Puhich Not Waiting To Win -- Young Trainer Finds Continuing Success, Increasing Respect At Longacres

-- RENTON

Sometimes it takes a while for an aspiring horse trainer to have the kind of season Michael Puhich is having. Even though it has been three weeks since any of the horses in his stable have won, his winning percentage is the second highest of all trainers this season.

Through last weekend, Puhich had a 23.9-percent winning percentage, the second highest at Longacres Park this season. Two weeks ago, that percentage was a shade under 30, much like Puhich, who's a mere 29.

On this particular Sunday at the track, Puhich is sporting a light brown suit with a white shirt and paisley tie. He looks more as though he's ready to buy Longacres back from its current owners than to ply his trade there.

After this season, Puhich is headed to Santa Anita. "If things don't work out for me in Southern California, I'll apply for a job at Boeing," Puhich said with a wry grin. "At least I'll know how to get to work."

He probably wouldn't mind an office overlooking the backstretch, where he has been working for 17 years. Puhich's horse-racing roots run deep in his family tree. He has had at least one family member working at Longacres since the park opened in 1933.

He's pleased to be having a successful season in Longacres' last year. After 88 starts, his horses finished first 21 times, second 16 times and third 14 times.

His record has improved every year since 1988. In his stable that year was He's A Cajun, who won the Longacres Derby. In 97 starts that year, he had 11 first-place finishes. In 132 starts in 1989 he had 19 first-place finishes, 116 starts and 16 firsts in 1990 and 98 starts and 10 firsts last year.

This year, he says he has a more balanced stable. "I've got a better quantity of fitter horses," Puhich said. "This stable has more depth. There are younger horses, older horses and mid-range horses. Some of the younger horses I had to spend more time with in the past are coming along good this year."

Puhich is certainly earning the respect of his peers. Trainer Kathy Walsh, whose winning percentage is 25 percent, helped Puhich get to where he is now. After he graduated from Renton High School, he took care of her home and horses in Southern California.

"Michael Puhich is an up-and-coming trainer," Walsh said. "He's a great overall horseman and he is going to go to big places in this industry."

Jockey Sandi Gann credits a lot of her success this season to Puhich. She has ridden Aire of Speed, Minnislice, Iron Pleasure and Toofastforwords for Puhich and his assistant, Carlton Robbins of Spokane.

Gann said Puhich's age isn't a factor because he knows horses. "He's smart. He runs them (horses) in races where he thinks they can win," Gann said. Many jockeys agree that is something many trainers aren't good at.

"A lot of trainers ask too much from their jockeys," said jockey Dave Rojas. "Mike will not put a horse in a place where it doesn't belong."

Puhich has had many doors opened for him in his short career. In 1985, trainer T.D. McLaughlin turned over his entire barn to Puhich when he retired. "That was my big break. I had a horse in that barn by the name of Nikki Tora that won five races for me that year," he said.

He compared his career to a young actor or actress trying to break into Hollywood. "I got my big break at a young age, and I've worked hard to get where I am now," he said.

Robbins, who has worked for Puhich since 1980, said his boss works hard and is dedicated to his craft. "Some people have a knack for training and some don't," Robbins said. "He knows what he's doing, and he knows horses really well."

Puhich has already had his official training license for 11 years. "I'm young, but I've been around it (horse racing) for a long time," Puhich said.

When most boys his age where racing Hot Wheels around figure-eight tracks in the basement, Puhich was playing with horses. "My dad gave me a horse when I was 12. I think he figured that giving me a horse to take care of would be a good way for me to stay out of trouble," he said.

His father, Nick Puhich, was a trainer at Longacres in the 1940s and '50s and is now a jockey's agent for the Horseman's Benevolent & Protective Association. Uncle Ivan Puhich is a jockey agent in Southern California and uncle Stanley Puhich is a jockey agent in Northern California whose clients include Gary Boulanger.

Puhich said his job is just like that of a team coach. "Horses have their own individual personalities. There are horses who like to train and give it their all every time they run, and then there are those who only perform when there is competition around," Puhich said.

"I've got to recognize when a horse is feeling good and when it isn't," Puhich said. "You can't treat them all the same. It's the same way for human athletes."

At least Puhich doesn't have to listen to the horses complain when they don't feel like they are being treated fairly. "Other trainers say if they could only talk, we would know what they need. Personally, I don't know if we really want to know," Puhich said. "We might hear that they want a new coach."