Tom Pedulla is interviewing outstanding house owners, trainers and jockeys as they journey the Street to the a hundred and fiftieth Kentucky Derby offered by Woodford Reserve Could 4 at Churchill Downs.
This installment options former main league outfielder Jayson Werth, an All-Star performer who performed a key position when the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in 5 video games to win the 2008 World Collection. Werth batted .444 (8 for 18) with three doubles, one residence run, three RBI and 6 walks because the Phillies captured their second world championship.
Werth, a local of Springfield, Il., was a first-round draft selection in 1997. He batted .267 with 229 residence runs and 799 RBI in a serious league profession that stretched from 2002-2017. He made his final cease with the Washington Nationals and is a member of that franchise’s Ring of Honor.
Werth, 44, is seeking to make a mark now in horse racing. He competes below the banner of Two Eight Racing LLC – saluting his uniform quantity – and has taken a monetary stake in quite a few horses. He joined West Paces Racing, R.A. Hill Stables, Belmar Racing and Breeding and Pine Racing Stables in taking a ten p.c curiosity in high Derby prospect Dornoch.
Werth mentioned his fascination with horses, his main league profession and the fun of being a part of the journey with Dornoch throughout a question-and-answer session performed on behalf of America’s Finest Racing. Dornoch, skilled by Danny Gargan, boasts 66 Derby qualifying factors after starting his 3-year-old season with a simple victory within the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 2 at Gulfstream Park, nearly making certain a spot amongst an anticipated 20 horses within the Derby beginning gate. 4 races previous to the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream, R Calli Kim, a Revolutionary mare co-owned by Werth and Wealthy Averill, tallied her ninth profession win in 15 begins by taking The Very One Stakes on turf.
PEDULLA: How did you get occupied with racing?
WERTH: After I was a child, I labored on a horse farm close to my home in Springfield, Il. I made buddies with the proprietor and he would let me hold on the market. I used to be fascinated by these mythological creatures from a younger age.
PEDULLA: Did horses and racing proceed to curiosity you as soon as your baseball profession started?
WERTH: I had no contact with horses however I at all times adopted the game from afar. I watched the Derby. A few occasions after I was within the minor leagues and we have been in Louisville we’d go to the observe within the morning on the day of video games. However, as you may think about, if you’re an expert baseball participant, that’s a 24-7 job. There actually is not any time for the rest.
PEDULLA: When you retired, how did you get into proudly owning Thoroughbreds?
WERTH: I stay within the Tampa Bay space now and I used to be taking part in golf. I might are available in after golf and they’d flip the horse races on. Guys would watch and make bets. I used to be like, ‘What do you guys have occurring right here? I’m actually .’ I began taking part in golf with (Thoroughbred proprietor) Wealthy Averill and bought to know him a bit bit and he bought me stepping into horse racing. If it wasn’t for him, I’d nonetheless not have discovered a method in.
PEDULLA: I perceive you’ve gotten a particular attachment to R Calli Kim, a Grade 3 winner you co-own with Averill Racing. Could I ask you to inform me about that?
WERTH: Going to Churchill Downs on any day is like going to the Tremendous Bowl. She wins (an allowance race on Could 26, 2022) and it was the most effective days of racing I’ve had. We moved her over to (coach) Brendan Walsh as a result of he had her sister and had success together with her. We despatched her to the farm and the advice was that, ‘She’s accomplished.’ I used to be devastated. That is like my favourite creature on the planet. She bought surgical procedure and the coach she was with (in Ocala) stated, ‘Let’s simply give her time.’ He put her out within the subject and let her be a horse and let her get well.
PEDULLA: I do know she made all of it the way in which again. That should have meant rather a lot to you.
WERTH: She began coaching a bit bit simply to see how she’d react. On July 23, 2023 we put her in a claiming race at Saratoga. That is all Averill. She wins at Saratoga and Saratoga shouldn’t be a simple place to win. We put her in at Kentucky Downs and she or he (began) like useless final. I’m like, ‘Oh man, that is such a mistake. We by no means ought to have introduced her right here.’ She comes steaming from behind and wins like she at all times does, in dramatic vogue. She steals your coronary heart on the barn after which she rips your coronary heart out of your chest within the race.
PEDULLA: Gargan stated you might be fairly a horse lover. The place does that come from?
WERTH: It’s arduous to grasp should you’re not round them. There’s a connection that’s unmistakable. There’s something mystical about them that’s not like another creature. Proudly owning and racing them is one of the best recreation on the town. I didn’t realize it till I bought into it. However it’s so a lot enjoyable.
PEDULLA: How did you become involved with Dornoch?
WERTH: I used to be standing on the bar (on the Keeneland September Yearling Sale) and these guys are speaking about this horse they only purchased by Good Magic. (Coach) Danny Gargan stated, ‘It could be good to have you ever in on a horse like this. We’d like a celeb in on this horse.’ It was the primary colt I ever purchased as a result of Averill does fillies.
PEDULLA: Did you suppose you have been shopping for right into a horse that might attain the Derby?
WERTH: What are the probabilities? You’re going to purchase 10 p.c of 1 horse on the Keeneland Sale in September. What number of books are there? What number of days are there? What number of horses undergo? It was a type of issues (that was) proper place, proper time.
PEDULLA: What number of horses do you personal?
WERTH: We’ve had some horses claimed and I didn’t purchase any 2-year-olds this yr. We’re going to let this play out. I feel at one time I had elements of 30-some horses, anyplace from 25 to 50 p.c. Averill and I personal R Harper Rose. She’s an actual good horse. It’s unbelievable to have this sort of luck and success in a brief time frame. If I do that yearly for the subsequent 20 years, I don’t know if I’d ever be on this scenario once more. I’m simply sort of having fun with the journey.
PEDULLA: What does it really feel prefer to have a lot success so quick?
WERTH: It’s an incredible recreation. I used to be on the highest stage {of professional} sports activities for 15 years. I can inform you there may be nothing extra thrilling than proudly owning a horse and working in an enormous race. It’s wonderful how superior this sport is. It’s so underrated. Folks don’t know.
PEDULLA: If you retired from the foremost leagues, did you’re feeling a void? If that’s the case, does racing assist fill that void?
WERTH: I inform individuals you may’t replicate that feeling of taking part in. I might say horse racing has stuffed an enormous void in my life.
PEDULLA: Is it arduous to go from having management of the end result in baseball to having no management in racing?
WERTH: Completely. These horses are so particular and so wonderful and something can occur. It’s nerve-wracking however exhilarating and completely superior on the similar time. I instructed the blokes one of the best excessive is proudly owning a horse on race day.
PEDULLA: How do you view Dornoch’s Derby prospects?
WERTH: In case you watch his races, you see he’s particular. Then you definately go see him within the barn and also you get to know his persona and he’s a celebrity. He’s bought an awesome persona. He likes to race. Clearly, all of those races are going to be powerful for him for the remainder of his profession. To be within the scenario the place he’s at, you may’t pay for it. You’ve bought to adore it and also you’ve bought to roll with it.