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Don Chatlos
Top Associated Horses:Shaggy Mane,
Ooh Yeah,
Stellina,
Tsetse Fly,
Polyhymnia,
Tri Set Slew
2007 Record: (24-1-1-0)
2007 Earnings: $284,228
2007 Win %: 4% In-The-Money %: 8%
Born: Oct. 22, 1965, Chicago, Ill.
Residence: Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Family: Single
Racing Background: Chatlos is a second-generation horseman following his father and three uncles into the sport ... As a trainer's son, he naturally learned the business from the ground up, mucking stalls, hotwalking, grooming and as an assistant ... Came to Southern California in 1987 to attend San Diego State University ... The racetrack beckoned, in this case Del Mar, where he first worked as a groom for trainer Jude Feld and then worked in the John Sadler stable ... He went back to classroom work until the next summer rolled around and he could once again hook up with the Sadler outfit ... As it became harder each summer to watch the horses and Sadler leave Del Mar, Chatlos decided to cast his lot with Sadler as an assistant trainer ... "School was fine," Chatlos says, "but I always knew I wanted to be with the horses, so it was easy for me to make the change."
Racing Career: After five years with Sadler, he tried it on his own for about a year and a half. Though he won the Flag Is Up Handicap with the first horse he saddled, he says, "I never had the stock to be very successful." ... He joined trainer Ron Ellis as an assistant for four years, 1997-2001, before going out on his own again, this time with success ... When Little Red Feather launched its racing syndicate in 2002 with one horse, Chatlos was hired as their trainer. The biggest success by far for that operation was Singletary, winner of the 2004 Breeders' Cup Mile. Chatlos conditioned the colt, named after the Chicago Bears linebacker, to multiple graded stakes wins at Bay Meadows, Santa Anita and Del Mar ... Singletary, his only previous Breeders' Cup starter, failed to defend his title by finishing eighth the following year ... Chatlos got Shaggy Mane in 2006 from Lloyd Mason's Northern California barn. "Mike Iavarone of IEAH Stables purchased her with the Breeders' Cup in mind," he said. "Jim Kwong claimed her for $12,500, and he still owns a piece of her. The plan was to point for three races – the Sunshine Millions (which she won), the Princess Rooney (in which she finished second), and the Breeders' Cup (Filly & Mare Sprint, where she finished seventh)." ... Chatlos seemed to have fallen on hard times in 2008 when he was suspended by the Hollywood Park board of stewards for failing to appear at a hearing regarding a financial obligation. His last starter was Earle's First Girl at Santa Anita on March 17.
NOTE: Bio stats include North American and selected international races. Click here to view selected international race list. Biographies on jockeys, trainers and owners are from the Breeders' Cup World Championships events from 2001 through 2009, and are intended as informational resources. Biographies will be updated if an individual is again a participant in the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Biographies are available for most horses appearing in the top 100 money earnings list, and/or for those who are frequently making headlines in the news starting with the 2006 Triple Crown season.
