Cup of Coffee: Gut Call

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Eddie Graham faced a tough decision. Agonizing, really. Go for the bigger purse, smaller but tougher field or smaller purse, weaker but bigger field? Graham’s horse was thriving, tuned like a Gibson Guitar. Graham conferred with his owners. Talked to racing secretaries. Quizzed friends. Called confidants. Finally, he made the decision. Run Aitcheson Lane in the 3-mile maiden timber at Willowdale. It worked, he won.

Fifteen years later, the trainer faced another tough decision. Bigger purse, smaller but tougher field. Smaller purse, longer distance, weaker but bigger field. Middle of the three purse options, projected bigger field. Again, the horse was flourishing. Graham studied the form, checked with stakes coordinators, called owners, texted confidants. The Arlington Million, the Arlington St. Leger or the Sword Dancer?  Finally, he made the call.

“I went with my gut,” Graham texted.

Graham chose the Arlington Million. Taking on last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Magician, last year’s Arlington Million winner Real Solution and four other established turf stars, Graham gathered his friends – trainer Brianne Slater, jump jockey Jody Petty, van driver Keith Cooper – and went west with Andrew Bentley’s Hardest Core.

In the story of the year, Hardest Core blew past Magician to win Graham’s biggest race. Biggest race by $950,000 in purse money and by annals of history. Our friend from Chester County, Pa. won the Arlington Million. The Grade 1 Arlington Million. An assistant trainer for Bruce Miller and other steeplechase trainers, Graham went out on his own somewhere around the time of Aitcheson Lane and has trained a small string of horses – mostly jumpers – off the farm, eking out a living while doing all the work himself. Graham’s wife Wendi works in the Parx racing office, they have two kids and survive on a few loyal clients and a stout work ethic.

Former trainer Rusty Carrier and Graham picked out Hardest Core at Keeneland November last year. The accomplished 3-year-old on the turf for Kiaran McLaughlin did not come cheaply. Greg Bentley purchased the son of Hard Spun for $210,000 and gave him to his 30-year-old son Andrew for a birthday present. Don’t for a minute think, ‘spoiled brat gets a $210,000 horse for his birthday.’ Andrew was born with Down’s Syndrome. He’s been a loyal steeplechase fan from Day 1. After years of going racing, my brother Joe and I came to a conclusion one day, “Andrew Bentley is the smartest, friendliest, most likeable guy at the races.” You see him and you smile.

When perusing the results from the sale, I saw Bentley’s name next to Hardest Core. Knowing Eddie trained for Bentley, my first thought was, ‘Man, I hope Eddie gets to train that horse.’

I texted him at 7:28 on Nov. 14.

“Hope you get to train him!”

Thirty-nine minutes later, Graham responded.

Do you mean Hardest Core?

“What you got another one? Nice horse.”

I loved him…I met Rusty there and we got him…I won’t be sleeping much when he’s in training…lol.

“He’s a stunning horse.”

Don’t you think there is still something there for the flat…before fences.

“Absolutely.”

It’s a dream for me…cross your fingers.

“I already have.”

After arriving at Graham’s barn in Pennsylvania, Hardest Core was gelded. Days later his intestines fell through the incision. New Bolton Center gave him a 30 percent chance of living.

Living? He was knocking his feed tub off the wall three days later. By February, he was about to go back to work. “How’s your horse?

He should be okay for spring…I’m starting him up in March. I hope.

By June, Hardest Core returned to the entries in an allowance race at Parx. “Good luck tomorrow.”

Thanks. I think he will need it.

He won. Then won again, taking the Cape Henlopen at Delaware Park.

By August, the texts turned to Saratoga.

They invited me to Sword Dancer. I don’t want to look like a dumb ass. He never came out of feed tub

“Go with your gut.”

Maiden hurdle at Shawan Downs.

“Don’t go with your gut.”

I knew you would like that…lol.

Next came emails with past performances for the three races, followed by texts of observations, opinions and instincts

Graham texted his decision: I went with my gut. (Editor’s note, I told him to run in the Sword Dancer). His gut told him Arlington Million. His skill and Hardest Core’s talent won it.

Greg Bentley, his wife Caroline, Andrew and Carrier handed an opportunity to Graham. The capable horse trainer took it, training a quality horse off God’s gift of rolling hills in Chester County, Pa. and won the Grade 1 Arlington Million, joining the likes of Ron McAnally and John Henry, Charlie Whittingham and Perrault and so many other great horses and great trainers

Coming back on Aitcheson Lane, 15 years ago, Graham stood with his hands on his hips, smiling like he won the lottery. The first thing he did was walk up and hug the horse. Fifteen years later, Graham won the Arlington Million and again, it was about the horse.

They said a loaded gun goes off in anybody’s hand. Perhaps. Graham got his first loaded gun and won the Arlington Million with it. Proving yet again there are horsemen out there you don’t know but probably should.