Trainer profile: Teresa Pompay

Last year was somewhat of a banner year for Teresa Pompay as a trainer, as she enjoyed her best year since 2002. She has built on the momentum this year by most recently posting strong numbers at the current Monmouth Park meet. Pompay, a Saratoga Springs, N.Y., native, saddled her first runners in 1993, enlarged her stable and won 35 races with more than $1 million in purse earnings in 2002. Her stable didn't enjoy the same level of success in some subsequent years, but, in 2009, she approached her top marks with 32 wins and nearly $870,000 in purses.

Currently, she is tied for fifth with Nick Zito in the trainer standings at Monmouth, and not far from perennial leaders such as Todd Pletcher and Richard Dutrow Jr. She has an overall mark of 8-4-7 from 39 starters, and at a meet clearly targeted by many with more ammo under the shed. Overall this year, her win percentage (17 percent) is on the rise for the third straight year and she has notched 18 victories with more than $530,000 in purses.

Pompay has made 24 claims thus far this year, generally speaking in the $10,000-$30,000 range. Her numbers with new acquisitions have been very strong. First time off the claim, she has won with 39 percent of her runners for a return on investment of $5.31. Her numbers with a horse in general for the first time, are similarly strong (27 percent, $3.70). And, she can keep a sharp runner on edge (19 percent, $1.96 with WonLast runners).

Some recent claims made by Pompay at Monmouth who could bear watching include Confidence Crisis, a once-promising 3-year-old taken for $35,000 when a bit flat and fourth in his first start since mid-April most recently; Endofconversation, a game third when claimed on a class drop to $20,000 most recently; and Quick Ride, plucked for $22,000 from his second straight easy score most recently. Confidence Crisis could be most interesting at a square ticket as he gave futile chase in his latest when fourth behind the dominant Chairman Tucker, a Pompay trainee who was posting his second straight romp since claimed by Pompay at Gulfstream Park in March.

Chairman Tucker, a gelded son of Successful Appeal, won first off the claim ($3.40) for the same $25,000 price for which he was claimed at Gulfstream, then followed it with a score ($8.40) for a $35,000 claiming price last month in his first spin with winners. Mint Maker has also proved a fine $25,000 Gulfstream claim by Pompay. Since acquired, he has won a pair of claiming races ($9.40 off the claim, and more recently $12.80) while also holding his own in tougher spots.

Pompay is based at Monmouth, and has claimed exclusively there since May, with her prior claims this year coming at Gulfstream. Expect her to take advantage of the current purse structure at Monmouth this summer, but don't rule her out from finding the right races for her stock at places such as Philadelphia Park, Delaware Park, and perhaps even Saratoga Race Course. Stable runners such as Colonel Potter, Compliance Officer, and Mannington all bring a touch of class and have been managed shrewdly by Pompay thus far.