TRACK TALK – Lenny

 

TRACK TALK | lenny271

01/03/2014 by PHAR LAP from THE BLACK TYPE BUGLER

 

                                                                                                        

 Today is ISSUE 14 of TRACK TALK. We will spend some time with one of the premier trainers in our great game Derby Fever. The mighty lenny271 stable. Breeder and trainer of current great, Global Champion TO CATCH A KITTY. Also trainer of over 160 G1 WINS and 1500 STAKES WINS. Also trained the winners of 10 Breeders Bowl races (including 5 in 2008), 5 Classic Races, and 3 Eclipse Awards.

 

TO CATCH A KITTY (He will retire as my best horse – his 2013 campaign was pretty good.  He won 4 GI’s in a row including the Breeders Bowl Turf.  He’s easily the fastest horse I’ve ever had as he put up huge speed figures even in defeat.  Probably up for some end of year hardware, (recently crowned The 2013 Horse Of The Year & Champion Older Horse on Turf) but I’m more concerned about his next race.  He’s running for GRS in the winter Equinics and he’s coming off a pretty poor effort.  I’m hoping he bounces back after some much needed rest and proves to have some life left for the 2014 season).

4th in the Equinics – Best Horse I Never Owned

       

              SIRE   KITTEN’S JOY                               DAM SIRE NIJINSKY                           DDS SHARPEN UP                  

                  

 

 

             

 Stables Winning strike rate    23.8 %              ITM   55.2 %

Member of the GR Simsters residency

PHAR LAP:  Hi Ryan, thanks for taking the time for this interview.

Ryan: No problem – it is my pleasure.  I really have enjoyed the series so far and am flattered to be interviewed.

PHAR LAP: Where do you come from Ryan ?

Ryan:  I come from just outside Buffalo, NY.  I currently live in Seattle, WA, and have previously lived in Las Vegas, NV.

PHAR LAP: Have you a racing background and can you give us an insight on how you got involved in this great game.

Ryan: Up until I started playing Gallop Racer in 2001, my background was strictly Harness Racing.  My father was a state steward in NY on the harness side and I grew up around that business.  Once I found Gallop Racer on the PlayStation, and then the SIM, my focus and enjoyment has shifted to thoroughbred racing for sure.

 

PHAR LAP: Could you tell us how long you have been breeding and training in Derby Fever.

Ryan:  I started playing sometime in 2004.  Given, aka Dan Silver introduced me to the game and I’ve never looked back. Time truly flies!

 

PHAR LAP: TO CATCH A KITTY might end up your best horse so far, correct me if I am wrong, can you tell us about other past stars.

Ryan: Yeah, there a few I would like to show you

CLARK COUNTY (My best horse ever, easily my favorite horse as well. Although deserving, she never won an Eclipse and is just shy of the HOF.  She spent her career sprinting on the dirt – not exactly a glamorous division.  But she dominated.  She held the #1 ranking in that division for 2 years and won 4 GI’s including back to back Breeders’ Bowl F & M Sprints 2008 & 2009, an Equinics race for GR Simsters (and a second 2 years later) and the Humane Distaff).

 

     SIRE SEEKING THE GOLD                   DAM SIRE NIJINSKY                      DDS   HAIL TO REASON

             

PHAR LAP: Your opinion may have changed as the interview was done prior to the Eclipse Awards Night. TO CATCH A KITTY may be vying for the No 1 spot now !!!!!!!!!!

 

ROCKINGHAM (won the Breeders Bowl Marathon in 2008)

               SIRE WOODMAN                         DAM SIRE ELA-MANA-MOU                        DDS   SECRETARIAT

                                            

 

WRECKING CREW (won the Breeders Bowl Turf in 2008)

         SIRE SADLER’S WELLS                DAM SIRE BLUSHING GROOM             DDS   NEVER SAY DIE

    
                                                                

 

BLACK FLAG FLYING (won the Breeders Bowl Distaff 2008)

                SIRE A.P. INDY                                 DAM SIRE FORTY NINER                    DDS   BLUSHING GROOM

                         

 

THE CALLING (won the Breeders Bowl Turf 2009)

                 SIREGREEN DESERT                        DAM SIRE FAPPIANO                             DDS   LYPHARD

                                     

 

CODE OF THE STREET (won the Breeders Bowl Sprint 2012)

       SIRE FUSAICHI PEGASUS                          DAM SIRE STORM CAT                              DDS  AFFIRMED

                                          

 

I have 3 retired horses in the HALL OF FAME:

 

CREEP SHOW (He won 8 GI’s including the Arlington Million, Cox Plate, and an Equinics race for GR Simsters)  

          SIRE ROCK OF GIBRALTAR                  DAM SIRE DEPUTY MINISTER          DDS   SEEKING THE GOLD

                                                         

THE GUN WENT OFF (Another good one, he is my only $10M earner.  Won 6 GI races including the Ark, Sandcastle turf, and the Japan Classic twice).

 

               SIRE MINESHAFT                                DAM SIRE DANZIG                               DDS   BUCKPASSER

                         

 

EMPIRE REEF (She was one of my first really good runners. She won GI’s on both surfaces).

 

               SIREEMPIRE MAKER                                DAM SIRE MILL REEF                                  DDS   HALO

                                           

 

3 X ECLIPSE WINNERS (NOW 4)

I MAKE STUFF UP (2006 CHAMPION SPRINTER and the Breeders Bowl Turf Sprint in 2006)

                  SIRE MINESHAFT                                   DAM SIRE STORM CAT                                   DDS   GULCH

                                                       

 

KHARTOUM XI (2008 CHAMPION JUVENILE DIRT FILLY and the Breeders Bowl filly dirt juvenile in 2008)

 

             SIRE SADLER’S WELLS                 DAM SIRE MR PROSPECTOR                            DDS   DANZIG

                                                                   

 

  NETWORK NEWS (2011 CHAMPION OLDER TURF MARE)

                   SIRE GONE WEST                     DAM SIRE NORTHERN DANCER                DDS  SEATTLE SLEW

                                               

 

Ryan:  Here are my 3YO classic winners:

FOLSOM BLUES (2008 Preakness Stakes)

          SIRE FUSAICHI PEGASUS                              DAM SIRE NUREYEV                         DDS   BLUSHING GROOM

                                                 

 

BRABANTIO (2000 Guineas in 2009)

             SIRESHAKESPEARE                                    DAM SIRE MISWAKI                               DAM’S DAM SIRE  TROY

                                                    

 

HOPE OF KINGDOMS (2010 English Oaks)

           SIREUNBRIDLED’S SONG                 DAM SIRE NORTHERN DANCER                      DDS SEATTLE SLEW

                                

 

SOUND OF SOULS (2012 English Derby. Sound of Souls is out of Creepshow’s mare)

             SIRE MEDAGLIA D’ORO                         DAM SIRE DEPUTY MINISTER               DDS SEEKING THE GOLD

                              

 

EVIL SUNRISE (2013 Belmont Stakes)

                      SIRE PIVOTAL                                DAM SIRE SADLER’S WELLS                                  DDS ALYDAR

                    

 

PHAR LAP:  Breeding and training are passions of yours Ryan, have you any horses that are getting you excited?

Ryan: Yeah, there are a couple I would like to show you

EVIL NETWORK (4 yold Filly Network News first offspring, looking forward to watching her progress.  She’s looking like her mom in that she’s won 8 of 10 sprinting and just won her first graded race. I’m excited as her next race is in the winter Equinics running for GRS)

.Ran 2nd EQUINICS RESIDENCIES

       SIRE NORTHERN METEOR                           DAM SIRE GONE WEST                                      DDS ALYDAR

     

 

SHADES OF SHIMMER(he is out of a GI winning mare who was a dirt sprinter.  He has won 4 of 5 sprinting including his last where he put up a huge 106 SP in a G3 prepping for the Equinics. Another runner for GRS – I can’t wait to see how he does).

Ran 2nd EQUINICS GIFT GIVERS

               SIRE KITTEN’S JOY                               DAM SIRE SMART STRIKE                            DDS NIJINSKY

              

PHAR LAP: Breeding is one of the most exciting aspects of the game in my opinion. Have you any secrets you would like to share with us; we all would like a horse of TO CATCH A KITTY’s class and quality.

Ryan: I couldn’t agree more – breeding is probably my favorite part of the game. My goals have always been to win classic distance races so I tend to focus on mares that either won at those distances or have produced runners at those distances when I’m breeding. Couple those types with route sires and hope for the best. One big thing I look at when claiming or auctioning is to find a runner that could win at top allowance levels or higher at 10F or higher. It’s been my experience that you’ve got a better shot at getting classic distance runners out of those types. As I’ve gotten older in the game I’ve also gotten much more patient with my horses. I used to run my better horses every 3 to 4 weeks and then give them a long break every now and then. Now, I’m leaning towards running my best horses less often and am not afraid to go 5-7 weeks between races. Less races in general, but less 10 week breaks too. The new version of the game seems to allow those runners on 6 or 7 weeks to still come up sharp so it’s been working so far.

PHAR LAP: Without giving away all your secrets, have you any favorites as Sire, Dams Sire and Dams Dam Sire?

Ryan: Sure. I’ve liked Kitten’s Joy since I first saw him run, but he has turned into my favorite sire over the last few years. He’ll forever be linked to the GR Simsters as Given, WarEmblem, PadreBri and I all met for the first time back in 2004 in Chicago for Arlington Million weekend and got to see KJ win the Secretariat in person.  It was great because we’ve all become pretty close and still play this game with as much enjoyment as we did initially. I’m still a big fan of the older type DS and DDS.  Loved sons of Northern Dancer for the DS spot including Nijinsky and Lyphard especially.  On the back, I like to use the really older sires like Sharpen Up, Grey Dawn, Alydar, and used to really like Buckpasser before he was taken out of the game.  

 

PHAR LAP: Do you prefer scratch breeding or breeding to your good retired race mares? Do you like using he mares?

Ryan:  I like breeding from both sides. As the years have gone by I have probably started leaning towards mares just because of the sheer volume I have available. Lots of them are starting to produce stakes quality runners so I’ll probably continue using them for the most part. I’d guess 5-10% of my runners are scratch and another 5-10% may come from he-mares.  I don’t mind breeding them.  Some have produced quite well.

 

PHAR LAP: OK Ryan, we all know breeding is only one aspect of the game, once you get a good horse and get your maiden out of the way, the skill of the trainer then comes into play. Do you have any training preferences you would like to share with us? I am sure there are fellow trainers out there that would appreciate some advice from a trainer of your standing.

Ryan: Well, it is much easier said than done, but I’ve watched other top trainers who I admire and they all really try to run their early runners through their conditions before they jump into stakes. I agree and am trying to do that more and more. Other than that I would encourage you to check out all distances and surfaces as your horses get older. I don’t think enough players, myself included, check out both surfaces at 12-16F and are leaving stakes winners in the barn.  

 

PHAR LAP: If you could pass on one piece of advice, what would that be?

Ryan: For me, it would be to study the pedigree of great retired horses or those from a trainer you respect.  I still go back and look at what worked before.  You might find Caerleon x Mill Reef has worked well with Danehill blood in the sire line. Little nicks like that can be found and once you find it use it a few times. Try three or four sires with that same back end. If it produced turf routers in the past, try using turf route sires and see what happens. Lightning strikes more than twice in this game.

PHAR LAP: Here we go Ryan, jockeys!!!  Great people, but they can be a real pain in the backside sometimes. Do you call the shots or let them ride their own race?

Ryan:  I rarely take them off jockey select.  I mean maybe on 1% of my horses and usually to take a front runner to below the 50% mark to see if it changes anything.  It usually doesn’t make much of a difference so I try to stay out of the decision as much as possible.

 

PHAR LAP: Do you pay big incentives to get the best jockeys?

Ryan:   I do for a few – I have 3 in my name around the sim and they usually ride for me. I also employ a few others. I really like the way Mike set up Jockeys.  Once you set everything up you’re good to go.

 

PHAR LAP: Do you have a favorite Jockey?

Ryan:  L Radzinski.  He has been good to me although he’s about 312 pounds.  My horses can carry some weight!

 

PHAR LAP: All right Ryan, let’s look to the future, have you any big goals you have set yourself?

Ryan:  I want to help win as many Equinics championships as I can with the GR Simsters.  It is my favourite event in the game.

 

PHAR LAP: Have you any big races to win on your bucket list?

Ryan:  I’ve been very successful in this great game, but I still have a few that have eluded me. The KY Derby, The KY Oaks, The BB Classic, The BB F&M Turf, and The Secretariat.  

 

PHAR LAP: If I was new to the game or had a problem horse that had me stumped or needed some help, where would you recommend I go?

Ryan:  I’d say either reach out to your Rez mates (you should be in a Rez if you’re not), post a question on the board, send a veteran a PM, or probably jump in the chat. You will always get a variety of good answers as everyone is very helpful. The sim is one of the best communities on the web.  

 

PHAR LAP: Can you recommend any Horse Racing Movies or Documentaries?

Ryan: Let It Ride.  Easy

 

PHAR LAP: Are any there things in the game you would like changed or improved on?

Ryan:  Nah.  I love the new version of the game.  One thing about Mike that I’ve learned is that he’s quite rational and usually ahead of us by a few steps.  He’s always taken us to a better version of his vision and I’m not going to try and change a thing. It’s been a great ride.

PHAR LAP: Well Ryan, it has been a pleasure to hear your story. Your record is one of the finest in the game, super impressive indeed, you are truly at the elite level. I am sure our community will enjoy your thoughts and learn something from your experiences. Phar Lap and the Black Type Bugler thank you for your time and we hope success continues to ride with you.

 

GIDDEY UP from PHAR LAP (gcliffo)