Tip of the Week: Confidence Restored

Confidence can motivate a person to do some amazing things.
It can also do wonders for a race horse.
The 5-year-old gelding Collin’s Smile had been wearing a frown during an eight-race losing streak.
But that all changed when trainer David Hinsley shipped Collin’s Smile from Tampa Bay Downs to Churchill Downs, where the gelding had been victorious in his lone race at the Louisville track. Hinsley dropped Collin’s Smile in claiming price from $25,000 to a $16,000 and was grinning from ear-to-ear when the horse posted a 4 1/2-length victory.
Unfortunately, Hinsley lost Collin’s Smile as the gelding was claimed out of the race by trainer Chris Hartman.
A little more than two weeks later, Hartman brought Collin’s Smile back to the races and presented him with a more challenging task. He placed Collin’s Smile back in a $25,000 claimer on May 25 at Churchill Downs, putting handicappers in a tough spot.
Should they view Collin’s Smile’s victory as nothing more than an aberration, figuring he’s about embark on another losing streak?
Or was that win so powerful that the good karma would extend into Collin’s Smile’s first race for his new owners?
Perhaps if Collin’s Smile had squeaked out a victory, skepticism would be in order. But his margin of victory indicated that this was more than a run-of-the-mill victory. It was such a decisive victory that it figured to instill some confidence in Collin’s Smile and allow him to put his also-ran tag behind him for perhaps one more race.
Adding to his appeal was that he was now 2-for-2 at Churchill Downs and in Hartman, he was under the care of a trainer with a winning percentage of 25% in 2015. His previous trainer was winning at a 3% clip.
The signs were indeed strong that Collin’s Smile finally had a reason to flash his pearly whites.
Those that had confidence in a rejuvenated Collin’s Smile were rewarded when the gelding proved he was on the upswing by pulling away to an easy six-length victory and paid $7.20 for a $2 win ticket.
Ah, yes, the power of confidence.
THE LESSON: Sometimes all a horse needs is a powerful win to snap out of a weak form cycle.