Barn Tour: Greg Foley takes off with plenty of young talent

Until 2021, Greg Foley’s earnings as a trainer topped $2 million only once, and that was by a whisker in 2004. Otherwise, they approached $1.5 million only a few times.

In 2021, his earnings jumped to $2.7 million. Then $2.8 million in 2022 and again last year.

It’s no accident. Foley told Horse Racing Nation on Monday, “I'd just say the last three years we have bought a lot more young horses and been lucky enough to come up with some decent ones.”

And he attributes much of that success to his son and assistant trainer Travis, who oversees about 25 horses at Turfway. Foley has another 36 at Fair Grounds.

“He’s done a heck of a job recruiting some new owners, bringing them in, and I've got to give him a lot of credit. Last year was by far the most money we've ever thought about spending at the sales.”

Foley’s other son, Alex, also is an assistant trainer and recently was named executive director of the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association.

Meanwhile, Foley is off to a good start this year, with a record of 15: 5-2-3. “We've had a good couple of weeks,” Foley said. “A lot of young horses, getting them going and running pretty good.”

And you’ll notice that many of his horses are 3-year-olds who have only a few starts or none at all yet.

“A lot of babies,” Foley said. “We've had them, we've been waiting on them all year. Just took our time with them and they're getting ready to go. They're showing up. I've always liked them. I don't ever run very many of them very early. Hopefully I’ll have a bunch of a good 3-year-olds.”

Foley discussed some of those 3-year-olds and other talent in his stable for the latest in HRN’s Barn Tour series. You can expect to see his maiden winners back in allowance races at Fair Grounds and maybe in stakes eventually. "That would be the plan," Foley said.

Splash Master. The 3-year-old Mastery filly broke her maiden Friday after one other start at Churchill Downs in November. “She's a nice filly,” Foley said. “Ran a little green first time out, finished well and galloped out good. And we ran her a mile the other day and she ran a good race, finished up good.”

Champlin. The 4-year-old gelded son of Ransom the Moon won his debut by five lengths last week after leading gate to wire. “We've only had that horse maybe five, six months and he never had run and had been laid up. Brought him to us, trained well, trained like he ran. I liked him quite a bit the day we ran him. Again, he broke well and did it the right way, relaxed, finished up great, wound up running a minute nine and change, I believe it was, and came out with a speed figure like a 95. Pretty impressive, fast horse, good-looking gray horse.”

Wonder of You. The 3-year-old Army Mule filly was ninth in her November debut at Churchill then won Jan. 6 going 5 1/2 furlongs at Fair Grounds. “Nice filly, pretty filly, ran once at Churchill, kind of was sent too fast, too early that day. They went 21. She was not ready at all for that, backed up pretty good.”

La La Rose. The 3-year-old Bolt d’Oro filly was second in the Jan. 6 race won by Wonder of You, 5 1/2 lengths ahead of the next runner. “A really nice filly, ran a good race. She'll be hard to beat when she runs back.”

Camaro Z. The 3-year-old son of Liam’s Map broke his maiden this month at Fair Grounds in his fourth start, the first two on dirt before switching to turf. “Got him here to New Orleans, I got beat a tough one first time we ran him, kind of had a tough trip … he got beat a nose. Brought him back in his next race, and he got up and won. I've got some high hopes for this colt. He's like a kid that likes to get in trouble. He hasn't figured life out, really what he's here for. He's just kind of playing the whole time in his training and his races. He's got a lot of talent. If he finally puts it all together, I think he'll be a really nice colt. I think he'll run all day. Likes the grass, he ran OK on the dirt too. If it comes off the turf, he's OK on the dirt also.”

Twirl Around. This 3-year-old Twirling Candy filly broke her maiden in her second start in November then was fourth last out in a black-type stakes at Fair Grounds. She’s entered in an optional-claiming allowance at Fair Grounds on Friday. “She was very impressive breaking her maiden there at Churchill. Ran her back here in the stake her last start. Ran a good race, was fourth, looked like she would win maybe at the quarter pole and flattened out a bit. I can't give you really a reason why. It was with winners and it was a nice field. We got her back in the 1x, and I love this filly, she's a really good filly. I think she's a stakes filly.”

Big Trouble. The 3-year-old Kantharos filly had her first start Sunday, finishing second in a maiden special weight at Fair Grounds. “Really nice filly. Made the lead about the eighth pole and on the inside, we had to wait a little while and then a backside. Probably should have won. But a Tom Amoss filly won the race, had a couple of seconds and was the favorite, wound up beating us the last jump or two. But our filly galloped out really well. I like her a lot.”

Harbor Springs. The 3-year-old Lookin at Lucky filly had her first start Saturday, finishing third in a maiden special weight at Fair Grounds. “First time out, gets a tough field. … My filly got beat about 2 1/2 lengths, very impressive race in that tough, tough maiden race there.”

Evan on Earth. The 3-year-old son of Congrats is full brother to Bango, also trained by Foley. He was third in his November debut at Churchill then second last out on Dec. 30. He’s entered in a maiden special weight Saturday at Fair Grounds. “Really nice colt. … It’ll be double tough Saturday.”

Silver Halo. The 3-year-old Mitole colt will have his first start Saturday in the same race as Evan on Earth. “Really nice colt. I like him a lot. He's been really nice in his works. “

Older horses

O Besos. The 6-year-old son of Orb had four starts last year, starting in July, with two seconds and two fourths. “O Besos is getting a little R&R in Kentucky right now. I'll have him ready to go springtime in Churchill.”

Stitched. The 5-year-old son of Mizzen Mast was 1-for-7 last year, but his win came in the Grade 2 Wise Dan Stakes. Stitched just got down here about a week ago. He got a vacation after Churchill. And might as well throw Bango in there. They got a little break after Churchill at the farm. Little vacation, let them unwind a little bit. They got about 60-70 days off. I saw that bad weather coming up there at home, and they've been here about 10 days. Getting ready for spring at Churchill. Two good horses, they look great. Hopefully have another big year with both of them.” Bango, a 7-year-old son of Congrats, had a record of 7: 3-2-2 last year, all in stakes.