Fired Trainer Gets Temporary Control of Val’s Prince

A judge sent three feuding horse owners to the back of the barn Thursday, temporarily naming Jimmy Picou, the fired trainer of Val’s Prince, as the manager of the 7-year-old gelding going into Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup.

At the end of a two-day court hearing in Ocala, Fla., Judge Victor Mulsek chose Picou over Steve Weiner, Robin Martin and Dale Smallwood, who don’t get along. Weiner and Martin, an estranged couple, have been the horse’s owners in a 50-50 partnership, with Weiner the managing partner. But Smallwood has sued them, claiming that ownership should revert to him.

Val’s Prince, who has earned $2 million, will be one of the favorites in the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Picou trained Val’s Prince from 1997 until August, when Weiner, without Martin’s knowledge, fired him and turned the horse over to James Bond. Under Bond, Val’s Prince is undefeated in two starts.

Picou, who plans to fly from New York to Florida in time to be at Gulfstream this morning, said Thursday that he’s undecided about what to do. Asked if he, and not Bond, might saddle Val’s Prince on Saturday, Picou said:

“I don’t know. I’d love to do that, naturally. My heart says yes, but my judgment says beware.”

If Val’s Prince earns any money in the race, the purse will be put into escrow until Smallwood’s suit is resolved. Weiner’s attorney was reportedly in an appellate court in Daytona Beach, Fla., late Thursday, seeking a stay of Mulsek’s ruling.