HANDICAPPING HEROES -- W.B. Smudge just wants to run.

You could call W.B. Smudge the "grand old man" of the backside at Churchill Downs.

Matt Kordenbrock

At nine years old, the gelding owned by Robert O'Hara and Gwyneth Gower and trained by Matt Kordenbrock has seen 62 races in his career. Seven tries at Churchill, where he's posted an incredible six of out seven in the money efforts and a couple of wins. W.B. tried retirement, it didn't suit him, so he's back on the track and finished an impressive second in a claiming race at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 12th. A race where he dueled with the leader the entire way, just backing down at the end by a head to a prohibitive favorite that was four years younger than him and carried one of Churchill's best jockeys in the saddle in Corey Lanerie. Not surrendering. A nice ride by "Jersey" Joe Rocco, who rode W.B and looks to ride here for the meet

When he hits the track for a morning workout, Matt tells of his very deliberate, purposeful nature and actions before he begins. W.B. Smudge likes to survey the situation around him, taking a good long look at all going on around him. Almost as if he's recalling the memories and races of the past,. Reflecting on the sights and sounds of the place he once again calls home for the spring and summer. Saying, maybe, "Hey, Look at me. This guy's here to do it and I've been doing it a lot longer than you pups."  The first lap is a stretch out effort for the sprinter...gotta get those veteran bones and joints loose before putting in a clocked 4 furlong workout. Never a hassle for the exercise rider.

Been there, done that.

And...he's always on the lookout for peppermints. 

He's a big fan of the sweet treats. Be prepared to provide if you go to your pocket and "Smudge" is anywhere near you. He'll come over and look at the pocket. Might even give you a slight reminder that it's time to produce a treat. Pay the man a little tribute kind of thing, you know.

After an allowance race at Oaklawn in April 2017, where W.B. finished second at 7-1 odds to highly-regarded RECOUNT , Matt and the owners wondered if he was ready to call it a day on his racing career. They sent him to pasture, but W.B Smudge was not happy about it at all

Matt talks about that:

"He was an entirely different horse, not being at the race track. His whole disposition changed. He wasn't happy. You could really see the difference. So, we decided at the start of 2018, why not put him back where he might want to be? The track. The change in his disposition was immediate and obvious. He wanted to be there. He was happy again. So, we'll run him as long as he's happy and healthy. It's what he wants and he's still capable of turning in a good 6 furlongs. We've dropped him down a bit to claiming company, we're not worried about losing him, after all, who claims a nine-year-old? We'll see how the rest of the spring and summer develops." 

A December 2017 workout at the Churchill Downs training facility showed an OK time for five furlongs. They worked him twice at Oaklawn and decided to enter Smudge in a $30,000 starter allowance contest. He ran evenly to get fifth. Another Oaklawn try got another fifth. As the Kordenbrook's (Matt's wife Connie is also heavily involved in the training proceedings and quite knowledgeable in racing) prepared to change venue and do their usual return to Churchill for the Spring Meet, Matt decided to get his gelding a run up at Indiana Downs in an optional claiming contest. He ran a solid second, so it looked like he was ready for a spring/summer campaign.

W.B Smudge has a home at the Kentucky Horse Park when he retires for good. They've asked for him. Matt isn't sure when that will happen. He's seen the difference. A trainer always looks out for a horse's best interest and health first. It's an owner concern and trust in a trainer's ability to recognize that as well. That includes mental health and disposition. Matt and the owners see eye-to-eye here.

"As long as he stays happy and healthy, we'll enter him in races." Matt surmises. "He wants to be out there and he always gives his best effort. I wish I had 10 just like him." 

W.B Smudge has earned over $570,000 for his owners and trainer over the nine years. Won the prestigious Senator Robert C. Byrd Memorial Stakes Race in 2017 over WILBO and seems to prefer the dirt over turf/grass races.

And, if you go to visit him, don't forget the peppermints. After all, a horse with his own Facebook page should get a little love and bling now and then, right?

The old, respected sprinter still has a few moves in him, it would seem. And the Kordenbrock legacy in racing appears to be in great hands as well. Matt and Connie's daughter has done work with TVG and is quite knowledgeable and well-versed in the sport. Their grandson carries a "play"whip with him and likes wearing a jockey's helmet whenever he gets a chance. He likes to watch racing on TV with Mom and emulate the riding styles of the jockeys. And, he's developed a riding style at four years old. Ask him, he's determined to ride for grandpa someday.

Just don't let him near your cooler with wheels as a riding venue. He has trouble in the stretch with those, based on a comical video the family took of him riding one and falling off when the pulling handle moved on him.

Hey, he got up from the spill, walked away, wanted more and didn't lose interest. That's dedication. Seems like they know a lot about dedication in the Kordenbrock family. Generation after generation.

(Some Photos courtesy of Coady Photography)


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