Trainer Doug O'Neill: Profile, career highlights

Doug O'Neill

Born: May 24, 1968, Dearborn, Mich.

• Won first Classic races in 2012 when I’ll Have Another won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness after winning the Santa Anita Derby and Robert Lewis earlier in the year

• Claimed Lava Man for $50,000 and won a record $5,180,678 off the claim. In 2006, Lava Man completed an unprecedented sweep of the Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup, and Pacific Classic, the three major races for older horses in Southern California. Lava Man is now a stable pony and accompanied I’ll Have Another to post in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

• Won or tied for 27 training titles in Southern California since 2002, including six at Santa Anita or Oak Tree and four at Del Mar

• Won four Hollywood Gold Cups, three in a row with Lava Man (2005-2007) and one with Sky Jack in 2002

• Won Japan Cup Dirt in 2003 with Fleetstreet Dancer

• Began training in 1988

• Worked as assistant to Richard Mandella, Doug Peterson, Hector Palma, and Jude Feld

Career record (through May 23, 2012)

• Starts: 9,853
• Wins: 1,632
• Seconds: 1,456
• Thirds: 1,332
• Earnings: $77,701,690 (21st all time)
• Top year in wins, 2010 (185)
• Top year in earnings, 2006 ($11,251,656)
• Trained three champions
o Maryfield, 2007 Female Sprinter
o Thor’s Echo, 2006 Sprinter
o Stevie Wonderboy, 2005 2-Year-Old Male
• Trained three Breeders’ Cup winners
o Maryfield, 2007 Filly and Mare Sprint
o Thor’s Echo, 2006 Sprint
o Stevie Wonderboy, 2005 Juvenile[bc_video_id:253041:]

Daily Racing Form coverage

O'Neill checks in on I'll Have Another, likes what he sees
By training the winner of the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, Doug O’Neill arrived at the peak of his profession. He said it was confirmation that, given the opportunity, he could compete at the highest level of the sport. His has been a complicated, multi-dimensional career. David Grening »

O'Neill banned 45 days; penalty won't affect Triple Crown run
Trainer Doug O’Neill arrived in New York early Sunday morning following the red-eye flight from Southern California. Any jet-lag he may have felt from the cross-country trip dissipated after laying eyes on his Triple Crown hopeful I’ll Have Another. Steve Andersen »

Many layers to Derby-winning trainer O'Neill
By training the winner of the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, Doug O’Neill arrived at the peak of his profession. He said it was confirmation that, given the opportunity, he could compete at the highest level of the sport. His has been a complicated, multi-dimensional career. Jay Privman »