Jason McCutchen owns and operates McCutchen Coaching Middle in Kingstree, S.C., alongside his father, R.B. “Bobby” McCutchen. They provide breaking, coaching, layups, swimming, and gross sales session.

Jason has a eager eye for horseflesh; not solely can he pick a high quality racehorse, however he can do it for a modest value. He bought Vodka With a Twist  for simply $2,500 at Fasig-Tipton’s October Yearlings Sale in 2023. The daughter of Thousand Phrases   is entered within the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Vodka With a Twist was bred in Kentucky by Pillar Property Providers. She has two wins from 5 begins and a bankroll of $299,320. Most just lately, she completed a detailed second within the Debutante Stakes (G1) at Del Mar.

Different stakes winners bought by McCutchen embrace Conagher , Vodka N Water , and Rustler .

Jason McCutchen: I had gotten as much as as many as 80 at one time. It simply received to the purpose the place we did not need to do this many. Every part’s performed by my father, Bobby McCutchen, and I. Within the final couple of years, stuff has gone into my title. However, he and I speak eight to 10 occasions a day. We’re as one; it is only a family-owned coaching heart in South Carolina. 

BH: What initially drew you to Vodka With a Twist as a yearling?

JM: What we search for after we come to the gross sales is a horse that we do not suppose is a totally completed horse. The filly regarded good; she was very athletic, very appropriate. Being by a first-year sire (Thousand Phrases), we pay a whole lot of consideration to these due to our funds. We will not chase the Justifys and Uncle Mos. She was simply extraordinarily athletic, however you would nonetheless see she had a great bit extra development to go. 

She had a beautiful stroll, she was simply such a fairly filly. And, nothing in opposition to her, and anybody who raised her or consigned her by any means, as a result of she was very fleshy, however her hair was a little bit uninteresting, little flat. Even once I shipped her in to Keeneland, I wasn’t ecstatic about it. However, some horses simply change at a special price of time. I want to take a look at a horse and see what it appears to be like like six months from now. 

Some individuals say, ‘Oh, I knew she was going to be a runner from day one.’ I am not saying that, however her demeanor, the best way she carried out herself, and simply her presence, you all the time knew that there was one thing a little bit bit distinctive about her.

BH:  What was she like if you received her residence?

JM: She was a little bit tough to interrupt, and she or he’s nonetheless received her little quirks. Her quirks are what precipitated her to not run early within the meet at Keeneland. However, once I received her on the market, I knew when she left the coaching heart, she was a legit horse. After I received her on the market, I noticed some works out of her that made me nervous. I needed to do a whole lot of standing together with her. And in order that first day I ran her at Keeneland, and it was a salty, salty race, and she or he was flying however simply missed the break. I had stood her a lot; she simply wasn’t prepared for it. She did come out of the race nice.

I put her within the Racing Age Sale (Keeneland) on the finish of the meet, and I assumed the filly ought to convey north of 125,000-150,000, and when she did not, Carl McEntee, who’s a extremely good buddy of mine and I belief implicitly, consigned her within the sale. He stated, ‘Jason, we’re not getting what we would like, I recommend you’re taking her residence and run her.’ My dad and I mentioned it, and the filly had come out of the race so good, that I waited and entered her at Churchill Downs. And, it stated so much about her, as a result of I ran her, just a few days later she was within the sale, a pair weeks later, she went to Churchill. That was so much to ask, and she or he dealt with it so effectively. 

The day earlier than I ran her at Churchill, my father referred to as and stated, ‘You are in powerful, you suppose we must scratch this filly?’ And I stated, ‘Dad, in the event that they outrun her tomorrow, I am coming residence. I imply, I simply received that a lot religion in her.’ He stated, ‘I will simply be pleased if we hit the board.’ When she broke like she did, I imply it was most likely the one time in my life, I can say, when she broke like she did, I used to be like that is over with. 

BH: Who bought her after her maiden win?

JM: Taylor Made (Medallion Racing) approached me about her. Alex Payne noticed her at Keeneland and fell in love together with her.  And as quickly as she ran, he referred to as me and stated, ‘What’s it going to take?’ And, we got here up with a quantity. It labored out effectively for us. When Alex picked her up, he stated, ‘We’ll the Breeders’ Cup!’

I feel the connections that purchased her, they have to be pleased with what they paid for her and what they have been in a position to do. The sky is the restrict and it has been a enjoyable story. It has been a enjoyable trip for me, to pick a horse for $2,500 and go on and do this.

BH: Any regrets promoting her?

JM: By no means. I get folks that ask me that on a regular basis. Lots of buddies of mine, who do not actually know the enterprise, will say when are you going to run one within the Kentucky Derby? And, I inform them on a regular basis, most likely by no means. I am a home-type individual. I benefit from the racetrack, however I might reasonably be residence more often than not. And you understand that is what I am within the enterprise to do, purchase and promote them they usually go on to the subsequent individuals. 

Fortunately, for me, Phil D’Amato received her, and he is doing implausible proper now; clearly, a extremely good horseman. He is managed her so effectively, as a result of, like I stated, she does have her little quirks about her. 

BH: What are another stakes horses you’ve got bought?

JM: We had a horse named Conagher, who was second within the Iowa Derby. I purchased him right here (Fasig-Tipton October Yearlings Sale), for $9,000. He was a number of stakes-placed. I feel he made round $400,000. I had one other horse I solely paid a pair thousand for, named Rustler. He went on to win a stake (Carle Place Stakes at Belmont Park). 

Vodka N Water, I purchased at Keeneland for $3,500. He was an attractive particular person. I had his half brother, a horse named No Lemon No Lime.  

You are most likely questioning what’s with all of the drink names? Properly, No Lemon No Lime—I’ve received some buddies of mine, and we have been at Keeneland, and it received sort of late within the day, and we had received a drink. And, they have been teasing me, as a result of I drink Tito’s and water, no lemon, no lime. They have been giving me a match, and I stated the subsequent horse I purchase, that is what I am naming it. So, that is how that got here. 

So, then I ended up shopping for his brother, Vodka N Water. And, that was only a play off of the title. However after we purchased Vodka With a Twist, her mom’s title is Bourbon and a Kiss. So I used to be like you understand what? That is sort of a cute deal. 

That is truly how Alex (Payne) and I met, was via Vodka N Water. He contacted me after I ran him at Keeneland first outing. He was second, simply ran a monster race. I used to be in a position to purchase him for $3,500, as a result of (his sire) Fed Biz, on the time, no person was actually on prime of him. He went on to run second within the Bashford Manor. I hope this can be a connection that goes on for some time. 

BH: What are among the issues a horse should have with the intention to catch your eye?

JM: An athlete 100%. You already know, individuals are like, ‘Oh, he is a little bit offset within the knee’, however can he stroll via it? In case you can stroll via it, it is not an issue. Individuals need to get hung up on it. I’ve had some individuals include me to the gross sales just lately, and as quickly as they pull the horse out of the stall, they only need to see the horse stand, they usually sit there and take a look at it. I am simply the alternative. I need to see them stroll. If they will stroll, then I can get began to choosing at them. However, if they cannot stroll, I am unable to use them in any respect. I do not care, as a result of a whole lot of appropriate horses have dangerous walks. So, if she’s received a great stroll, and possibly a little bit toed out or offset right here or there, we have got room, and you understand we will nonetheless just like the horse. 

One other factor that is crucial is how a horse presents themselves. I store within the again ring, as a result of on race day, there’s so much occurring. That horse has received to conduct itself in a way that is skilled and might deal with the conditions. 

Vodka With a Twist and The Queens MG have been each within the sale (Fasig-Tipton October Yearlings Sale). She’s by Thousand Phrases as effectively. And we have been on each. Properly, a extremely good buddy of Mine (Karen Dennehy), was on her. We have been trying round at horses and stuff, and she or he fell in love together with her. We had already purchased Vodka (With a Twist), and being by Thousand Phrases and a first-year sire, we simply did not need to get into so much. And, I preferred her as effectively, however she simply dearly cherished her. 

We ended up not elevating our hand on her. Now hindsight’s 20/20, we want we’d have, however we cherished her as a person as effectively. They turned out to be tremendous good fillies. 

BH: What does it imply to you and your enterprise to have a horse you picked out working within the Breeders’ Cup World Championships?

JM: Having a horse you picked out, broke, and educated your self make it to the Breeders’ Cup could be very fulfilling. Understanding that my Dad and I collectively is an efficient group. He has taught me the whole lot I do know, and to get a horse like her from a small group of horses is much more satisfying. 

So far as the farm goes, hopefully it can increase some extra curiosity, however on the finish of the day, we’ve got all the time performed the issues the best way we do it, and that is by no means going to alter.