Coffeewithchris Gives Local Fans a Horse to Cheer

Trainer John Salzman Jr. likes flying under the radar. As a part owner and conditioner of Coffeewithchris —an entry in the Preakness Stakes (G1)—that becomes a more difficult task. 

Throw in that Maryland-bred Coffeewithchris is the only local entry in the May 20 Preakness at Pimlico Race Course and the notion of obscurity goes by the wayside. 

Still, that doesn't mean that Salzman and Coffeewithchris, assigned 20-1 morning-line odds, aren't looking to make the most of the experience. Just because the Ride On Curlin  gelding has never won a graded stakes or run in one for that matter, doesn't mean visions of celebratory crab cakes aren't dancing in Salzman's head. 

"It means a lot. To me, I'm pretty humble," Salzman said. "I don't get overly excited. I'd rather be 6-5 (odds). I don't run many longshots. When I run horses, I want them to win. People come to me and ask, 'Oh, is your horse going to win?' Well, you don't have to ask me because if I'm running, I think I got a chance."

As the last arriving entrant at Pimlico, getting there midday May 17 from Laurel Park, Salzman and Coffeewithchris have had the least amount of time to get acclimated to the change in the environment compared to the low-key atmosphere of their home base at Laurel.

"It's all new to him, too, with all these cameras and people around," Salzman said. "He handled it well."

He added, "He's actually handled it better than me."

When the year began, running in a classic wasn't in the plans. But as Coffeewithchris improved, the goals evolved with him. 

Coffeewithchris ended last year with a win in the Heft Stakes at Laurel. Then as the calendar changed, he finished second in the Spectacular Bid Stakes, first in the Miracle Wood Stakes, and second in the Private Terms Stakes—all at Laurel. Then, last time out, he finished fifth, 2 1/2 lengths back, in the Federico Tesio Stakes. In that race, he matched his career-best Equibase Speed Figure (94).

Salzman said his approach has always been to buy sprinters and to win early. Coffeewithchris has put his own touch on that formula. 

"He kept getting better," Salzman said of the gelding. "And we put blinkers on him (beginning with the 2022 James F. Lewis III Stakes). And then the distance, he just keeps going another sixteenth of a mile each time and comes out of the race super. It's not knocking him out or anything. … We really started aiming for (the Preakness) maybe a little before the Tesio. Then after the Tesio, we changed our mind and we were going to go to Monmouth Park and then I changed my mind again and ended up here."

Salzman is from Maryland, the son of John Salzman Sr., who conditioned Racing Hall of Famer Xtra Heat but has not had a Preakness starter. Taking part in his first Preakness is obviously special for the younger Salzman, if not overwhelming.

"It's a bit much," he said. "It's a bit more than I was expecting."

Adding to it is a $500,000 bonus for a Maryland-bred who wins the Preakness. As the small fish in a big pond this weekend, Salzman at the Alibi Breakfast May 18 pled his case to his rivals.

"Give me a little break," he said, drawing laughter from the audience. 

Salzman's top runner by earnings is Limited View . She never won a graded stakes but earned $401,141 in her career . Coffeewithchris sits third among his trainees with $225,600. But a win in the $1.5 million Preakness would radically change those standings and give the conditioner his first graded stakes success.

Salzman co-owns Coffeewithchris along with Fred Wasserloos and Anthony Geruso. Out of the Outflanker mare Andiemac, Coffeewithchris was bred by National Thoroughbred Racing Association president and CEO Tom Rooney. Coffeewithchris will try to become the ninth Maryland-bred to land the Preakness.

"I've never met Tom, but he's been sending me some real nice text messages lately," Salzman said. 

No matter the outcome Saturday, it will be a memorable one for Coffeewithchris and his connections. 

Having earned his maiden win on the same Pimlico track, with its similarities to Laurel Park, Coffeewithchris might have an edge over his competitors. He will also be the hometown favorite with likely a large cheering section in the Pimlico grandstand. 

Salzman hopes that home cooking can give Coffeewithchris a little extra push to cross the wire first. 

"I tell everybody that I want to hear from the Maryland fans, 'Let's Go Chris.' I want to hear the chants so he can hear it," Salzman said.