By Louisville Courier-Journal
PIMLICO, Md. (May 13, 2015) — As Jose Corrales trains a longshot colt up to Saturday’s Preakness, he’s doing so with a mantra the Panamanian lived by while winning more than 1,000 races as a jockey.
“I used to say, ‘I’m not better than nobody, but nobody’s better than me,'” Corrales recalled Tuesday.
The California-bred Bodhisattva, named for a Buddhist term that means “enlightened one,” is Corrales’ horse – an apt moniker with connections carrying much respect for their foes into the second leg of the Triple Crown. They’ll match up with Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah, runner-up Firing Line and Dortmund, among those that entered Wednesday.
Bodhisattva won Pimlico’s Federico Tesio Stakes last time out, a score for a horse Corrales at one point hoped could make his way on the Kentucky Derby trail. That he settled instead for the Preakness hasn’t dimmed the Maryland-based conditioner’s spirits.
Saturday’s race marks the first Triple Crown event for the 55-year-old, either as a jockey or trainer.
“This is like a dream,” Corrales said. “It’s like a lottery ticket that we got, and we’ll see what happens. It gives you motivation because you’re running against the best horses. I’m already down at the bottom. The only thing I can do from here is improve.
“Some of the media has already called my horse a pony, but sometimes the ponies can beat the others.”
The California-bred, originally owned by Andy Stronach, never raced out west, instead brought to Corrales for training. Andy’s father, Frank, heads the Stronach Group, which operates Pimlico, Gulfstream Park and a number of other racetracks around the country.
That Bodhisattva made it to the Preakness is the Stronachs’ gift to their trainer, who has saddled six winners from 26 starters at Pimlico’s current meet.
“Andy’s my friend and I asked him if he would sell me the horse, not knowing what he could be or whatever,” Corrales said. “He just said that since I had done so many things for him and his father, ‘I’ll just give it to you,’ and he signed a bill of sale.'”
That’s not to say Bodhisattva never had potential. His sire, Student Council, won multiple stakes races and earned more than a million dollars. Corrales thinks the breeding fits the Preakness’ 1 3/16-mile distance, too.
The horse put in a final, easy five-furlong workout Sunday and returned to galloping at Laurel Park on Tuesday. He ships Thursday to Baltimore, where Preakness contenders are due in by noon.
To add, Trevor McCarthy will ride in his first Preakness — and on his 21st birthday.
“I don’t know if he’s going to run a big race or what, but so far everything’s going good,” Corrales said. “I’m so low-key – I was as a jockey and now as a trainer. I never wanted to say my horse is better than your horse or my horse will win this because you never know what’s going to happen.
“So many things can happen in a race.”