Glatt Well Prepared for First Shot at Kentucky Derby

The bay colt was cooling out following his final serious bit of work before the most serious race of his life. And as he was walked and bathed, the masses gathered at the far end of Barn 42 at Churchill Downs, a plethora of media seeking insight into one of the more prominent storylines set to manifest May 2. After several moments, the trainer emerged from his office, took his place before the throngs of recording devices before him and began to mirror the demeanor of the equine protégé that had brought him to this point: cool, measured, deliberate, maintaining his mettle in a setting that has thrown many into a state of anxiety. He chooses his words carefully which, as those who know Mark Glatt will attest, is pretty much always how the multiple grade 1-winning conditioner speaks. This day's discussion centered on the trainer's first trip to the Kentucky Derby (G1), set for Saturday at Churchill, and the horse that has brought him here, Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner So Happy. No matter the topic, Glatt remains on an even keel, politely reserved even when he has every right to let emotions overtake the timbre of his voice. While Glatt is a fresh subject for many delving into the contenders for the first leg of the Triple Crown, he is nobody's newcomer when it comes to showing up on some of Thoroughbred racing's most amplified stages. More than three decades into his career, Glatt has spent the past few years repeatedly in contention for some of the sport's biggest prizes. "It means a lot to be here," Glatt said. "It's a very special occasion. But we're here to not just participate. We're here to hopefully get the job done." The tornado of activity that comes with having a horse entered in the Kentucky Derby may be unique territory for the Southern California-based Glatt, but his presence in the 152nd edition of the 1 1/4-mile classic is right in line with his recent career trajectory. In this his 32nd year of training horses on his own, the native of Washington state is as well positioned as he has ever been from a professional standpoint as the last several seasons have seen his barn steadily top itself in terms of quality results. When Take A Breath (GB) annexed the Royal Heroine Stakes (G3T) April 25 at Santa Anita Park, it marked the fifth graded stakes win for Glatt thus far in 2026, already equaling the trainer's single-season career-high total. His barn's earnings have surpassed the $4 million mark in each of the past four years and in the 10 times he has sent runners to post in the Breeders' Cup World Championships, he has hit the board on four occasions. He would have that hardware on his mantel had his grade 1-winning charge Dr. Schivel gotten his nostril down ahead of Aloha West in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). From his early days at Emerald Downs, the son of heralded Washington trainer Ron Glatt has become one of the stalwarts on the California circuit, winning his second training title at Santa Anita last April over the likes of Hall of Famer Bob Baffert and multiple classic-winning trainer Michael McCarthy. In addition to the aforementioned Dr. Schivel, Glatt has conditioned such top runners as multiple graded stakes winner Dr. Venkman—third in the 2025 Breeders' Cup Sprint—grade 1 winner Collusion Illusion, and millionaire graded stakes winner Sharp Samurai over the past six years. By any metric, Glatt has proven he knows what to do when given the right horse and opportunity. It's something that hasn't escaped his loyal client base—one that has included Hans and Ana Maron, who race under the nom de course of Saints or Sinners, since 2021. It is a fact that was blared from the rooftops April 4 when So Happy, a son of Runhappy campaigned by the Marons in partnership with Norman Stables, added another top-level triumph to Glatt's résumé when he rolled to a 2 3/4-length victory in the Santa Anita Derby, cementing the colt's place in one of the 20 coveted slots in the Kentucky Derby starting gate. "I've had a tremendous amount of support. Each year we try and improve with clients who have gone to the sales and really stepped up to try and get better-quality animals," Glatt said. "We work hard at it, my crew and I. We just try and do the best we can. And we have had some recent success. "I've been in this. My dad was a horse trainer. I grew up in the Northwest, and you dream of getting to the Derby," he continued. "You dream of winning the Derby. At that young of an age, it's just a dream. But things progressed and my career kind of took off and now here we are." Glatt's progression has been a direct result of his deliberate action and thoughtful insight into how to spot and unearth future standouts. His eye for horseflesh and less obvious intangibles have served Glatt and his clients well the past several years as So Happy, Collusion Illusion, and Dr. Venkman were all horses he purchased for $300,000 or less during their respective turns at public auctions. He is not afraid to take a chance on a less-than-commercial pedigree if what he sees physically jumps off the screen, a trait that not only helped him secure his Derby prospect but earned the respect of the owners who have come to regard him as an extended part of their clan. When the Marons decided to break off from syndicates and branch out on their own in terms of racehorse ownership, Hans came to his wife with whom he believed was the ideal trainer to help deliver the aspirations they held. He had followed Glatt's career dating back to his father's training days and knew their charges would get the individual attention needed to suit their development. "He's a very outside thinker," Hans Maron said of Glatt. "He kind of keeps to his own self. But, you know, he's always contemplating, 'OK, what can I do with this horse to make him a better horse?' He treats each horse as an individual, instead of just having this program of 'Oh, we work every eight days, and this is how we do it.' He's regimented, but when a horse doesn't respond to it, he's very quick to catch it and make a change." The only concern Ana expressed at the time was the fact that, well, their new conditioner didn't always seem outwardly so happy, so to speak—something she would soon discover was a cool cover for an individual who led with warmth. "One day Hans comes back and says, 'I found my California trainer' and I go 'Who?' and he says 'Mark Glatt' and my reaction was 'Him? The guy who never smiles?'" Ana laughed. "I've told this to Mark several times and he laughs all the time. He's actually a big teddy bear. He just seems so focused. He watches what he says because things can be misconstrued, he knows that very well. But it was so fun because we've grown to know him, he's part of our family. But that's how much Hans trusted Mark. He watched his career and his dad's to where of all the trainers, he wanted Mark to be our trainer." The Marons' faith in Glatt's ability was on display when the son of Runhappy the trainer purchased for $150,000 at the 2025 Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale wasn't exactly raising eyebrows during his early training. Before he became known to the racing community as a multiple graded stakes winner and Kentucky Derby contender, So Happy was getting outworked last summer by a barnmate named Essos, who had been a more fashionable $475,000 purchase for the Marons. The two colts ended up debuting in the same race at Del Mar last November, which is when So Happy first flaunted the on/off switch he boasts when it comes to his morning and afternoon activities. Dismissed by the betting public at 38-1, the bright bay colt bred in Kentucky by Leverett Miller put in a sustained bid under Racing Hall of Famer Mike Smith to prevail by three-quarters of a length while his stablemate finished off the board. When he made his sophomore debut in early January in the San Vicente Stakes (G2), So Happy again demonstrated his tactical ability when he bested the well-regarded Buetane by 2 lengths. Smith has stayed aboard for all four of So Happy's starts. "He just got better and better," Hans said of his colt. "He's never been a great worker. We knew he was competitive; we just didn't know at what level. He works with the blinkers on but when we took the blinkers off for the race, you could tell. It's race day." "He really doesn't give us any trouble," Glatt added. "He's real professional, especially on race day. I don't know if I've ever had a horse that was as lackadaisical in the morning that turns it on like he does in the afternoon. He's just night-and-day difference. Other than being a little lackadaisical in the morning in just regular training, he does everything right, this horse." On the heels of a third-place finish in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) March 7, So Happy didn't miss a beat coming into the Santa Anita Derby and looked every bit on top of his game with Smith again at the helm when he rolled past race favorite Potente en route to his third win in four career starts. The emotions that spilled forth told onlookers there was something deeper at play that day than just securing a trip to Louisville, Ky. A Tremendous Loss On Feb. 12, Glatt's world changed in a manner that throws a giant heap of perspective onto whatever result may come down on the first Saturday in May. That day, his wife Dena at the too young age of 57 died suddenly because of heart failure. Hence, in the aftermath of the Santa Anita Derby triumph, Glatt's normally stoic facade couldn't hold back the wash of emotions that came with reaching a career-high moment without his biggest supporter by his side. "I absolutely think she's above and pushing us through this and, hopefully, enjoying the ride along with us," Glatt said of Dena. "She would be very happy for me and all the hard work. She'd be happy for all the connections. I think she'd be very proud of an accomplishment like this, so we're still together, even if it's just in spirit." Hans Maron agreed that Dena will be with them on Kentucky Derby day. Fielding questions about a very raw and recent trauma is an exercise in grace none should be asked to endure, yet Glatt has handled the expected inquiries with an uncommon amount of decorum given the size of the wound. While no salves exist to fully address such hurt, he is grateful to have some key assistance when it comes to navigating his new reality. "They're owners, but they've become close personal friends," Glatt said of the Marons. "And they've been right by my side through some personal tragedies here of late that everyone's aware of. You just can't replace that kind of support and friendship. So, you know, we run a business together, but I think it's fair to say that our friendship goes much further than the business part of it." Letting his mind entertain the possibility of a classic win is an exercise every horseman in this position engages in, but Glatt never chased his current place in the Kentucky Derby spotlight. He has followed the old school adage of letting his horses take him into higher and higher stratospheres. When he makes the walkover Saturday, it will be the latest milestone in a career that is piling up new markers of success in rapid succession. He will be in a spotlight many of his brethren will never get the chance to experience with a contender boasting credentials as impressive as any in the field. Outwardly, Glatt will aim to maintain his unflustered decorum, because, after all, the layers of sentiment that have undoubtedly gathered in his being aren't ones even the most eloquent of words could properly express. "We're all really trying to focus on the moment," Ana said. "As much as there is that sadness, we can't get these moments back, this week and a half. So, he's getting excited, we are, Mike Smith, his story is incredible. So, everything that makes up the story is what we're trying to stay focused on. We're all looking forward to the days ahead."