their own definition, tribute, or voice to the Derby. Considering the collected pieces of art throughout Churchill Downs, one thing is clear – the Derby has been the muse for several artists.

During our interview, Asher showed me a piece of work by artist, Craig Colquhoun, that defies description in ordinary language. In an endeavor to follow his dream of creating something great, Colquhoun constructed a glass replica of Churchill Downs. As we studied the thousands of pieces, Asher explained:

When we were getting finished with the renovation, we got a call from an artist named ‘Craig Colquhoun.’ He says, ‘I’ve got this glass sculpture of Churchill Downs, would you be interested in looking at it?’ We said, ‘Sure.’

Pointing to the masterpiece standing before us, Asher remarked, “This was it. It is thirty feet long, ten feet wide, ten feet high, and 4,000 individual pieces he made – which represents every part of the Derby experience. [There are] fans in the infield, TV cameras and media, hats, the marching band, roses, ushers, and the horses.”

It was breathtaking.

While viewing the piece, Asher told the tale of the “Leading Horse,” in which the glass horse on the lead mysteriously changes position in the race. “[It’s] one of two things. Right now, it’s in the normal spot. We either have a spirit at work or an employee with a sense of humor. Every now and then, you will come up here and the horse on the lead will be about halfway up. I’ve never heard it explained or seen it explained. I just know the horse moves sometimes.”

While Colquhoun’s piece tries to capture the “spirit” of the Derby experience, there are also two murals in the clubhouse, painted by Pierre “Peb” Bellocq, that depict the winning jockeys and trainers in the Kentucky Derby.

In Bellocq’s mural of the winning Jockeys, the artist has painted every jockey to ever win the Kentucky Derby. Asher explained that the mural is a timeline. The end of the mural used to depict a woman looking forward with a horse in the background that wore “figure eight” silks to symbolize infinity. Later on, the silks on the horse were modified to reflect the silks of Smarty Jones.

In recent years, Calvin Borel’s victories have led to the modification of the jockey’s mural. In 2007, Calvin Borel was painted into the mural for his winning ride on Street Sense. After Calvin Borel won his second Derby on “Mine that Bird,” the mural was again modified to show Borel holding up two fingers – signifying his two wins in the Kentucky Derby.

After viewing numerous works of art inspired by the Kentucky Derby, it was clear that the race has the power to serve as an artistic muse. When I asked Asher about his opinion on why the Kentucky Derby has the power to inspire artists. He responded:

It’s a dream. I think it’s amazing. The whole thing about the race is a dream. Our purse is two million dollars. …It think we’d have thirty horses fighting to get into the race if we just gave them roses…

It’s the reason we get up in the business every day. If you breed a horse, own a horse, [or] you train a horse. If you’re thinking, ‘Is this horse the one?’ … I think it’s the dream aspect of it.

Building upon the concept of “the dream,” Asher shared his own story about how the Kentucky Derby led to his interest in horse racing. “[It’s] why I’m here. I watched the Derby with my family. We grew up in Kentucky, but we weren’t horse people. I was on a farm. It was my grandmother’s farm and it had nothing to do with horse racing. We were horse racing fans one day a year. We gathered around the TV and one day it just bit me. It’s amazing that I’m here, coming where I came from.”

The Kentucky Derby: The Allure of the Greatest Two Minutes in Racing.

On the first Saturday in May, eyes from all across the world spin around the oval track at Churchill Downs to watch the Kentucky Derby. Guests have included royalty, presidents, and celebrities. In recent years, Queen Elizabeth attended the race.

During our interview, Asher elaborated on why the race itself has such an alluring aspect. “You get one chance. It’s three-year-olds only. One Saturday. Two minutes in the afternoon. … In this year’s crops of three-year-olds, we have a maximum of twenty horses in the gate. And this year’s foal crop is about 37,000 – just in the United States. So, your odds are 37,000 to 1 to start. And that doesn’t include European-breds. …And even if you get here, … there are so many ways to lose a race.”

Despite the odds, the dream of ‘getting to the Kentucky Derby’ continues to captivate many individuals – whether owners, trainers, jockeys, breeders, or fans. Aside from the race, many people arrive at Churchill Downs for the pageantry and celebration surrounding the Kentucky Derby.

The glamour and tradition intertwined with race is nearly an event in and of itself. With women wearing wide-brimmed hats, celebrities weaving throughout the crowd, and the beloved traditions interwoven with the Kentucky Derby, individuals from all walks of life attend the race.

In light of the fan fare surrounding the Derby, I asked Asher which celebrity has drawn the most attention in his experience. He responded, “Jack Nicholson. He’s the biggest celebrity I’ve ever seen at the Derby. He stopped the show everywhere he went. Presidents… Queens… Nobody compared to Jack.”

Aside from the celebration in the stands, the horses on the track rule the day. In response to my question about his most memorable moments at the Kentucky Derby, Asher explained, “My absolute favorite moment is when they walk around the first turn to be saddled before the Derby. They are all coming over and everybody is accompanying the horse. The grooms are there. In a lot of cases, the owners and trainers are there.”

It is a heart-stopping moment. Fans who have labored over choosing their horses finally get to view them in the flesh. As for the connections to each horse, they are moving through the rapture of a dream.

Amidst the electric atmosphere surrounding the race, many individuals point to the moment that the crowd sings, “My Old Kentucky Home,” as an experience that defies description. As the marching band plays the music, it is hard to find a dry eye in Churchill Downs.

During our talk, I asked Asher, “What is it about ‘My Old Kentucky Home’ that makes grown men cry?” He responded, “It is everything about the Derby. It is the dream of everybody in the business. The Derby has got a romance. It just does. You look at the horses that win it, the people who had spent their whole lives in the business… Whatever it is, it touches people in a myriad of ways.”

However, for the hardened bettors, Asher gave a tip. “If you’re not a sentimentalist, it’s the best time to bet because there is nobody at the windows. They’re all outside crying. …Every window is wide-open.”

Barbaro: His Memorial at Churchill Downs.

The story of Barbaro struck a chord with many individuals throughout the world. After his death, the decision was made to commission a statue of Barbaro and make Churchill Downs his final resting place.

The inscription under the statue quotes Olympic Gold Medal winner Eric Liddell: “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure.”

Asher noted that the statue was constructed with a purpose. “The Jacksons wanted all four feet off the ground. That’s the perfect photo of a thoroughbred. They are in flight.”

During our interview, I asked Asher about the decision to lay Barbaro to rest at Churchill Downs. He explained, “The Jacksons made the decision [on] where they wanted him to be. They looked at a farm up in Pennsylvania, they looked at Maryland, and they looked at our place. They ultimately decided that this was the greatest moment of his career and they wanted him to be here. We obviously welcomed him.”

In response to my follow-up question regarding his continued fans, Asher explained, “The letters that came following Barbaro were countless. They came from everywhere. We still get them now.”

Secretariat: The Kentucky Derby Track Record.

Throughout Churchill Downs, several photos of Secretariat line the walls throughout the track.

In 1973, Secretariat not only won the Triple Crown, but broke the official track record at the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont.

Regarding the Preakness, the official track clock was broken when he won and the time did not reflect a new track record. However, the Daily Racing Form publicly disagreed with the official time at Pimlico. According to their watch, Secretariat broke the official track record in the Preakness.

If the Daily Racing Form time was correct, Secretariat is the record holder in all three Triple Crown races.

During our interview, I asked Asher about his personal opinion as to whether Secretariat holds the record for all Triple Crown races. He responded, “Yes. For me, it’s no question.”

Asher elaborated, “The official time, I think everybody agrees, was wrong. Everybody who had a hand-held watch got it faster.”

In an interesting follow-up, Asher noted that the Preakness was his favorite performance during Secretariat’s Triple Crown bid.

My favorite race of Secretariat’s Triple Crown is probably the least known. He did something I’ve never seen a horse do in that race. He was dead last going into the first turn and then took off. It looked like jets were firing.

He goes into the first turn dead last [and] he came out of the first turn in front. So, he just passed everyone on the first turn – not the second turn. You just don’t see that happen.

As for Secretariat, Asher is not alone in his reverence for this champion. With the many articles and books written about this Secretariat, it is hard to find any new words to encapsulate his talent. In Asher’s description:

Secretariat is the most amazing thoroughbred ever created as far as I’m concerned. He’s the perfect physical specimen. I don’t know who to compare him to. He’s like Schwarzenegger in his prime. In terms of physical, it’s just a perfect build. He had a heart… bigger than anybody else. That’s the big guy. That’s the one that defines our sport.

Asher then recapped his visit to meet Secretariat while he stood at Claiborne Farms. When he arrived at the farm, Secretariat was in his hillside paddock. Asher stated:

I was walking through with one of the farm hands. We had heard all these things throughout the years about what a ham he was and how he posed for pictures.

He was at the top of the hill. The groom I was with didn’t speak loudly. He just said, ‘Hey, Red.’

Boom! Here he comes. Flying down the hill. Absolutely flying down the hill. [He] gets to the fence at the end of the paddock where we were standing. He gets there. Stops. And poses.

In his final comments about Secretariat, Asher highlighted that the champion still gets roses and flowers at Claiborne Farm on the anniversary of his birth and death.

The Last Word: Asher on the Art of Handicapping

Among his many talents, Asher is widely-known for his handicapping picks relating to the Kentucky Derby. He explained that he changes his choices every Sunday during the prep race season for the Derby.

Handicapping a horse race is no easy feat.

In response to my question as to whether he ever wishes that he could change his picks on Derby day, Asher responded with a recap of the upset delivered by Mine that Bird in the 2009 Kentucky Derby:

Yes. I wanted to change it last year. … I was sitting there watching the race with my daughter on Derby day. I’m looking up. …I said, ‘Aww, Eight is the winner.’ And, I go, ‘Who is Eight?’ And I looked at my program and realized it’s Mine that Bird with Calvin at 50 to 1. And for the next quarter mile, I couldn’t believe it. As soon as he crossed the finish line, I looked at my daughter and said, ‘You know, I’m not sure, but I think I picked him dead last.’ When I looked, sure enough. Dead last.

However, Asher has a good sense of humor. He appears perfectly at ease with being proven wrong in a race. “It’s very complex. It’s one of those businesses where, if you don’t learn something every day, you’re not paying attention.”

Smarty Jones captivated the nation in his bid for the Triple Crown in 2004. When he won the Kentucky Derby, the track announcer called out more than his victory. “Here is the first undefeated winner of the Kentucky Derby since Seattle Slew in 1977.” The public and industry began to marvel at the Triple Crown potential of Smarty Jones.

Following the Derby, Smarty Jones maintained his undefeated record by delivering an electrifying 11-1/2 length victory in the Preakness Stakes. As he pointed toward the Belmont, Smarty Jones had captured more than another win in his career – he had enlivened the imagination of spectators and won the hearts of fans across the nation.

As he entered the gates in the Belmont, Triple Crown dreams weighed heavily on Smarty Jones. Throughout most of the race, he ran at the top of the field. At the wire, Birdstone defeated Smarty Jones in a one-length victory. As the jockeys of both horses galloped from the finish line, Edgar Prado, rider of Birdstone, leaned toward Smarty Jones’ jockey, Stewart Elliott, and apologized.

Smarty Jones retired in 2004 with a career record of winning eight of his nine races. He was sent to Three Chimneys Farm and housed in the former stall of Seattle Slew, the only undefeated Triple Crown winner in history.

In 2005, Smarty Jones reportedly had visitors every day at the farm, except for Christmas. Three Chimneys Farms graciously allowed me to join the many individuals who have come to visit Smarty Jones and provided me with an interview about this exceptional horse.

JW: What were the primary factors that led to the decision to retire Smarty Jones to Three Chimneys Farm?

TCF: The Chapmans had never before had a horse of this caliber and were very thorough when choosing a farm at which to stand Smarty at stud. They obviously wanted a farm that was well-versed in successfully marketing and developing young stallions, but they were also keenly concerned about finding a farm that would allow the public to maintain their relationship with Smarty once he was retired to stud.

With Three Chimneys having managed the careers of such popular fan favorites as Seattle Slew, Silver Charm and others, we knew how to accommodate the public’s desire to have access to the horses without jeopardizing the horses’ stallion careers and the focus on presenting them in the best possible light to potential breeders.

‘Three Chimneys was such a great fit. They are used to having the public visit their horses like Seattle Slew, Silver Charm and Point Given,’ said Pat Chapman, who raced Smarty Jones with her late husband, Roy, and still maintains significant ownership in the horse as a stallion. ‘They believe in limiting a stallion’s book of mares, and they are experienced in standing an important horse and making him a success as a sire. It’s just a really great fit.’

At the time of the announcement that Smarty Jones would stand at Three Chimneys upon retirement, Three Chimneys owner Robert Clay was quoted as saying the following:

‘We are grateful for this awesome responsibility. This is a very special horse in so many ways. The Chapmans and the Servises have earned the gratitude of the entire racing world by the way they have served the needs of the press, and the public, and of Smarty Jones all at the same time. We hope, and plan, to do just as good a job as they have done. We have always welcomed fans to Three Chimneys Farm and look forward to sharing Smarty Jones with his public.’

JW: Was the decision to retire Smarty Jones to Three Chimneys Farm made prior to the Belmont race or afterward?

TC: The decision to retire Smarty was made after the Belmont Stakes, but not in any way due to that race being his first and only loss. When the Chapmans chose Three Chimneys as the farm to stand Smarty at upon his retirement, it was with the intention that he would get a nice rest after a demanding Triple Crown bid, then go on to race in the late summer and fall of his three-year-old year and possibly as a four-year-old.

Soon after the Belmont Stakes, it was found that Smarty had significant bone bruising on the bottom of all four cannon bones. While it is a fairly common injury for racehorses to sustain and many come back after some time off to race successfully, the Chapmans were not willing to risk putting Smarty Jones in harm’s way.

‘After all he’s done, I couldn’t live with myself if I thought we were putting him in harm’s way,’ said Pat Chapman. ‘He doesn’t owe us anything, and we owe him A LOT.’

JW: Was the decision to house Smarty Jones in the former stall of Seattle Slew a tribute to Smarty Jones’ near-miss in his Triple Crown bid?

TC: In a way, yes. Smarty was one of few horses that has truly captured the attention and interest of the general public. Whether someone was a horseracing fan, a general horse enthusiast, or simply an ‘average Joe,’ they knew about Smarty Jones and his ‘Rags to Riches’ story. Seattle Slew was another horse who carried with him that ‘celebrity status.’

When Smarty retired to Three Chimneys, we wanted to pay homage to all that he had accomplished on the track as a runner, but also for the sport in general. He brought so many new fans into the racing industry. Even in his retirement here at Three Chimneys, he gets tens of thousands of fan visits each year.

When visitors walk up to his stall, they see his nameplate on the door and, as with every stall in our stallion barn, if they look up to the right corner above his stall, they will see the nameplate of the previous occupant. Above Smarty’s stall is the nameplate of Seattle Slew.

JW: Why do you think the public experienced such a strong connection to Smarty Jones?

TC: Smarty was kind of a blue collar horse. He was modestly bred, hailing from, at the time, a $10,000 stallion and was born and raised in Pennsylvania, which was also where his home track of Philadelphia Park was located.

He overcame adversity as a youngster when he had a serious, potentially career and even life-threatening, accident while schooling in the starting gate. Then, when it came time to show what he was made of, he just kept on winning and winning.

Every bar that was set for Smarty, he exceeded, which is how he got to the Kentucky Derby as one of only a handful of horses to ever win the Derby to remain undefeated.

Another very compelling side to the story was the connections of smarty Jones. His owners/breeders Roy and Patricia Chapman were living a fairytale. Smarty Jones was the best horse they had ever raced and they were kind and gracious with both the media and his many fans.

Their trainer, John Servis, was also living the dream, as Smarty was his first Kentucky Derby starter and propelled his career to new heights. The public was able to connect with the Chapman’s and John Servis because they were appreciative of Smarty’s many fans and willing to give them access to their lives.

JW: How would you describe the character and temperament of Smarty Jones?

TC: Smarty sure isn’t a dummy! He enjoys his daily routine, which includes coming in from his paddock in the morning and being walked, bathed, and fed (he’s especially a fan of the feeding portion of that routine). He’s actually not one to crave a lot of human interaction. If it was his choice, he’d probably opt out of his daily grooming and would prefer to say dirty.

He’s a huge fan of mud, which seems to fit right in with his disdain for grooming. After a good rain, the lower corner of his paddock can get especially soggy and, as soon as he’s turned out on a day like that, he goes straight for that corner and starts working on his ‘mud masque.’

He loves peppermints and, while we can’t give him all of the treats his fans send him throughout the year, we do make sure that there is a never-ending supply of mints in the tack room that the grooms pamper him with.

JW: Smarty Jones has produced several foals in the past few years. Can you discuss some of the notable racehorses among his progeny?

TC: Admittedly, Smarty’s offspring didn’t give his career at stud the launch we had anticipated initially, however, he has had high caliber runners each year since his first crop hit the track and recently he’s had several of the best few months of his career. Some of his current budding stars include:

Backtalk is going to the Illinois Derby and, if all goes well, to the Triple Crown

Brilliant Sunshine was so impressive with her last two wins (broke maiden by 4-1/4 under wraps, then won an allowance by 7 being geared down) that she’s being pointed for her first stakes start next time out; she was profiled in the TDN’s “Sharper Focus” section last week as a horse to watch.

Follow the Leader is 4-3-1-0 (all in Msw and Alw company) and is likely headed for stakes competition – owned by the President of Oaklawn.

Keiai Gerbera won an allowance in January and came back to score a 5 length win in a stakes race in Japan over a field of 15 males – she was the only female in the race.

No Equipment won first time out by 8 lengths at Philly Park

Gracie Jones won second time out so impressively that she’s being pointed toward the Oaks Trial S. with the goal of starting in the South African Oaks later this year. Creating a LOT of buzz in South Africa – Smarty’s only runner in that country.

Sommelier Smarty is unbeaten in 2010 and is riding a 3 race winning streak.

JW: In terms of breeding, what are traits that make Smarty Jones desirable at a stud?

TC: Smarty Jones has a unique and obviously very favorable combination of good looks, balance and athleticism. He is a 16-hand powerhouse and his offspring resemble him, with that distinctive head, big hind-end, and cocky attitude.

Some of his best foals have been out of mares from the Seattle Slew and Deputy Minister lines and is working well with mares carrying Northern Dancer blood, especially Danzig and Storm Cat daughters.

JW: In your estimation, how many fans have visited Smarty Jones since he retired to Three Chimneys Farm?

TC: Smarty Jones and the rest of our stallions are greeted by at least 25,000 a year. Due to the high demand from fans to see our stallions, starting way back with Seattle Slew, we had to build a visitors’ center separate from our main office and an auxiliary parking lot due to all of the additional traffic.

We expect to FAR exceed that 25,000 visitor estimate this year. Due to the World Equestrian Games being in Lexington this fall, we have had numerous requests (we’re talking about hundreds upon hundreds) to see Smarty and the rest of the stallions and the farm. Due to the vastly increased demand during this event, we are modifying our tour schedule to be able to accommodate as many requests as possible.

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In the 2001 Kentucky Derby, Monarchos blazed toward the wire to win with a time of 1:59 4/5 – just two tenths off the record time of Secretariat. In less than a second, Monarchos had become the fastest living Kentucky Derby winner.

The man behind Monarchos, breeder Jim Squires, stood in the crowd in disbelief. Having retired from his profession as a journalist, Squires had just witnessed a steel gray colt blur the ordinary lines between fact and fiction.

Squires was now cast as a subject in one of the most fantastical stories in horse racing.

Born in Tennessee as the son of a textile-mill worker, Squires was fascinated by horses as a child. He would draw horses when he was in first grade rather than concentrating on arithmetic and save his money to ride “Tony,” a carnival pony, for a nickel.

As we stood watching a two-year-old colt breeze across a track, Squires quipped about how “Tony” would bite him on his legs when he rode him. He laughed as he remembered his mother making him wear pants in the summer since his legs had bite marks from riding “Tony” during carnival season.

As an adult, Squires worked as a journalist. When he moved to Illinois to become editor of the Chicago Tribune newspaper, he brought two cutting horses with him from Florida.

While searching for a home for his horses, he met his wife, Mary Anne, a Chicago native and Northwestern graduate. She had been working as a real estate agent and was selling farms in the Barrington Hills area. Squires married Mary Anne six months after their meeting and they lived on the farm he had purchased.

In 1988, the couple moved to Kentucky and formed their current farm, “Two Bucks.” They bred Paint horses, cutting horses, and Quarter horses. Jim Squires began to write books in his retirement.

After serving on the Kentucky Racing Commission, Squires developed a growing interest in thoroughbreds, which led him to purchase a few mares. As his mare population increased, Squires found Regal Band, Monarchos’ dam, at a Keeneland sale in 1995. When she failed to meet her reserve price, Squires later purchased Regal Band for $14,000.

Squires eventually made the life-changing decision to breed Regal Band with Maria’s Mon. In his book, Horse of a Different Color, Squires explains how both horses “had fallen a good ways from the thoroughbred aristocracy” at that point. He recounts, “…Only the offspring would determine the worth of the parents and the wisdom of their union.”

In a few golden fractions, Monarchos validated Squires’ belief in the value of these two horses. Their union had proven genius.

During my recent visit with the Squires, I not only learned about Monarchos, but also, the amazing character of these two people. Their kindness and generosity is as astonishing as Monarchos’ near record-breaking victory. I would like to extend the warmest thanks for the following interview.

JW: When did you gain your appreciation for horses in life?

JS: Two of my earliest memories are of being hoisted upon the back of a red pony named Peaches by a grandparent (I couldn’t have been more than three or four years old at the time), and not long after that standing at a fence flirting with a group of Palomino ponies at eye level on the other side.

I suspect these are what ignited a horse gene passed down from Cherokee Indian ancestors on my mother’s side. I remember drawing horses on my tablet in the first grade when I should have been learning arithmetic and dreaming about them at night.

JW: Prior to starting your farm, “Two Bucks Thoroughbreds,” you were Editor-in-Chief of the Chicago Tribune newspaper. What led to your decision to move to Kentucky and begin breeding thoroughbreds?

JS: When I became editor of the Tribune, I already owned some riding horses, so I purchased a small farm in outlying Barrington Hills, an equine community where and Mary Anne and I soon became active in the breeding and showing of American Paint Horses.

Ten years later when I left the Tribune, we owned two stallions and 20 mares and Kentucky seemed like the ideal place to move them. We had no intention of raising Thoroughbreds but it is difficult for a horse person to live in the Bluegrass without falling in love with them.

JW: Monarchos was a product of sire, Maria’s Mon and broodmare, Regal Band. What did you see in these two particular horses that led you to determine they would be a good breeding match?

JS: My quarter and paint horse experience of the previous 15 years had given me a basic understanding of equine conformation and breeding patterns, particularly a belief in the importance of female families as the conduit of good genes.

Regal Band was from one of the best families in the Jockey Club book that already produced a great mare Andover Way and a great stallion Dynaformer. Equally important was the fact that physically she resembled the dam of Doc Bar, an immensely influential sire of performance quarter horses.

I had watched Maria’s Mon win a 2-year-old race in New York and believed him to be the toughest, soundest and best-looking of all the freshman sires in my price range—and he fit my breeding theory in that he had descended from two good broodmare sires—Caro and Wavering Monarch.

JW: You were in the stable when Monarchos was born and watched his early development. Did he stand out from the other foals?

JS: By the time Monarchos was born, I had probably foaled 150 babies. Of those none came into the world brighter eyed and more ready to go. He was small, black as coal with a very big, bright eye, a lovely sloping shoulder and his mother’s star. Within a very few minutes—15 or 20 at the most—when startled by a cat in the rafters he got to his feet with ease and never once fell backwards.

Within a few hours, he was a whirling dervish doing circles around his mother and later as a weanling running, running, running long after his mates were winded, which is exactly what happened at Churchill Downs.

JW: When I met Monarchos during our visit, I found him to be a very gentle and kind horse. What factors do you believe contribute to good temperament in a horse – breeding, training, or both?

JS: Both I suspect. I never saw any mean temperament in any of Regal Band’s foals. But I give more weight to the latter. How a horse comes to relate to humans and other horses is probably behavior learned directly from the mother and the people who handle them. I believe the success of Two Bucks horses at the racetrack has a great deal to do with how we raised them on the farm.

JW: Can you describe how you felt when Monarchos won the 2001 Kentucky Derby?

JS: It took me an entire book - Horse of a Different Color - to describe it. And even then I failed to do it justice. I was up on the roof of Churchill Downs with the press photographers, most of whom I did not know. And they did know me.

Disbelief might have been the first emotion, realization of the extraordinary luck in involved the second. I did, however, lose my hearing for five or ten minutes afterward. I could see clearly, but heard nothing until I found Mary Anne in the crowd on the floor below. From that point on, it was a blur for a couple of days.

JW: Monarchos has the second fastest winning time in the Kentucky Derby. Do you think that Monarchos had the capacity to beat Secretariat’s track record in the 2001 Kentucky Derby?

JS: Jorge Chavez wrapped up Monarchos after he passed Congaree so easily and later said he could have gone a fraction or two faster had he known he was close to the record.

JW: Would you have enjoyed it if Monarchos had set the new track record for the Kentucky Derby?

JS: All of us connected with Monarchos were pleased to hear what Chavez said. Monarchos was indeed a very fast horse and had already proven that in the Florida Derby. But the Churchill Downs track surface was faster that day than normal.

A couple of records had been broken earlier in the day and the pacesetter in the Derby—Songandaprayer—had taken the field faster than it had ever gone before, setting records for the first few fractions. So a new Derby record would have always been suspect and an asterisk in the minds of many.

Secretariat is such an icon his record should last forever.

JW: You have been called a “Breeding Genius.” What do you think are the key elements that are present in a well-bred racehorse?

JS: The Breeding Genius moniker is a joke stemming from the point of view from which Horse of a Different Color was written. A friend of mine, the novelist Jane Smiley, once told me that after you reach the age of 50, a writer best writes with his tongue in his cheek. I did that in that Horse, writing from the third person as if the Breeding Genius (myself), and the Dominant Female (my wife Mary Anne) were characters in a piece of fiction.

Any success I have had as a breeder of horses - quarters, paints and thoroughbreds - can be contributed to an enormous amount of luck, great Kentucky ground, a well-constructed feeding program; faith in the power of female genes; and a wonderful way of dealing with horses that I learned from the experiences and teachings of two old cowboys—Tom and Bill Dorrance. What I learned from them and their followers cannot be overestimated as a factor.

JW: Do you believe that you could breed a future Kentucky Derby winner?

JS: The odds are not good. But once you do it, you never stopped trying until you run out of money or energy. I am growing shorter on both.

JW: What have been some of your most memorable moments in your years of breeding thoroughbreds?

JS: Nothing can compare with winning the Derby as a positive emotional experience.

Unfortunately, not all memorable experiences are positive. Both Regal Band and For Dixie, another great broodmare who produced several great horses including one that sold for $2.3 million long after we no longer owned her, both died at my feet.

So did my favorite riding horse and my favorite quarter horse champion mare.

But as long I keep raising horses, the memorable moments both positive and negative will keep on coming. That is the beauty of spending time with these magnificent creatures.

Jim Squires authored “Horse of a Different Color,” which is an exciting and informative book about his breeding farm and his experience with Monarchos. To view this book on Amazon.com, click here.

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Roughly three decades ago, Alexis Barba walked onto the track at Golden Gate Fields. Having spent a lifetime around saddle and show horses, she experienced a defining moment. “I knew immediately that I could never lose interest in a racehorse.”

In the years that followed, Barba walked, galloped, and groomed thoroughbred racehorses. She worked as an assistant to the late trainer, Eddie Gregson, who won the 1982 Kentucky Derby with the horse, Gato Del Sol. When Gregson died in 2000, Barba began training on her own.

Barba currently has a six-horse barn at Hollywood Park. However, this is no small operation. Of the six horses in the barn, two of the horses are currently on the trail to the Kentucky Derby.

Make Music for Me was the first horse to qualify in Barba’s barn for the Derby. In his two-year-old career, Make Music for Me placed in three of four graded stakes races – ranking him twelfth in earnings at $215,000.

Despite the excitement of having Making Music for Me on the Derby trail, Barba remained dedicated to her remaining horses. Alphie’s Bet, the stablemate of Make Music for Me, was entering his three-year old season. At the time he made his 2010 debut, Alphie’s Bet had one second-place finish as a two-year-old to the highly-regarded Derby hopeful, Caracortado.

After Alphie’s Bet finished second in December, Rider Alex Solis reportedly told Barba, “I think he can run all day… He’s big, strong, and he’ll run any distance.”

In his 2010 debut as a three-year-old, Alphie’s Bet demonstrated his capacity to win. On January 15, he broke his maiden at Santa Anita in an electrifying performance. After running last throughout the majority of the race, he went wide on the final turn and rallied in the stretch to capture breathtaking victory.

On March 6, Barba raced both horses at Santa Anita. In the sixth race, Make Music for Me clinched his first career victory in the Pasadena Stakes. Roughly forty minutes later, Alphie’s Bet won the Sham Stakes in a 2-1/4 length victory.

By winning the Sham Stakes, Alphie’s Bet had just captured enough graded earnings to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. As she held a bouquet of red-and-white flowers in the winner’s circle, Barba remarked, “Isn’t it amazing?”

It certainly is.

Recently, Barba graciously agreed to provide an interview about her experiences as a trainer and her Kentucky Derby prospects. I remain grateful for her kindness in taking the time to answer my questions.

JW: What initially attracted you to the sport of horse racing?

AB: I acquired a Thoroughbred Stallion that I was going to make into a show horse. I was so curious about his pedigree, I began exploring Thoroughbred lines.

As fate will have it, I acquired a Thoroughbred yearling filly shortly after that. I wanted to try to race her, but I didn’t have the means, so I thought I could work at the track. I went to Golden Gate Fields in Albany, CA, which was close to my childhood home, in the Oakland Hills.

Being anxious and curious, I now had a stallion and a filly. So guess what I did? Yes, I bred them.

The product of that mating was a filly named Lepta (Greek for Money). Since her mom didn’t make it to the track, I was going to be sure the daughter did. To make a long story short, Lepta won her first start at Caliente Race Track in Mexico. Her mother, French Dish, I believe went on to have 16 or 17 foals, three of which were winners at Santa Anita and one a stakes horse named Ondarty.

JW: How did you learn how to train racehorses?

AB: As you can see by my breeding program, I had a lot of practice with my own horses. I also had a lot of help along the way with some of the trainers, such as Tommy Doyle and Eddie Gregson, as well as anyone else who would give me information.

JW: What are some valuable lessons that you have learned about training racehorses during your career?

AB: Be patient, it all goes at a snail’s pace.

JW: What does your average weekly schedule look like as a trainer?

AB: Mostly just going to the track every morning. Then, to keep some kind of normalcy, I try to meet with friends at least once a week to gossip and tell horse stories.

JW: Has it been a dream of yours to race a horse in the Kentucky Derby?

AB: I wouldn’t say a dream, because most of the time you are just trying to get a productive horse. Of course, everyone wants stake horses, so when you are buying, you are always looking for good quality that meets that criteria.

JW: In the history of the Kentucky Derby, a female trainer has never won the race. How do you feel about your potential to make history?

AB: I’m not thinking about that. Let’s just run in the race first.

JW: What do you think are the strengths and unique qualities of Make Music for Me?

AB: He is a smallish horse with a huge stride and good appetite.

JW: What is the next race for Make Music for Me?

AB: The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes.

JW: Was it a surprise to you when Alphie’s Bet qualified for the Kentucky Derby after winning the Sham Stakes?

AB: No. I always told the owners that we had a really nice horse on our hands.

JW: What do you think are the strengths and unique qualities of Alphie’s Bet?

AB: He has a great turn of foot. To look at him, you wouldn’t think that he would have that.

JW: What is the next race for Alphie’s Bet?

AB: The Santa Anita Derby.

JW: Rider Alex Solis has been quoted as saying in the press that Alphie’s Bet reminds him of Candi’s Gold, the grandfather of Alphie’s Bet. Having worked with Candi’s Gold under your former boss, Eddie Gregson, do you see any similarities between the two horses?

AB: Yes. He looks like him and he has some of the same ‘Lookey-Loo’ quirks.

JW: What do you love about the sport of horse racing?

AB: Everything. Lots of characters around the track - Human and Equine. But at times it can be grueling. Actually, a lot of the time. You would have to live it to understand it.

When they are in the gate, anything can happen!

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Although the final Kentucky Derby starters won’t enter the gates at Churchill Downs for over two months, several horses have begun to emerge in the prep races as early hopefuls for the first Saturday in May.

I’ll admit it. It is premature to cement any horse in Derby contention as anything other than a hopeful at this stage. The field for the Derby will transform itself many times in the upcoming months with unexpected turns and challenges as it does every season. However, at this early stage, here is a rundown of the major prospects.

Lookin at Lucky

Lookin at Lucky. It would be impossible to start any discussion of Derby hopefuls without mentioning the generally-regarded favorite, Lookin at Lucky. Hall of Fame Trainer Bob Baffert has maintained the quiet supremacy afforded to this horse without even having run Lookin at Lucky in one start this season. Further, he has stated that Lookin at Lucky will only run in two prep races in hopes of clinching a slot in the gate at the Kentucky Derby.

So, what is so spectacular about the mysterious Looking at Lucky? In his six starts, four of which were Grade 1 races, Lookin at Lucky has only succumbed to a single defeat – The Breeder’s Cup Juvenile.

During the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile, Lookin at Lucky lost by a head after struggling with a bad trip throughout the race. At the start of the race, Lookin at Lucky was wide early, got stuck in midpack while facing a slow pace, rallied wide, and was ultimately outfinished from the inside by Vale of York. When interviewed after the Juvenile, Baffert stood firm. “We know we have a legit horse, we just didn’t get paid.”

Since the Juvenile defeat, he captured a win in the Breeder’s Cup Cash Call Futurity in December of 2009. Under jockey Garrett Gomez, Lookin at Lucky won by three-quarters of a length, after making several different moves throughout the race, to kick clear at the wire to secure a win. “Hell of a day, huh?” Baffert remarked in a post-race interview. “He’s getting better and better.”

Select videos of Lookin at Lucky’s past performances are available here for the Cash Call Futurity (1st), Breeder’s Cup Juvenile (2nd) , Norfolk Stakes (1st), and Del Mar Futurity (1st).

Buddy’s Saint. Buddy’s Saint is another strong candidate at this early stage in Derby prep races. Of his three starts in 2009, Buddy’s Saint captured two wins in Grade 2 races. In his most recent race, the $200,000 Remsen Stakes, Buddy’s Saint tracked the leader throughout the race to clinch a 4 ¾-length victory in the final stretch.

Prior to the Remsen, Buddy’s Saint dominated the $150,000 Grade 2 Nashua Stakes, winning by twelve lengths at the wire. He is expected to run in the Fountain of Youth Stakes on February 20, 2010 – competing against two other major hopefuls - Jackson Bend and Eskendereya.

Super Saver. It would be impossible to ignore this horse with the powerhouse team that catapulted Super Saver into his flashy first-place finish at the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. Super Saver, owned by WinStar Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher, made an amazing romp toward a victory under rider Calvin Borel in the Jockey Club Stakes. In the upcoming prep races, it will be interesting to see if this horse has the ability to give a repeat performance and capture a Grade 1 win.

Jackson Bend

Jackson Bend. In seven starts, Jackson Bend has proven himself a legitimate Derby hopeful by capturing five victories and harboring earnings of $477,820. He was beaten by Winslow Homer in the Holy Bull Stakes, but still delivered an honorable second place finish. Prior to the Holy Bull, he was unbeaten in five consecutive starts and remains a strong hopeful – especially considering the depth of his experience in comparison to his other rivals at this stage. He is expected to race in the Fountain of Youth Stakes on February 20, 2010 in his next endeavor to remain on the Derby trail.

Rule. Rule has emerged as a serious contender among Derby hopefuls – having closed out his two-year-old campaign with three consecutive victories and, more recently, capturing a win in the Grade 3 $225,000 Sam. F. Davis Stakes.

In the Sam F. Davis Stakes, Rule drove toward the finish and won by three-lengths over a field of well-respected rivals. It remains to be seen if he can match his Sam F. Davis performance in a Grade 1 race. After the Sam F. Davis, trainer Todd Pletcher did not point toward the next prep race for Rule – but mentioned the Florida Derby, Blue Grass, or Wood Memorial among the options being considered.

Dryfly. With a record of three wins in four races, Dryfly is gaining respect as a Derby hopeful after his impressive win at the Smarty Jones Stakes in his three-year-old debut. Among a large field of contenders, Dryfly, ridden by Calvin Borel, managed to clinch a 2 1/4-length victory in a stylish performance. As with many other early hopefuls, it remains to be seen how he will handle a Grade 1 race. However, judging by his current record, he remains a strong early contender.

Eskendereya. This hopeful, trained by Todd Pletcher, has delivered two wins in four career starts. Although Eskendereya closed his 2009 season with a disappointing ninth place finish in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile, this hopeful has re-emerged as an interesting contender in the 2010 season.

This past January, Eskendereya clinched a first-place finish during an ungraded race in a relatively large field. After the win, Pletcher showed confidence in his horse, stating that “The Fountain of Youth is a possibility, although I don’t know if he needs to wait that long to come back… The one thing I am sure of is that getting a mile and one-eighth will be no problem.” It remains to be determined whether this horse is capable of matching Pletcher’s confidence with ability to conquer a Grade 1 race.

Noble's Promise

Noble’s Promise. Noble’s Promise has established himself as a legitimate Derby hopeful through showing the capacity to deliver a respectable performance in repeated Grade 1 races. Of his six starts, Noble’s Promise has clinched three wins – including a victory in the Grade 1 Dixiana Breeder’s Futurity. With the demonstrated capacity to consistently win or place while taking on serious rivals in the Juvenile Breeder’s Cup (third) and the Cash Call Futurity (second), Noble’s Promise is one of the few hopefuls who has proven his capacity to manage the difficulty of a Grade 1 race

Conveyance. In his three starts, this Bob Baffert-trained horse has remained undefeated and is emerging as a respectable Derby hopeful. Conveyance recently made his three-year-old debut in the Grade 3 San Rafael Stakes – clinching a 1 3/4-length victory over his rivals. Conveyance is expected to race again in the Southwest Stakes on February 15.

With the Kentucky Derby nearly four months away, the major trainers are beginning to take stock of the talent in their stables and nominate their hopefuls for the upcoming prep races leading up to the Kentucky Derby. As with any year, there will inevitably be many twists and turns of fate before the ultimate winner hits the wire at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.

My early favorite this year is “Lookin at Lucky,” a horse trained by the legendary Bob Baffert. In his six starts, four of which were Grade 1 races, Lookin at Lucky has only succumbed to a single defeat – The Breeder’s Cup Juvenile.

During the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile, Lookin at Lucky lost by a head after struggling with a bad trip throughout the race. At the start of the race, Lookin at Lucky was wide early, got stuck in midpack while facing a slow pace, rallied wide, and was ultimately outfinished from the inside by Vale of York. When interviewed after the Juvenile, Baffert stood firm. “We know we have a legit horse, we just didn’t get paid.”

Since the Juvenile defeat, he captured a win in the Breeder’s Cup Cash Call Futurity in December of 2009. Under jockey Garrett Gomez, Lookin at Lucky won by three-quarters of a length, after making several different moves throughout the race, to kick clear at the wire to secure a win. “Hell of a day, huh?” Baffert remarked in a post-race interview. “He’s getting better and better.”

After the Futurity, Baffert said that Lookin at Lucky would get an extended break. He anticipates that the horse will run two prep races before the Kentucky Derby. The targeted races have not been announced, but with the early promise demonstrated by this colt, the betting public should be looking at a “Lucky.”