The secret to winning the Preakness was knowing when to relax and when to apply more pressure.
Teachers are hard on their students. They might be strict with their expectations of their students and frequently have a broad perspective.
However, they are also capable of leading with subtlety, understanding just which buttons to press and, perhaps more importantly, which ones to ignore.
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas has gained a lot of popularity by empowering people under his guidance, which is why he has earned the moniker "Coach" in addition to his experience coaching high school basketball.
On May 18, at Pimlico Race Course, Lukas won his sixth Preakness Stakes (G1) with Seize the Grey. His ability to know when to accelerate and when to relax was crucial.
"I don't get into the mechanics of riding so much, but I get into I want them to dedicate themselves beyond—I want (jockey Jaime Torres) to be better than he thinks he can be. I always push that to him. I'm going to push you," Lukas noted. "I want you to do more than you think you can do and I want you to be better than you think you can be. I want you to dedicate yourself."
As far as Lukas was concerned, Torres would have followed his instructions flawlessly, so he didn't want to "overcoach" him. On the horse that he won the Pat Day Mile Stakes (G2) with, Torres's instincts were instead trusted by coach Lukas.
It's true what they say about practising how you play, whether on a court or a track.
Lukas said he studies the horses in the morning, giving him a "feel for their motion and how they're getting over the ground."
"When you watch those races, it gets analytical for you," he stated. "You start thinking, 'Is he handling it pretty well? Is he getting over the ground like he normally does, or is he struggling?'"
Lukas got exactly what he was hoping for from his jockey and horse on Saturday at Pimlico.
After the victory on Saturday night, he and Robert W. Walden were tied for second place in the most Preakness wins. With eight, Bob Baffert is first.
But Saturday was not the day to brood over previous victories.
"The last one is always the sweetest. The last girl you dance with is the one you take home," remarked Lukas using phrasing typical for coaches.
Furthermore, he declined to downplay any of his prior Preakness victories, pointing out that each one was for a distinct owner—this one for MyRacehorse.
And there's the optimism, just like with every coach.
Lukas is planning several movements ahead of time even at the age of 88.
"We've got outstanding 2-year-olds. We are loaded next year, and I'm already looking forward to them," he noted. "I can't wait to get home and start breezing them. Watch out for Saratoga; we're going to be tough."