[OLD HEAD]

Big Truck

Trainer: Barclay Tagg

Tagg, a former assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Frank Whiteley, graduated from Penn State University in 1961 with a degree in animal sciences and first got involved with horses while managing a farm in Pennsylvania in 1963. He started riding jumpers in 1966 and began his training career in earnest in 1971, winning his first race at Liberty Bell in 1972. He won the 2003 Kentucky Derby with Funny Cide, who went on to capture the Preakness Stakes before falling short in the Belmont Stakes. He also saddled Showing Up to a sixth place finish in the 2006 Kentucky Derby.

Jockey: Eibar Coa

A native of Monagas, Venezuela, Coa first started riding in South Florida in 1993. His background in the Thoroughbred industry began in the Venezuelan jockey school. He then rode in his native country for two years before moving the the U.S. to polish his skills. He has won riding titles at Calder Race Course, Belmont Park, Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park and Monmouth Park. Last year, Coa finished seventh in earned money among jockeys, earnings $14,237,059 with 285 winners from 1,628 mounts, including Grade 1 wins aboard Lear's Princess and Dream Rush. He finished fifth in the 2003 Kentucky Derby aboard Eye of the Tiger, his only Kentucky Derby mount to date.

Owner: Eric Fein

The way owner Eric Fein approaches Thoroughbred racing with his Kentucky Derby prospect Big Truck is reminiscent of the Sackatoga Stable group that raced Funny Cide to a Derby victory in 2003 and the Mike Pegram entourage accompanying Real Quiet to the 1998 Derby winner’s circle. Fein, of Jericho, N.Y., on Long Island, is the sheriff of a posse of 50 or so folks with whom he shares his racing thrills, professing that the crew, including him, are just regular folks. When the horse gets to the Derby, Fein says his group will let the rest of the people know they are all aboard the Big Truck. Another way the Fein posse is reprising the 2003 spectacle is that Barclay Tagg trains Big Truck, as he did Funny Cide. The Big Truck followers have been friends since their teen-age years in the New York borough of Queens, not far from Belmont Park, which for them, Fein says, was a place to hang out. Fein said his dream always has been to own a horse. He got that horse through the claim box in 2003 for $30,000 and the horse paid him back $400,000. And, naturally, he was hooked. Fein is the owner of a title insurance business, EAM Land Services in Syosset, N.Y. He bought Big Truck for $90,000 at a 2-year-old-in-training sale in Maryland n 2007, and he’s the one who gave the colt his name. With Hook and Ladder as a sire, Big Truck seemed like a natural name. Echoing the Sackatoga crowd and Pegram, he emphasizes that a small guy really can into the sport of horse racing as an owner, where he can’t get into other sports, such as owning a football team.

Breeder: A. Lakin & Sons

Lakin General, LLC, is a major rubber and tire recycling company. Involved in Thoroughbred racing since 1990, the Lakins have raced graded runners including Buffalo Berry, Listen Here, No Kings, Sort It Out and Greater Good. Lakin and business partner Becky Thomas are rank near the top of the nation's pinhookers. The two and Lakin's wife, Brenda, own farms in Florida, Kentucky, and New York, on which they have about 150 broodmares. In addition, they stand several stallions at their New York operation.

Finish.... Date.... Race

11th 04.12.2008 Toyota Blue Grass (GI) - Keeneland
Showed no speed, never a factor

1st 03.15.2008 Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) - Tampa Bay Downs
Ran down leader in stretch, won going away

2nd 02.16.2008 Sam F Davis - Gulfstream Park
Closed from last, nearly caught winner

5th 01.5.2008 Hutcheson (GII) - Gulfstream Park
Never a factor; well beaten.

4th 11.24.2007 Remsen (GII) - Aqueduct
Experienced traffic throughout, troubled fourth-place finish

3rd 10.22.2007 Sleepy Hollow Stakes - Belmont Park
Sparred for the lead throughout, outfinished

1st 09.23.2007 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes - Belmont Park
Close to pace early, drew away when asked

1st 08.23.2007 Maiden Special Weight - Saratoga
Led from start, drew off early, never challenged