Derby Double-talk: What They Say, What They Mean
After covering the Kentucky Derby for over 25 years and dealing with hundreds of trainers, I feel this is a good time to use my experience and teach whoever is interested how to interpret the language of trainers, as well as other horsemen, who, like football coaches, have become extremely proficient in verbalizing without saying anything. This column basically applies to the Derby trail, which has a way of causing horsemen to use an assortment of esoteric cliches that require translation. These routine comments can serve a number of purposes, such as being a safety valve for the trainers in a pressurized situation that allows them to communicate in an obscure way in order to remain calm and positive. ~ Steve Haskin
Derby Double-talk: What They Say, What They Mean
By Steve Haskin
Over the next five months you are going to be reading and hearing a lot of quotes from trainers about their Derby horses. Whether you are a veteran racegoer or a novice, this should help you translate their often-used cliches into what they are really saying and thinking. These cliches are the trainer’s way of maintaining a bit of distance between them and the media while keeping the spirits of their owners high. They must always stay positive even when doubt creeps in, and owners do not want to see negative comments splashed all over social media or on podcasts.
We have to remember that every morning when trainers arrive at the barn and look in on their Derby horse they see the Twin Spires sparkling off in the distance like Emerald City, and they must remove all thoughts of wicked witches and poison poppy fields. So forgive them if they resort to a series of seemingly innocent catch phrases. Now for the first time we will attempt to interpret them.
“I wouldn’t trade places with anyone” — This comment is ingrained in the brain of every trainer. They say it so often and with such conviction you would think they meant it. If Bill Mott says it about Sovereignty or Mike McCarthy about Journalism you can believe them, but so what? No kidding. But if you firmly believe a trainer of a 10-1 or 20-1 shot believes that, well, feel free to take them seriously. The love every trainer has for their own horse and their belief in them is understandable, but it also detaches them from the reality that there are horses out there better than theirs, so don’t pay much attention to that comment.
“I didn’t want him to go that fast but he did it easily” — You often hear that following a faster than expected work. What that usually means is “I didn’t want him to go that fast, but the exercise rider said he did it easily so I wouldn’t yell at him for going too fast.” Good horses are always going to look like they’re doing things easily, but the fact is, five furlongs in :57 1/5 is still :57 1/5. Just look at the other times to see how fast the track is and make your own assessment on whether there is cause for concern. One year, trainer Mike Puype watched his Derby horse, the fleet-footed Old Trieste, work six furlongs a week before the Derby in an unheard of 1:09 flat. When Puype, who tried hard to seem happy in front of the owner, left the box and walked away by himself I asked him what he thought and he replied, “I dont know whether to laugh or throw up.” Now that’s an honest answer.
Always believe a trainer who will who will express his feelings truthfully. Following War Deputy’s sixth-place finish in the 1994 Risen Star Stakes, his trainer Tony Reinstedler said bluntly, “We stunk it up pretty bad.” That trainer I will always believe.
“The farther he goes the better he’ll get” or “he acts like he’ll run all day” — The key word is act. Horses are great actors. Trainers usually say that after their horse was closing at six or seven furlongs or wires their field and extends their lead in the final furlong. We all know, as do trainers, horses love to fool you. Ever hear of late closing sprinters? And remember that when horses who set or press the pace draw away in the stretch, many times those behind him are actually tiring. Always take into consideration the margin between the second- and third-place finishers. Most important, just look at the winner’s pedigree and make sure he isn’t built like a bowling ball. A streamlined yacht can take you across the ocean, but a tug boat will barely get you out of the harbor. Just look for the sleek yacht with the powerful engine and pay no attention to what the trainer says. The brightness of those red roses can often be blinding.
“It was a blessing in disguise” — That statement usually follows a setback that disrupts a horse’s schedule and is said by a trainer to prevent him (or her) from showing their disgust and unleashing a barrage of four-letter words. There is nothing wrong with them saying that as long as you realize what they are really saying is that they HOPE it is a blessing in disguise because hope is all they have to keep them sane and in control and keep their Derby hopes alive. So even if they say it MIGHT be a blessing, just go along with it. It’s not meant to deceive you. It’s just another safety valve all people use to diminish the impact of a setback with the belief that everything will work out better in the end. In other words, it’s better to believe that fate caused your horse’s fever and that skipping the race in which you intended him to run will in the long run give him a better chance to win the Derby.
“He didn’t like the track” — Once again we have to add the word HOPE. Unless the track was sloppy and a reputable jockey tells the trainer he was slipping and sliding, a trainer can only hope he didn’t like the track for whatever reason — too cuppy or too hard etc. No trainer wants to believe that their horse threw in a clunker for no reason. Some horses do prefer one surface over another, but we’re talking Kentucky Derby and you don’t want a finicky horse that is going to have to beat 19 proven stakes horses over a Churchill Downs surface that can get cuppy or hard. You want a horse who can run on, ugh, “broken glass,” as trainers love to say.
“I’m throwing his last race out” — Speaking of making an excuse for a clunker, yes, the track condition is always a convenient one. If a trainer cannot use the track as an excuse he can always hope the horse was simply having a bad day for whatever reason a horse can have a bad day. The last thing a trainer wants to do is admit his Derby horse is not a Derby horse. Sometimes, however, he actually believes that, but can’t admit it, so he “throws his last race out” because the horse “deserves another chance.” What that often means is “I don’t want to give up the dream,” which often means “the owner doesn’t want to give up the dream.” So in order for the trainer and the owner to continue living their dream, the trainer simply throws the race out and pretends it didn’t happen. In most cases that’s like throwing out your notice for jury duty and pretending you never got it. It keeps you going, at least for a while.
“He’s matured physically and mentally from 2 to 3” — That’s fine, but all horses are supposed to mature physically and mentally from 2 to 3. If they dont they shouldn’t be on the Derby trail. Thats like saying a 22-year-old athlete is more mature than he was at 15. It’s not that a trainer is wrong saying that. Very often the light bulb does go on during the transition from 2 to 3 and horses do get stronger physically and mentally. But you need to know what he was at 2 to compare it to what he is at 3, so an explanation of how he has matured is necessary before being taken seriously.
“He came off the track bucking and squealing” — It’s as if those words go together as a single entity. As comedian George Carlin said about the term ‘fine and dandy,’ “I’ve been fine some days and I’ve been dandy other days, but never at the same time. Actually, there was one day in 1972 when I was both fine AND dandy…but no one asked how me how I was feeling.” Bottom line is, horses can come off the track feeling good, but the chances they really were bucking and squealing are pretty remote. It can happen, but mostly it just sounds good. And even if they were bucking and squealing, does that mean feeling good on one particular morning is an indicator they are going to run big in the Derby? I’ve seen trainers worried because their horse was bucking and squealing walking to the paddock or in the paddock before the Derby. There is an expression, “don’t try to feel better than good.” Look for the calm, professional horse who does everything right and doesn’t act like he belongs in a corral, unless he promises you he won’t buck and squeal on Derby Day.
“He wouldn’t blow out a match.” — Another term that just sounds good. Sometimes the trainer might say the horse “wouldn’t blow out a candle.” It just depends on which phrase they were weaned on. I would think a candle produces a bigger flame than a match, but the truth is both mean the same thing, even though neither a match nor a candle as far as I know has ever been placed in front of a horse’s mouth following a work or race to test the validity of that comment. “He didn’t seem tired” would suffice without the dramatic images. But always remember that a trainer’s vernacular is not always the same as ours. Why would they use a mundane statement when they can use old standard phrases they believe sound clever and say it as if they originated it.
Finally, we come to perhaps the most useless comment of them all, which is the standard reply to the important question of where a horse will run next — “I have to discuss it with the owner.” Why I love this exchange is that the person who asks the question already knows the answer, but has to ask it just in case the trainer actually has his Derby prep schedule mapped out and will give him a legitimate answer. Many top trainers do have it mapped out and stick to it. But when you get the other reply, just be aware that you’re dealing with a trainer who either has no plan and will look for the easiest spot to pick up points and keep his Derby hopes alive or he actually needs his owner’s approval before committing to anything. Neither of those two scenarios is ideal.
Remember, the key word for many trainers is ‘commit.’ No trainer wants to commit to anything, so they might say, “I have to see how he comes out of the race.” That protects him, keeps the owner out of it, and leaves the person asking the question right back where he started, but at least with a quote, as empty as it is.
There are trainers like Bob Baffert and Todd Pletcher who often have multiple horses on the Derby trail and have to do some juggling, but they realize that is out of necessity and would rather have a schedule and stick to it. Baffert is the master of improvisation and calling last-minute audibles, but all his Derby winners have stuck to their original schedule.
Derby Dialogue
Trainer cliches are not the only comments heard around Churchill Downs during the two weeks leading up to the Derby. Here are some of the more memorable ones that I have heard over the years. Sometimes you get trainers who are very blunt and to the point. When Dick Mandella was trying to figure out why he had bad luck in the Derby and even getting to the Derby, he said, “I wish I knew the secret. I could throw a lot of crap about why I haven’t won the Derby, but the truth is I really can’t figure it out. When I was in trainer’s school I probably overslept the day they discussed the Derby.”
Although you read in part 1 about the inexperienced trainers who won the Derby, remember they are in the minority and those trainers all exuded confidence in their horse and in their own training ability, and things went perfectly in their preparation. But there are always warnings signs you should look out for.
In 1993, Louisiana Derby winner Dixieland Heat, trained by Gerald Romero and ridden by his brother Randy, went out for a seven-furlong work the Monday before the Derby with Randy aboard. After bringing the colt back, Randy stopped by the clocker’s stand to get a time for the work. He sure wasn’t expecting to hear that the colt went his seven furlongs in an agonizingly slow 1:35. When asked walking back to the barn if he got a time he shot back in apparent disgust, “No!’ He and Gerald went into the office and closed the door. When they came out, Gerald said that Randy told him the track was too slippery so he gave him a two-minute lick instead. Uh, really? Then why would Randy ask the clockers for a time if he didn’t work him? All Gerald lacked was Derby experience in how to get out of a trap gracefully.
There are always signals and words that trainers who are inexperienced on the Derby trail use that raise questions. I am a big fan of Wayne Catalano, who is a terrific trainer. But when he ran the late-closing Crypto Star in the 1997 Derby he gave off the wrong signs by actually being too truthful. Five days before the race, Crypto Star breezed seven furlongs in a slow 1:31. Three days earlier, Ogden Phipps’ promising Derby colt Accelerator suffered a bad injury that knocked him out of the Derby. Catalano said after Crypto Star’s work, “Everything went beautiful. He handled the track good and finished up good,” He then added, “I could have asked him to go a little faster, but I’m afraid to lay him down on this racetrack. I don’t want to be the next one out of the Derby.”
Most experienced Derby trainers would have ended it after the first comment, even knowing no one believed him. But Catalano knew the colt had a few minor physical problems that didn’t prevent him from winning the Louisiana Derby and Arkansas Derby. His second comment was commendable, but in the Derby when a trainer uses words like “afraid” and says “I didn’t want to be the next one out of the Derby.” he shifts from offense to defense, and defense does not win the Derby. Crypto Star never put in his big late run and was a non-factor. Earlier that year, trainer Alan Goldberg was trying to get his promising colt Jules to the Derby. Following a fifth-place finish in a Gulfstream allowance race, Goldberg said, “I’m a little confused right now.” Goodbye Jules. Always watch out for those defensive and indecisive words like “afraid” and “confused.” They usually are signs to look elsewhere.
But so much for tutorials on what to say and what not to say. Here are some of our favorite Derby quotes:
In 1992, Arazi was the biggest thing to hit Churchill Downs since Silky Sullivan, both of whom captured the imagination of the public. Arazi had decimated the best 2-year-olds in America with a spectacular last to first move in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and his arrival in Kentucky from his native France was one of the most anticipated events in Derby history. His first day on the racetrack was an event as hundreds of people lined the rail six and seven deep. But one trainer who was nowhere to be found was Neil Drysdale, trainer of second-choice A.P. Indy. I found him afterward sitting in his office. When I told him that he missed all the excitement of Arazi’s first appearance, he replied with a straight face, “Oh, I missed it? I was too busy doing the crossword puzzle.”
I can remember the time Wayne Lukas laid eyes on Afleet Alex for the first time as he walked by his barn and was surprised by what he saw, “That little muskrat is Afleet Alex?” he said as if he expected him to look like Secretariat. Only Lukas could come up with “little muskrat” right off the top of his head
Then there was Nick Zito doing his best impersonation of Dan Fogelberg as he watched Go For Gin still on the lead at the eighth pole in the 1994 Derby: “One more furlong to go,” he shouted. “Run for the Roses as fast as you can!”
No trainer could convey his thoughts like Zito, whose choice of words were always baffling, but somehow they expressed his feelings with an odd sense of clarity. When discussing his Derby horse Suave Prospect, he said, “He doesn’t look like he’s supposed to make it. But neither did Abraham Lincoln.” After getting Jerry Bailey to ride Go For Gin in the Wood Memorial, he said, “I got blue skies and I’m cruising at 37,000 feet.” And when Zito sent Diligence to train for the Derby at Keeneland, he not only informed people that the horse spoke to him, he quoted him and made you believe he was dead serious, saying: “Just the other day, Diligence actually spoke to me. He said, ‘Nick, I really like it here at Keeneland, please don’t send me anywhere.’ That’s the first time a horse ever spoke to me.”
When Zito’s eventual 1996 Preakness winner Louis Quatorze finished fourth in the Florida Derby, setting his Derby plans back, it was time for Zito to put things in perspective. “I’m done with spring training,” he said. “Now it’s personal,” And finally, Zito’s clarity was never more evident when he said of his horse Crary, “Either the Derby is on the agenda or it’s not.”
Then there was the 1981 Derby when Pleasant Colony’s winning trainer John Campo turned the normally humble post-race comments Kentuckians were used to into the stark realization that some brash Italian guy from the streets of New Yawk City can win the Derby. When ABC’s Jim McKay said to Campo on national TV, “John you said after the Wood Memorial he would win the Derby. What made you so confident?” Instead of McKay getting the usual self-effacing reply, a cocky Campo set him straight: “I’m a good horse trainer pal; don’t you forget it.”.
Finally, on a different note, who can forget the great actor Jack Klugman, who was truly humbled by being at the 1980 Derby with his classy colt Jaklin Klugman. He thought back at how he got started owning horses and gave an interesting analogy: “I remember the old comic Joe E. Lewis. He had a piano player for 20 years, and he said about him, ‘I never knew he drank until he came in sober one day.’ You never know how much you love these horses until someone tells you, ‘Hey, look how terrific owning horses can be.’ I was a workaholic, and all that mattered outside my family was work, work, work. I was getting jaded doing the same thing over and over again. Then this horse came along and I fell in love with him. And now here I am at the Kentucky Derby.”
Let the Journey Begin
OK, we’re now ready to hit the Derby trail. We know how to interpret the words of the trainers and I must tip my hat to all those who will be living on the edge from now until the first Saturday in May. Will they and their horses have smooth sailing, and if not, can they make the necessary adjustments to get to Churchill Downs with a shot of winning? Although we had some fun deciphering their often protective language, we are well aware how tough it is getting a horse to the Derby especially the stress of knowing how many things can go wrong and not knowing day to day if any one of those things will surface and knock you right off the Derby trail.
We have seen it happen way too many times over the years, sometimes depriving a horse, such as Hoist the Flag, Graustark, and Gen. Duke of potential superstardom. And we have seen the hopes of favorites or second favorites ended with late scratches on the morning of the race, as was the case with Forte, I Want Revenge and A.P. Indy. And there was the defection of 2-year-old champion Uncle Mo the day before the race. That is why every minute on the Derby trail is precious.
Nothing is guaranteed until your horse is in the starting gate, and even then, new worries begin. After all the months of planning and dreaming and pressure-packed races and workouts, you then have to hope your horse breaks well and gets a relatively clean trip with a chance to win. That is why I learned over the years to accept all the trainers’ cliches and excuses, as well as their attempt to avoid many of the questions. But it still is helpful to recognizethem and when not to take them seriously or let them influence you, as a bettor, a journalist, or just a fan.
Soon it will be time to start ranking the horses and follow their progress. We have been doing it for the past 33 years, whether in the form of Derby Watch for Daily Racing Form, The Derby Dozen for Blood-Horse, or the Derby Rankings for Secretariat.com. There have been lots of hits and misses, celebrations and frustrations, and of course surprises. But that is the Kentucky Derby and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Title image by artist Ralph Steadman, the British illustrator who accompanied famed journalist Hunter S. Thompson to the 1970 Kentucky Derby. Their visit resulted in Thompson’s article for Scanlan’s Monthly magazine, “The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved.” The humorous, satirical piece is widely recognized as the birth of “Gonzo Journalism.”
Racing historian, author, and award-winning retired journalist for the Daily Racing Form and The Blood-Horse, Steve Haskin was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame’s Media Roll of Honor in 2016. Known for his racing knowledge and insightful prose, he has been an exclusive contributor to Secretariat.com since 2020.
God, I love Neil Drysdale. The calla lilies he grew outside barn 53 were 6 feet tall: a reflection of his spirit. And he would always answer a legitimate question posed by anyone.
Old Trieste was one of A P Indy’s first stakes winners. He sadly was euthanized at age 8 after foundering at Jonabell. I remember him fondly. Minister Eric was one of his offspring, as was Silver Train
Even though the Los Alamitos Futurity was a Baffert procession (surprise!), I thought Litmus Test proved he was a really good horse. His build reminds me of Buckpasser, which can not be a bad thing. And Blacksmith came through with a good performance, reinforcing my hunch about him. Provenance ran well too, just got tired (and apparently lost a shoe and was vanned off! Hope he is OK).
We got interrupted right before we were going to watch the replay and figure out who got carried wide on the first turn. The chart is a little confusing on this point. Did anyone think it affected the race?
Please refrain from comparing some 2 year old that won a grade 2 at Los Al to Buckpasser.
Provenance was not affected by Alknowledgemeplz, who drifter out in the first turn. Yes, the Baffert horses were not affected & so it did affect the results. Yet another reason not to compare any horse in this race to one of the greats in racing. Thank you.
Wash, rinse,repeat as always.
Every year for the last 15 years, seemingly …
One barn isn’t the only ride in the park….. not even close.
Sorry to raise your hackles, Mike, simply by talking about the results of the only graded race of the weekend for 3YOs colts.
You didn’t Barbara. Just amusing the same theme year in/out.
Barbara who?
Right in, Mike…every year we here the same thing…the press only writes about ba ff ert and sometimes pletcher ad nauseum. My guess is the horses in this race will be nowhere near Louisville, Kentucky come spring time….
*on
Hello Dominic. Agree with your observations. Some are eager to crown a Derby winner before Christmas.
Blue Larkspur, I said his BUILD reminded me of Buckpasser. I didn’t compare him as a racehorse to Buckpasser, one of the greatest horses of all time and one of the horses to whom I owe my long-time interest in the sport.
Buckpasser was a conformational rarity of perfection. No, Litmus Test doesn’t hold a candle to him in that regard, either. The whole idea is quite absurd.
Yes, Buckpasser is in a league of his own.
Dissing people on Steve’s blog seems like a waste of time to me. Maybe this is why so many readers fail to comment — they’re worried about being snipped.
I always try to visualize some of these people based on their posts. Kind of a fun exercise. Don’t know what you did to excite them so much.
Todd, have great respect for your comments. A few are over zealous. Case in point- about this time last year with Barnes.
Thanks, Tood. Maybe mentioning Baffert was all it took.
BTW, Todd didn’t mean you’re one of the readers that’s overzealous. As indicated, always enjoy reading your comments.
She’s the one being excited. All I did was point out her obvious hyperbole about a Baffert horse, which, as Mike pointed out, happens every single year, without fail.
I totally agree, Ms Blacktype.
Of course.
It isn’t a “diss” or a “snip” to disagree with your opinion, MS. B – this is a public discussion forum. I think it makes one look silly to get a flustered by an opposing opinion. After all, what anyone says here isn’t law …. 😉
Correct BL.
Litmus Test has improved in all fourteen starts, hes large, like a 10 furlog type—-Blaks.ith also looked good, quite a few have some theu that little terak, and home solid reacehoerses….
Four
A lot of two year olds are improving with each start this time of the year. Incredibolt has improved every start, for example. Napoleon Solo, too
What you look for are the smart horses who do only as much as they need to do to win, like Further Ado.
Wonderful part 2 Steve, can’t recall anyone else writing about this topic. Nice to be able to interpret what these trainers really mean. Only time I got it right was the 2021 Four Star Dave, Trainer Mark Casse said that Got Stormy loved the tight turns at Saratoga and I believed him. She had won this race in 2019 setting a course record but was not favored in 2021.She came flying around that final turn and won going away. Thanks again Steve for such an enjoyable read.
How about a Derby Double with Paladin and Further Ado? 😉
Possible.
Steve,
Another great column. As many years that I have been around horse racing I have pretty much heard them all. I think you will have your work cut out for on picking your derby dozen. First 6 might be pretty straight forward but the last six may take some thinking.
On the quotes part of the article there were some pretty good ones. One that I remember but you did not include came from the great Charlie Whittingham after Sunday Silence won the KD. He was asked about bringing a horse from the west coast and winning the biggest race in racing. and he said something to the fact that ” west coast racing is very competitive but people on the east coast still think it is cowboys and indians out there”. I remember having a big laugh after he said that.
Have a great week Steve and looking forward to next week.
They were still using spurs in those west coast races, right?
LOL!!!
Sunday Silence battled a quarter crack, throughout the 1979 Triple Crown….I recall him being asked about it—Charlie said “I’m going to ride him all the way, to Pimlico”…answering the question, about his soundness…..he was our greatest trainer, out here….
(1989)
Re: Los Alamitos Futurity, (12-13, Race #8)
A short field of six will contest referenced race, three of which are trained by Bob Baffert.
Given that fact that Baffert’s top rider, Juan Hernandez, had his choice of mounts, he went with Litmus Test. He was aboard Provenance and Blacksmith on all of their starts, so you would think going with Litmus Test is telling. I would be shocked if Litmus Test is not the morning line favorite, which have yet to be posted.
BTW, his Equibase Speed figure of 111 is by far, the highest in the field.
Bill,
It will be interesting to see what Baffert horse goes for the lead. Your thoughts here.? I would like to see Provenance to held back and come with one big run. BTW Litmus Test is the ML Fav at 4/5 . Unless Blacksmith is a surprise looks like a work in progress. Rest of the field hard to say but O’Neill and Sadler horse show nice times but who did they beat. This may be a nice one to just watch.
Hi Downthestretch
Captivator, at 6-1, displayed impressive early speed in both career starts, and could very well be on the lead early on. He wired the field, going 6 furlongs, in 1:09.93, drawing off by 10 1/4 lengths. Prior to the start of the Futurity, his odds could move up, which might be enticing for a win wager. His pedigree reflects speed on top, with plenty of class and stamina influence on his dam side. His dam’s sire, Medaglia d’Oro, needs no introduction.
That said, Litmus Test is by far, the class of the Futurity field, and the one to beat.
By all indications, Baffert was pointing Buetane to this race, and as Steve mentioned, he’s been working “lights out” in preparations for the race. On 12-7, he worked 5 furlongs in 59.00, so you would all systems were on go. Possibly, Baffert saw something in the work that was concerning and chose not to run here. We’ll see how he progresses down the road.
Bottom line, Baffert is loaded with several top 2yr. old prospects in his barn.
Good luck, DTS.
Edit: you would think all systems are on go.
Bill
Saw that work by Buetane…. Not sure what happen after that. I might take a win tix on Provence or an exacta with Litmus Test.
On a another note looks like Representing might be getting ready for his debut… Bob has worked him at 5 furlongs at a pretty good clip. He looks like he can move. Waiting for that debut. Barnes has been working steady … probably see him in the Malibu… Mandella had a overage on a drug for Tamara…. Thing is he followed all the protocal this is very unfortunate… It was an allowed drug too !!!
Down, BB was “loaded” last yr. How did that work out?
Romantic Warrior career—26 starts….19 wins and 5 place, $27.6 million…..I expect will win Sat night—then try again in the Saudi Cup, vs Forever Young, despite having not run on dirt—he was heavily favored, last year….one heckuva horse….
Matthew, Romantic Warrior steps up and delivers time and time again.
Bill, I expect Litmus Test to be favored and win the race, but I have a sneaky feeling that Blacksmith might spoil the party. I think he wants more distance, and — despite his good performances in topnotch company — Litmus Test has only won once.
Good luck to you!
Thanks for the reply, Ms Blacktype
If Captivator remains at 6-1, or higher, I’ll key him top, with Provenance and Litmus Test underneath in a fairly large trifecta wager. That is: 6/ 2,3/2,3
Good luck with Blacksmith.
It’s just shy of 6 months to Derby Day. I wouldn’t rely on any specific 2 year olds to be “in the field” of the 2026 Kentucky Derby just yet ..
Exactly! Many times a horse on Derby week. Way too soon to get a definitive handle.
I will refer to this column again and again when trainers spout these euphemisms. Thank you Steve. I learn something new with each of your columns.
Thanks Sharon . Maybe I’ll publish it as a trainer’s dictionary. 😊
Finally, we have the entries for the Los Alamitos Futurity. No Boyd, no Buetane, but we do have Acknowledgemeplz, Blacksmith, Litmus Test, Provenance, American King, and Captivator. I hope all start.
Steve, I’m very excited to learn what you glean from the Thoro-Graph figs on this crop of rising 3YOs.
Thank you so much for all you do. There’s no way any of us can repay you for the knowledge and enthusiasm you share with us.
Ill be doing a column on that.
Great column as usual Steve—-you are the master writer for all turfdom!
A phrase I often read is “He needed the race.”
What think you of that one?
Thanks very much. I appreciate it. I didn’t Include that one because many times its true. I prefer to form that conclusion myself from pure handicapping knowledge and logic watching the race. I do like it if a trainer tells us he may need the race beforehand.
Thanks for reply Steve!
Thank you, Steve, for such an entertaining article! I loved it. Looking forward to your Derby Dozen articles. Oaklawn opens Friday, and hopefully there will be a lot of Oaklawn horses listed in your columns so I will have a chance to see the future Kentucky Derby winner in person!
Thanks Jerre im sure we’ll see plenty of Derby horses there.
A grand moment, keeping “The Cove” pristine…and always to be remembered as Secretariat’s home….where he grew up with his dam, before they broke them apart—a career awaited, I was oonlly 13, in 1972 but I knew, people knew they were witness to an outlier of epic proportions! When he got beat….it was never by a better horse….other horses didn’t do what he did…..
Thanks for the ‘warm up’ columns. I am eagerly awaiting the coming Derby Dozen columns!
Steve, as usual a great commentary! The phrases I have heard over and over again, especially in the last year! It’s actually kind of comical. Thank you again for sharing. Happy holidays for you and your family, Marilyn.
Thank you Marilyn. Same to you..
Excellent writing as usual Steve. Looking forward to your Derby rankings which have been helpful to me over the years.
Thank you Chuck. Im going over all the upcoming 3yos now and it looks like a fascinating group so far with some wild Thoro-graph patterns.
What a Christmas gift that was!!
Hilarious.. and true..to boot!!
I don’t know how you retain all that information… I just know it always makes my day!!
Merry Christmas to you and those you love!
Thank you!!💚🎄❤️😊🌟
Thank you very much Pat. Im so happy to hear that. Merry Christmas and best of luck in the new year.
Hi Steve
Thank you for providing those Derby Double-talk cliches, very entertaining to the least.
On a side note, have you heard any rumblings from the Baffert camp regarding Plutarch’s next start? He broke his maiden on 11-30, on turf, going 9 furlongs in 1:49.69, drawing off by 4 1/2 lengths. He displayed an impressive turn of foot, closing from 7th at the 1/2-mile pole to win going away. He’s raced on dirt as well, finishing 3rd to Intrepido, in the G1 American Pharoah. He’s an Into Mischief colt, out of Stellar Wind (6 G1 wins), by Curlin, and would appear to relish 10 furlongs.
I’m hopeful Baffert will try him on dirt again, somewhere down the road.
I’ve got a $40.00 win wager on him at 76-1 in Pool 1, and keyed him on top in a few exacta wagers as well. For whatever reason, Plutarch was not listed in Pool 2.
If you hear any news on Plutarch’s future plans, I would appreciate hearing from you.
Thanks Steve.
I watched that race. I was very impressive, but I would think Baffert will put him back on dirt. He rarely runs on grass and there are no grass races at SA for him at 3. My only question with him are his slow Thoro-Graph numbers. 4 0f his 5 races are in double figures but he did run a solid 7 1/2 three races back. Hes already run five times which is a bit unusual for Bob. But he did run a big race against some top horses. If I hear anything I will let you know.
Thanks, Steve. Much appreciated.
Probably, the best move the owners could take would be to move him to a barn with better turf expertise.
Very entertaining, Steve! I remember hearing that “little muskrat” comment from D. Wayne Lukas, and it still cracks me up. I’ve often commented to my husband that the trainers and NFL coaches basically give the same quotes. One of my favorites is the answer to the question to the losing coach at halftime, “what can your team do to get back in it?” – and the answer often is “we need to keep doing what we’re doing”. I laugh every time I hear that one. Sort of reminds me of “I have to see how he comes out of the race”.
Jacklin Klugman in 1980…..if memory serves correct—won the Derby Trial, at one mile the Saturday before he turned in a terrific run, in The Derby….
Really enjoyed this read. Fun to see how you expound on these favorite go to expressions by the trainers
Wishing you and all your loved ones happy holidays and a safe and healthy 2026. Should be another terrific Derby Run for the Roses.
Thanks Steve! What a hoot! I think I’ve heard ALL these over the years.
But I have to admit I had to look up ‘esoteric”. I bet I’m not the only one!
Keep up the good work! We love it.
Sounds beautiful doesnt it? 😊
This is a brilliant column, Steve. I’m curious — when you took notes, did you shorten any of these cliches to an acronym like “ITHLRO” for “I’m throwing his last race out?
Really looking forward to your first thoughts on the rising crop of 3 year olds next week
Looking forward to your KY Derby Rankings Steve. The cliche above ‘ throw his last race out is something I have have a hard time doing as a handicapper. Racing a clunker then forgiving it is hard to do. On a positive note, I’m feeling good about my 22-1 KDFW2 bet on Paladin. He’s now co- second choice at 11-1 in Vegas. Looking forward to his next prep. Maybe his next target 🎯 will be the Risen Star ⭐️ in FEB. at FG
“Have a Gun Runner, Will Travel..”..I heard on Sunday—Paladin was named after the old TV showq….he sure looked good, on Saturday….I was also taken by Liberty National, by Maxfield (first crop)….his tqwo-turn debut was a thing of beaury, :24 1/5 final quarter is as grade one caliber final 1/4……these are my two right now, I have not seen anything out west, that has excited me, not yet…
An entertaining and informative read! I’ve had a good time for the past year doing my best to interpret the remarks trainers have shared regarding my stable of MRH horses. Many (MANY!) of my fellow microshare owners clearly know nothing about horses, let alone racehorses, so I often feel sorry for the trainers. They have to dumb everything down so that Joe Schmo from Piscopo can somewhat understand. Meanwhile, I often get the distinct feeling that we are not being presented with the whole picture, partly because I’m aware of the general wish for trainers to remain mysterious gurus to their owners, and partly because Joe Schmo wouldn’t get it anyway.
As I said, I enjoy searching for the true meaning of trainer comments and have had some success figuring things out (proven by following events). I also have to do a lot of eye-rolling at ignorant comments from people who think horses are more like the auto sitting in their driveway than an all-too-delicate animal with a mind of its own!
As always, thanks for the wonderful writing and priceless insights.
Thanks Tracie, I hope this helped you and other microshare owners and brought both clarity snd levity to understanding trainers.
Hi Steve. I was having fun this morning until I took a break. Now I’m really having fun. Thanks for being so good st this. I am your fan. C.
Thank you Chris, if it brought a smile to your face then im happy.
Another great read Professor, looking forward to the Derby trail.
Just consider me Professor Peabody adding a touch of sanity in an offbeat way. Thanks.
I love your work Steve, and greedily soak up the information you generously present to us based on your love and understanding of the sport! Many Thanks, Kerri Lambert
Thanks very much, Kerri.
Such a fun read! (I know I always say that about your work but I mean it!) I feel for trainers; what a job, trying to mollify incredibly wealthy owners and also give the media soundbites that paint the best picture without publicly telling anything false. I’m surprised more of them don’t move into diplomacy as a second career.
Thank you Nicole. Glad you enjoyed it.
Great column as usual. I wish Nick Zito would win the Triple Crown. (that’s all)
Steve, this column is as rare and remarkable as a horseshoe tangled in a tail. Well done, sir!
Lol. Thanks James. That was as bizarre as it gets.
Mr. Haskin, your work is remarkable as usual. Not only do I follow your blog during Derby season, it has my attention year round.
Thanks Mike. I appreciate it.
I love that line “don’t try to feel better than good.” I like to pick horses based on their body language in the paddock, the post parade, and the warmup; it can be tricky to tell sometimes if a horse’s energy is contained or just a little over the top.
And as an Illinois native, I laughed aloud when I read Nick Zito’s comment, “He doesn’t look like he’s supposed to make it. But neither did Abraham Lincoln”!