January 24, 2024 – After a career-best campaign in 2024, trainer Bill Tharrenos is hungry for more in 2025. Last year, the veteran conditioner set a new win mark (43) and eclipsed the $1 million plateau in purse earnings ($1,001,637, US) for the second time. He has five career stakes wins to his name and counts Lucky Be Me, Tree Pose, Money Talks, Shesanaturalblonde, Sarah Her Highness, and Free Shipping as some of the top horses he’s campaigned. Tharrenos, who currently has a string of horses competing at Gulfstream Park, is 13 wins away from 400 for his career. Bill Tharrenos (Michael Burns Photo) Q: What was the biggest highlight for you and your barn in 2024? A: “I ran a first-time starter 2-year-old that showed me some promising workouts. Young in mind, but very athletic, and he won his first time out, Go Jimmy Go.” Q: When did you know it was going to be a successful season? A: “Well, if you work hard enough and you’re realistic, where you race the horses and what divisions of the categories of the claiming rank. I lost a lot of horses – many haunt me – but we were very aggressive, and made a lot of people happy. If we continue that, I think we’re going to have another successful year.” Q: What are you most looking forward to in 2025? A: “Well, I have some promising babies right now. We have a few down south. I got a couple in Kentucky, and a few up at TNT Racing’s farm. Things are going very, very well, and it looks like we could have a good one once we get up and going.” Go Jimmy Go at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) Q: Is there a particular horse running at Gulfstream Park that you are excited about? A: “I brought one good 3-year-old here, Go Jimmy Go, just to get him a little more mature to the game. I’m tempted to run him here in the next couple weeks, because he’s doing exceptionally well. He had a black-letter workout in :57 and change. Javier Castellano really wants to ride him, so I might give him a whirl before we run him opening week at Woodbine.” Q: What did you learn about yourself as a trainer last year? A: “I think the people around me believe in what I do and the levels that we’ve been running horses at that give me a little more respect towards the game, where we’re going, and how we’re going. We were in the right races when we ran. I had the best season of my career at Woodbine and tell you what, when it goes well, it all feels fantastic, but when it goes a little sour, that’s when you’ve got to keep putting your nose down and helping the game.” “You have to be realistic. I have to respect everything we do and the hard work the whole crew put in. We’re looking for an even better year this year.” Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Share This:Share
