TRAINERS CAN'T GET IT DONE ALONE.

Byline: Jenine Sahadi Derby Diary

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - People talk about how I would be the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby. As if it's me, alone, who's getting The Deputy ready for the race.

There's no possible way I could do this alone. There is no one individual who does this.

My ``team'' here at Churchill Downs includes The Deputy's groom, Octavio Camargo, and his exercise rider, Manny Rotela. They've been here with me and the horse for three weeks. And I want to give credit to my assistant trainer, Isais Morfin, who decided to stay home because another of our big horses, Sweet Ludy, is running at Hollywood Park.

On a day like Tuesday, when The Deputy had his final workout before the Derby, Octavio would have started at about 4:30 in the morning to get him ready to go to the track. After the workout, which was fabulous, I could breathe a big sigh of relief. But Octavio still had a lot to do.

Only now, as I write at about 12:30 p.m., is Octavio taking his first breather of the day. Then he'll begin his afternoon routine. His day won't end until about 9:30. That's when the horse is put to bed.

Grooms do everything for the horses. They're companions and cooks. They're doctors and psychologists. They bathe the horses. They become so attached to the horses that their performances are a great source of pride.

I don't think Octavio slept the first three nights we were here. We didn't have a security guard yet, and Octavio was nervous. The way the barns are situated here, anybody could walk past and throw something in the feed tub.

These guys don't get the recognition they deserve. A few years ago, Hollywood Park management began awarding a new pickup truck to the groom of the Hollywood Gold Cup winner. But that's one racetrack - out of how many?

These guys live at the racetrack. I do wish there were better accommodations for them. I especially wish some improvements would be made back at home in the barn area at Santa Anita.

I'm one of the trainers who ``stake'' their barn employees. That is, I give them a small share of the race purses. The assistant trainer and the groom get 1 percent of winners' purses, and also 1 percent of second-and third-place purses in stakes. I have two exercise riders, and they split 1 percent.

Manny Rotela's son, Arnoldo, who's 16 or 17, works at my barn at Santa Anita on weekends. He loves The Deputy and the feeling seems to be mutual. The Deputy rubs his head on Arnoldo's shoulder. I bought Arnoldo a plane ticket and he's flying here to walk the horse on Friday and Saturday.

I try to give these guys everything they need so they'll keep working for me. That's just smart business practice. It's hard to find people who are as devoted to this as you need to be.

Chris McCarron, The Deputy's jockey, also stakes the barn employees. He's acknowledging their role in helping him win a race. A lot of riders do that. But a lot don't.

It's unbelievable that some horse owners won't pay $15 to buy a winner's circle photo for the groom.

I'm not saying I don't work hard. Training is a 365-days-a-year responsibility. But it's also a matter of being surrounded by great people who work hard too.