Trainer William "Buff" Bradley can now boast two star geldings in his barn, although the streaking Chief Export has some work to do to catch up to Brass Hat, the Dubai World Cup (GI) runner-up and stable star.
But Bradley is beaming over a Friday victory by Chief Export in a Churchill Downs allowance race that was the fourth consecutive victory by the 4-year-old son of Chief Seattle. What is remarkable is that the winning streak comes on the heels of losses in the first 17 races of Chief Export's career -- with one of those setbacks coming in a maiden race for $15,000 claiming horses over Turfway Park's polytrack in March.
Chief Export's success is a testament to the power of persistence, and should provide inspiration to anyone who has been frustrated with any equine or human underachiever.
"We always thought he had the ability," said Bradley, "but he never got right until we did a few things with him."
The first major change was the decision to geld Chief Export, which was made last fall. Then came the suggestion from fellow trainer Tom Van Berg, son of Hall of Famer Jack Van Berg, to put earmuffs on the horse. The earmuffs were like those made famous by the elder Van Berg when he used them on Gate Dancer, who would go on to win the Preakness (GI) and Super Derby (GI) and finish third in the memorable blanket finish in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Classic (GI) won by Wild Again.
The "Van Berg earmuffs" turned out to be one of the key factors in helping Chief Export overcome behaviors that were causing him to expend too much energy before he stepped into the starting gate.
"When he shipped over, he'd get 'antsy' in the stall and just was really bad in the stall," said Bradley. "I schooled him in the stall several times, both at Churchill and Turfway, and he would get washy and just didn't ever have his mind right."
But, with the combination of those changes and additional racing experience, the Chief Export that won his fourth straight race on Friday bore little resemblance to nervous horse that lost those 17 consecutive starts.
"Yesterday, he stood there like a champ, got saddled and didn't break out or anything," Bradley said. "I ran four that day and he was my coolest horse. He's finally learned to relax, and does so in his training now. We always felt like he had the ability and he ran against some nice horses from the straight maiden ranks earlier last year, but he just wouldn't put it all together and finish."
Among the horses Chief Export faced in the spring of 2005 at Churchill Downs were King of Jazz, the eventual runner-up in Canada's Queen's Plate, and he was a solid fourth behind A.P. Warrior and Nolan's Cat in a 1 ΒΌ-mile maiden race. The latter pair would make their next starts in the Belmont Stakes (GI), the final jewel of the Triple Crown. Nolan's Cat finished a distant third in the classic to Afleet Alex.
Bradley owns Chief Export with his father, Fred Bradley, and Carl Hurst. The three men also bred the horse.
Along with the changes that led Chief Export to the winner's circle, Buff Bradley has noticed that winning has also changed his once stubborn and disinterested horse.
"It's amazing now that he's won that he's got it figured out," Bradley said. "He used to climb coming down the lane and just wouldn't level off and run. He didn't much care to, I think, and it would just make you mad because he would train well and you would do everything you could to try to get him to that, and he just wouldn't do it."
The latest victory by Chief Export boosted his career record to 4-5-2 in 21 races and he has now earned $135,808. His victory was his third of the meet, which tied Chief Export with Jefferson Cup (GII) winner Brilliant and veteran claimer Elite Mercedes for the most victories during the Spring Meet.
Meanwhile, Bradley's more accomplished gelding -- the 5-year-old Brass Hat -- is back in training following last week's disappointing effort in the $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) won by long shot Seek Gold. The winner of the Donn Handicap (GI) and runner-up to Electrocutionist in the Dubai World Cup returned to the track on Thursday.
"He came out of the race great," said Bradley. "He's back at the track and doing good. He just got tired, that's all."
Bradley said Brass Hat could re-emerge in the $750,000 Whitney (GI) at Saratoga on Aug. 5.