Lewis in rebuilding mode

ELMONT, N.Y. – The life of a private trainer is an enjoyable one when the client is happy. You have only one person with whom to discuss plans; no need to hustle owners; a steady influx of horses.

But when the relationship sours – and ultimately ends – the trainer has to pick up the pieces and move on. That’s not always easy.

For about four years, Lisa Lewis lived the life of a private trainer, working exclusively for owner-breeder William Schettine. The two enjoyed some success with stakes horses like Rosa Salvaje and Isabelle. But the relationship ended last fall, and Lewis had to start anew.

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It has been a process, but Lewis has built her stable to 14 horses. After going four months without running a horse, Lewis has run eight at Belmont, winning three races. Two of those wins came with the promising New York-bred 3-year-old turf filly Sister Sophia and one with the claimer Gentrify, who won here Wednesday. Lewis had a fourth horse, Manoffire, finish first, but he was disqualified and placed second in a maiden race May 8.

“Training privately was a great thing,” Lewis said Thursday. “I really enjoyed working for Mr. Schettine when I did, and we had nice horses. There’s a lot of pressure off, not always having to hustle people. The problem is when it’s over and you’re down to zero. First, you think, ‘It’s no problem, I’ve done this all my life.’ Then you start thinking, ‘I hope I can get this going again.’ ”

She has worked for all of her current clients before. They include Tom Farone, the owner and breeder of Sister Sophia and her 5-year-old full sister, Bella Kateri, who had a win and a second last fall at Belmont and is working toward a return.

“It’s nice that people I trained for before were happy to get involved again and get horses back in the barn, and I’m just happy the meet started off well, and hopefully we can keep it going,” Lewis, 45, said.

Lewis spent the winter based at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. and its training center. In addition to training there, Lewis bought a couple of 2-year-olds for another former client, Jumpsucker Stables. They are C M Next Week, a son of Bernardini, and Just a Zip, by City Zip. Lewis said they might run during the Saratoga meet.

“We got some things to be excited about,” Lewis said.