Joseph Lee is not any stranger to top-class horses. He labored for David Whiteley and two-time Kentucky Derby-winning coach LeRoy Jolley within the Eighties. Lee went again to school in 1987 and graduated in 1989 from the College of Kentucky. He then went to work for Corridor of Famer D. Wayne Lukas in New York, beneath the tutelage of Kiaran McLaughlin, who was Lukas’ assistant on the time.
In 1993, Lee went to Dubai as McLaughlin’s assistant, and the next yr he took a horse to Japan for Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation. The transformation of the Godolphin outfit was underway, and from 1995 onward Lee would journey with the Sheikh’s greatest athletes everywhere in the world.
After a stint in Japan to help his father-in-law, now-retired coach Takemi Kaga, a former champion jockey in Japan, Lee returned stateside to launch his personal feed firm. Though the enterprise was profitable, Lee could not ignore the insatiable lure of the racetrack and have become McLaughlin’s right-hand man as soon as once more in 2015. Lee instructed him he would fill in till he discovered a substitute, however ended up remaining with McLaughlin till the coach’s retirement in 2020. From there, Lee blended his wealth of data and expertise into launching a coaching steady of his personal, Joseph Lee Racing.
The KatieRich-owned Might Day Prepared , a 2-year-old filly by Tapit  , gave Lee his first graded stakes win Oct. 4 within the Jessamine Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland, incomes an computerized berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1T) via the Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection.
BloodHorse: Did you suppose Might Day Prepared had come out on high Friday within the three-way picture end?Join BloodHorse Every day
Joseph Lee: No, I assumed we have been third. I assumed the skin horse had received. I imply, good on her, , having misplaced a shoe within the race. She misplaced the correct entrance shoe, and the beginning that she had, I do not know if she misplaced it there, she type of bought bumped and twisted a bit of bit.Â
Identical factor in Kentucky Downs (navigating via tight spots), I’ve to offer it to her. She needs to run, which is nice. It is onerous to show, proper? Laborious to show, for positive.
BH: How did she come out of the race?
JL: Nice. We really simply put the shoe on at this time. I simply wished to verify the foot was OK. It got here off cleanly, did not seize 1 / 4, and did not seize any a part of the hoof, in order that was good. I simply waited a few days simply to verify. The following morning, the foot was nice; the identical temperature because the others, and it was simply precaution ready to place the shoe on.Â
Photograph: Mathea KelleyMay Day Prepared (center) prevails in a three-way end within the Jessamine Stakes
BH: Is it on to the Breeders’ Cup from right here?
Lee: Knock on wooden. We’ll jog her up tomorrow morning and see how she is. I do know it is a few days from the races, however she’s all the time jogged up properly previously. I’d ship the homeowners, only for enjoyable, a video of her jogging up and it might virtually be such as you despatched them the identical video (as earlier than the race), she simply prances down there like a present horse.Â
I have been fortunate, fortunate. Everybody’s achieved an amazing job, my sons (Anthony and Joseph), and Yosuke Ito (train rider) who got here to work for me after I went to Japan in 2001. After which after I had the coaching middle in Japan serving to my father-in-law, he got here to work for me then. Then I bought him a job with Chiefswood Stables, he labored with them for 12 years, beneath Eric Coatrieux. I then bought him a job with Kiaran McLaughlin, after which he got here to work for me.Â
He does an amazing job galloping the horses, and in order that’s most likely one of many causes we will return to New York. I am acquainted with the coaching monitor, and he or she stays sound. I am just about going to arrange her like I’d for every other race.Â
She travels properly. It took us 20 hours to get to Kentucky Downs, she traveled very well. She traveled again right here to Keeneland after the race (Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies Stakes) after which went again to New York.Â
BH: As somebody who’s been surrounded by top-level horses your whole life as an assistant, what did profitable your first graded stakes win as a coach imply to you?
Lee: I have been lucky, actually lucky.
I’ve skilled loads. We received the Arc, we received (an enormous) quantity of grade 1’s, in 1995, and over time with Godolphin, and so forth.Â
However, to see different individuals win, I feel that may be (KatieRich Farm proprietor) Larry’s (Doyle) first graded stakes win. It is nice to see him and his brother, Jimmy, and his buddies.Â
Jimmy referred to as yesterday and his two buddies that have been with him stated, ‘That is the best factor.’ It is good to see individuals expertise that and have a very good time. And that for me is one of the best factor now.Â
For me, I do not need to say it is previous hat, as a result of it is nice. You strive onerous, you need to see them run properly, win or lose.Â
At Kentucky Downs, everyone’s saying, ‘It is your identify now.’ However, I inform you, after I was with Sheikh Mohammed and Simon Crisford, they stated, ‘No matter you do, we are going to stand behind you 100%. No matter resolution you make, don’t fret about it. We’re behind you.’ So when you’ve gotten it like that, it is virtually such as you’re a part of the group, proper? However in fact, I communicated with the coach and what they wished to do, too. I all the time felt like a part of the group, and (Godolphin) all the time made you are feeling like a part of the group, which was nice.Â
Photograph: Coady Media/Kurtis CoadyMay Day Prepared wins the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Kentucky Downs
So now to win and it is in your identify, it is nice. The race at Kentucky Downs, a million-dollar race, and also you’re getting 60 to 70 textual content messages. It is good that it is in your identify, but it surely’s actually even higher to see different individuals get pleasure from what I’ve loved.Â
I give credit score to everybody, to my sons, Yosuke, the recent walker. I am not straightforward; I need issues achieved a sure method. I’ve seen issues go mistaken once they weren’t achieved a sure method.
I am 62 years previous. It is good that I can assist anyone and be lucky sufficient to (share the win). I bought fortunate that (Might Day Prepared) is as proficient as she is, and I am not doing something totally different than after I labored for different trainers, or Kiaran or Wayne. You type of mix what’s in and also you be taught issues right here and there, what to do, what to not do.
BH:Â What number of horses do you’ve gotten in your steady?
Lee: We solely have 5, primarily based in New York. That is the nicest filly (Might Day Prepared), in fact, that I’ve. I do have one other horse, similar proprietor; they despatched it to me final yr. He (Works for Me) is a New York-bred, he broke his maiden there. We ran in an open stakes and he was positioned, and we received the Pocket book (Stakes) with him final November. He is most likely the second-best horse I’ve.Â
After which I’ve a horse that Kiaran (McLaughlin) was coaching for Mr. and Mrs. (Chester) Broman, a filly referred to as Masterof the Tunes, they’d left with me after I first began and Kiaran retired. Round Covid, the Bromans have been type of slicing again a number of horses and wished to promote, so we really purchased her, and we nonetheless have her. She’s 7, she’s made almost $300,000. She’s on this Friday (Oct. 11 allowance at Belmont on the Massive A), she’s an aged one, however she’s doing properly, and he or she seems to be nice. Knock on wooden, she runs properly.
Photograph: Anne M. EberhardtThe profitable connections of Might Day Prepared within the trophy presentation for the Jessamine Stakes
BH: How did you join with KatieRich Farm to start coaching their horses?
Lee: After I was working for Kiaran, Larry’s (Doyle) brother Jimmy had owned some horses, and is buddies with Neal McLaughlin (Kiaran’s brother), who’s out at WinStar now. Once they have been working a horse, they might ship it to Belmont. I type of sorted the horses, and we ran the horses for them. So, type of that relationship turned out that method.
BH: What did you’re taking away out of your years of working beneath Lukas and McLaughlin?
Lee: So, one of the best factor about Wayne (Lukas) that I took, is all the pieces’s in place. After I went to work there, I imply the newborn oil was lined up, the polos are lined up, all the pieces was instead. And, it is nice, as a result of the place issues are. It is so organized, so clear, which I like issues clear. That is most likely one of many greatest issues I took from him.Â
And Kiaran labored for Wayne, so issues have been just about achieved the identical. Cleanliness and group is unquestionably essential. Most likely the best factor was the group.
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