Preakness Preview
National Media Teleconference
May 11, 2023
1:00 PM
Operator: Good day, everyone, and welcome to your conference call. For the opening remarks, I will now hand the call over to Mr. Jim Gluckson. Please go ahead, sir.
Jim Gluckson: Thank you, Jennie (ph), and hello, everyone. And welcome to today’s National Thoroughbred Racing Association media teleconference, previewing the 148th running of the Preakness Stakes, to be held on Saturday, May 20, at Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore.
With us today will be NTRA President and CEO, Tom Rooney; and trainers Gustavo Delgado and Gustavo Delgado, Jr., and co-owner Ramiro Restrepo, representing Kentucky Derby winner, Mage; and also, trainers Shug McGaughey; Brad Cox; and Steve Asmussen.
Today’s conference call will be recorded and a replay of the call, and the transcript, will be available on ntra.com in the next 24 hours. So, let’s begin our proceedings with some opening remarks from NTRA President and Chief Executive Officer, Tom Rooney.
Tom Rooney: Thanks, Jim. First and foremost, I want to congratulate the connection with Mage — very exciting race — their south Florida connections and I’m very for all those involved. However, the past week has also been challenging for those of us who care about our sport.
Long before I assumed my role at the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, I thoroughly enjoyed being involved, as a small breeder and owner myself, as well as a fan and a bettor. In fact, our entire family history can trace back to a guy [Art Rooney, Sr.] who was a pretty famous bettor, back in the early 1930s, who went on to start the [Pittsburgh] Steelers. So, it’s in our blood and we have a family farm in Maryland, with a couple regional stallions and broodmares.
So, I look — always look forward to the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby. But, with those Maryland roots, I also particularly look forward to the Preakness. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, or as the law that we know as HISA, is the law of the land, and will be fully implemented on May 22. This is the clearest action, as an industry, that we can take to show race fans and the general public that we are committed to continuing to improve our sport.
We know that fatalities have dropped precipitously over the decades, but with a week like last week, we owe it to them, as well as the people involved in our sport, to show that we can even get better and we will always try to do so. Last Saturday’s Derby drew the largest TV audience this year, aside from the Super Bowl. But we need to own this issue, every race, every day, at every track.
When you have the highest-rated show, besides the Super Bowl, juxtapose to what happened at Churchill, we owe the public to have solutions, and HISA is a large part of that solution. Massive change in any industry is never easy and we’ve seen pockets of resistance to HISA. Part of the reason for this pushback is due to the fact that, for more than a decade, we can point to real strides, as I said, made in the area of safety and integrity across the country.
Data shows that fatalities, again, are at their lowest since we started tracking them. But the fact of the matter is, we have to do better, and we all know that. The new national rules and regulations set by HISA go further than ever before to enhance the safety and well-being for both horses and riders, while ensuring a greater degree of integrity for our sport and our industry.
Risk is impossible to eliminate in any sport. That’s just a fact. But I’m convinced that our future is safer, fairer, and will also be more popular for all of us — industry stakeholders, fans, and bettors for generations to come. I will be available for any of the press involved, at any point after this call, through our office, to continue this dialog. But this call is for the trainers and the connections of the contestants of the Preakness to talk about their athletes.
So I want to say good luck to everyone participating in next weekend’s Preakness. Back to you, Jim.
Jim Gluckson: Tom, thank you very much. And again, to reiterate, if you have any follow-up with Tom, for any follow-up questions after the call, you can please contact Meghan Rodgers at the NTRA to set that up. All right, everyone, now let’s bring in our first guest for today. This is team Mage. This is the trainer and assistant trainer, Gustavo Delgado, Gustavo Delgado, Jr., — who are co-owners of the horse, of course. And also, co-owner, Ramiro Restrepo.
So, gentlemen, welcome to today’s call and congratulations, again, on your tremendous victory last Saturday in the Derby.
Ramiro Restrepo: Thank you, so much. Greatly you appreciate you having us on the show — excuse me, on the telecon — I’m so programmed right now, with the media we’ve done — for having us on the teleconference. And it’s been a dream come true for all of us. Of course, it’s something that countless people aspirate to get to this position. And we’re just truly blessed with what’s come.
Jim Gluckson: Thank you. Gustavo, we’d like to ask your father, – he has enjoyed tremendous success in Venezuela, and of course, winning many, many races there, now, wining the Kentucky Derby, as America’s greatest race. What has been the feeling like the past few days? And what does it mean, to this victory, to the people in Venezuela?
Gustavo Delgado, Sr.: (Untranslated) — responding.
Ramiro Restrepo: Hello, Jim. This is Ramiro Restrepo again. So Gustavo says that it’s really tough for him to compare both series, because the Triple Crown in Venezuela and the Simon Bolivar are very important races over there for the country and for the thoroughbred industry over there. So they (inaudible) are close to his heart.
But he did come to America knowing that it is the highest level of racing — the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup and all the top-level races here were — was the reason why they came over here, to kind of compete at the highest level of global racing, obviously, the comparability of the location to Venezuela and the United States is close. They have come to America before and had horses racing here in America, with other trainers.
So, for them, I was an — it was a — the transition coming over here was pretty smooth. But clearly, winning the Kentucky Derby is at the top of his list, and many others’ list. It’s a — for him, it’s a blessing. And it’s — as this moment, is the greatest accomplishment of his career.
Jim Gluckson: Wonderful. Ramiro, while we have you here, you picked out the horse at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale for two-year-olds. What did you see about Mage that caught your eye?
Ramiro Restrepo: Sure. Gustavo, Jr., and I have been working the sales together for, like, the last three years. It’s great to have a team. You see many agents with their trainers, and occasionally their owners, work the sales together, in tandem. Sometimes it’s better to have two pairs of eyes or three pairs of eyes than just one.
But, more than anything, the two things that stand out more than anything, Jim, is one, his breeze was phenomenal — not just from a time perspective, but in the fashion, the way he did it, his efficiency. He looked so much like Good Magic on the track, as far as their cadence, their stride, their rhythm. Good Magic ran not too long ago, so he was pretty fresh in our minds and was definitely one of those fresh stallions that was on our radar.
With the Stonestreet and the Hill ‘N’ Dale program, we knew he’d defiately get a big shot, to make that stud. His dam, Puca, was owned by Jerry Crawford, who is a really good buddy of mine. So I definitely saw her break her maiden. I remember her running in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and when she placed in the Gazelle. So his pedigree was defiantly just fresh in our minds.
And then, when went back to the barn, the Sequel, Becky Thomas Consignment, he was just a — he was just a replica of his sire. He was like a clone of Good Magic. The horse had a — he just puffed up like a peacock and really showed himself well — his class and just his disposition really struck out to us. And we pretty quickly had a number one the — on our big board of prospects to buy.
And — because how highly we loved him was why stretched beyond our budgets to buy him. So it’s — when you love something and you — sometimes you push it to the limit and things end up working out.
Jim Gluckson: Very good. Well, thank you. We have a lot of media on the line here. So, let’s move over to the question-and-answer session from the media. So with this — let’s have — begin. Jennie?
Operator: Yes. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Should wish to ask a question, please press * 1 on your telephone keypad. Should you wish to cancel your request, you may press * 2. Your first question is from Stephen Whyno from The Associated Press. Please ask your question.
Stephen Whyno: Hi, gentlemen. Thank you for doing this. For all three of you, really — I’m just curious — what does this mean? This is the first Derby with Venezuelan connections, in decades now. I’ll – just what does this mean, just to have a horse, and all of you guys, with the connections to Venezuela and the big ownership group? What does all this mean to you guys?
Gustavo Delgado, Jr.: It means everything. It is an accomplishment that we were looking for. It is by design, actually. This was a dream — actually was the third time that we came to the Derby with a horse. And we saw that this time we certainly had a good chance, and definitely the horse put up a beautiful race for us. And I am — we’re still enjoy.
Ramiro Restrepo: Ramiro Restrepo here, again. For the ownership group, we all have our individual stories. That’s the most, I guess, beautiful thing about having four partners from four, different backgrounds. Everybody’s had their own trials and tribulations and challenges to overcome. We — the Kentucky Derby is the dream of any horse owner and every horse trainer.
We all have a lot of familial ties to this sport. There’s been so much dedication and sacrifice, just devoting every ounce of our energies of our resources to this game, to be able to make it to the Derby is such an amazing accomplishment on its own. You feel like a winner just getting into the gate. So, it — the horse doing well all week and training well all week just encouraged us and gave us the confidence that he was going to put on a good performance.
And then, the fact that he actually won, I mean, it’s like a — in horse-racing terms, a genie in a bottle couldn’t have granted a better wish than that. It was just — it really is a dream come true for everyone — for Jason, Brian, for Sam, for the Gustavos and myself — it’s the Holy Grail and we were able to capture it. It — it was — it’s been phenomenal.
Jim Gluckson: (Inaudible) follow-up?
Stephen Whyno: Yeah, I was just going to say, just confirming you guys are definitely entering the horse in the Preakness?
Ramiro Restrepo: Like we said after the race, everything just — is just patience and temperance on our end. We want to make sure that the horse, from here until Friday, works out — keeps going to the track in order. And that’s — and the plan is that if, on Friday he trains satisfactory, like he’s been training all week, then we would make the announcement that we would go to the Preakness.
We’ve already looked into a couple of logistical options, just to kind of dot our I’s and cross the T’s, but we just want one more good day of training tomorrow. And if he comes back well, then it would be on to Preakness.
Jim Gluckson: Next question.
Operator: Thank you. The next one is from Childs Walker from Baltimore Sun. Please ask your question.
Childs Walker: Yeah, hi. Thanks for doing this. For all three of you, what’s — you just talked about the decision on coming to the Preakness. Can you go a little bit further, talking about how difficult a decision it is to come back on just two weeks, when that is such an uncommon thing, in modern racing?
Ramiro Restrepo: Every decision that is made on our end, Mage makes that decision for us. From the day he made his debut, until now, every race, the horse was put first here. We just let him come back from the race and then monitor — use our horsemanship to monitor every single thing, monitor every single sign that he can give, that he’s doing well and wanting to move forward.
With the two-week turnaround, obviously, it’s something that is not traditional these days, but yet, in South America and Europe and other international racing jurisdictions, it is quite common. So it’s not a foreign subject for a horseman. Gustavo has plenty of experience doing this in South America. He’s won two triple crowns with similar time frames.
So, as far as being prepared and being able to know all the things that Mage needs to check off the list to be able to participate at his best, for the Preakness, we have that in play and we’re quite comfortable with it. And we’ve just been following that protocol, from the Sunday after — from this past Sunday. So, all indications are that Mage is feeling good, doing well on the racetrack, and we just want one more morning, tomorrow, make sure he trains well, because he hasn’t been treated with kid gloves.
They are athletes. They’re athletes that need to be in their regular, exercise routine and fitness regimen. So, he trains well tomorrow, he’ll be on the way to Baltimore, for the Preakness.
Stephen Whyno: Thank you.
Ramiro Restrepo: You’re welcome.
Operator: Thank you. The next one is from Tom Pedulla, freelance writer. Please ask your question.
Tom Pedulla: Yeah, so, I was talking to Javier Castellano, and he said that he offered to fly in for the final work at Churchill Downs, but you all said, no, no, we have J.J. and we’re going to let J.J. handle it. Why did you feel so strongly that J.J. Delgado was the man for that particular task? Javier, by the way, said he understood completely why you’d want to do that.
Gustavo Delgado, Jr.: Well, basically, we didn’t want the horse to do too much before the race, because he gave us the signals that he was ready. And J.J. knows the horse — J.J. Delgado, his exercise rider, knows the horse well. And since he wasn’t doing too much, we wanted to feel more safe with training, pretty much. And then Javier, I mean, it’s about strength, also, and make the horse — just to make sure that the horse doesn’t do too much before the race, pretty much.
Tom Pedulla: Could you also say what role J.J. has played in the horse’s success — in the horse’s development and success?
Gustavo Delgado, Jr.: It’s a major role, I’ll say. He’s been my dad’s primary exercise rider for the horses that we have brought to the Derby before, for example. And they’ve been together for so long that, basically, he doesn’t need too many instructions for what we trying to accomplish, especially train to take horses to longer distances.
And he’s pretty good at teaching them how to rate, for example. And also, he’s pretty much also like us (ph). I mean, he’s got the same last name as us, Delgado — he’s not related, but we have a long-term relationship with him, because we all come from the same town in Venezuela. And he used to ride for my dad, as well, back in Venezuela, when he was an active jockey. So, I mean, it’s a — the whole team that did the right thing, that was necessary.
Tom Pedulla: Okay. Thank you, very much.
Gustavo Delgado, Jr.: You’re welcome.
Operator: Thank you. Your next one is from John Cherwa from Los Angeles Times. Please ask your question.
John Cherwa: Thank you. This question is for all three of you, and it’s — sort of broadens out, on what Steve asked earlier — but it’s slightly more than 50 years since the winner of the Kentucky Derby had a Latino trainer, jockey, and owner. Now, could you guys reflect on what this sort of historic moment means to all Latinos, and talk about why it has taken so long for Latinos to prominent in all three areas in the United States?
Ramino Restrepo: Well, Latinos, as jockeys, have had incredible success, not only in the Kentucky Derby, but on — in the horse racing landscape. And trainers, I mean, Lazaro Barrera won a Triple Crown, and so has Gustavo Delgado in Venezuela. If you look at the trainer standings at racetracks in south Florida, you had South American, Latin American trainers doing well.
The challenge, when it comes to the higher profile races, it lends to the support you get from clients to be able to acquire higher-end, or perceived, higher-end purchases, or well-bred horses. Sometimes, there might be a cultural or language barrier between the cultures of those who are of, I guess, who — from — I guess you want to call them American — Anglo-Americans that come from the — that came here — of English or Irish descent and settled here hundreds of years ago.
If you compare those traditional racehorse owners to those of an ethnic background, there’s definitely — you’re defiantly outnumbered. And the hardest thing is trying to attract new clientele. And maybe it’s because of — there’s a language barrier or a — that comfortability of cultures, to just try to get to know someone and kind of go beyond just — it makes the communication, sometimes, might be a little challenging and that creates some barriers of intimidation for new owners or established owners to welcome trainers of a different ethnicity.
But, look, times have changed — are changing. There are now second- and third- and fourth-generation descendants of Latin American background, like myself. I was born here, and we helped — I — that sort of the reason why Gustavo and I kind of joined forces three years ago, was to try to help increase the profile of his barn, to bring in new partners that were of non-Latin descent, like Sam Herzberg is Brooklyn-born racehorse owner who has had tons of success — Brian Doxtator and Chase Chamberlin, as well.
We had Michael Iavarone, who won the Kentucky Derby, with Big Brown, as one of our partners, as well. So we’ve been welcoming new owners into the barn, which has been great. But, as always, I — you could speak for trainers of all backgrounds — everyone wants to have access to the best stock. And it’s all about being able to create relationships and opportunities.
Jim Cherwa: Okay. Thank you.
Operator: Thank you. The next one is from Beth Harris from Associated Press. Please ask your question.
Beth Harris: Hi, this is for Ramiro. I’m interested in you being a south Florida based owner. You, obviously, race at Gulfstream, where one of their surfaces is tapeta, and I’m wondering what is your opinion of the synthetic surfaces like that? And do you see that as any way to mitigate some of these injuries that we saw here recently?
Ramiro Restrepo: Well, I know that they installed the tapeta surface down at Gulfstream. And it’s used, not only as an option for horse — that horses that might take to it, out of just preference, because much like us, who have preferences in different work-out regimens, the all-weather surface is also used at Gulfstream, when it rains and the turf course is soft and might be deemed unsafe by the — by them there, we use the all-weather surface at Gulfstream, and the horses that are used to running on turf respond to it very well.
As far as the safety numbers — I am not informed — I am not well-informed enough to comment on rate of injuries or of those fatalities on the all-weather surface. I’m — you would have to probably ask that question to Gulfstream Park or other racetracks that have the all-weather. On a personal note, we’ve trained over the all-weather surface with no problems. And we’ve run over the all-weather surface with success, so we are defiantly open to any suggestions from track management, and don’t oppose anything that would be brought before us by any safety committees or HISA or whatever’s — told us to do.
We’re quite comfortable training on dirt, turf, all-weather, and racing on whatever is presented towards us.
Beth Harris: Okay. Thank you.
Operator: No more questions at this time, sir. Please continue.
Jim Gluckson: Thank you, very much. I wanted to thank Gustavo and Gustavo, Jr., and Ramiro for taking the time today to talk about Mage. And good luck with your plans. I hope we — hoping to see you in Baltimore for the Preakness. And have a great day. Thank you so much for joining us.
Gustavo Delgado, Jr.: You’re welcome. (Untranslated)
Jim Gluckson: All right, now. We’re going to shift gears here, and go to our next trainer on the line, Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey will be our next guest. Shug, of course, trains Federico Tesio Stakes winner, Perform, who earned an automatic berth into the Preakness with his victory, of course, in the Tesio. So, let’s bring in Shug, please.
Shug McGaughey: I’m here.
Jim Gluckson: All right, Shug, good afternoon. Jim Gluckson here. How are you?
Shug McGaughey: Good, Jim. How are you?
Jim Gluckson: Very good. Thank you. I would say that another son of Good Magic here, in Perform. He finished fourth, interestingly enough, in a maiden special way at Gulfstream, which was won by Mage. And then, Perform, broke his maiden at the Tampa Bay Downs later on. And, of course, stepped up, big time, in the Tesio.
And, I will tell you, — looking at the replay there, at eighth pole, it didn’t look like he had a chance at all. But, what he did — what confidence did he bring to you after seeing that performance in the Tesio?
Shug McGaughey: Well, it was kind of two-in-row around two turns on the dirt, Jim. And, we took him over to Tampa to run him in a two-turn dirt race. Of course, they have a little difficulty getting to go at Tampa at Gulfstream, and I wanted to try him around there. I figured we’d sprinted him enough to where we had good bob in him and could get him to — where he’d be fit enough to go, I thought.
Irad [Ortiz Jr.] did a great job by easing him back, and sort of waiting on him and getting him relaxed, and he finished really, really well. And then, the (a other than)up here was going a mile and 3/16, or a mile and 3/8, or something, and I thought I didn’t want to run him that far. So I had to test the (inaudible) out — perfect timing, perfect distance, go a mile and 1/8 and two turns at Laurel.
And that’s where we elected to go. And like I say, kind of lumbering around there, doing nothing at the end. But, I mean, at the start, but then, finally went — the better he kind of got to finish in and so I think that off of that, is the reason we’re kind of in the position we are in right now.
Jim Gluckson: All right. Obviously, we don’t know the field. We’re still far away from the race. But this kind of race, at a mile and 3/16, for his running style, how does the race set up well for him?
Shug McGaughey: Well, I mean, I think the distance is a big thing. The two turns is a big thing. And, obviously, we had hoped we could get a little speed in front of us, which we probably will. In these races, they usually do. And I think that, I mean, I hope we’re finishing with Mage, and out-kick him.
But I think that just the two turns on the dirt, the distance — a mile and 3/16 — kind of the timing is pretty good. We’ve got plenty of time in between races. And he had a good work here, last Sunday, with [jockey Feargal] Lynch on him. And I just want to kind of — made up my mind, let’s — along with his owners, to — let’s give it a chance.
Jim Gluckson: All right. Can you tell us his exercise work schedule over the next few days, and travel schedule?
Shug McGaughey: I’m not exactly sure when the travel schedule is. It’ll either be Tuesday, after he trains, or first thing Wednesday morning, after he trains. I think he’s supposed to be in there by 12 o’clock, so it’d be cutting it a little close. I plan on working him, probably a half mile, or here about, while — on Sunday.
Jim Gluckson: All right. I think we have some — a question on the line. So, Jennie, let’s invite our questioner in, please.
Operator: Yes. The first question is from Byron King from BloodHorse. Please ask your question.
Byron King: Hi, Shug. Thanks for joining us. I do appreciate. I was hoping you could talk a little bit about him being supplemented, Perform, to the Preakness Stakes. He was, obviously, a late developer and was not an original Triple Crown nomination. But what did you advise your owners when you all chatted about the $150,000 that it would cost to supplement?
Shug McGaughey: Well, that really wasn’t a concern. They — obviously, we talked about it. And — but they said, if you feel like it’s worth doing, we’re ready to go. And they’re ready to go, and that’s what they’re in the game for, is this — is it — these kind of situations. And they’re all excited about it and they will be a lot of people there. And — but really, I didn’t have to twist any arms, by any means.
Byron King: So what about the Preakness, in general, Shug? I’d love to get some of your — the races that your remember most of from it. I mean, obviously, I know the Easy Goer’s close defeat, and, obviously, has got to be a big stick-out in one of the races that most everybody, myself included, considers one of the most exciting of all time. But give some of your best recollections.
Shug McGaughey: Well, I think Secretariat’s races was — I mean, it was exciting, because we got kind a new look when he went to lead. And going for the — for a Triple Crown and highly acclaimed horse like that coming into the race, was kind of — was a fun race for me to watch. I mean, I think it was a justified race, in the fog and the rain and all that kind of stuff. It was fun. But there’s a lot of them — a lot of Preaknesses that I’ve watched that I thought have been good races.
Byron King: Thank you, Shug.
Shug McGaughey: You bet.
Operator: Thank you. The next one is from Art Wilson from Southern California newspaper. Please ask your question.
Art Wilson: Hey, Shug. We’re at the time of the year, where a lot of people are debating the Triple Crown format, whether there’s not enough time in between the races — maybe if there was little more time between the Derby and Preakness it would attract more horses that ran in the Derby, to the Preakness. And then, there are others — the people who say it’s been a great spectacle for years. Let’s keep it the way it is. What are your thoughts on that?
Shug McGaughey: Well, I think you probably know. I’m a — pretty much of a traditionalist and I’ve always been the kind that I didn’t want to change it. I did see a format presented the other, on Twitter or something, where they ran the Derby in May — and then in July, ran the Preakness, and then in October, you ran the Belmont.
I didn’t think that was that bad of an idea. I don’t know if it was something I’d vote for or not. But if they came up with it, I don’t think I would fight it too much. But like I say, I do — I am a traditionalist. I hate to see them keep changing a lot of different things. But it’s different times now.
I mean, it’s — so sometimes you — no matter who you are what you are, you got to open your eyes a little bit to — what’s going to be best for racing and best for the horse and this and that. I mean, I think it is exciting and throws a little of intrigue into it, with these horses having to run back in two weeks. And also, usually with that, we get some decent horses that haven’t run, like in the Kentucky Derby.
Or maybe have found — have not even found themselves through the all the different prep to get to it. I mean, it’s hard to get to the Kentucky Derby. And I think, sometimes, that it can take its toll on them, sort of mentally, to run in the race — train up to a race like that, run in a race like that, on a day like that.
And then, has to come back and ship over to a new place and to run again, a different distance. But, like I say, I — it’s a — there’s a lot of exciting things about it.
Art Wilson: And a quick follow-up — do you think we’d see more Triple Crown winners if they increase the spacing between the races.
Shug McGaughey: Well, probably so. But it’s still the same thing. I mean, you’re going to have to — if you won the Derby and then won the Preakness, again in July, and you didn’t run again until October, even the end of August, say, at Saratoga, you’re going to have to probably run them in between then. And you’re going to train them in between then.
So, there’s going to be some release and factor fall in there, no matter how it is. But you’ll probably see — you might see more of it. But I don’t — I’m not really in favor of seeing a Triple Crown winner every year.
Art Wilson: Right. Okay. Well, thank you, sir. And good luck in the Preakness.
Shug McGaughey: Thank you, very much.
Operator: Thank you. The next one is from Beth Harris from Associated Press. Please ask your question.
Beth Harris: Hi, Shug. I know trainers have varying opinions on dirt versus synthetic surfaces. And, based on your own racing experience, what is your opinion of synthetic tracks?
Shug McGaughey: I like them. I was racing a lot around Keenland, when they first started with the Polytrack. And I have a split stable, be in New York and Keenland. And they might call me at night and say, it’s raining here. And I’ll say, well, that’s your all’s probable, because you’re going to have a good track tomorrow morning, with the Polytrack.
And with the Phipps’ horses and with [Stuart] Janney’s [horses] there’s a lot of them like turf. And so, if they took them off the turf, we had a lot of luck running on the synthetic. I mean, I won the Spinster on it, the Lexington, Doubledogdare — I can name others. But I’ve got no problem with it.
I’ve had a couple of horses on it this winter, in Florida — three. One of them ran terrible, the other one won, and the other was a solid third. I think that — I don’t know that I’m in favor of it being everywhere. But stats say it’s a whole lot safer. And I do believe that, because it’s easily the same surface all the time, that you’re racing on and you’re training on.
And that’s not usually the case, with the dirt tracks, or even with the turf. But I’ve got no problems about it. And, especially if it’s done right. And I think the one’s that — the one they put in here, at Belmont, will be done right.
Beth Harris: Do you see them as a viable solution to mitigating some of these injuries and potentially fatal breakdowns that we’re seeing?
Shug McGaughey: I don’t think it’ll eliminate them. But I do — I think the stats do show that they are safer than the — than our regular dirt tracks. So I’ve got to go along with that. I don’t know that I’ve had any injuries. I know I would, but I know some of the guys complained about, when they first put it in about back-end problems. But I don’t hear them too much anymore.
And I’m with them in Gulfstream in the wintertime, so I kind of hear their opinions. But I don’t think — now that they’ve gotten used to it, I think that’s one of the things that is a problem, was a lot of a people aren’t used to them. They don’t know anything about them. And, so I think once they would like them when they learned about it.
And even at Gulfstream, they even — those guys down there, they didn’t like it at all. But they’ve come to accept it now and it’s been sort of a — it’s sort of been a great thing for Gulfstream, to be able to have it, because they’ve been able to take it off the turf, run them on the Tapeta, and it’s a different type of a surface, too, to where they even – seen (inaudible) races on it. And I’m in favor of it.
Beth Harris: Okay. Thank you.
Shug McGaughey: Okay.
Operator: Thank you. The next one is from Jonas Shaffer from Baltimore Banner. Please ask your question.
Jonas Shaffer: Hi, Shug. Thanks for joining us and thanks for doing this. Obviously, at the Derby last week, it seemed like an abundance of caution prevailed with some horses being knocked out of the race. I guess, with all the regulations in place and the spotlight on the sport, I guess, are you comfortable with, if — how things have been handled? Are other trainers comfortable with how things have been handled?
Is this just something that people have to accept, take their medicine, and deal with, for the betterment of the sport? Or do you think there is any kind of over-caution in how things can be handled?
Shug McGaughey: Well, I think there is some over-caution. I think it’s over done a little bit. I think there’s probably a tremendous amount of pressure on these regulatory vets to try to make the right decision — the state vets and stuff. And — but I do think that they need to kind of go into it with more eyes open, than maybe they are.
I mean, I kind of grew up that when a jock felt something a little funny, a jockey makes it to the gate and asks the vet to — so, you ought to watch this horse jog up and down a time or two. And a vet would either agree with them or disagree with them. And he would scratch him or say he looks all right to me. So, where now, it’s the vet standing out in the middle of the race tracking saying — making that — making the decision instead of the jock.
I mean, I was a victim of that, Derby day, and my rider asked the vet to please don’t scratch this horse. There’s nothing the matter with him. And they scratched him. I think that that was very much over-kill. And I wasn’t there, but my son was there and the other people involved. And so I do think that — I don’t think that — we’re not much different than other sports. It’s — you’re not going to be perfect every time you run.
But I do think it’s very concerning about what went on at Churchill that week. And I don’t know that we’ll ever get to the bottom of it. But seven deaths in a week and they had three at Keenland and it made 10 deaths, that we know about, in a month. And that’s too many. And — especially when it gets to — I don’t it’s anything we should keep in the closet.
I think we need to be very transparent about what’s going on. But it sure doesn’t seem — I’ve got friends outside of racing, and my wife does, too. And they — they’re texting, what’s going on? They don’t want to hear that. So I — that’s something we’re going to have to address. But I do think, in a lot of instances, they’re — in some instances, there’s a bit overkill in what they’re looking for.
Jim Gluckson: Okay. Let’s take our next questioner.
Operator: Thank you. The next one is from Dave Grening from Daily Racing Form. Please ask your question.
Dave Grening: Shug, I was just interested in your recollection from the race, and what you thought of your horse’s performance, and what did you think of Mage?
Shug McGaughey: Well, I was disappointed we were fourth. I’ve looked back on his charts and his races haven’t — going short, haven’t all been that good. But, I think that they aren’t that bad, either, in some instances. And I know when he ran in Keenland, that was kind of a hot horse that beat him there, back in October.
And, obviously, Mage was the horse — he was a very good horse. I mean, he just won the Kentucky Derby. I liked him, Dave, and I’m not trying to red board. I thought his race — and applauded him — was a [the Florida Derby] really good race. I thought that, maybe [Mage’s jockey in the Florida Derby] Luis [Saez] trying to — seeing that Forte was sort of back behind him and maybe having a little trouble, and let’s go and get this thing over with, maybe moved a little bit too early.
I — that’s not for me to say, because I wasn’t out there. But I thought he ran a really, really good race there. And I thought they made that adjustment, that he was going to be — that he could be really tough. But I had people arguing with me about the experience factor, which has always been, over the years, a lightly-raced horse could win.
But, I think he’s pretty good. I mean, he’s got that one run, so he’s a little bit one dimensional, but I think when he makes it, he’s pretty tough. And if he runs in the Preakness, I think he’ll be very, very instrumental in what happens.
Dave Grening: The fact that you were only five lengths behind him, doing something your horse doesn’t really want to do — sprint — does that give you a little confidence that, stretching out, you could run with him?
Shug McGaughey: Yeah, it does. I mean, I thinking, looking at the race, that the — we could belong in there. Who knows what’s going to be happen? I think going a mile and 3/16 is going to separate a lot of them. I don’t think it should separate Perform. But — and it won’t, Mage.
But some of them will. I think it’s going to be both of us, we’re going to need a little bit of a pace and a little bit of racing luck. But I think that the two-turn races on the dirt have been really good. And I’m — he should show improvement, off the maiden race as he did in the Tesio, and the Tesio going into the Preakness (inaudible).
I can’t say, I hope, because the guy told me, I ask him, do you like your horse today? And I said I hope. And he said, you can’t live life on hope, Shug. So I try not to use hope anymore.
Dave Grening: (Inaudible)
Jim Gluckson: All right. Thank you.
Shug McGaughey: All right, Dave.
Operator: Thank you. No further questions at this time. Please continue.
Jim Gluckson: Thank you. I’m sorry, we’ve run — we’re running behind schedule. But Shug, I want to thank you very much for taking the time today. And good luck, with Perform, in the Preakness Stakes.
Shug McGaughey: Okay, Jim. Thanks a lot.
Jim Gluckson: Thanks a lot. Now, let’s get to Brad Cox, please. Brad Cox, with First Mission, in the Preakness Stakes.
Brad Cox: Good afternoon, Jim. Thanks for having me on.
Jim Gluckson: Yes, good afternoon, Brad. How are you doing?
Brad Cox: Very good, very good.
Jim Gluckson: Good. Thank you for being — hanging in there with us.
Brad Cox: No problem.
Jim Gluckson: You have been high on First Mission for a while. You think he’s — reported as saying is one of the very talented three-year-olds coming up for the season in his development. What gives you this confidence, especially after the Lexington Stakes?
Brad Cox: Well, obviously, he trained very well throughout the winter, at the Fair Grounds. He ran alongside another highly talented colt we had, Bishop’s Bay, which runs in the Peter Pan on Saturday. I really hated to run them against each other to start their careers. Bishop’s Bay got the best of him in his first start, but really felt this colt would be better going long.
He proved that just, I think, maybe four weeks after his first at the Fair Grounds. Got a good number in. We wheeled him back, obviously, first time facing winners is always tough and they do it in a grade 3. I think have to be fairly exceptional running against horses with more seasoning, experience, all that stuff. And he’s stepped up to the plate, and run a big race.
I think he’s a horse that’s meant to get better with distance and age. And the more he does it — he’s a very nice colt, very mature, great mind, and love what we’ve seen from him so far.
Jim Gluckson: All right. Well, see if we have any questions on the line from the media today.
Operator: Yes. Thank you.
Jim Gluckson: One question —
Operator: Ladies and gentlemen — okay — yep, this is —
Jim Gluckson: — one question, one comment, please. We’re behind schedule. Thank you.
Operator: All right. First question is from Jay Ginsbach from Forbes. Please ask your question.
Jay Ginsbach: Hey, Brad. Thanks for being with us today. Just a track related question. We’ve had some of those on the calls today. Do you have any thoughts or insight on the dirt track at Pimlico compared to some of the other tracks your horses have run that you’re bringing here, including the third rounds, which appears to be a little deeper track?
Brad Cox: Listen, I can just base it off the last, probably, four or five years we’ve been racing there. This particular weekend, the dirt track itself, and we’ve seen — have some good luck in it. We had a couple horses run fourth and — third and fourth in the Preakness a few years back.
And, obviously, Instant Coffee liked it, Interstate Daydream like it. So, I mean, we — I feel like we’ve got a pretty good feel for it. Once again, I feel like if the horses are trained well, they’re doing well, and they’re in the right places, they normally run their races.
Probably a track where it could be a little — it could be an advantage to be somewhat forwardly placed, but overall, I feel like it’s a very fair surface, and a good surface, what we’ve run — taken over there in the last four or five years, has always came to — seemed out of their races in good order. So, we’ve been pretty happy with the surface.
Jay Ginsbach: Thank you.
Brad Cox: You’re welcome.
Operator: Thank you. The next one is from Ron Flatter from Horse Racing Nation. Please ask your question.
Ron Flatter: Hey, Brad. Just to circle back to the Derby — do you have any plans, yet, for the horses you ran there? And, also, for Instant Coffee?
Brad Cox: Nothing solid on any of the Derby starters. Instant Coffee — he’s doing fine. He’s in training. I haven’t breezed him back. I wasn’t happy with his last work. Decided to back off of him a little bit. He is in training. He just hasn’t breezed in a week or so. And no plan right now, in regards to a race on any of the four Derby starters or Instant Coffee.
Ron Flatter: Okay. Thanks, Brad.
Brad Cox: Thanks, Ron.
Operator: The next one is from Childs Walker from Baltimore Sun. Please ask your question.
Childs Walker: Hey, Brad. How are you doing? Coming off of the seven deaths, leading up to the Derby, which got so much attention — do you kind of hold your breath, going into the next major race — the Preakness — sort of hoping that nothing happens?
And I guess, also, how do you think the perspective inside the sport, on the issue, maybe differs a little bit from the perspective of the casual fan, who just sees the numbers and is very concerned, obviously, right now?
Brad Cox: I mean, look. My job is to take care of the horses that are under my care. Obviously, if I feel I can really focus on, in regards to the ho — my horses. It is concerning, though, it’s one of things where you just do the best to send out a happy, healthy horse. We, as a whole, had a great weekend — a week, Derby week — we ran several horses.
I think we made 21 starts, whether it was turf or dirt. I was happy with all of our horses and how they came out of their races. I think some of them were tired, but I mean, they run hard, their tired. But, overall, I was pleased with how my horses came out of their races, physically, and that’s really all I can focus on, is just my horses.
But, I mean, I understand that it is a concern, from the racing fan and just the — someone that doesn’t really know much about the sport that’s looking it, is a concern of what the perception is that kind of how it looks. But, once again, I just have to focus on my horses and just doing right, by my — the group of horses we have in training.
Childs Walker: Okay, thanks, Brad.
Brad Cox: Thank you.
Operator: Thank you. The next one is from Byron King from BloodHorse. Please ask your question.
Byron King: Hi, Brad. I wanted to ask you about the turnarounds for Lexington. I know you typically are a guy that will state the stakes horses out, a month, five weeks, six weeks (inaudible) start. You brought Owendale into this race similarly, back in 2019. But then, at the same time, you ran Tawny Port after his run in the Lexington, you ran him in the Derby. Talk a little bit about the considerations of when to go forward, when to wait for the Preakness and how (inaudible) that with First Mission.
Brad Cox: Well, it was kind of a late decision to nominate him to the Triple Crown. It was kind of, like, deadline day, in January, I believe it was. I spoke with Michael Banahan and said, look. We’re, obviously, think he’s a nice horse, talented horse. But it would probably be a good idea to put the 600 [dollars] up and get the knot — the Triple Crown knot.
It was kind of one of those things where we knew he really wasn’t going to get to the Derby — we weren’t going to have an opportunity. We didn’t feel like we would have an opportunity run in a race with enough points to get him in, based off when he broke his maiden, up to the Blue Grass or the Arkansas Derby or any of those races. It would have just been back so fast.
So we thought that the Lexington made the most sense, as in regards to gradually letting him progress. And then, now, he gets five weeks to the — I believe it’s five weeks from the Lexington to the Preakness. Seems like good timing. He’s also a horse that — we’ve done a lot with him a short period of time. Obviously, broke his maiden in mid-March and ran first time out in February and then came back, mid-April, with a run there in the Lexington.
So he’s been on a pretty good schedule. He hasn’t missed a beat. Very sound horse. Very smart horse. And I feel like, what we’ve done with him, to this point, has worked very well. I do feel like he’ll need to take another step forward and I think totally think he’s capable of taking another step forward, based off what he’s done in his training and how he physically looks like he’s developed.
So, excited about him and I’m — and I told someone yesterday, this is the next step for him. But I do think he’s a big horse with a big future. And this is just part of the process on letting him develop. And, hopefully, I’m going to dream a little bit. He could be a horse that could the Jim Dandy a Travers or Breeders’ Cup Classic, or something. Who knows? But this is where we — we’ll see where we stand next weekend.
Byron King: Right. And then, there’s days, I mean, of course, no one could have foreseen all the scratches that we saw on Derby day or anything. But he would have been on the outside, looking in, on (inaudible), in his particular case, yeah.
Brad Cox: Yeah, that’s right. He just picked up the 20 [post position]. I don’t know — and listen. It’s one of those things — I tell people this — talk to owners about this all the time. Sometimes you kind of got to — we got to get in a huddle and figure out our game plan as to what trace we’re going in. And that has a lot to do with how you’re going to train your horse for the race.
So, it seemed like, after the Lexington it was just clear-cut for the Godolphin team that we were going to point for the Preakness, given some time — not given time, but be given a little more time, obviously, than trying to hope we get into the Derby. I guess if you — if he would have, maybe, been number 24 — I guess there were three, also, ineligibles, I guess they would have taken 24 — he would have gotten in.
But that would have been going a tremendous amount and adding in a short period of time. I think he matches up with the horses that ran well in the Derby. And, hopefully, we can get a good performance out of him in the Preakness.
Byron King: Thank you, Brad.
Jim Gluckson: All right, well, thank you. Brad, thank you, very much. I appreciate the time you hanging in there with us. Best of luck to you and First Mission in the Preakness Stakes. Thanks very much.
Brad Cox: Very good, Jim. Talk to you soon.
Jim Gluckson: Thank you. Very patient, hanging in here with us, is Steve Asmussen, who now joins us for our final guest of the day. Steve, Jim Gluckson here. How are you today?
Steve Asmussen: Doing well.
Jim Gluckson: Great. Well, this is a consideration here for your horses for the Preakness Stakes. Can you talk about your plans for the two of them [Disarm and Red Route One] and your chances for each of them?
Steve Asmussen: Well, obviously, with Disarm finishing fourth in the Derby, very pleased with how he’s come out of the race. Been back to the track a couple of days now. Will not need much at all from him, from a training standpoint, just wanting to continue to be loose and comfortable.
And then, with Red Route One, coming off Bath House [Row Stakes] at Hot Springs. He’s been training consistently at Churchill. Had a solid move, 5/8 last Sunday. We’ll look to do a little something less with him this week. And all of the horses that we’re going to run Friday and Saturday at Pimlico are scheduled to travel on Tuesday.
Jim Gluckson: Okay. All right. Just wanted to mention, of course, that Steve has won the Preakness twice — first with Curlin in 2007, and then with Rachel Alexandra in 2009. Both of his stars went on to be the Horse of the Year. I would like to know, since we’re a little behind schedule, we can open for questions, for any of the media that may be on the line.
Operator: Yes. The first question is from Beth Harris from Associated Press. Please ask your question.
Beth Harris: Hi, Steve. I know trainers have varying thoughts on dirt versus synthetic surfaces. And I’m wondering, based on your own racing experience, what’s your opinion of synthetic tracks?
Steve Asmussen: I personally have a little trouble getting a line, as far as how good a horse is, working them on synthetic. It seems to put them all in the same spot with me.
Beth Harris: Can you elaborate on that a little bit?
Steve Asmussen: Horses work together, train together consistently and don’t run the same fashion. You’re — you don’t seem to have horses that — as excel as much on synthetic or dislike it as much. It is — trying to evaluate who they are and where you’re going to place them off of works alone. It seems to be the issue with me.
Beth Harris: Okay. Do you see them as a viable solution to mitigating any of these injuries that we’ve seen here recently?
Steve Asmussen: I’m not qualified to say that.
Beth Harris: Thank you.
Operator: Thank you. The next one is from Art Wilson from Southern California newspaper. Please ask your question.
Art Wilson: Hey, Steve. There’s a lot of debate going on about the Triple Crown format. Some people think that there should be more spacing in between the three races, claiming that, if you had three or four weeks between the Derby and Preakness, you might get more horses that ran in the Derby, to come back in the Preakness.
And then, there are others that say that series has been so popular, so successful, why tinker with it? Let’s keep it the way it is. Which side are you on, Steve?
Steve Asmussen: I would probably be on the side of a traditionalist. But we are rarely in the room when any of these decisions are made. And we, as trainers, focus on the horses that are in our care. And I do believe that there are positives and negatives to both of those decisions.
Art Wilson: Now — elaborating a little bit on your point about you’re not in the room when these decisions are made, it seems like a lot of the jockeys, top jockeys, Michael — Mike Smith, John Velazquez — were not in the room to make, help make decisions about the whip rules in some of the states.
Do you think that when the industry makes these important decisions that the trainers, jockeys, and so forth should get more input?
Steve Asmussen: I think that Mike and Johnny can represent the jockeys well. And they are — I believe Johnny’s the president of the Jockey’s Guild and is the representative for them. So, he can speak for himself. I’m definately not going to speak for either one of them.
Art Wilson: All right. Would you like to be, as a trainer, would you like to be involved in decisions?
Steve Asmussen: A lot goes into that. We all have opinions. But I wouldn’t necessarily want to be fielding the call from my counterparts to represent them. I am — I stay fairly busy with the horses that are in my care.
Art Wilson: Sure. Okay. Good luck in the Preakness.
Steve Asmussen: Appreciate it. Thank you.
Operator: Thank you. The next one is from Jonas Shaffer from Baltimore Banner. Please ask your question.
Jonas Shaffer: Hi, Steve. Thank you for doing this. Obviously, there was a lot of attention last week, on the Derby and the scratches and just the horses that weren’t running. I guess, what is your, just kind of take on the real possibility for any horse that’s running in these Triple Crown races that something as small as a bruise could be what knocks them out, even if the trainer feels the horse is fine, even if the jockey feels the horse is running good?
Just, how do you kind of make sense of all these possibilities, in light of what’s happened over these past couple of weeks?
Steve Asmussen: I think that I’m just — we’re very fortunate that Disarm, who we ran, no worries there. Bad timing, unfortunate circumstances — who knows? — intense pressure. There’s just a tremendous amount of variables that I think went into this week and the decisions that are made.
Operator: Thank you. No further questions at this time. Please continue.
Jim Gluckson: All right, Steve. Let’s see, I just have one more from me. I think you were stating earlier this week that both of your starters here have Gun Runner’s personality. Can you elaborate on that a little bit?
Steve Asmussen: I think they’re — both of them let you know what gender they are. And they’re very anx — willing trainers on the racetrack — very high energy levels, very durable — mentally, physically. I think that Gun Runner is quite, obviously, extremely exciting as a sire, in the fact that the ability that they’re show and the fact that they all seem to continue to improve the older they get. And I think that those are very similar to Gun Runner himself.
Jim Gluckson: All right. Well, very good. Steve, I want to thank you for joining us this afternoon to answer some questions here about Disarm and Red Route. Good success to you in the future and best of luck. And thanks, again. Have a good day.
Steve Asmussen: I appreciate it. Thank you.
Jim Gluckson: All right. Steve Asmussen, everyone. This will conclude our call for today. Thanks for everyone hanging in there, with our guests this afternoon. And I wanted to remind all that this conference call has been recorded and a transcript of this conference call, in addition to the recording, will be available on ntra.com, within the next 24 hours.
Our next media teleconference previewing the Triple Crown will be, of course, for the 155th Belmont Stakes, which this call — that call be on Thursday, June 1st. And so, again, thank you, very much for joining us today for the call. And have a good day.
Operator: Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, the conference has now ended. Thank you all for joining. You may all disconnect.