Collazo 'Hopeful' That This is His Shot

Trainer Henry Collazo has been in the racing business for over 40 years, but has just one graded stakes win to his name courtesy of Mucho Mas Macho (Macho Uno) in the 2013 GII Fort Lauderdale S. at his Gulfstream Park homebase. The veteran conditioner looks to add to his resume and make a few lifelong dreams come true Monday with Bullet Gone Astray (Gone Astray), who will attempt to take his record to three-for-three in Saratoga's GI Hopeful S.

“I have placed in graded stakes in the past, but as far as winning one Mucho Mas Macho was my first and I am looking for Bullet [Gone Astray] to be my second,” Collazo said when reached by phone at Saratoga Wednesday afternoon.

Collazo purchased the colt privately on behalf of longtime owner and friend John Kasbar of Four Horsemen Racing Stable from consignor David McKathan after the horse RNA'd at the OBS April sale.

“John Kasbar and myself, we liked that stud and he told me to go and take a look at the horse,” Collazo recalled. “So, I did and I liked him so much I bought him right away. The horse was impressive to me and it was just something about his personality. There are a lot of horses that have good conformation and pass all the criteria, but they just never pan out. This particular horse just has a presence about him. I pretty much purchase my horses from my gut feeling.”

He continued, “From the very moment I went in the stall, before I spoke to anybody or even left the stall, I already knew I wanted him. I walked out of the stall and David was parking the truck. I walked up to David and he just happened to be on the phone with the breeder Joe Campbell, and I told David, 'Tell him the horse is sold and I'll give you $15,000 for him.' We shook hands and that was it.”

Bullet Gone Astray proved Collazo's gut feeling right from the get go with a decisive debut win at odds of 8-1 in a sloppy five-furlong test at Gulfstream June 28.

“I really was expecting a performance like that,” Collazo said of the colt's debut. “He just showed me that he was a good horse from the very beginning. He has never missed a beat. He has never given me a gray hair.”

The bay was hammered down to 1-2 favoritism in a scratched-down field of five next out in the Mountaineer Juvenile S. Aug. 1 and ran to those odds with a dominant nine-length victory.

“You couldn't have asked for any more than he did,” Collazo remarked. “It was just a shame that everybody scratched out because I think it would have been more impressive if he would have had a little bit stiffer competition and beat more horses. But, I was confident that he was going to run big. I was confident that he was going to put in his effort because he is a very sensible horse to be around and he pretty much understands what his job is and he enjoys doing it.”

After that victory, Collazo decided there was no time like the present to take a shot at the big leagues with his stable star.

“You've got to beat somebody to be somebody,” the Florida resident said. “This is as good a time as any to try. Not to mention, every owner's dream and every trainer's dream is to win at Saratoga. He's a dream horse so I'm sure he is going to fulfill them for me.”

As far as facing the likes of GIII Sanford S. one-two Uncle Vinny (Uncle Mo) and Magna Light (Magna Graduate) and others who have already won at the Spa, Collazo is not worried.

“In my mind we are all pretty much on an even playing field because no one has started more than a few times,” the 63-year-old said. “My horse doesn't read the racing form and I know better than to be scared off. There is nobody there to be scared about. These are all young horses and this early in the year, the pool of 2-year-olds isn't that large, so why not? Why not start testing the water?”

Collazo added, “I am confident he will give me his best. I am confident he will try 110%, but the outcome is up to God. All I can do is say a prayer and hope he comes back sound and happy. That's all I can ask for. Winning is iceing on the cake, but he is the cake and running is the cake. If he wins then we can start thinking about bigger and better things. But, right now I am grateful to have him in the condition he is in and with the attitude that he has. Winning would be just a blessing.”

The conditioner will instead stick with the colt's regular pilot Luca Panici for the Hopeful.

“The rider I've got would probably be a good rider in New York,” he commented. “My owner and myself are firm believers in loyalty. Luca has been on the horse since before he even started and there is no reason in my mind to change. I don't want to rock the boat. What got me to this spot is what I am going to stay with.”

Collazo has been with Bullet Gone Astray for both of his previous starts and handles all of the horse's care himeself when they are on the road. He arrived at Saratoga Monday night so he could be there to take the horse off the van Tuesday morning.

“I got my start walking horses and rubbing horses,” the trainer remarked. “I have done just about everything there is to do at the racetrack. I jump at the chance to take a big horse and I don't mind rubbing them and taking care of them as long as it's just one. It's fun. It brings me back to my roots.”

He continued, “It brings back fond memories you know? I came up to Saratoga with Shocker T, back in 1986, when she won [the GII John A. Morris H.]. I was one of George Gianos's assistants and I came up and stayed with her at Saratoga and Belmont. It is a priviledge to rub a horse of that caliber. It's a hell of a vacation for me.”

Collazo's 10-horse barn, which consists mostly of 2-year-olds, is based at Gulfstream, but he has traveled up and down the East Coast and has come to Saratoga a few times to race since going out on his own in 1979. While he has finished second several times, he has yet to be victorious at the upstate New York venue.

Winning at the Spa alone would be a thrilling accomplishment for Collazo, but earning his first Grade I at the prestigious race track would be the ultimate dream come true.

“Just thinking about it makes me get goosebumps and just chills,” Collazo enthused. “I get electrified just being here. It's all about the dream and I am very emotional. I'd probably break down. They are God's gift, these animals, and for them to take me to where I am at and where I've been, it's a blessing. It is too much to even think about or put into words, but I know I would bring up some tears. That's for sure.”