Two Minute Lick: Of Quality, In Man and Horse

It was with much anticipation that I awaited their arrival, Ever So Lucky, the much heralded two year old colt, and his Hall of Fame trainer, Jonathan Sheppard. An unseasonal warmth had bathed the environs of Churchill Downs this grand day, but with the setting of the sun the temperature was now falling in synchrony with a rapidly fading late afternoon light.

The second of the two feature races on Churchill's "Stars of Tomorrow" program was forthcoming, the tradition-rich Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. The co-feature race, The Golden Rod, had been run one hour earlier, and had been won most impressively by the grey Smoke Glacken filly, On Fire Baby, a filly of very obvious ability who, despite her speed-oriented pedigree, demonstrated her capability on this day of handling the two turns demanded in this race. We were about to see whether the same could be said of Ever so Lucky, he also sporting a pedigree more often associated with sprinting and middle distances, being by the outstanding Indian Charlie and out of a Summer Squall mare, neither sire line know for exceptional stamina-imparting qualities.

Ever So Lucky (Indian Charlie-Bally Storm x Summer Squall)

My particular interest in this race, other than my love of any good race, was the opportunity of seeing Mr. Sheppard with such a promising youngster, a colt who had already been touted by some as a colt of classic quality and capability. The credentials of Jonathan Sheppard as a trainer will not be reviewed nor even summarized here except to note that he is a member of both the Thoroughbred and Steeplechasing Halls of Fame, an incredible testament to his outstanding horsemanship. His reputation, however, for the most part was garnered by his work with older horses and, in particular, with those with turf (and more recently, synthetic) and distance capabilities. There had been exceptions throughout his career, perhaps most notably his management of Storm Cat in his two year old campaign many years ago, but such has by far proved the exception rather than the rule. There has never been a question of his capability of managing young horses but, rather, simply an issue of opportunity and incentive, many of his owners preferring later maturing animals with turf and stamina laden pedigrees. Further, his owners have seemingly demonstrated patience and have afforded him the opportunity and time necessary to develop such horses, the emphasis being on longer careers for older horses. This combination, while marvelous for the horse and being of sound purpose and intent, rarely computes to two year old racing nor early development necessary for contention for the Spring Classics. Thus it was intriguing to see him with a precocious youngster and the faint smell of roses surrounding his barn.

It was in early November, 2009, when I first had the opportunity to meet and spend some time with Jonathan. At that time he had in his stable numerous horses of quality, most notably Forever Together, the 2008 Eclipse award winning Turf Mare, and the brilliant sprinting filly Informed Decision, she an apparent genetic paradox, being by the classic winning Monarchos out of a mare by the major stamina influence, His Majesty. (While congratulating her breeders, Nancy Cole and Chuck Kidder, on her many successes, I delighted in teasing that I was "certain" they were looking for a sprinter out of such a cross. Indeed, Informed Decision was bred to run as far as they write races yet excelled at seven furlongs. Ah, the precise art of breeding!).

...the grand old warrior, Cloudy's Knight...

..profile of a champion, Forever Together

Informed Decision, 2009 Eclipse winner, Filly & Mare Sprinter

Informed Decision leaving barn with Jonathan leading and Barry up

Informed Decision...

Informed Decision to the track...

Informed Decision in final major prep...

...prior to victory in Breeder's Cup Filly & Mare Sprint...

Barry and Informed Decision leave Keeneland track following work

Informed Decison, 2009 Eclipse winning Filly & Mare Sprinter

Informed Decision cooling out...

Informed Decision

2008 Eclipse Champion, Forever Together, to the track...

...a little sojourn down to the training track...

Having heard through the grapevine that he was intending working his fillies the following morning, I approached him the preceding day in the Keeneland paddock and asked him of his intent, expressing how much I would enjoy seeing the works. He welcomed my inquiry as if I was an old friend and, after quickly conferring with his longtime assistant trainer, Barry Wiseman, we decided 8 o'clock would be the time I should arrive. The next morning I arrived closer to 7:30 and was warmly greeted by Jonathan and Barry, and was made to feel very welcome in their barn. Another day perhaps I'll post the article I wrote about that morning, but suffice to say it was a tremendous day for me and several racing friends who accompanied me. We witnessed not only the final major breezes of Forever Together and Informed Decision, but also of Cloudy's Knight, a grand old nine year old gelding who had come through a lengthy rehabilitation from injury and was prepping for the Breeder's Cup Marathon. Jonathan's foray into the Breeder's cup that year was almost unprecedented. Informed Decison was victorious in the Filly and Mare Sprint, and was later named 2009 Champion Filly and Mare Sprinter; Forever Together could not duplicate her previous year's form but ran extremely well to finish third; the grand old Cloudy's Knight put on an incredible show, a testament to his conditioner, to finish a hard fought second in the Marathon. Thus, from three starters the team of Sheppard and Wiseman garnered a first, second and a third. Outstanding by any standards!

...and back, Barry Wiseman aboard...

...Jonathan Sheppard leading Forever Together...

Very soon after this visit I wrote the aforementioned article about the morning's visit, I hope capturing many of my emotions felt during that visit. Very interesting, I think, how what is an ordinary work day for one man is a journey into a fantasy world for another. Without doubt Jonathan and Barry feel privileged and honored to work with these grand beasts, but it is what they do, day in and day out, and it does become routine I'm certain. For me, with my daily work being so unrelated, the opportunity to experience their world for several hours, to be so closely associated with horses of this caliber, was a memorable experience, made more so by the warmth of their reception to this outsider. Some time after the Breeder's Cup I thought back upon this visit, relived that morning, and reflected upon the success they experienced in the Cup races. I began to wonder if they, being so intimately involved with these three horses, had had an opportunity to consider their exceptional success and recognize what a very special time this was even for persons already so accomplished in their chosen field. This concern prompted me to send both Jonathan and Barry numerous 81/2 X 11 inch photos, including some of these photos displayed on this blog, to serve as reminders of this special time and, specifically, of that special morning at Keeneland when their charges undertook their final major workouts for what proved to be a glorious Breeder's Cup. Some weeks later I received a hand written note from Jonathan thanking me, not only for the photos, but also for the article I had written about that Keeneland morning, the article having been given him by Nancy Cole. I trust Mr. Sheppard will not be offended if I quote from his letter, for I think his words impart an important message and give a reminder that we all would do well to heed as we pass through this world.

...Forever Together, playing for the camera...

"I shall save and cherish your letter as a reminder of that time. Our lives are so busy and hectic that we seldom leave time to record the special things that happen. That was certainly a special time in my life and my career as a trainer - possibly the highlight, though one dreams of the Triple Crown and so on - but I suspect that was about as good as it will get..."

Wise words from a rather brilliant man, a genius in his field, and a reminder to us all to take the time to appreciate the wonder in and about us, to take nothing for granted.

Jonathan and Barry, with their champion mare...

Forever together in final major breeze...

Forever Together , back to the barn after final prep

Forever Together cools out...

And so, we are back to Saturday, November 26, 2011 at Churchill, and I am here especially to cheer on Ever So Lucky in the hope that his performance will keep Jonathan's Triple Crown dream alive. I wish I could conclude the story by speaking of a dominating performance, of Ever So Lucky widening in the stretch, leaving all in his wake, immediately thrusting himself to the forefront of those on the Derby trail. He ran well, really very well considering it was the second start of his life, he set or attended the pace throughout, moved to the fore at the head of the stretch, showed grit and fought gallantly against the charging Gemologist, weakening only in the final 1/16th mile while managing to hold off an onrushing Timely Tally and Optimizer for the place spot. Certainly lack of conditioning was very unlikely a factor, for Jonathan Sheppard's horses do not run short at this time of the year. On the other hand, lack of seasoning most certainly could have played a role in his narrow defeat. The worry exists, however, that there may be genetic limitations involved, for he is by Indian Charlie, an outstanding stallion but one who is not yet demonstrating a propensity to sire major two turn horses. The hope is here that Ever So Lucky might prove the exception, but time will tell. One thing I feel certain about is that if he has 1 1/4 miles in him, there is no better man to bring this out but, if the inherent necessary stamina capability is lacking, this will be determined and the issue resolved in the mornings, and not through any ill-conceived disastrous outing on the first Saturday in May.