Gargan's Wait-And-See Approach Pays Off With Irad Ortiz

Playing the waiting game paid off for trainer Danny Gargan and the connections of Talkin. In searching for a rider for the son of Good Magic in the May 16 Preakness Stakes (G1), Gargan hoped to land five-time Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz Jr. Ortiz finished second in the Kentucky Derby aboard Renegade, who was then pointed to the Belmont Stakes (G1), making Ortiz a free agent. His second option was Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up Silent Tactic, who was iffy for the Preakness because of a foot issue. Gargan could have lined up a different jockey, but instead he waited to see if Ortiz became available. He was rewarded on the morning of the post position draw when Silent Tactic was removed from Preakness consideration, and Ortiz jumped aboard the multiple grade 1-placed Talkin. "I waited until the last minute to get Irad. It takes a lot of confidence to do that," Gargan said. "Some people might have panicked, but I'm lucky and blessed my owners don't panic and get aggravated over stuff like that. I told them that it could work out really well for us. We have a backup plan if it doesn't work out. But, in this situation, I want to take my best chance." Having a jockey as good and experienced as Ortiz will be crucial Saturday. In a large field of 14, there's an abundance of speed horses, such as Napoleon Solo, who was dazzling last year in winning the Champagne Stakes (G1) on the front end when Talkin was second. Though some trainers are talking about rating their speed horses before the race, the pace is likely to be quite rapid, putting pressure on horses who like to be just off the lead, such as Talkin, to avoid getting caught up in brutal fractions. "We'd like to sit fourth or fifth, but if everyone gets stupid and starts snatching and grabbing (their horses), Irad can do what Irad needs to do. I'm not going to sit here and analyze what Irad should do. He's a smart guy. He knows what to do. He wants to sit off the speed." Though Talkin was tabbed at 20-1 in the morning line, that price figures to be lower at post time. The $600,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale buy was a distant third in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), but has impressed Gargan enough that the trainer expects him to run the best race of his life in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown for the ownership group of Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing and Breeding, and R. A. Hill Stable. "He looks great and we have him as good as we can get him," Gargan said. "He just has to prove he's good enough to be right there. If he goes forward like we expect, he'll be one of the horses in the mix." Gargan views Incredibolt as the one to beat The sequence of events that saw Silent Tactic exit the Preakness and make Ortiz available had a downside for Gargan as it opened the door for Incredibolt, a troubled sixth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, to become a last-minute entrant. "When (Incredibolt) entered, I wasn't pleased because that's a nice horse. You throw out the (25 1/4-length loss in the Holy Bull Stakes, G3), and he's the most legit horse in the field. I think he's the horse to beat. That's the one I'm worried about. He's a serious horse."