Can a Turfer, Synthetic win the KD
Horsin~Aro
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Turf horses getting dirty before Kentucky Derby
By WILL GRAVES, AP Sports Writer
1 hour, 36 minutes ago
tweet3EmailPrintLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)Animal Kingdom strolled onto the track at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning and with little urging from jockey Robby Albarado, took off down the frontstretch.
No hesitation. No panic. No looking down his feet to see if hed stepped in something.
The 3-year-old colt handled the dirt under the twin spires with ease, covering six furlongs in a solid if not spectacular 1:13.
More important than the time, however, was the way Animal Kingdom acted after getting dirty. He looked, according to Albarado and trainer Graham Motion, like a Kentucky Derby horse.
Kentucky Derby hopeful Mucho M
AP - Apr 30, 10:43 am EDT Horse Racing Gallery (Robby) actually looked for things he could knock about the breeze and he couldnt find anything, Motion said.
Barring any unforeseen health issues, Animal Kingdom will join 19 other hopefuls in the starting gate next Saturday in the Run for the Roses.
Its a destination that Motion didnt envision when he took over as Animal Kingdoms trainer last fall. Everything about the horsefrom his pedigree to his trainingseemed to make him destined for a career running on grass. Yet when he won the Spiral Stakes over the synthetic surface at Turfway Park five weeks ago, Animal Kingdom suddenly found himself on the Derby trail.
Its a path that hasnt led to success in the Derby. No horse who has trained primarily on grass or a synthetic surface such as Polytrack has won the first leg of the Triple Crown since synthetic surfaces were introduced in the middle of the last decade.
Yet nearly half of the expected field of 20 in this years Derby will have competed heavily on the turf or a synthetic surface thanks to a combination of Derby fever among owners and the perception that the gap between synthetic horses and dirt horses isnt the chasm it was five years ago.
Lookin At Lucky was among the favorites in the Derby last spring following a win on a synthetic track in the Santa Anita Derby, but got stuck along the rail and never factored. He rebounded, however, to win the Preakness on the dirt at Pimlico for trainer Bob Baffert.
Motion allows that some horses will struggle switching surfaces, but thinks the dirt at Churchill Downs isnt quite as mucky as other places.
And even if it is, theres only one Kentucky Derby. Motion is well aware of the obstacles his horse faces, but hopes talent wins out.
This horse has a grass pedigree, but I think if hes a good enough horse he can overcome that, Motion said.
So do the connections of Comma to the Top, Soldat, Brilliant Speed and other predominantly turf or synthetic horses who will be in the starting gate next weekend.
Of course, it helps to have someone with a little institutional knowledge in the saddle. Calvin Borel will guide Sunland Derby winner Twice the Appeal next week looking for his fourth Derby win in five years.
Borel says his mount, who began his career running on synthetics or turf, had no issues on the Churchill dirt Saturday after covering six furlongs in 1:15.60.
He felt good, Borel said. He clipped right along. And I liked the way he finished up.
Still, the early odds will likely favor horses who have flourished on the dirt. Florida Derby winner Dialed In, who arrived Saturday, will be among the morning-line favorites. Hell likely be joined by Uncle Mo, who won the Breeders Cup Juvenile over the same track last year.
Uncle Mo and stablemate Stay Thirsty will both work for the final time on Sunday morning, and trainer Todd Pletcher expects Uncle Mo to be ready to race next weekend barring any medical setbacks.
Yet Uncle Mos disappointing third-place finish in the Wood Memoriallater blamed on a gastrointestinal infectionand Dialed Ins relatively plodding win in Florida have many considering this the most wide-open Derby in years.
Wide open enough for a grass or synthetic horse to win?
I certainly hope so, Motion said with a laugh.
By WILL GRAVES, AP Sports Writer
1 hour, 36 minutes ago
tweet3EmailPrintLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)Animal Kingdom strolled onto the track at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning and with little urging from jockey Robby Albarado, took off down the frontstretch.
No hesitation. No panic. No looking down his feet to see if hed stepped in something.
The 3-year-old colt handled the dirt under the twin spires with ease, covering six furlongs in a solid if not spectacular 1:13.
More important than the time, however, was the way Animal Kingdom acted after getting dirty. He looked, according to Albarado and trainer Graham Motion, like a Kentucky Derby horse.
Kentucky Derby hopeful Mucho M
AP - Apr 30, 10:43 am EDT Horse Racing Gallery (Robby) actually looked for things he could knock about the breeze and he couldnt find anything, Motion said.
Barring any unforeseen health issues, Animal Kingdom will join 19 other hopefuls in the starting gate next Saturday in the Run for the Roses.
Its a destination that Motion didnt envision when he took over as Animal Kingdoms trainer last fall. Everything about the horsefrom his pedigree to his trainingseemed to make him destined for a career running on grass. Yet when he won the Spiral Stakes over the synthetic surface at Turfway Park five weeks ago, Animal Kingdom suddenly found himself on the Derby trail.
Its a path that hasnt led to success in the Derby. No horse who has trained primarily on grass or a synthetic surface such as Polytrack has won the first leg of the Triple Crown since synthetic surfaces were introduced in the middle of the last decade.
Yet nearly half of the expected field of 20 in this years Derby will have competed heavily on the turf or a synthetic surface thanks to a combination of Derby fever among owners and the perception that the gap between synthetic horses and dirt horses isnt the chasm it was five years ago.
Lookin At Lucky was among the favorites in the Derby last spring following a win on a synthetic track in the Santa Anita Derby, but got stuck along the rail and never factored. He rebounded, however, to win the Preakness on the dirt at Pimlico for trainer Bob Baffert.
Motion allows that some horses will struggle switching surfaces, but thinks the dirt at Churchill Downs isnt quite as mucky as other places.
And even if it is, theres only one Kentucky Derby. Motion is well aware of the obstacles his horse faces, but hopes talent wins out.
This horse has a grass pedigree, but I think if hes a good enough horse he can overcome that, Motion said.
So do the connections of Comma to the Top, Soldat, Brilliant Speed and other predominantly turf or synthetic horses who will be in the starting gate next weekend.
Of course, it helps to have someone with a little institutional knowledge in the saddle. Calvin Borel will guide Sunland Derby winner Twice the Appeal next week looking for his fourth Derby win in five years.
Borel says his mount, who began his career running on synthetics or turf, had no issues on the Churchill dirt Saturday after covering six furlongs in 1:15.60.
He felt good, Borel said. He clipped right along. And I liked the way he finished up.
Still, the early odds will likely favor horses who have flourished on the dirt. Florida Derby winner Dialed In, who arrived Saturday, will be among the morning-line favorites. Hell likely be joined by Uncle Mo, who won the Breeders Cup Juvenile over the same track last year.
Uncle Mo and stablemate Stay Thirsty will both work for the final time on Sunday morning, and trainer Todd Pletcher expects Uncle Mo to be ready to race next weekend barring any medical setbacks.
Yet Uncle Mos disappointing third-place finish in the Wood Memoriallater blamed on a gastrointestinal infectionand Dialed Ins relatively plodding win in Florida have many considering this the most wide-open Derby in years.
Wide open enough for a grass or synthetic horse to win?
I certainly hope so, Motion said with a laugh.
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