Every trainer remembers their first win, but having a horse like Class President be the one to kick off your career is something special.
He wasn’t just a good horse to have in the barn—he was royalty on paper. A son of Kingmambo out of Class Kris, he was a full brother to Student Council, a multiple Grade 1 winner who took down the Pacific Classic and the Pimlico Special. You look at breeding like that, and you know you’re sitting on serious horseflesh.
Class President was a big, imposing horse with a frame to match his pedigree. More than his size, though, what always stood out was his mindset: he was a massive, good-feeling gelding who genuinely loved training. Every single morning, he went out there eager to do his job. He had that relaxed, effortless presence you only see in horses bred for the long game.
That first official win came on May 15, 2014, at Louisiana Downs with Don Simington aboard. Getting into the winner’s circle with owner Danny Keene was a milestone I’ll never forget. We had a lot of fun with him over the next year or so—whether it was Adrian Ramos guiding him through the slop at Sam Houston or seeing him do what he was truly bred to do.
The race that always sticks with me the most was at Lone Star Park in June 2015. We put Cliff Berry up in the Turf Distance Starter Series going 1 3/8 miles on the grass. That was his sweet spot. He got into that long, grinding stride, covered the ground with complete confidence, and drew off to stop the clock in 2:14.09.
Looking back, I always wish I had been able to pursue more of those marathon turf races with him. A horse with his stride and stamina could run all day, but true marathon distance races on the grass are few and far between in our circuit. Still, having a horse with that class and work ethic set the tone for my stable from day one. You never forget the ones that get you started, and Class President set the bar high.
– Shea
