Off The Hook is the combination of Venezuelan trainer and horseman, Carlos Morales, and New York based entrepreneur and horse racing enthusiast, Joe Appelbaum. Since 2002, our principals have built an organization dedicated to the proper breeding, development and training of thoroughbred racehorses. We strive to send each horse to the racetrack with the foundation for lasting competitive excellence.

Carlos Morales is the son of a prominent trainer and breeder in Venezuela. In 1983, he graduated from the prestigious Venezuelan Academy of Thoroughbred Trainers and quickly shot to prominence. By 1993, he had won 860 races and was dominating the Venezuelan racing scene while winning seven consecutive training titles from 1987 through 1993.

With greater challenges in mind, Carlos arrived at Calder Race Course in 1995. He got off to a quick start with Stakes winners Lightning Al, Voyamerican and Templado. His run at Calder culminated with a training title in 1998 during the Tropical meeting. However, the highlight of his training career did not come until 2000 when Yankee Victor won the Grade I Metropolitan Mile.

Joe Appelbaum misspent his adolescence in the backyard of Belmont Park, chasing boxcar payoffs of the Daily Double and Pick 3. After graduating from Yale University in 1990, Joe became a college football coach. After coaching at five universities over a seven-year period, it became clear that August training camp was cutting into too much of the Saratoga meet. It was time to begin a new career. Over the next few years, Joe became President of Kids Interest Development Services Inc. and then founded Oasis Children’s Services LLC. These businesses have provided school, camp and after-school programming for thousands of children throughout the Northeast.

Joe claimed his first horse in 1999, won some races and lost his fair share before linking up with his partner in 2002. Since then, the partners have experienced a string of pinhooking and racing success that have encouraged them to build a business around the idea that a patient and pragmatic approach early in a horse’s development will lead to lasting competitive excellence at the racetrack.

Click here to see us Joe's Essay in the TDN (August 5, 2012).
Click here to see Joe in Fasig-Tipton Promotional Video I.
Click here to see Joe in Fasig-Tipton Promotional Video II.
Click here to see us in Thoroughbred Daily News (March 17, 2008).
Click here to see us in Wire To Wire magazine (April 25, 2006).