For Amoss, It's the Best of Both Worlds

Tom Amoss is pulling double duty these days at Arlington Park. He trains Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile contender Lone Star Sky, and he serves as an analyst on the "The Works," the popular daily program on the TV Games Network.

Though Amoss seems rather at ease in front of a camera, he still prefers training horses.

"It's a nice diversion for a little while," Amoss said of his gig with TVG. "My kids really like it. It's gotten to the point where I'm really comfortable with those guys. I'm the rookie, but it has been really enjoyable."

Walter New's Lone Star Sky, never worse than second in five starts, has been training at Churchill Downs. Amoss said the fact the colt will be equipped with blinkers for the first time stemmed from his tendency to be a bit lazy in the morning.

"The hope is blinkers will help him focus and give him a little more tactical speed," Amoss said. "At least that's the theory."

Lone Star Sky (Conquistador Cielo -- Ministrada, by Deputy Minister) loafed a bit in the lane but still won the Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes at River Downs, then came back to finish a good second behind undefeated Sky Mesa in the Lane's End Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. Both of those 1 1/16-mile races were around two turns.

The 1 1/8-mile distance of the Juvenile has its pros and cons. Amoss said it should provide a good barometer as to what next year may hold for some of the colts.

"You have to look at it from a philosophical perspective and take it from there," Amoss said. "What do you want the Breeders' Cup Juvenile to represent? Do you want it to represent next year's Kentucky Derby winners or not? You're not going to get 100% agreement."

Lone Star Sky is scheduled to breeze Oct. 22 at Churchill, then ship to Arlington the following day. Amoss, given his TVG experience, will be watching Lone Star Sky's move from a slightly different perspective.

"I'm going to be a bit nervous to see how his work is critiqued on the show," Amoss said.