Bentley Combs, who has served as an assistant to trainer Chad Brown since last March, has resumed training on his own and his new solo operation will have its first starter when he saddles City of Clouds (City of Light) in the ninth race Friday at Churchill Downs.
Combs ran his own barn from 2017 to early 2024 after working his way up to assistant trainer for Dallas Stewart with horses that included Forever Unbridled, Tom's Ready and Unbridled Forever.
While training on his own, Combs won a record three straight renewals of the Trails End and was Oaklawn's leading trainer by percentage in 2023. Botswana (Graydar), claimed for $30,000, was third in the 2020 GIII Fair Ground Stakes.
He had 54 career wins when he had the opportunity to run Chad Brown's Kentucky-based string last Spring.
“At the time, I felt like there was more to learn and running Chad's barn was a chance to raise my level of knowledge, working with so many top-level horses and owners.”
Combs continued, “If you're not looking to grow and learn in every situation, you won't improve and you won't succeed. Working with an Eclipse Award-winning trainer really helped me and I'm grateful for that opportunity.”
Combs and wife Kaela are expecting their first child in January, which the 36-year-old said makes the move even more timely, while adding, “The growing purses in Kentucky certainly didn't hurt the decision to stay in the Commonwealth.”
In the short term, Combs plans to acquire horses off the claim, but he will also be on hand with clients at the upcoming Keeneland January Horses of Racing Age Sale with an eye towards adding to his stable.
“I believe every horse is a unique individual,” Combs said. “I believe in custom-tailoring a program to each one and I have had success doing just that.”
A 2010 graduate of University of Louisville's Equine Industry Program with an MBA from the University of Mississippi, Combs is currently based at Churchill Downs' Trackside Training Center.
More on Bentley Combs Racing can be found at bentleycombsracing.com.
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