Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom – Dubai bound!

Posted on February 23, 2012 by admin

Dubai World Cup Trophy

Dubai World Cup Trophy

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom – Dubai bound! After an impressive return to racing in an allowance race last weekend at Gulfstream, Animal Kingdom, winner of the Kentucky Derby but absent from the public eye since early last June, appears ready for the Dubai World Cup.

While winning the fifth race on a Saturday at Gulfstream is not going to be a highlight of his career – it did make ESPN’s Top 10 plays of the day to the delight of trainer Graham Motion — it was nevertheless important.

It has been a very long time since a Derby winner returned at age four and mounted any winning campaign, Animal Kingdom’s success looks like a great start. Not since 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo has a winner of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky even managed a single victory in the next racing year. Animal Kingdom with this victory has gone back to the Kentucky Derby winners of old.

“I think when you have a Derby winner everybody owns a little piece of him,” Motion said on Saturday. “It may sound a little corny, but when you have a Derby winner, he’s a little bit the people’s horse and you have a responsibility. I think the reception he got was neat, and I’m glad we got to run him here.”

There is a definite mystique that surrounds the Kentucky Derby winner, a starring role in the unfolding American drama that is the possibility of the Triple Crown every year (at least until the Preakness Stakes is run). Recent winners, however, have been exposed as horses of the moment not the ages, and even the best of recent decades have either disappeared into the breeding shed or for various reasons left legacies wanting futilely for substantiation. The tragedy and unrealized stardom of Barbaro overshadowed every other story that developed during 2006 and he may have been the one. We will never truly know. But the last Derby winner whose stardom endured at age four is considered Alysheba, a 3-year-old of 1987.

The hind-leg injury suffered in the last Belmont Stakes that ended Animal Kingdom’s 3-year-old campaign may in time be considered a blessing in disguise if not for the horse and his connections, then for the fans and the sport at large in 2012. No problems last year may well have added Animal Kingdom to the roster of Kentucky Stallions, instead of his going on to the March 31 Dubai World Cup.

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2012 Kentucky Derby prep races on February 25 and 26 have four top contenders

Posted on February 21, 2012 by admin
2012 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Lousville

2012 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Lousville

2012 Kentucky Derby prep races on February 25 and 26 have four top contenders. Four of the top ten Kentucky Derby horses are scheduled to race this weekend! Here is a list of the horses that many consider the Top Ten!

Union Rags, Michael Matz, trainer and newly engaged Julien Leparoux, jockey. Leparoux takes over for Javier Castellano who has committed to ride Algorithms. He worked 4 furlongs in 48.64 seconds Sunday at Palm Meadows (FL). Next race is the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park on Sunday, February 26.

Algorithms, Todd Pletcher, trainer and Javier Castellano, jockey. He worked 4 furlongs in 49.00 Monday at Palm Meadows (FL). He will Puts 3-for-3 record on line against Union Rags. He defeated 2-year-old champ Hansen in Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park on January 29. Next race is the Fountain of Youth Gulfstream Park on Sunday, February 26. He is bred by Kentucky Derby Tours alumni, Pat Klussman of Oakbrook Farm (see January 29th blog http://kentuckyderbytours.com/blog/2012/01/ )

Hansen, Mike Maker, trainer and Ramon Dominguez, jockey. New York stewards denied breeder-owner Dr. Kendall Hansen request to dye mane and tail of nearly white colt for Gotham Stakes (see February 9th blog http://kentuckyderbytours.com/blog/2012/02/page/2/ ) Next race is Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 3.

Liaison, Bob Baffert, trainer and Rafael Bejarano, jockey. He worked a half-mile in 47.00 last week at Santa Anita. Clipped heels with another horse in stretch and unseated his rider in Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park (G2). Next race is the San Felipe at Santa Anita Park on March 10.

Gemologist, Todd Pletcher, trainer and still listing Javier Castellano as the jockey. He worked 5 furlongs in 1:03.88 on Sunday at Palm Meadows (FL). He was unbeaten in three starts, all as 2-year-old. Next race is the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 17. .

Secret Circle, Bob Baffert, trainer and Rafael Bejarano is still listed as jockey. He won a division of Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. He has won four of five, with only loss coming in the Sham Stakes on January 7. Next race is undecided. .

Discreet Dancer, Todd Pletcher, trainer and John Velazquez, jockey. He worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.24 Monday at Palm Meadows (FL). He won on his first two races by combined 15¼ lengths at Gulfstream Park. Next start is Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park on Sunday, February 26.

Alpha, Kiaran McLaughlin, trainer and Ramon Dominguez, jockey. He is the Withers winner but is skipping the Gotham. Next definite race is the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 7.

Mr. Bowling, Larry Jones, trainer and Robby Albarado, jockey. Lecomte Stakes winner who has three wins in five starts. Next race is Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on February 25.

I’ll Have Another, Doug O’Neill, trainer and Mario Gutierrez, jockey. Robert B. Lewis Stakes winner at Santa Anita Park at odds of 43 to 1 and has not worked since. Next race is Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita on April 7.

Who will still be looking for 2012 Kentucky Derby tickets at Churchill Downs?

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Will the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn have Toby Keith looking for 2012 Kentucky Derby tickets?

Posted on February 20, 2012 by admin

Toby Keith, Country star and thoughbred horse owner

Toby Keith, Country star and thoroughbred horse owner

Is Reckless Jerry Toby Keith’s Kentucky Derby ticket?

Will the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn have Toby Keith looking for 2012 Kentucky Derby tickets? Big name stars at the Kentucky Derby have always been the way to go. Kentucky Derby Tours has had their share of celebrities who went to Louisville, Kentucky and needed Kentucky Derby tickets over the years. In their heyday, Betty Grable along with her husband band leader Harry James met Kentucky Derby Tours and shared a box of Kentucky Derby tickets at Churchill Downs on Derby Day in 1951. The TV show “Luck” on HBO may give horse racing a boost but having big-name owners using Kentucky Derby tickets can be a major shot in the arm for horse racing.

Last year, Toby Keith had a talented 3-year-old horse named Sherriff Cogburn. Unfortunately, Sherriff Cogburn did not get Toby Keith his Kentucky Derby tickets as he battled injuries during his short career which forced him to retire.

This year, he has a colt that has not only showed talent but stayed healthy. His name is Reckless Jerry, sired by his prized stallion Cactus Ridge. Reckless Jerry may just be the horse that is Toby Keith’s 2012 Kentucky Derby ticket. Reckless Jerry is on his way to the 2012 Kentucky Derby prep Southwest Stakes on Monday, February 20 at Oaklawn Park.

Reckless Jerry is a homebred out of the Crafty Prospector mare Miss Moneywise. He began his 3-year-old season being defeated by a nose in the Smarty Jones Stakes. Keith has entertained lucrative offers for the chestnut colt. Kenny Smith trains him.

“We’re more hopeful with this horse,” said Keith, a multi-platinum recording artist who was named Billboard’s Country Artist of the Decade. Keith is not your average celebrity owner who is just throwing his money around to attract attention. Horses are a passion for him. He owns a 330-acre farm in Oklahoma with about 110 mares. In the past, Keith bred most of his mares to Cactus Ridge. Recently he bought a ½ half-interest in 2010 Florida Derby winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Ice Box, who will stand at Calumet Farm. Keith plans to move many of his mares to the prestigious Calumet, where he will breed them to his two stallions.

Keith, who races his horses under the name Dream Walkin’ Farms, has had several stakes winners during his time in the sport. But like everyone else, he dreams of having a horse be his 2012 Kentucky Derby ticket.
“I’ve been in this for 15 years and had some nice stakes winners, but have never been able to hold one together past February,” he said. “Cactus Ridge was undefeated and headed to Breeders’ Cup when he broke down.

“The Kentucky Derby is so prestigious. It means so much to your farm to get to go. It’s a big deal–the atmosphere, the celebration, and the festivities around the event. I know it would be a great experience for me and I would hope it would be great shot in arm for horse racing too. I have a lot of celebrities around me all the time, so it might be a good thing for the sport.”

We hope that Toby Keith will be looking for 2012 Kentucky Derby tickets!

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2012 Kentucky Derby prep races – El Camino Real Derby & San Vicente Stakes

Posted on February 20, 2012 by admin

2012 Kentucky Derby prep races – El Camino Real Derby & San Vicente Stakes

In Northern California at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday, the El Camino Real Derby was won by Daddy Knows Best. Julien Leparoux came in to ride the winner and won an all-out duel with Lucky Chappy to win. This win gave trainer Steve Asmussen back-to-back victories in Golden Gate’s most prestigious race, the El Camino Real Derby.

This was the first stakes win for Daddy Nose Best, owned by Bob and Cathy Zollars of Dallas, Texas. Leparoux, the French native currently based in Florida, had never before competed at Golden Gate Fields.

“We came here because of the added distance and his experience on turf which carries over to synthetic,” said Darren Fleming, assistant to Asmussen. “Winning the race last year with Silver Medallion helped our decision.” Fleming said he was not sure what race is next for the winner. Wonder if he is looking for Kentucky Derby Tours or 2012 Kentucky Derby tickets at Churchill Downs?

Order of finish for the El Camino Real Derby is: Daddy Knows Best, Lucky Chappy, Handsome Mike, Unveiled Heat, Russian Greek, Lady of Fifty, All Squared Away, Rockinarz Recruit, Senor Rain, and Cahill Chrome.

In Southern California at Santa Anita Park on Sunday, the San Vicente Stakes was won by Drill. The race went off with just four horses looking for their Kentucky Derby tickets. American Act was still coming on at the finish line, favorite Creative Cause came in third and Let’s Get Crackin.

It is unclear just how Drill’s trainer Bob Baffert expects Drill to progress on the Kentucky Derby Trail trail. He said afterward that he questions whether the colt wants to run the Kentucky Derby distance of 1 1/4 miles. “I wouldn’t run out and buy a future book (bet) on him,” said the Hall of Fame trainer, who is loaded with other Kentucky Derby horses. “He’d have to prove something to me going long. He’s one-turn right now. In time he might be able to do it because he’s learned to relax.”

“He actually had been training so well, I couldn’t figure it out,” Baffert said of Drill’s losing streak. “So I backed off of him and he started doing so well.”

In the stretch, Drill gradually overtook American Act by a half-length nearing mid-stretch but could not draw away. Instead, American Act battled back gamely along the inside in the final furlong and nearly caught Drill, who was under strong urging in deep stretch, at the wire.

American Act, trained by Jack Carava, was second by one length over Creative Cause, who showed some rust in his return for trainer Mike Harrington but finished willingly and galloped out well after crossing the finish line.
“We got what we wanted out of the race. He’s a route horse, not a seven-furlong horse,” Harrington said. “We hope he moves forward off this. Did you see him gallop out? He’ll definitely move forward.”

There were only four entries after Smoking G and Captain Obvious stratched. There was no show wagering

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Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom wins his 2012 debut

Posted on February 19, 2012 by admin

 

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom on the backside of Churchill Downs

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom on the backside of Churchill Downs

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom wins his 2012 debut by putting it in high gear and sailing to victory to win an optional claimer by two lengths on the Gulfstream Park turf course.  Team Valor International’s chestnut colt was using the race as a prep for the $10 million Dubai World Cup next month.  We have heard from a few members of Kentucky Derby Tours that they are going to Dubai to see the race.

After breaking slowly and trailing, he moved down the backstretch while staying on the outside as they moved on the turn.  He took the lead as he approached the top of the stretch.

Last year’s Eclipse Award winning champion 3-year-old male, sent off as the 3-5 favorite, completed the distance in 1:41.72. Monument Hill and Javier Castellano finished second.

“They went slow enough where he just pulled me into contention all on his own,” jockey John Velazquez said. “I let him do what he wanted as opposed to wrangling him back behind horses. The second I started kissing at him in the stretch he picked it right up and took off. It was a great feeling today and great to have him back. He felt as good as ever.”

This was the first start for Animal Kingdom since his injury in the Belmont Stakes last June. He had been working since November for trainer Graham Motion at Palm Meadows in Maryland and South Florida.  Animal Kingdom won both the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Track.

“Obviously, I would have been disappointed if he hadn’t won today, when you have a race that’s set up for you,” Motion said. “But this was the best thing for us. He still had to go out there and win it. He needed a race and still has six weeks to regroup to get him to Dubai in the right way.

“This horse has come a long way since October. Nothing was more heartbreaking than to see this horse stuck in a stall a week after the Belmont. He went from being the fittest horse in the country to not being able to get out of his stall. That was tough. To see him today, back to himself, obviously I’m elated.”

“All we were worried about was having him run too big,” said Barry Irwin, chief executive officer of Team Valor. “We didn’t want to see a big race and have him leave it on the track. We did not need a big race here. All we wanted was a nice quiet race and we got it.

“He’s much better now than he was last year. This race is not going to prove that, but we can tell by the way he trains and the way he looks he’s a much better horse this year.”

 

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2012 San Vicente Stakes on February 19 at Santa Anita Park

Posted on February 18, 2012 by admin
San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Februatry 19

San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Februatry 19

The 2012 San Vicente Stakes on February 19 at Santa Anita Park has an entry of six horses hoping to use it as a stepping stone to the 2012 Kentucky Derby. The San Vicente Stakes is another 2012 Kentucky Derby prep race. Will one of these horses wear the blanket of roses at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May?  Will their owners join our Kentucky Derby Tours?

Norfolk Stakes winner Creative Causes is prepping for his expected 3-year-old debut in this Sunday’s San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park.  Earlier this month, he worked six furlongs on Hollywood Park’s Cushion Track Feb. 4 in 1:13 4/5.  Creative Cause’s work was the sixth fastest of 17 at the distance over Hollywood’s Cushion Track. The San Vicente Stakes, which is Sunday, February 19, will be contested at seven furlongs on Santa Anita’s main track.

Trained by Mike Harrington for owner Heinz Steinmann, Creative Cause has not been out since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on November 5 at Churchill Downs. He was defeated by one length by Hansen in the race. Prior to that, Creative Cause posted a 3 1/4-length triumph in Santa Anita’s Norfolk, which was his first start around two turns. He was second last summer in the Del Mar Futurity after winning Del Mar’s Best Pal Stakes.

The gray/roan colt is a son of Giant Causeway out of the Siberian Summer mare Dream of Summer, winner of the 2005 Apple Blossom Handicap. Creative Cause was weighted at 124 pounds on The Jockey Club’s recently released Experimental Free Handicap, two fewer than the top-weighted Hansen and Union Rags.

Creative Cause, bred in Kentucky by James C. Weigel, has a 3-1-1 lifetime record in five starts with earnings of $521,000. He has had six published workouts at Hollywood since Dec. 30.

Also on the 3-year-old campaign in Southern California, impressive Sham Stakes winner Out of Bounds remains on course for the San Felipe Stakes March 10, trainer Eoin Harty said.  “He’s had three works since we ran him (in the Sham on Jan. 7) and he’s got four more until he runs again,” said Harty, who professes not to be caught up with “Derby Fever”.   “It’s a long time between now and May,” he said.

Here are the post positions, entries, jockeys, owners, trainers and any equipment change:

1 LET’S GET CRACKIN  Espinoza, V  - Joseph M. Robson –  Craig Dollase     Blinkers-Off

2 CREATIVE CAUSE   Rosario, J –  Heinz Steinmann –  Mike Harrington

3 DRILL  Garcia, M –  Pegram or Watson or Weitman – Bob Baffert

4 SMOKING G   Nakatani, C  -  Gary or Cecil Barber – Peter Miller

5 AMERICAN ACT  Pedroza, M –  Howard & Janet Siegel Racing, LLC –  Jack Carava

6 CAPTAIN OBVIOUS   Gutierrez, M – Reddam Racing, LLC  - B. D. A. Cecil  Blinkers-On

 

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2012 Kentucky Derby prep El Camino Real Derby

Posted on February 17, 2012 by admin
2012 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields

2012 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields

One of this weekend’s 2012 Kentucky Derby preps is the El Camino Real Derby.  The race has an eclectic field of ten horses hoping to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on May 5.  Their breeding and racing surface choices are so different.  The entries are bred in four states or countries and have starts on dirt, turf and synthetic surfaces.  They will all compete on Saturday, February 18 in the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.

The 1 1/8 mile 2012  El Camino Real Derby will be run on the track’s synthetic Tapeta footings surface and is Golden Gate’s major prep race for the Kentucky Derby. The race is often used as a stepping stone for the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 7 at Santa Anita Park.

Lucky Chappy (Ire) will make his first main track start in the El Camino Real Derby, after starting all six of his career starts on turf. The High Chaparral (Ire) colt was a stakes winner in Italy, and then shipped to the U.S. for an autumn campaign, including a fourth place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Churchill Downs. Lucky Chappy finished second to Howe Great in the Kitten’s Joy Stakes at Gulfstream Park in his 2012 debut.

Alan Garcia will travel west to pick up the mount aboard Lucky Chappy for trainer Graham Motion and owner Team Valor International.

California Derby winner Russian Greek leads the local contingent into the El Camino Real Derby. A son of Giant’s Causeway, Russian Greek has won three of four starts, including a last second win by a neck in the Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.  Jerry Hollendorfer trains Russian Greek for owner Olympia Star Inc. Aaron Gryder will have the riding assignment for Saturday’s race.

Lady of Fifty will attempt to become the first filly to win the El Camino Real Derby, and will start from the outside post. The After Market filly has performed admirably against the filly population at Golden Gate, with wins in the Golden Gate Debutante Stakes, Corte Madera Stakes, and California Oaks.

Lady of Fifty also comes from the barn of Hollendorfer, who co-owns the filly with George Todaro. She will be ridden by Russell Baze.  Kentucky Derby Tours alumni, Naomi Hansen successfully owned many horses with Jerry Hollendorfer and George Todaro.

Other entries are Daddy Nose Best, Senor Rain, Cahill Chrome, Unveiled Heat, Handsome Mike, Rockinarz Recruit, and All Squared Away.  Come Monday, who will be looking for Kentucky Derby tickets?

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Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom moves up 2012 debut

Posted on February 16, 2012 by admin
Gulfstream Park is 2012 debut for Amimal Kingdom

Gulfstream Park is 2012 debut for Amimal Kingdom

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom moves up 2012 debut to race Saturday afternoon in turf allowance race at GulfstreamPark on this Saturday, February 18, instead of his originally scheduled  race on Feb. 25 Tampa Bay Stakes. The contest is slated as the fifth race on the card. Animal Kingdom will break from the outside post in a field of six.

Last year’s Kentucky Derby winner and 3-year-old male champion has not run since last year’s Belmont Stakes while training superbly at Palm Meadows. The race will serve as Animal Kingdom’s only prep for the $10 million Dubai World Cup March 31.

Team Valor International’s Animal Kingdom has already run over the Gulfstream turf, finishing a fast-closing second in a turf allowance race last March prior to his Kentucky Derby win.

“I’m very excited to get him back, and now that we’ve entered him I’m extremely anxious,” trainer Graham Motion said. “I have been pleasantly surprised how quickly he’s come around. I think he got a good base in him at Fair Hill before he came down here. Once he got down here we’ve gotten some serious works on the grass.”

Team Valor President Barry Irwin added. “It was an easier ship. We don’t want him to be too primed for a big race first time back. We want him to get something out of the race, and not leave his Dubai World Cup race on the course. Also, Graham likes the timing better. He knows the weather will be good this weekend and doesn’t like the unknown of waiting another week and possibly getting too soft of a course. The Gulfstream course has gotten some rain and is in better shape in terms of not being too hard as had been the case when the Tampa plans were formulated.”

Animal Kingdom launched his 3-year-old campaign last March at Gulfstream Park, where he finished second in a turf allowance with a late-closing effort that was compromised by a slow start. That performance encouraged Motion and Team Valor International to start their colt in the $500,000 Spiral over Turfway Park’s synthetic track less than a month later, and the Kentucky-bred colt responded with a 2 ¾ length triumph that gave him more than enough graded-stakes earnings to qualify for a spot a Kentucky Derby horse and had his owners scrambling for Kentucky Derby tickets.

It was great for Animal Kingdom’s connections that the allowance race came up that fit the bill for him.

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Contest to give the Stonestreet Farm colt a name!

Posted on February 15, 2012 by admin
Name Rachel Alexandra and Curlin's colt!

Name Rachel Alexandra and Curlin's colt!

Contest to give the Stonestreet Farm colt a name!  Stonestreet Farm is holding a contest for racing fans to name the colt of Rachel Alexander and Curlin.  As most people know, Rachel Alexandra, 2009 Horse of the Year, gave birth to a colt by Curlin, a two-time Horse of the Year on January 22. Barbara Banke and Rachel Alexandra co-owner Harold McCormick are deeply touched at the outpouring of affection from fans since the colt was born.

“We cannot think of a better time than Valentine’s Day to further share this experience with the fans by welcoming name suggestions for our precious bay colt with a bright white star, striking resemblance to his mother and grand spirit. We are looking for a very special name for our special colt that reflects the vision and celebrates the memory of Jess,” said Barbara Banke.

Fans should submit their name suggestion via email at www.stonestreetfarms.com  or directly to VisitRachelA@Stonestreetfarms.com by midnight EST on Sunday, February 19.

One submission per household will be accepted and should include the name that you are suggesting – and the racings fan’s name, mailing address and contact phone number.

If a suggested name is chosen, Stonestreet will host the winning fan and a guest for an overnight stay in the guesthouse at Stonestreet with a private tour of the farm and visit with Rachel Alexandra and her colt. In the event the final selection reflects multiple submissions, a drawing will determine the winner. Full details are available on the Stonestreet website at www.stonestreetfarms.com

Rachel Alexandra became the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness Stakes and the first filly to ever win the Woodward Stakes. Now standing at Lane’s End, Curlin, secured back-to-back Horse of the Year titles by winning the 2007 Preakness Stakes and Breeder’s Cup Classic as well as the 2008 Dubai World Cup.  Curlin also became the highest North American money-earner.

Stonestreet is proud to have campaigned both of these extraordinary champions. Their colt is a tangible symbol of late Jess Jackson’s legacy to raise and race the best.

See our article about the colts birth on our Kentucky Derby Tours blog at http://kentuckyderbytours.com/blog/page/2/

If I remember right Kentucky Derby winner Sunday Silence was named by a racing fan for Stone Farm and Arthur B Hancock III.  Time to put on your thinking cap and name that colt!  Maybe you will be watching him in the Kentucky Derby in 2015!

 

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Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom ready to race in 2012

Posted on February 14, 2012 by admin

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom ready to race in 2012

Trainer Graham Motion has Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and 2011 Wood Memorial winner Toby’s Corner ready for their four-year-old debuts.  Team Valor International’s  Animal Kingdom who won the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom

in his first race on dirt and followed with a second-place finish in the Preakness Stakes. He  was sidelined after the Belmont Stakes in June  for the rest of 2011 after suffering a fracture of his left hind leg.

Right now, Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom remains on target to make his 2012 debut in the Tampa Bay Sakes on February 25 and Motion could not be happier.

“Things have gone very smoothly,” said Motion, it worked out well getting him started at Fair Hill and getting him a few easy breezes. Once we got him to Florida and we started picking it up with him, he’s really responded and probably even come around perhaps a little quicker than I might have anticipated.

“I was thinking about it today, and he’s been in training since the beginning of October, albeit it was just going on the AquaTred.  He’s got three months of pretty solid foundation under him and now he’s got two months of pretty steady works, so I feel pretty good about where he’s at.”

Trainer Graham Motion and Team Valor Chief Executive Officer Barry Irwin have been aiming Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom to the Dubai World Cup  On March 31.

Ironically, Toby’s Corner missed the 2011 Kentucky Derby with a left hind leg injury.  Motion said he has a different race in mind for the Bellamy Road colt. “I think more than likely he could come back in the General George (Handicap) on Monday,” he said. “I talked to Mrs. Cotter about it. I love the idea of running him at Laurel (Park) on a track he has won twice on. I think seven-eighths is a good distance to come back at for him. I can run him down at Gulfstream (Park) in an allowance race and come up against some monsters and I’d just as soon run him in a nice race where he has a good chance to pick up a piece of the purse and maybe a graded win which goes towards helping him later on in his life.”.

Graham Motion also has a 2012 group of three year olds who hope to have their connections needing Kentucky Derby tickets in Louisville or maybe go on our Kentucky Derby Tours.  We hope to see the performances of Lucky Chappy, Howe Great,  Went the Day Well, Cop a Tude, and  State of Play causing their connections to need Kentucky Derby tickets.

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