HALLANDALE, Fla. – Trainer Jimmy Bond’s hopes of scoring the biggest jackpot in his career soared to the stars yesterday when his Horse-of-the-Year candidate Behrens drew the lucky two post in the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Gulfstream Park.
“A gift from the gods,” he cried.
Behrens’ dream slot was drawn only minutes after Bond’s other big Cup gun, Val’s Prince, drew a comfortable post nine in the mile-and-a-half Turf, giving the trainer – and New York – bright prospects of winning the two richest events in the eight-race series. The Turf carries a $2 million prize.
Behrens is the 3-1 morning line favorite to win the mile-and-a-quarter Classic against 13 rivals, including General Challenge, River Keen, Almutawakel and Lemon Drop Kid.
But in one exuberant sweep, Bond swept all the competition aside. “I’m not frightened of any of them,” he chortled. “We are the horse to beat.”
He pulled out a slip of paper showing that in all the mile-and-a-quarter races run at Gulfstream Park since 1993, post position two is the place to be.
If Bond pulls it off, few will deserve the accolade more because this is the trainer who stood up and risked everything – including his reputation and livelihood – to defend the controversial veterinarian Dr. Michael Galvin against unsubstantiated drug charges brought by the New York Racing Association.
Bond asserted that Galvin was the best vet in the business, but paid a price for his candor and loyalty. Friends say NYRA has been sticking it to him ever since.
Galvin won his case against NYRA with a confidential, out-of-court settlement. And Behrens, the potential champion under his care, is poised to stake his claim as America’s horse of the year by winning the Classic.
Behrens’ record has its blemishes. He lost the Whitney at Saratoga by a nose to Victory Gallop in what some consider New York’s race of the year. Then he finished a game second in the slop to River Keen in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
But he has won four of eight races this year, banked $1.7 million and, by any account, looms the horse to beat Saturday.
Although he comes off two hard races, Bond says there is not a chance Behrens will “bounce” or suffer fatigue. “If he bounces, it will be only one way – forward,” Bond said.
The 42-year-old trainer is known for boosting the chances of his horses, but it is not so much hyperbole as his billowing optimism. The power of positive thinking has taken Bond a long way in this game.
He has trained Behrens for three years at Payson Park, a quiet, sprawling, private operation about 90 miles north of Miami with its own mile track.
“It’s the perfect world out in the country – no noise, no planes, no sirens – and horses love it,” Bond said.
“Behrens loves a fast track, he loves Gulfstream and I hope the track is fast so the Classic will be a fair race and everyone will have their best chance.”
Bond is desperate to have the world recognize Behrens as a champion, especially after he was beaten nearly 25 lengths at 7-2 in the Breeders’ Cup Classic two years ago. That race has dragged like an anchor ever since on the horse’s reputation.
So, way back in February, Bond and the owners set Saturday’s Classic as his prime mission this year. It’s their private Redemption Stakes.
“We were offered a lot of places to go all over the country and they were very enticing, but we stuck to our guns,” Bond said.
So everything rides on Saturday. As usual, New York’s rip-roaring jockey Jorge Chavez will have the mount on Behrens. Bond thinks Chavez is top of the bill.
“He’s been riding for me for six years,” the trainer said. “He’s always been a great rider. We’ve enjoyed a lot of success. I really listen to what he says about the horses he rides for me.”
Does he ride them too hard? “No way,” Bond said. “In six years, he has never brought back a horse with a welt. Not once, ever.”
Bond’s good fortune rocketed in late summer when Val’s Prince was moved into his care after the two owners, Robin Martin and Steve Weiner, split asunder in their affections.
In the fallout, Val’s Prince, a gifted grass runner, was yanked out of trainer Jim Picou’s barn and transferred to Bond’s. Since then, the chestnut has won the Man o’War and the Turf Classic.
Now he’s a strong 6-1 third favorite to win the Turf.
“He’s an amazing horse,” Bond said. “He keeps getting better and stronger, he has a great post in the Turf and I’m very excited about him, too.”
As they say, “The name is Bond – James Bond.” And by nightfall Saturday, the whole world may know his name.