OAK TREE : By Keeping the Faith, Mitchell Finds Both Success and Peace

No trainer has been hotter at Oak Tree than Mike Mitchell.

Despite Main’s Choice failure at 1-2 odds in the first race Wednesday, Mitchell has won with seven of his 12 starters at the meeting. He also has four thirds.

This streak comes on the heels of a Del Mar meeting in which he had seven winners in 25 opportunities.

Given his recent success, it seems hard to believe that in January, Mitchell was ready to quit training and become a jockey agent or get out of the business altogether. He was down to three horses.

“I was really looking to do something else,” Mitchell said Wednesday. “I love training horses, but it got to the point where I was really worried. I’m 44 and have a family (wife Denise and two daughters, ages 6 and 8). I didn’t want to be 64 and still be worried about what I was going to do.”

Holder of a trainer’s license since 1974, Mitchell had seen his business sour in recent years, even though he had been atop the trainer standings several times in the 1980s. He still holds the Oak Tree record for most victories in a season with 19 in 1983. He also topped the Del Mar standings in four consecutive meetings (1981-84).

Knowing Corey Nakatani was unhappy and sensing Alex Solis was about to make a change, Mitchell pursued both riders to become an agent.

“In January, I wasn’t trying to get any horses. I was really going after a rider,” he said. “I didn’t claim any horses, and I didn’t look at any horses. I was waiting for Corey to say ‘Let’s go to work.’ ”

Within months, Nakatani, Solis and Gary Stevens all changed agents. “I was disgusted,” Mitchell said.

He turned to his faith. “I’ve always been a Christian, but I wasn’t really that strong into it,” he said. “I was baptized on Easter Sunday, and it started changing my life. I got into prayer and going to church.

“In my prayers, I asked God to show me what he wanted me to do. I wasn’t supposed to be a jockey’s agent. Training horses is what God wants me to do. I’ve never been so happy. I love training horses and everything that goes along with it.

“The only thing I can credit (the turnaround) to is my faith, my belief and my prayers. By the start of Hollywood Park (in late April) I really started getting confidence and started feeling better about myself.

“I’ve never had such peace of mind since I’ve trained horses. I do like to win, but I’m not as focused on it like I used to be. I’m more focused on my faith and my family. Training horses isn’t my whole life now. I’m very happy.”

Mitchell’s success in recent months has earned him a couple of new clients, and he is looking to add to his stable. His barn was once about three times bigger than it is now.

“I’d love to expand,” he said. “(Training horses) is the only thing I do. I’d love to have 30 horses or more. If it comes, it comes. If God wants it to happen, it will happen.”

Trainer David Hofmans said Codified, who was impressive in winning his debut on Sunday, will make his next start in the seven-furlong Hollywood Prevue Nov. 14 at Hollywood Park.

A son of Lear Fan out of the stakes-winning mare Past Forgetting, Codified, a 2-year-old colt, beat maidens by seven lengths in his first start, covering six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 over an extremely slow track.

“He’s been strong from the beginning,” said Hofmans, who also trained Codified’s half-sister, What Has Been. “He was very professional (on Sunday). He broke a little slow, but he drew away from those horses. He’s done everything so easily.

“Paul Atkinson worked him (Oct. 5), and that was the first time we let him run at all, and he went (six furlongs) in 1:12.”

She’s Tops, third behind Bountiful Native and Devil’s Orchid as the 17-10 favorite in the Rancho Bernardo Breeders’ Cup Handicap Aug. 22 at Del Mar, will make her first start since then against seven rivals in the $51,675 Cascapedia Handicap at seven furlongs on Friday.

A 3-year-old daughter of Capote, She’s Tops upset Race The Wild Wind in the seven-furlong Railbird in May at Hollywood Park and has been off the board only once in seven sprints.

With Kent Desormeaux in Florida, David Flores will ride She’s Tops for trainer Richard Mandella. Also entered Wednesday morning were Brought To Mind, Bunka Bunka, La Charlatana, Spirited Susan, Covell, D’or Ruckus and Sheltered View.

Horse Racing Notes

Trainer Frank Olivares turned 43 Wednesday. . . . Pat Valenzuela is spending the week in Florida and won’t ride locally until Sunday. . . . Corey Black, who has spent most of the year riding in Europe, has returned to Southern California and plans on remaining here. He had two mounts Wednesday, is named on three today and has seven mounts on Friday’s program.