by Frank Angst

Trainer Michael Matz walked out of Barn 42 on the Churchill Downs backstretch Wednesday morning where five reporters and cameramen had gathered to ask him a few questions about Kentucky Derby (G1) contender Visionaire.

Matz has settled into a quieter week of Derby preparation this year, compared to 2006 when he saddled undefeated Florida Derby (G1) winner Barbaro, who secured a 6 1/2-length victory in Matz’s first Derby try.

“I don’t mind flying under the radar,” Matz said with a wide smile. “It’s great to be back. Any time you have a horse who can earn one of the 20 spots in the Derby, it’s a great feeling.”

The soft-spoken Matz adjusted to the months of interviews following Barbaro’s Derby win, Preakness Stakes (G1) injury, surgery, recovery efforts, and eventual death after complications from laminitis. Matz said the questions are still frequent but he does not mind.

“He was a great horse and you just think about the good times,” Matz said. “I still hear so many things about him and people still surprise me. I just got a call [Tuesday] to remind me that it was Barbaro’s birthday.”

Last year, Matz just missed a second-straight trip to the Derby when Chelokee failed to secure enough graded stakes earnings to gain a spot in the field.

Visionaire won the Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct on March 8 before finishing fifth in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) on April 12 at Keeneland Race Course. While Matz thought Visionaire handled the Keeneland Polytrack, he thought Visionaire’s closing kick was compromised by slow fractions.

“We know they won’t go a half in :49 on Saturday [the Blue Grass fraction] so that should help him,” Matz said. “When you watch the end of the Blue Grass, he looks like the only horse making a move.”

Matz and owners Team Valor International and Vision Racing picked up some good news Wednesday when Visionaire was given the first post position selection. Selections were made Wednesday evening.

Frank Angst is senior writer of Thoroughbred Times