A few weeks ago, I did jockeys I thought who I believe are set to have a break out year in 2020. There was such a huge response and great reaction to that post I have decided to do the trainers I think are set to have a break out year in 2020! These are the trainers who are improving and proving they have a ton of potential in a certain region or circuit. The regions I am focusing on are New York, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky and California circuits.
New York: Johnathon Thomas a former assistant to Christophe Clemont and Todd Pletcher, went out on his own in 2010 and had a huge year starting 2017 with a horse that put him on the map in Catholic Boy. I think this year he has the potential to have a huge year in NY. Catholic Boy is retired now so he needs to continue that momentum that the horse gave him and ascend into what he came out off. He reminds me of Clemont so much and really does well with turf runners in a tough division with Brown, McGaughey, his mentor Clemont, and others!
Florida: If you don’t know who Saffie Joseph Jr is you live under a rock. He did have a break out year last year and became the darling of Gulfstream Park since the claim of Math Wizard. That interview he did at Parx when he won the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby, chills! And now he has had a stellar meet at Gulfstream and has talked about branching out into Kentucky or New York he could really turn into a major trainer at those locations!
Texas/Louisiana: I think these are both the same with a young female trainer named Rylee Grudzien. She started training in 2018 then had a solid 2019 with 88 starts and 13 winners! And at 19 years old she can be a top-notch trainer in this area for years to come! Unlike the others on my list so far, she hasn’t trained a stakes winner but I think either this year or in the next year she will have one or multiple overnight stakes winner(s)!
Kentucky: I think the UofL Equine Program Graduate Jason Barkley is going to have a fantastic year in 2020! I remember him saddling for Larry Jones and I think Ian Wilkes and other prominent trainers in Kentucky. It shows how hard he wants it and how hard he wants to learn. Had 11 wins in 2018 and 15 wins in 2019, 2020? Time will tell! I think he could have a huge break out year training at Oaklawn and Churchill Downs and Ellis Park and maybe have a few stake winners in the barn! The easy answer here is Norm Casse son of Mark Casse but I think his year to really break out was last year.
California: Andrew Lerner started as an owner and then wanted to be a trainer and he did so! He started training in 2017 and had a huge year last year having his first Grade 3 winner and I think he could follow it up with a potential Grade 1 win! Went from 9 winners in 2018 to 39 winners in 2019. Better placing of horses and better cliental are the keys to success in this game and I think he is getting a lot of great opportunities since last year!
So that’s the list I have for trainers I think you should keep an eye on and could have a break out year in 2020, and if they don’t watch them in 2021! I wish nothing but the best for all trainers in 2020, and hope I didn’t make anyone mad on the backside this was just something for the public to look at if they don’t know much about the circuit and a different look from the “top trainers” in the world!