Neil Pessin Lands Assistant Trainer Position With Michelle Nihei Barn

[Wandering Eyes]

Neil Pessin, who abruptly left the training business in mid-May, has landed a new position as an assistant to trainer Michelle Nihei on the Kentucky circuit, the conditioner confirmed Thursday.

The conditioner of Grade I winner Bell's the One (Majesticperfection), Pessin saddled his final runner at Keeneland at the end of April and took some time to sell of some of his tack and other gear. But Pessin admits that sitting idly by isn't something he does especially well, and he ultimately accepted an offer from Nihei to oversee a string of about 10 horses at Churchill's Trackside training center around the beginning of June.

“I had a few people ask to evaluate horses for them, but that took about 30 minutes and I found I still had 23 hours and 30 minutes to kill,” Pessin quipped. “A few people asked about going to work for them, but Michelle made me a good offer and what's especially nice is that I will get to winter in New Orleans, so it all made sense.”

Pessin has long spent the winter months at the Fair Grounds.

The conditioner has made the two-hour journey across to Ellis Park with the odd Nihei entrant and he said that plans remain for the barn to remain at Trackside or the track proper, depending on the acceptance and approval of their stall application.

Pessin anticipates that the size of the barn will increase beginning in 2026.

“Michelle has about 30 horses at present, but her husband, Tony, is putting together a group of investors to buy horses of all ages,” Pessin said. “They have about 30 yearlings turning right now, and they also buy horses of racing age and breeding stock.”

Pessin admits that it's nice to 'be back.'

The work thing is overrated,” he said with a chuckle, “but it does feel good to be back doing something with the horses instead of just sitting around. I do like what I'm doing and eventually we'll have maybe double the horses that we have now, so looking forward to that.”

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