Varty: "I've Considered Training T-Breds"

Those well-versed in standardbred racing need no introduction to trainer Nat Varty. Besides his success in the Bill Robinson Stable, charges sent out from his operation have won over 1,500 races and nearly $30 million in purses

. Will the world of thoroughbred racing be the next conquest on his map?

Varty, who in the last couple of years relocated to the United States, currently has a 16-horse stable of claiming and conditioned horses at Mark Ford’s training center in Wallkill, New York. While in conversation with the Meadowlands Racetrack's publicity department, he explained that his operation is finding some success, but that he has entertained the idea of switching over and conditioning the runners.

“I’m relatively pleased with the way things are going,” he said. “I haven’t had an abundance of quality (in his standardbred stock), but that’s changing. We’re going to get some fresh faces and do some claiming at different tracks. I’ve considered training thoroughbreds because my wife, Kirsten Proctor, used to be the foreman for Nick Zito in New York. Now she works with me and we like this breed. These are tough horses.”

The Meadowlands' PR team was speaking with Varty in regard to Saturday night's $27,500 Preferred Pace. Varty has entered Whiskey Pete, who has been a model of consistency since his arrival at the track last fall.

On Saturday night Whiskey Pete will bid for his third straight win in the $27,500 Preferred for four and five-year-old pacers. The son of Art Major has finished a nose ahead of Europan Union in his last two outings in that class and also counts a dead heat with Art Professor in the Aquarius Series among his four wins this season.

“Whiskey Pete has that undeniable grit and desire,” Varty said. “He’s just got that killer instinct. He’s come to his form through maturity, and started to come around when he won in 1:50.3 last October at the Meadowlands. We liked him then and we thought he would mature into a decent racehorse. He had all the right building blocks.”

Trainer Gates Brunet developed Whiskey Pete and guided him through his freshman and sophomore campaigns on the New York Sire Stakes circuit. The horse entered Varty’s barn last September, where he completed his three-year-old campaign with a record of five wins, two seconds and $91,234,

“I got him last fall a few starts before Ted Gewertz put him through the Harrisburg Sale (for $70,000) to dissolve a partnership,” Varty explained. “The other owners don’t race horses beyond age three. Mr. Gewertz just wanted to keep the horse around. Actually, (Meadowlands leading driver) Brian Sears recommended me to Ted, and that’s also how I got Hey Goodlooking. The relationship grew from there.”

Whiskey Pete has finished first or second in nine of his 11 starts at the Meadowlands. Pat Berry was in the sulky for all of those races. Varty considers the driver an important key to the pacer’s success.

“It seems it hasn’t hurt that he’s taken to the mile track, and I like that he has a steady driver in Pat Berry, who gets along with him,” Varty said. “Pat’s got his number. I think he can do good work on any size track, but the Meadowlands has really suited him well.

“We’re probably looking to get about 20 to 25 starts in him this year, maybe average between $5,000 and $10,000 per start, and then look for big things from him as a five-year-old next season,” he continued. “He’s definitely a horse we look forward to when we get into the barn in the morning. It’s fun to race a top horse on a Saturday night.”

Varty will also send out Broadway Jake and Buckeye In Charge in the first and second races, respectively, on Saturday night.

“I’ve had Broadway Jake a couple of different times,” Varty said. “He’s not the most talented, but he’s a nice, cool animal we enjoy having around.

“Buckeye In Charge is a funny horse to deal with,” he continued. “He’s one of those immature, goofy horses with high speed. He had a ton of trouble getting around turns at two and three. We were able to nurse him around Pocono Downs last fall. You have to get it inside his head, but keeping it there is another issue.”

(With files from the Meadowlands)