Young Trainer Sharp Gearing Up for Saratoga

Less than a year after starting out on his own as a trainer, Joe Sharp has made a big splash in New York and beyond, quickly establishing himself as a top young conditioner. He will have a string at Saratoga Race Course this summer.

 

It didn't take long for Sharp, a longtime assistant of trainer Mike Maker, to find success when he first ventured out on his own last September. The West Virginia native won with the first horse he saddled and has been on a roll ever since while managing an outfit that spans several jurisdictions.

 

Sharp, 30, husband of jockey Rosie Napravnik, credits his ability to maintain such a far-flung operation in his first year as head trainer to his time with Maker.

 

"I had a really good teacher and was in a barn that had a lot of horses when I was with Maker," said Sharp. "I'm used to handling a lot of numbers and being able to organize a large group of horses. It wasn't something I was unaccustomed to when I did pick up numbers quick. One thing I've never been scared of is working; I like the hours."

 

After a successful fall, Sharp cemented his status as a trainer to watch while spending the winter in Louisiana at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, where he won at a 26% clip. He finished third in the track's trainer standings despite sending out significantly fewer horses than top-two finishers Tom Amoss and Bret Calhoun. 

 

Astute claims have been the linchpin to Sharp's early success. In New York, Sharp got off to a similarly quick start. His local unveiling came with French-bred Aztec Brave, a Pyrus colt he claimed for $30,000 last fall, in the Danger's Hour Stakes April 19 at Aqueduct Racetrack, which Aztec Brave won by 1 1/4 lengths in gate-to-wire fashion.

 

In addition to Aztec Brave, Sharp has transformed Sandbar and One King's Man into stakes winners via the claim box, the former giving the trainer his first graded stakes win in the Maryland Sprint Handicap (gr. III) on the Xpressbet.com Preakness Day at Pimlico Race Course.

 

High-profile victories such as Sandbar's were critical to expanding Sharp's fledgling business, and in recent months the trainer has experienced an influx of younger, unraced horses.

 

"We've been lucky to get people's attention," said Sharp, who with his wife welcomed a son in early June. "We've been pretty aggressive and have tried to win as much and as quickly as possible; you have to make a name for yourself. You use claimers to get the attention of other owners, who can help get you the young stock; it's a snowball effect.

 

"Starting out, the only way I was able to get horses was to claim them. We're looking forward to have the opportunity to get them from the start and be able to develop them," he added.

 

Sharp's reinforcements come just in time for the Spa's 40-day meet, which kicks off Friday, July 24 and runs until Monday, Sept. 7. The opportunity to bring a string of horses to Saratoga in his first year is a dream come true for the young horseman.

 

"I feel lucky to be able to go there. To send 30 horses up there in my first year in business, I'm not going to complain. We have a couple nice 2-year-olds, a couple nice New York-breds, and the usual suspects--Aztec Brave, Sandbar," said Sharp.

 

Through July 19, Sharp has compiled a 70-66-48 career line from 308 starters who have amassed more than $2.1 million in purse earnings.

 

If Sharp's success elsewhere translates to Saratoga, expect him to get out of the gate fast.