Despite Confidence,Nerve-Racking’ Days For Derby Trainers
Apr 29, 2016 20:05:47 GMT -5
Post by cait on Apr 29, 2016 20:05:47 GMT -5
hmmmm - was hoping mr. o'neill would tell us which milkshake is best - strawberry, choc, or w/e lol
Despite Confidence, ‘Nerve-Racking’ Days Ahead For Derby Trainers
Scott Jagow
Paulick
The final days before the Kentucky Derby are an anxious time for all of the connections — especially the trainers who have devoted months of work trying to qualify and prepare their horses for a peak performance on the first Saturday in May. They realize a wrong step, an unexpected illness, or even a bad post position could derail their chances of winning the most coveted race in the world.
“I tell the team, that's why we never try to get too high, at least in public, and never get too low when things happen because injuries happen in sports. You've got to be very lucky to keep a horse healthy and injury free,” said Doug O'Neill, trainer of Derby favorite Nyquist. “I'd be lying if I said every day you don't walk down the shedrow with one eye open, one eye closed.”
Nyquist came down with a brief “shipping” illness following his victory in the Florida Derby but recovered quickly and is on track for his Derby start. The colt's fellow 2-year-old champion, Songbird, wasn't as fortunate, as she will miss the Kentucky Oaks after developing a fever.
“The Songbird situation was extremely eye-opening to us,” said trainer Steve Asmussen, conditioner of Derby contenders Gun Runner and Creator. “For a dominate filly like her to be eliminated from this opportunity over a temperature, shows how fleeting and fragile and unique the opportunity is.”
To that point, despite a resume worthy of election to the Hall of Fame this week, Asmussen is still seeking his first Derby victory. O'Neill won with I'll Have Another in 2012, but he said that doesn't make it much easier.
“The longer you're in it, and the more you see, the more nerve-racking it can be,” O'Neill quipped.
Still, O'Neill, Asmussen, and Kiaran McLaughlin, who shared their thoughts Tuesday on an NTRA conference call, all seemed as confident as they could be a week and a half from the race.
“He's had two bad minutes in his whole life,” said McLaughlin, whose trainee Mohaymen ran fourth, beaten 8 1/4 lengths by Nyquist as the Florida Derby favorite. McLaughlin said Mohaymen's trip that day wasn't on the best part of the track, and the colt has since worked well over the Churchill surface.
“I think he can rebound, and I think we can turn the tables,” said McLaughlin, who noted that Mohaymen will turn in his final Derby breeze either Friday or Saturday.
As for the undefeated Nyquist, the colt will put in another work at Keeneland Friday before shipping to Louisville the next day. O'Neill said the vibe around the barn remains a positive one.
“A great horse like Nyquist and some of these others, you could probably train a 100 different ways and they're going to win despite you,” he said. “What we saw the other day (in a work at Keeneland) is what we've been seeing all along, so we're very happy with where we're at.”
Meanwhile, Asmussen admits his two colts will have to run faster than they have in previous starts to wear the roses a week from Saturday, but the trainer loves the way Creator and Gun Runner are coming into the race.
“Creator is just blossoming before our eyes,” he said. “Just to watch him train over the last month, five weeks, from the colt that was here last fall, it's very exciting.
“Gun Runner's work, 12 1/5 here at Churchill, out in :39, very few horses are capable of doing that. That has us excited with a great amount of confidence.”
But Asmussen, O'Neill, and McLaughlin agree that even if their colts make it into the Derby starting gates, there are still factors out of their control that will likely determine the outcome of the big race.
“You think of a scenario which is favorable for each horse but you realize how you can be eliminated,” said Asmussen. “If there's not much pace in the race, it eliminates Creator's chance. If Gun Runner is eliminated in the first quarter of a mile, being run over, there are so many things that can eliminate you from the opportunity to run your best race.”
“Whenever you line up 20 of the best 3-year-olds from around the world, you don't necessarily have to be the best horse but you've got to be the luckiest horse,” said O'Neill. “You're splitting hairs on talent level, there are so many talented horses. Nyquist has been fortunate enough to hit the wire first in all seven of his starts, and we're optimistic he can keep it going.”
Despite Confidence, ‘Nerve-Racking’ Days Ahead For Derby Trainers
Scott Jagow
Paulick
The final days before the Kentucky Derby are an anxious time for all of the connections — especially the trainers who have devoted months of work trying to qualify and prepare their horses for a peak performance on the first Saturday in May. They realize a wrong step, an unexpected illness, or even a bad post position could derail their chances of winning the most coveted race in the world.
“I tell the team, that's why we never try to get too high, at least in public, and never get too low when things happen because injuries happen in sports. You've got to be very lucky to keep a horse healthy and injury free,” said Doug O'Neill, trainer of Derby favorite Nyquist. “I'd be lying if I said every day you don't walk down the shedrow with one eye open, one eye closed.”
Nyquist came down with a brief “shipping” illness following his victory in the Florida Derby but recovered quickly and is on track for his Derby start. The colt's fellow 2-year-old champion, Songbird, wasn't as fortunate, as she will miss the Kentucky Oaks after developing a fever.
“The Songbird situation was extremely eye-opening to us,” said trainer Steve Asmussen, conditioner of Derby contenders Gun Runner and Creator. “For a dominate filly like her to be eliminated from this opportunity over a temperature, shows how fleeting and fragile and unique the opportunity is.”
To that point, despite a resume worthy of election to the Hall of Fame this week, Asmussen is still seeking his first Derby victory. O'Neill won with I'll Have Another in 2012, but he said that doesn't make it much easier.
“The longer you're in it, and the more you see, the more nerve-racking it can be,” O'Neill quipped.
Still, O'Neill, Asmussen, and Kiaran McLaughlin, who shared their thoughts Tuesday on an NTRA conference call, all seemed as confident as they could be a week and a half from the race.
“He's had two bad minutes in his whole life,” said McLaughlin, whose trainee Mohaymen ran fourth, beaten 8 1/4 lengths by Nyquist as the Florida Derby favorite. McLaughlin said Mohaymen's trip that day wasn't on the best part of the track, and the colt has since worked well over the Churchill surface.
“I think he can rebound, and I think we can turn the tables,” said McLaughlin, who noted that Mohaymen will turn in his final Derby breeze either Friday or Saturday.
As for the undefeated Nyquist, the colt will put in another work at Keeneland Friday before shipping to Louisville the next day. O'Neill said the vibe around the barn remains a positive one.
“A great horse like Nyquist and some of these others, you could probably train a 100 different ways and they're going to win despite you,” he said. “What we saw the other day (in a work at Keeneland) is what we've been seeing all along, so we're very happy with where we're at.”
Meanwhile, Asmussen admits his two colts will have to run faster than they have in previous starts to wear the roses a week from Saturday, but the trainer loves the way Creator and Gun Runner are coming into the race.
“Creator is just blossoming before our eyes,” he said. “Just to watch him train over the last month, five weeks, from the colt that was here last fall, it's very exciting.
“Gun Runner's work, 12 1/5 here at Churchill, out in :39, very few horses are capable of doing that. That has us excited with a great amount of confidence.”
But Asmussen, O'Neill, and McLaughlin agree that even if their colts make it into the Derby starting gates, there are still factors out of their control that will likely determine the outcome of the big race.
“You think of a scenario which is favorable for each horse but you realize how you can be eliminated,” said Asmussen. “If there's not much pace in the race, it eliminates Creator's chance. If Gun Runner is eliminated in the first quarter of a mile, being run over, there are so many things that can eliminate you from the opportunity to run your best race.”
“Whenever you line up 20 of the best 3-year-olds from around the world, you don't necessarily have to be the best horse but you've got to be the luckiest horse,” said O'Neill. “You're splitting hairs on talent level, there are so many talented horses. Nyquist has been fortunate enough to hit the wire first in all seven of his starts, and we're optimistic he can keep it going.”