After loading Carl Spackler  and Chili Flag  onto the van for this year’s Breeders’ Cup, Bentley Combs departed the barn of Chad Brown to set up his solo training operation once more after working as an assistant since last March. He will saddle his first starter back, City of Clouds , Nov. 15 at Churchill Downs. Prior to his time with Brown, Combs ran his own barn from 2017 to early 2024 after working his way up to assistant trainer for Dallas Stewart with horses that included Forever Unbridled, Tom’s Ready, and Unbridled Forever.  

He racked up several achievements following his first career victory in 2017. Combs holds a record three consecutive wins in Oaklawn Park‘s Trail’s End and was Oaklawn leading trainer in 2023 by percentage. Botswana , acquired off the claim for $30K, achieved graded stakes-placed status in the Fair Grounds Stakes (G3T). Original Intent , claimed for $8,000, won the Trail’s End in 2021 and 2022, and capped off his career placing in the Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. 

After those successes and earning 54 career wins, an opportunity to run Brown’s Kentucky-based string presented itself last spring.  

“At the time, I felt like there was more to learn, and running Chad’s barn was a chance to raise my level of knowledge working with so many top-level horses and owners,” said Combs. 

Combs especially appreciated learning from a trainer known for great success on the turf as well as dirt.  

“If you’re not looking to grow and learn in every situation, you won’t improve and you won’t succeed. Working with an Eclipse Award-winning trainer really helped me and I’m grateful for that opportunity,” he said.  

He and his wife, Kaela, whom he married in December 2022, are expecting their first child in January, which makes the move even more timely for the 36-year-old. The growing purses in Kentucky certainly didn’t hurt the decision to stay in the Commonwealth.      

Combs’ short-term plan includes starting off slowly acquiring horses off the claim. But he will also be on hand with clients at the upcoming Keeneland Horses of Racing Age sale with an eye to adding to his stable. His long-term vision includes a diverse barn, with 2-year-olds to arrive next spring, where he can put his training philosophy into action once again.  

“I believe every horse is a unique individual,” he said. “I believe in custom-tailoring a program to each one and I have had success doing just that.”   

Combs is currently based at Churchill Downs’ Trackside Training Center. 

This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.