Total Truth owners excited

A couple years ago, Delaware resident Patrick Callahan kept reading stories about the sensational filly Rainbow Blue, who won 20 of 21 races in 2004 and earned Horse of the Year honors. The horse’s connections – trainer/co-owner George Teague Jr. and brothers Ron and Kevin Fry – also were from Delaware and frequently in the news.

Callahan, a real estate broker in Delaware and Maryland, had been itching to buy stakes-caliber horses after two decades away from the sport. He called Teague out of the blue and left a message that he had some extra income and wanted to purchase a few yearlings. Teague called back and told Callahan he had several available.

"I didn’t know George at the time, but had read a lot about him and figured you have to be a pretty awesome trainer to have a horse like Rainbow Blue," Callahan said. "Sure, the horse is the main thing, but you still need a good conditioner. He told me to come to his stable and pick out what I wanted. I went down there and he had four or five that weren’t spoken for. I told him I’d take them all. He thought I was being impulsive. It was a Friday, so he told me to think about it over the weekend and come back on Monday and tell him which one I wanted. I came back on Monday and told him I’ll still take them all. One of them was Total Truth. And that’s how we got started together. We’ve had a very good relationship."

Total Truth is among the contenders for the $1.5 million North America Cup, for which elimination races will be conducted Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto; the final is June 17. Total Truth is coming off a quarter-length win over Bono Bests in his division of the Burlington at Woodbine on June 3. It was his first race of the year and his fifth victory in eight lifetime starts.

"He’s a wonderful horse," Callahan said. "He did it well within himself. George has got a lot of confidence in him. He’s so positive that I can’t help but be."

While Western Ace garnered most of the attention among the 2 year olds in Teague’s stable last season, Total Truth was putting together a solid campaign of his own. He won his division of the Niatross (Western Ace claimed the other) in a stakes-record 1:51.4 at the Meadowlands Racetrack. He also won a Smullin Memorial division at Rosecroft Raceway.

"Last year, he had some growing pains," Teague said. "He definitely matured and has bulked up from last year to this year. He’s a big, muscular colt. I think his potential is pretty much unlimited. He’s a fast horse and has a great attitude about going. I thought he would be one of the top colts, and I’ll have to stick to my guns on that one."

Callahan and his wife, Marianne, who race under the stable name Only Money Inc., drove to Toronto for the Burlington last weekend. They plan on driving back for the elims – and, hopefully, the final.

"It’s going to be very nerve-wracking," Callahan said. "I’m just holding my breath, hoping everything continues. I’ve never had a horse like this. It’s very exciting. We’ve just enjoyed it."

(HRC release)

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