Steve Johnson

Steve Johnson is the TOBA August Member of the Month.

As a Thoroughbred industry veteran and cornerstone of historic Margaux Farm, Steve Johnson has seen some good ones—from Tank’s Prospect to Captain Bodgit—come and go. Recently, one runner, bred in the name of his Silver Springs Stud in Paris, Kentucky, has propelled him to new heights. Already a grade 2 winner, Casa Creed has hit his best stride at the age of five. This spring, he reeled off back-to-back black-type wins at Belmont Park, which came in the April 24 Elusive Quality Stakes and the June 5 Jackpocket Jaipur Stakes (G1T).

Johnson got to know Casa Creed’s dam, Achalaya, when she was owned by Margaux. By Bellamy Road out of four-time graded stakes winner Wild Heart Dancing, Achalaya caught his eye. “She’s a proper mare,” said Johnson. “She’s the kind of mare you look for physically and attitudinally, and the only thing was her pedigree wasn’t all that fashionable. But in terms of physicality, she had it all.” Johnson chose to breed Achalaya to young Spendthrift Farm stud Jimmy Creed. “I just loved his pedigree,” he enthused of the speedy stallion. “You look at what he’s got; he’s all Mr. Prospector and he’s all Northern Dancer. And look at all the Native Dancer that’s in there.”

Johnson has maintained a productive partnership with Spendthrift and its general manager, Ned Toffey. “What Spendthrift was doing at the time, with all their Share the Upsides, and Mr. [B. Wayne] Hughes trying to give the small breeders every opportunity—and Jimmy Creed was not in the Share the Upside,” he said. Johnson also noted that Hughes’ programs have created “a real incentive to participate with them and all of their horses, and we’ve bred to pretty much every one of their horses over the years.”

After Achalaya produced her Jimmy Creed colt, Johnson let him go. “I mean, he was just a nice, solid, good-looking horse. He was a good-looking foal, a lot of bone; he’s correct, good muscle,” he recalled. The bay youngster was sent to the OBS Winter 2017 Mixed sale, where he fetched $15,000 from Amalio Ruiz-Lozano. Consigned to that fall’s Keeneland September Yearling sale, Casa Creed sold for $105,000 to LRE Racing, who currently campaigns him with JEH Racing Stable LLC.

Casa Creed was a breakout at three, tallying the 2019 Kitten’s Joy Stakes at the top of the year and adding the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T) over the summer. After failing to win in 2020, he has rebounded in fine fashion in 2021. Casa Creed has won five of 20 career starts and tallied $755,408. Johnson has kept tabs on Casa Creed over the years. “I watch his works,” he said, “and Bill [Mott] is a hell of a trainer. And I just watch and see what he does, and he can sure get it out of him on the grass.”

Staying up to date on the horse also means excitedly watching his latest win. “It’s a wonder I didn’t break the sofa,” Johnson exclaimed. “I was here at home. That’s why we’re in the game; that’s why we continue to do what we started doing 40 years ago. That’s the passion; that’s our life; that’s who we are, so yeah, did I watch it? Yes, of course.”

Johnson branched out with Silver Springs, which derived its name from its top-quality water source, nearly a decade ago. The Paris nursery has gained a reputation over the years as a top-quality training facility. Its recent graduates include stakes winners Lucky Polly and Firstmate. Now, Silver Springs serves as a place to nourish and develop broodmares and youngsters.

Recently, Johnson has re-teamed with his son Erik, Matt Bowling, and Kevin Noltemeyer to expand Silver Springs. “We’ve put together a real team, a real good team of members, and it’s going really well,” Johnson said. The four men leased out Spendthrift Farm Training Center, located on the site of the former Bwamazon Farm, and renovated some of the property, including the six-furlong training track. In 2019, Silver Springs Training Center was launched.

Johnson cited three key elements to a successful Thoroughbred operation: good soil, an ample supply of good water, and good horsemanship. With a prime piece of real estate, a ready source of H2O, and some of the best equestrians Kentucky has to offer, he is practicing what he preaches, all the way to the winner’s circle.