Better Talk Now

Better Talk Now

1999, Talkin Man - Bendita, by Be a Native

Breeder: Wimborne Farm (Ky.)

Owner: Bushwood Stables

Trainer: Graham Motion

Regular Rider: Ramon Dominguez

Pedigree

Better Talk Now
Talkin Man
Bendita
With Approval
Pookette
Baldski
Bonne Note (FR)
Caro (IRE)
Passing Mood
Miswaki
Pensioner
Nijinsky II
Too Bald
Bon Mot (FR)
Mandolina

Purchase Info

Better Talk Now was purchased privately by current owner Bushwood Stables after winning a maiden race on turf on July 6, 2002.

Pedigree Highlights

Talkin Man, who stands at stud in Ireland, was the 1994 Canadian champion two-year-old and in 1995 won the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) and Gotham Stakes (G2).

Dam Bendita is a stakes-placed winner whose six foals to race to date are all winners.

In addition to Better Talk Now she is also the dam of stakes winner B. A. Way, by Lasting Approval, who was Grade 2 placed.

Her Defensive Play filly Beat the Play was a winner and Grade 3 placed.

Race Record

AgeStarts1st2nd3rdEarnings 
75210$931,064
84101$499,647
94001$63,500

At 7: 1– Comp USA Dixie S. (G2), Sky Classic S. (G2), 2– John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (G1)

At 8: 1– Manhattan H. (G1), 3– United Nations S. (G1)

At 9: 3– Man o' War S. (G1)

Last Start

Third in United Nations S. (G1) on July 7 at Monmouth

Contender Status

Better Talk Now was forced to scratch out of the Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (G1) on August 11 at Saratoga Race Course due to a puncture wound to his left front ankle.

Trainer Graham Motion had been eyeing either the Sky Classic Stakes (Can-G2) on September 23 st Woodbine or the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1) on September 29 at Belmont Park, but Better Talk Now has been body sore prompting Motion to consider training him up to the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (G1).

"We're very happy the way he's trained that last month," Motion said a few days prior to the Breeders' Cup. "I think [the layoff] benefits him. I think it's a blessing in disguise, because I've never seen him better than he is right now."

Better Talk Now will be making his fourth appearance in the Breeders' Cup Turf. He won the event in 2004, was seventh in 2005, and finished second last year to Red Rocks (Ire).

Recent Works

October 22 - Six furlongs breezing in 1:13.00 at Fair Hill Training Center, dirt training track fast. Best of two workouts at the distance.

October 15 - Seven furlongs breezing in 1:27.00 at Fair Hill Training Center, all-weather track fast. Best of two workouts at the distance.

October 8 - Seven furlongs breezing in 1:29.00 at Fair Hill Training Center, all-weather track fast. Best of two workouts at the distance.

September 30 - Five furlongs breezing in 1:02.00 at Fair Hill Training Center, all-weather training track fast. Best of two workouts at the distance.

Quotable

Trainer H. Graham Motion on the eight-year-old Better Talk Now:

"I've been saying all along that the horse is still competing at the same level he was two or three years ago. I can't say how fortunate I am to train a horse like him; not just for his accomplishments, but for all the places we've been and friends we've made through him. He's an amazing horse."