Mr. Hot Stuff's Irish trainer ready for Kentucky Derby

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Trainer Eoin Harty from Kildare is back for his second successive Kentucky Derby when Mr. Hot Stuff John goes to post this Saturday.

Sired by Tinzow, a double winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Mr. Hot Stuff is a full brother of Harty’s first Derby starter Colonel John, who won the 2008 Santa Anita Derby and came sixth in last year’s race.

Despite his strong pedigree, the Winstar Farm-owned horse has had a mixed return in his seven races to date, winning just the one (the Maiden Special Weight at Santa Anita on February 1) and earning a total of $114,000.

However, he did come third in the (G1) Santa Anita Derby Stakes with as Harty himself says “a lot better company,” and also placed third in the Sham Stakes

“Everything has gone well. So far we haven’t had any hiccups, and I hope it remains that way,” Harty told IrishCentral.

“The weather had been a bit touch and go.  It’s been wet and it has been dry and it has been wet again, but everything has been pretty smooth and I have no reason to complain.”

Racing is in the blood for Harty, who has a horse-training lineage that can be traced back to his great-great grandfather, Michael J. "Boss" Harty, who started training horses in 1880.

Harty's grandfather rode and trained Knight's Crest to win the 1944 Irish Grand National, and his father Eddie won the Grand National and competed at the 1960 Olympics in Rome.

Whatever happens on Saturday, Harty has had a year to remember. The 46-year-old trained Well Armed to win the $6 million Dubai World Cup – the richest prize in horse racing – and it is something that he does not take for granted.

“To win the biggest race in the world, that achievement speaks for itself.”

The hype that surrounded Harty last year with Colonel John has not been a factor this time out.

“There is not as much pressure on me, as last year I had one of the favorites and this year I have a long shot, so there is no massive expectation on me.”

Harty does think that his horse might turn a head or two. “I think he might surprise a few people. The distance certainly won’t be a problem and it is just a matter of whether he has the God-given talent to pull it off or not.”

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Nster.com