Vaughan wins first U.S. race after relocation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ed Vaughan arrived in Kentucky in November, ready for a fresh start. The 47-year-old Irish-born trainer had wearied of the difficult economics of the British racing industry and was willing to give American racing a go.

Tucked away at Keeneland in Lexington, first on the Rice Road side and more recently in Barn 43 atop a large knoll, Vaughan has been working quietly to rebuild a stable that enjoyed a reasonable amount of success in the United Kingdom. The first overt sign that the move might actually work came Sunday at Churchill Downs, where Alnaseem gave Vaughan his first victory on this continent when the 5-year-old mare dominated a second-level allowance on the turf. It was Vaughan’s fifth start since he relocated.

“It was good to get that one out of the way,” Vaughan said this week by phone from Keeneland.

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Alnaseem earned $36,288 with her 3 3/4-length victory under Adam Beschizza, but as a British-bred ineligible for the sizable bonuses restricted to Kentucky-breds, she left another $23,520 on the table. Vaughan, who also owns Alnaseem’s dam, was quick to point out that she “won more money Sunday than she won her entire career in England” in 14 prior starts.

“That’ll put it in perspective for you,” he said.

Vaughan has an extensive background in racing, having worked on the late Ned Evans’s farm in Virginia in his late teens before returning overseas to work for Darley in Ireland and for accomplished trainers such as Noel Chance and Alec Stewart. His best horse in recent years was Dame Malliot, winner of the Group 2 Princess of Wales’s last July at Newmarket.

Vaughan largely disbanded his 25-horse stable at Newmarket last fall after 16 years as a licensed trainer, bringing just four horses with him. Still closely bonded to clients back home, he’s up to about 12 head now and expects he will add more when the major meets such as Royal Ascot are completed this summer. His horses will compete mostly over grass, although he expects that a 2-year-old by Union Rags and a 3-year-old by Distorted Humor could run on the dirt.

Vaughan, who is unmarried and has no children, said he became familiar with the American lifestyle during his tenure in Virginia and that he has enjoyed his time in Kentucky.

“I only brought the poor ol’ dog with me,” he said with a laugh. “He’s going to stick with me a bit longer. He’s the only one talking to me, anyway.”