by MICHAEL COMPTON

Alex Trebek prides himself on possessing a cautious nature. He speaks slowly, yet with the authority and confidence reserved only for those accustomed to winning.

After a mere few moments with the 58-year-old host of television’s popular Jeopardy! gameshow, it is clear Trebek is a winner. If the 32 million loyal viewers of Jeopardy are not enough testament to Trebek’s ability to cultivate a following, one look at his recently acquired 700-acre Creston Farms, formerly Cardiff Stud Farms, near Paso Robles, is a sure clincher.

When discussing the scope of what he hopes to accomplish in the Thoroughbred industry, Trebek sprinkles his dialogue with such purposeful words as goals, statements and missions.

California’s newest big hitter in a high stakes game, Trebek is unlike most in the Thoroughbred business in that he is not fulfilling a lifelong dream. Nor is it the thrill of simply participating in the Sport of Kings that fuels Trebek’s drive.

Admittedly, he is not just another Hollywood celebrity lured to the industry by the glamour and fanfare associated with Turf Clubs and winner’s circles. It is the challenge, or mission as he says, of developing Creston Farms into California’s premier full-service Thoroughbred facility that makes the time and herculean effort worthwhile.

Trebek’s mission, however, does not end there. He wants to send a message to California’s breeders: "Quality begets quality; and quality equals money."

"There seems to be almost a cavalier attitude amongst breeders here in California," Trebek said from his farm office overlooking the ranch on a cold December morning. "It is our goal to bring in quality stallions that will attract quality mares. It is our mission to do what we can at Creston Farms to improve California’s breeding program. We want to make a statement, but we want it to be the right statement.

"We need to rid ourselves of the rugged individualist when it comes to making breeding decisions in this state," he continued. "When we are planning matings and purchasing stallions we need to think about what is best for the industry. Before we can expect to draw quality mares from around the country, California has to prove itself as a state that produces quality."

Although Trebek has only been active in the Thoroughbred industry for a little over a year now, the Canadian native is a quick study. With a team of advisers that includes Laura Cotter and Rollin Baugh, and friends Robert Clay and Dan Rosenberg of Three Chimneys Farm in Lexington, Ky., Trebek has surrounded himself with veterans.

"I try to absorb everything I can," he said. "I read, I ask a lot of questions and I listen."

Squarely at the day-to-day helm of Creston’s operation is farm manager Art Mercado. The son of a farm manager, Mercado boasts a wealth of industry experience. While employed at D. Wayne Lukas’ Westerly Stud Farm in Santa Ynez, Mercado looked after some of the best racehorses ever to step foot on a racetrack, including national champions Serena’s Song, Timber Country and Flanders. Mercado also served two stints with Cotter at Mandysland Farm before stepping into his current role at Creston.

"I interviewed four people for the farm manager position," Trebek related. "It was clear to me that Art was the right man for the job. I still feel that way. Art understands this is a business, but he also takes into account the emotional nature of the industry when dealing with clients."

Mercado celebrated his one-year anniversary at Creston last December. Since taking over the management reigns of a facility in terrible disrepair, he has spearheaded a host of on-going refurbishments–all with the safety of Creston’s tenants in mind and with the idea of returning the grounds to the lofty stature it once enjoyed and richly deserved.

The training barn was entirely redone with Centaur rubberized flooring and protective wall padding was added to each stall. The five-eighths-mile training track was completely resurfaced and a new outside safety rail was installed. A new irrigation system was also put in place last fall and pastures and paddocks were reconditioned and re-seeded.

"We have installed 18 miles of new fencing already," Mercado said, "and we’re still going. We have given attention to stalls in all the barns and have fully updated our foaling barn in preparation for the breeding season. We want our facility to reflect our dedication to quality care."

Currently, Mercado says there are a little more than 100 head on the property, approximately 50 of which are mares and mares in foal and around 25 horses in training and lay-ups that reside in the training barn. Former jockey turned trainer Otto Draper oversees Creston’s training division. On this morning, Draper was putting Joan Hadley’s California-bred stakes winner Oncefortheroad through his paces in preparation for a comeback.

"We’ve sent horses back to the track recently that were only a couple weeks away from a start," said Draper, who is also in charge of breaking Creston’s horses. "We send them back fit and ready."

Mercado said Creston tailors its training program to meet the needs of what the racetrack trainers want.

"We believe in communication and developing relationships with the trainers we work with," he said. "They’ll share with us what they want with a specific horse and we’ll prepare it along those lines."

While Draper and assistant Rudy Romero handle the training duties, the farm’s newly assembled stallion roster is certain to keep stallion manager Joe Tevis busy this season. Topping the stakes-caliber offering is Anziyan, who set the farm back a half-million dollars in 1998.

The royally bred stakes-placed son of Danzig–Razyana, by His Majesty, is a full brother to sire sensation Danehill and Eagle Eyed. Needless to say, the farm has high hopes for the charismatic bay who stands 16.1 hands. Anziyan will stand his first season at stud for $5,000 live foal.

The farm also purchased 90 percent of two Jan, Mace and Samantha Siegel stakes runners–Iron Cat and Thisnearlywasmine. Iron Cat is a 1995 son of Storm Cat produced from the graded stakes-winning Iron Constitution mare Miss Iron Smoke. Iron Cat is stakes-placed himself and will stand for $3,000 live foal. Thisnearlywasmine, who demonstrated blazing speed in his two stakes victories at ages three and four, is a son of Capote. Produced from the multiple graded stakes winner Stormy But Valid, Thisnearlywasmine won five of his 11 career appearances, earning $291,143. His stud fee has been set at $2,500.

"He’s perfect for California," Mercado said of Thisnearlywasmine as Trebek and his seven-year-old son, Matt, fed the feisty stallion carrots. "He was all speed. I expect him to do well here."

Both Iron Cat and Thisnearlywasmine stand as the property of Creston Farms and the Siegels.

  Cromwell is another young sire with a fashionable pedigree. The son of A.P. Indy out of the Mr. Prospector mare Rapping, was stakes-placed in a racing career that saw him win four of 12 starts for owners Robert and Beverly Lewis of Silver Charm fame. He stands for $2,000.

  Creston is also the new home of Robert and Barbara Walter’s three stallions–Slewvescent, Robannier and Cost Conscious. Slewvescent, a son of Seattle Slew–Our Mims, by Herbager, is the sire of current California stakes winners Lazy Slusan and Kraal, as well as the graded stakes-placed Reign on Rainer. Slewvescent stands for $2,500 live foal, while Robannier, a son of Batonnier, and Cost Conscious, by Believe It, both stand for $1,000.

  Rounding out the stallion line-up is Falstaff. Consistently among the state’s leading sires, Falstaff, by Lyphard–Ivornia, by Sir Ivor, is the sire of stakes winners Apollo, Oncefortheroad and Nanetta. Property of Eclipse Investments, Falstaff stands for $3,500 live foal.

"You couldn’t ask for better bloodlines in a stallion roster," Mercado said. "We have some solid, black-type mares already booked to Anziyan, and our other stallions are beginning to attract attention as well. When you work with nice horses it makes all the difference in the world."

With eight well-bred stallions tearing down their stalls, Trebek is a little nervous as the farm’s first breeding season approaches.

"I’m scared," Trebek admitted, displaying a hint of trepidation. "I’ve never been through one before, so I’m not quite sure what to expect. But we are hoping for good things from our stallions. They’re good looking, well-conformed and come from top families. We’ll have to wait and see."

A resident of Studio City, Trebek hopes to spend an ample amount of time at the farm–as sort of a retreat for wife, Jean, daughter, Emily, age 5, and son, Matt. He has redesigned the farm’s main office to include living and guest quarters for the family and overnight visitors.

"This is beautiful land," said Trebek, who also owns Creston Vineyards not far from his Thoroughbred ranch. "I have always liked property. When the Sahadi family decided not to renew their lease here I had basically inherited a horse farm. And while I had appreciated horses most of my life, it was never to the extent it is now. My appreciation is growing all the time."

Both Trebek and Mercado believe their best pursuit of new business is in performing at the top of their game for their existing clientele.

"I don’t believe we’ve let anyone down yet," Trebek said. "We take pride in our work and our goal is to offer our clients the best possible chance for success."

Though most of the horses at Creston belong to outside clients, Trebek owns a handful of broodmares and has a 2-year-old Twining colt in training at the ranch. The name he has submitted for the colt to the Jockey Club is Mattman, named for his son.

"Alex actually had a dream about Mattman," Mercado joked. "He dreamt Mattman won the Kentucky Derby."

"He not only won the Derby," Trebek chimed in, "he swept the Triple Crown and we won the $5 million Visa bonus. Then he retired to stud here at Creston and the rest is history."

It is the dreams of success in the Thoroughbred industry that propel breeders and owners onward in a business that is painstakingly trying of patience and emotions. It is the hope that tomorrow’s champions are romping in their pastures that keep those with iron wills striving for the top.

While Trebek’s dream of Mattman capturing this country’s most prestigious racing event underneath the historical Twin Spires is just that–a dream–Trebek acknowledges the balance of hope and solid business sense that are required to succeed in any arena.

"The Thoroughbred industry is a business of heart and head," Trebek said firmly. "You will not succeed if you think only with your heart."

Whether or not Mattman finds his way to the coveted winner’s circle at Churchill Downs remains to be seen. But, armed with a cautious nature, an experienced supporting cast, and a mission, one thing is certain: Trebek is likely to orchestrate some, if not all, of Creston’s dreams through to fruition.