Al Stall Jr.

Al Stall Jr.

Born: Oct. 10, 1961

Birthplace: New Orleans, La.

Family: Wife Nicole; Children Albert III and Greta

• Stall grew up in a racing family. His father and his grandfather were breeders and owners. His father, Albert M. Stall, also a member of the Fair Grounds’ Hall of Fame, was chairman of the Louisiana Racing Commission for 28 years until retiring in 2004.As a youngster, he worked with race horses at tracks throughout his teenage years during school vacations and while he was a college student. Among his employers were Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg and longtime Claiborne trainer Frank Brothers.
• Took over the reins as trainer for the legendary Claiborne Farm when Brothers retired.
• Reached a career pinnacle at the 2010 Breeders’ Cup when he sent out Blame to beat the then-undefeated Zenyatta by a head in the $5 million Classic. Blame, owned by Claiborne and Adele Dilschneider, was named champion male for the year.
• Stall had an impressive run of longevity with gritty stable favorite Star Guitar, Louisiana’s Horse of the Year for three consecutive years. The all-time leading Louisiana-bred money winner was retired in August 2012 at age 7. He compiled a record of 24 wins in 30 starts, including 22 stakes in his home state, and earnings of $1,749,862.
• The trainer’s first big horse on the national level was the Grade 1-winning turf star Joyeux Danseur, who won the 1998 Early Times Turf Classic (G1) and the Explosive Bid Handicap (G3).
• Has a string of horses at Oaklawn for the first time with assistant Glenn Brookfield. Among their best local horses is American Beauty Stakes winner Cheery, who is targeting the April 11 $100,000 Carousel Stakes.