Barn Tour: Leonard Powell on the ascent in Southern California

Southern California-based trainer Leonard Powell is in the midst of a career year.

With still four-plus months left on the calendar, the 43-year-old native of France – who saddled his first starter in 2003 - has already surpassed his career-high for earnings in a single season with $950,322. He was also six wins away from matching his seasonal-high in that category entering Friday. 

The success for Powell is the culmination of a lifetime working with Thoroughbreds. It started on his family’s large stallion farm in France, continued as an amateur jockey and finally as an assistant to several top trainer’s from around the globe, including Hall of Famer Richard Mandella in the U.S.. Prior to this year, Powell’s high in annual stable earnings was $918,568 set in 2019.

He was hitting at a 19% clip this season from 108 starters with what is currently a 24-horse stable entering Friday.

“We are working the same. Putting the horse first, doing what makes sense and putting in the hours,” Powell told Horse Racing Nation this week. “The main difference is better quality of horses.”

Aiding in the acquisition of better horses has been the addition of new high-profile owners to Powell’s client base. Sol Kumin – who operates under multiple stable names including Madaket Stable and Head of Plains Partners – joined the ranks when purchasing a piece of Powell’s subsequent 2018 Del Mar Oaks (G1) winner, Fatal Bere.

This year, Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber came on board. Both have campaigned Grade 1 winners and Breeders’ Cup winners over the years, either alone or in partnerships. The increase in quality has resulted in an uptick in production for Powell.

“I’m grateful for the owners that support us and have a lot of faith in us,” said Powell, who seeks a second Grade 1 winner following Fatal Bere. “Things are going well. We have some nice horses. We have already won five stakes races this year and that obviously helps with the earnings.”

While Powell is largely known as a turf trainer, which aligns with his European roots, he pointed out his top earner was actually a dirt horse: Soi Phet. The California-bred gelding raced for a remarkable eight seasons beginning in 2012 and compiled a record of 64: 15-7-6 with earnings of $1,023,917.

“I hope I have strengths all across the board, but we win with more turf horses because we’ve been sent more turf horses,” Powell said Wednesday. “I’m able to scout some horses in Europe because I have good connections there and I know the form over there. I’m able to see which ones will work here and which ones won’t and we try to target those horses.”

Below is a look at what’s next for Powell’s top horses and a recent Del Mar maiden winner that could be on the ascent.

Flashiest. The 3-year-old Mizzen Mast gelding got the Del Mar meet off to a rousing start for Powell when prevailing in a blanket finish to win the opening-day Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-old going a mile on turf on July 16.

He was subsequently shipped cross-country to take a shot in the million-dollar Saratoga Derby (G1) against a deep field on Aug. 7. He was forwardly-placed while rank early, as the chart notes, before fading to last of 11.

“He’s a very immature horse and with the pre-race...that humid heat over there in upstate New York, it was just too much for him,” Powell said. “He was a bit of a head case before the race and got hot in the paddock. I think that really compromised his chances.”

Flashiest won the first two starts of his career this past spring for co-breeder Nicolas Drion and Powell's wife, Mathilda Powell. The first two outings were strong enough to draw the attention of Barber and Wachtel Stable, who each subsequently purchased a piece of the gelding.

“He’s back in training, galloping at Del Mar," Powell said. "It seems like he’s back in form."

Flashiest is slated to return in the $250,000 Del Mar Derby (G2) on Sept. 4, which is the same nine-furlong trip as the Saratoga Derby. While he faded badly going that distance at Saratoga, Powell does not see it as being a problem moving forward.

“The jock (Jose Lezcano) came back and said maybe the distance is too far, but I don’t really agree with it,” Powell said. “When you look at the Oceanside, the way he ran it would have been no problem going an extra eighth of a mile. So I think it was just the pre-race (at Saratoga) that got him riled up and he couldn’t relax. Any horse that doesn’t relax in the first part of a two-turn race the distance is going to be too far.”

Neige Blanche. The 4-year-old Anodin (Ire) filly, who started her career in France, earned her second stakes win of the season when taking last weekend’s listed CTT and TOC Stakes going 1 3/8-miles on turf at Del Mar. Prior to that, she won the Santa Barbara (G3) at Santa Anita for Madaket Stable, Laure De Seroux, Marsha Naify and Matilda Powell.

“I’m really happy with her. She’s been improving every race and is going the right way,” Powell said. “Anything from a mile and a quarter to a mile and a half she can be competitive. “

He added the goal is to run Neige Blanche in the $300,000 Rodeo Drive (G1) going 1 1/4-miles at Santa Anita on Oct. 2. The race is a Breeders’ Cup “win and you’re in” for the Filly & Mare Turf, which is also a mile and a quarter.

“That performance will decide if we go to the Breeders’ Cup,” Powell said. “Otherwise, we’ll likely go to the Red Carpet (G3) during the Del Mar fall meet.”

Avenue de France. The 4-year-old French-bred filly by Cityscape (GB) was shipped north to Golden Gate Fields and promptly earned her first stakes win in the Luther Burbank on Aug. 7. Her only previous stakes try was an off-the-board finish in the Astra (G3) at Santa Anita in January.

“She is doing great,” Powell said. “It’s a long trip from Del Mar to Golden Gate, especially this time of the year, so I have taken it easy on her. She walked for a few days and is back on the track now.”

Avenue de France is another Powell runner that began her career in Europe. She made two starts before arriving in the U.S.

“I’m not sure what will be the next goal. Winning the stakes at Golden Gate was one of the targets and she accomplished that,” Powell said. “I don’t think we’ll see her back at Del Mar. Most likely it will be Santa Anita in an overnight stake.”

Dicey Mo Chara.  A 3-year-old English-bred gelding by Adaay (Ire), he made one start in Europe before being imported by owners Red Baron’s Farm and Rancho Temescal earlier this year. He got the Del Mar meet off to a quick start for his connections when he closed with a flourish to earn his diploma going  a mile on turf July 24. It was one of four wins at the meet entering Thursday’s action for Red Baron’s and Rancho Temescal, which had them tied atop the Del Mar owner’s standings.

“He’s doing great. He was supposed to run in first-level allowance last week and he didn’t get in, he was on the also-eligible list," Powell said. "There is the same kind of race at the end of the meet so that’s what we’ll target.”

2-year-olds. Powell said he currently has just four juveniles in the barn and none are likely to start at Del Mar. 

"I don't have many and wasn't sent precocious ones," Powell said. "My first couple will probably be ready in the fall. I have a big Not This Time colt who is nice horse and training well. He's a very big horse. I also have another by Noble Mission who is doing well, but I don't think I'll have anything ready for Del Mar."