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Unleashed on Dirt for First Time, Animal Kingdom Reigns in 137Th Kentucky Derby

Unleashed on Dirt for First Time, Animal Kingdom Reigns in 137Th Kentucky Derby

Unleashed on dirt for first time, reigns in 137th Derby

BY JEFF LOWE

ARRY IRWIN uses a broad map for his Irwin decided to aim Pluck at either the Poule d’Essai Kingdom turned out to be: the kind of to satisfy the Team Valor International partnership, and des Poulains (Fr-G1) (French Two Thousand Guineas) zest to make history. his grand plan for the spring of 2011 was or Abu Dhabi Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1). In one explosive stretch burst under John Velazquez, characteristically ambitious. The twist came when Motion worked Pluck with Animal Kingdom filled in the sizable void that devel- Team Valor had pulled off one of its biggest another Team Valor homebred,Animal Kingdom,at Palm oped throughout the winter and spring buildup to the Bfeats on November 6 when a homebred, Pluck, defied Meadows Training Center in South Florida this winter. 137th Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) rational limits for trouble in a race and soared home to Motion liked what he saw from Pluck, but he noticed on May 7 at . He did so in unprece- win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) at Churchill something extra in Animal Kingdom, who won one of dented fashion, succeeding on American racing’s great- Downs. Emboldened by that performance and an agree- his two starts as a two-year-old. est stage in his first start on dirt. ment around the same time that placed Team Valor’s en- “This one is special,” Motion told Irwin. tire U.S. roster in the hands of trainer Graham Motion, Only extraordinary talent could explain what Animal continued on page 12

THOROUGHBRED TIMES May 14, 2011 11 KENTUCKY DERBY

KENTUCKY DERBY from page 11

Animal Kingdom’s journey was anything but a straight line, begin-

ning with Irwin’s choice to retire IMES T the German-bred Dalicia (Ger) in early 2007 and book her to King- mambo,one of North America’s top sires. HOROUGHBRED By the time Dalicia was ready to be bred, Kingmambo had been pulled from stud duty because of a

deteriorating neck condition. Irwin PhotosByZ.com/T 3 owned breeding rights to Animal Kingdom explodes in the stretch to win by 2 ⁄4 lengths (Brz), the cham- pion turf male of 2005, so he made an impromptu switch to send the and Holly Bandoroff’s Denali Stud painfully eluded Irwin in 1997 when mare to the unproven in Paris, Kentucky, the colt was Team Valor’s fin- second-year stallion at Stonewall hardly an obvious candidate to de- ished a narrow second to Silver Farm in Lexington. liver on the lifetime dream that Charm as the favorite in the Ken- After Dalicia foaled Animal King- tucky Derby. dom on March 20, 2008, at Craig Average field size by Team Valor’s two other Derby decade (1950-2011) starters, The Deputy (Ire) in 2000 A look at average field sizes by decade and Visionaire in 2008,were soundly since the 1950s: beaten. Years Average field size “It kind of defies logic that a horse 1950-1959 14.5 with a pedigree like this would ac- Working relationship forged 1960-1969 12.6 tually be a dirt horse,” Irwin said. three years ago and solidified 1970-1979 14.9 late last year between Team 1980-1989 17.1 “When I breed these things, I’m Valor’s Barry Irwin (right) and 1990-1999 16.7 breeding to race, period. When you trainer Graham Motion (left) 2000-2009 18.7 breed a German mare, you’re not 2010-2011 19.5 Patricia McQueen photo leads to Kentucky Derby victory expecting a dirt horse.”

Right place at right time,

FINALLY John Velazquez Date of birth: November 24, 1971 John Velazquez wins his first Derby Birthplace: Carolina, Puerto Rico Residence: West Hempstead, New York Family: Wife Leona; children Lerina and after unexpected circumstances Michael Patrick Career highlights: Finalist for induc- tion into Racing Hall of Fame, 2011; BY TOM LAW lazquez became associated with Todd Awards as outstanding , Pletcher, first when that trainer was an as- 2004 and 2005; George Woolf Memo- sistant for D. Wayne Lukas and later when rial Jockey Award, 2009; inducted into he went out on his own in the mid-1990s. Puerto Rico Hall of HE OFTEN high- The working relationship between Pletcher Fame, 2006; Award and Velazquez is one of the most success- for performance by a jockey in the pressure world for a ful in racing history and the two teamed to Breeders’ Cup, 2004; winner of 21 win the 2007 (G1) with Rags meet titles in New York, including four leading jockey is all to Riches. at ; winner of Velazquez was not ’ regu- nine Breeders’ Cup races; chairman, T lar rider leading up to the 2007 Triple Crown Jockeys’ Guild; leading active jockey about timing. and wound up on the when Garrett Gomez by total purse earnings, with more could not get out of a commitment to ride than $240-million through 2010, put- Timing is key on the racetrack. The rider who . A similar series of events led to ting him fourth on the all-time list can combine natural horsemanship with a pre- Velazquez landing what turned into the win- Derby mounts (finish): 1996 Built for cise and accurate internal clock does not have ning mount in the Pre- Pleasure (19th), 1998 Basic Trainee to scrounge around long for business. sented by Yum! Brands (G1) on Animal (15th), 1999 Three Ring (19th), 2000 Timing off the racetrack is also vital. It is often Kingdom. More Than Ready (fourth), 2001 In- about being put on the right horse in the right Originally named to ride , Ve- visible Ink (second), 2002 Saarland spot or being available to ride other horses when lazquez was dealt a tough setback in Amer- (tenth), 2004 Pollard’s Vision (17th), your peers cannot. ica’s most prestigious race for the third 2005 Bandini (19th), 2007 Circular John Velazquez has always seemed to have consecutive year when last year’s champion Quay (sixth), 2008 Cowboy Cal (ninth),

timing on his side both on and off the track. two-year-old male came out of the race the 2009 Mr. Hot Stuff (15th), 2010 Devil Matt Goins photo Blessed with supreme talent in the saddle and day before the event when Pletcher and May Care (tenth), 2011 Animal King- Picks up the winning Derby mount the day an equally balanced work ethic, Velazquez has owner Mike Repole determined he was not dom (1st) seen his career skyrocket since coming to the physically ready for the demands of the Derby. before the race U.S. after starting his riding career in 1989 in Velazquez was the rider of two other highly his native Puerto Rico. He has made one well- regarded colts, and Esk- timed career move after another. endereya, who were withdrawn from the Derby before the Derby after suffering serious facial been hurt and I’ve seen the horses I’ve been Velazquez, now 39, caught the attention of in 2009 and 2010, respectively, late in the pro- injuries in a post-parade incident on May 4. The riding [winning with other jockeys]. I’ve seen a Angel Cordero Jr. early in his career and would cess. players in his drama chalk it up to being part of lot. But I told Robby, ‘Don’t worry, if we win this benefit from the mentoring of the Racing Hall Velazquez did not fret over losing those op- the business. race I’m going to take care of you.’ ” of Fame jockey when he came to New York in portunities and he wound up in the right place “I guess it was meant to be,” Velazquez said. 1990. Cordero retired in 1992, but serves to this at the right time when the owners of Animal “It had to happen the way it happened today. day as both Velazquez’s mentor and agent. Kingdom opted to replace “In this business, it’s a roller coaster. Basi- Tom Law is managing editor of TIMES. A few years into his stint in New York, Ve- when that jockey was unable to ride the day cally I’ve been on the other end as well. I’ve

12 THOROUGHBRED TIMES May 14, 2011 The group of clients who bred Animal Kingdom under the Team Valor banner elected to sell him at The victorious team and the 2009 September year- IMES T ling sale,and Irwin signed the ticket their families celebrate Animal Kingdom’s victory himself. He formed another part- nership to race the colt, and Randy Bradshaw performed the breaking HOROUGHBRED and early training of Animal King- dom at the Adena Springs South training facility in Williston,Florida.

Bradshaw was surprised by what PhotosByZ.com/T he saw on dirt from Animal King- dom and another Team Valor home- bred by Leroidesanimaux named Badleroibrown. “If they were by A.P. Indy, you’d feel more confident about it, but they both looked like they handled the dirt great,” Bradshaw said. “It was not what you would expect just Check looking at the pedigree.” legs daily Kentucky Derby winners 1970-2011 Final Year Winner time Track 2011 Animal Kingdom 2:02.04 fast 2010 2:04.45 sloppy 2009 2:02.66 sloppy 2008 2:01.82 fast 2007 2:02.17 fast 2006 2:01.36 fast 2005 2:02.75 fast Treat 2004 2:04.06 sloppy 2003 2:01.19 fast 2002 2:01.13 fast 2001 1:59.97 fast 2000 2:01.12 fast early 1999 2:03.29 fast 1998 2:02.38 fast 1997 2:02.44 fast 1996 2:01.06 fast 1995 Thunder 2:01.27 fast 1994 2:03.72 sloppy 1993 2:02.42 fast 1992 Lil E. Tee 2:03.04 fast 1991 2:03.08 fast 1990 2:02 good 1989 2:05 muddy 1 1988 2:02 ⁄5 fast 2 1987 2:03 ⁄5 fast 4 1986 2:02 ⁄5 fast 1 Reverse 1985 2:00 ⁄5 fast 2 1984 2:02 ⁄5 fast 1 1983 Sunny’s 2:02 ⁄5 fast 2 1982 2:02 ⁄5 fast 1981 2:02 fast joint damage 1980 Risk 2:02 fast 2 1979 2:02 ⁄5 fast 1 1978 2:01 ⁄5 fast 1 1977 2:02 ⁄5 fast 3 1976 Forbes 2:01 ⁄5 fast 1975 2:02 fast 1974 2:04 fast 2 1973 1:59 ⁄5† fast 4 1972 2:01 ⁄5 fast 1 1971 Canonero II 2:03 ⁄5 fast 2 1970 2:03 ⁄5 good Triple Crown winners denoted in bold † Track Record

Irwin sent Animal Kingdom to trainer Wayne Catalano at Arling- ton Park last summer, and the colt was entered on turf for his first start on September 18, but rain forced Every Stride Counts the race to the main track, which is Polytrack,in the first of what turned out to be a string of fortuitous twists leading to the Derby. For more information your veterinarian, 1 Going 1 ⁄16 miles, Animal King- dom finished a strong second to go online at Adequan.com or call 800-974-9247. Willcox Inn, who went on to finish third in both the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland Race Course and the Juvenile Turf. The big effort on Polytrack at Arlington led to a second maiden attempt on Polytrack at Keene- land on October 23, and Animal Kingdom responded with an au-

continued on page 16

THOROUGHBRED TIMES May 14, 2011 13 KENTUCKY DERBY IMES T HOROUGHBRED PhotosByZ.com/Amy Wallot/T John Velazquez guides Animal Kingdom (second from left) well to the outside and takes aim at Nehro, Comma to the Top, and with a quarter-mile to run

KENTUCKY DERBY Toyota (G1) on about a month of downtime, while the Blue Grass,with the Gulfstream from page 13 April 16. Irwin pulled the trigger on the move Winning Derby race as a bridge to the listed Rush- thoritative victory under Robby to a single trainer for Team Valor’s post positions away Stakes on March 26 on Poly- Albarado. Immediately, Irwin Classics preparations 30 horses in the U.S. He had ap- Winning Derby post positions since 1900: track at ,but a flip-flop began charting a course to bring Animal Kingdom returned to proached Motion about the role in became necessary when another Post Winners Post Winners the colt back to Keeneland for the Bradshaw in early November for early 2010, but was turned down. 112113 Team Valor three-year-old, Crim- When he made the pitch again 29 123 son China, lacked enough earnings      !"#$  %&'( ) % )* +&,-./0.1 ('  shortly before the Breeders’ Cup, 38 134 to crack the full field for the Vinery  '*2   ('(1   *  &('(1  411142   2.345670 Motion accepted, with the stipula- Racing Spiral Stakes (G3) on the    512153 ,. 89 ,.51: 2;;. 1<:=0.8;- 1<=4- 1=984 1=994 16 4. /88 tion that he could continue to train 66 164 same card. 1<66$>,4,/881 << 9.4,/88 1<!6$:?.9.4,/88 1!!$$:6 ?. 3(@./88 1: for other clients. 78 170 Animal Kingdom had enough                ! " # $             !"# !$% &' Other than Animal Kingdom’s 810181 earnings and more than enough abil- ( )  * +,    -       . / *0123 -& obvious proclivity for distances be- 94 190 ity for the $500,000 Spiral. He pro-  456 7#8+78+7     9. -. - .  . :6  7,+% '& 10 10 20 2 ( 5  3+80 ;,    :    .   .   :  2<1$ & yond a mile, Motion was not sure duced a strong rally from last under =7 > 7<1 ,;?#<       = @ 9 A 5 !5 &- what kind of horse he would be as and opened up in the (B B 31C     . . - -. A D,+3E :&9 3 a three-year-old. The trainer breezed on March 3 at for stretch to win by 2 ⁄4 lengths. (B  D,13F      :: ' . 9 %<,$ 9&' ( 5  G H    - ' ' '  .-/  F,#I$% & the colt most in company with Pluck Animal Kingdom’s return, and he The performance quickly  45  1<)4,     9 :. . :  :   ' *F,C0% -& and exclusively on turf at Palm kicked in with a wide rally to fin- prompted Motion and Irwin to up- 9 3#  J8 1+  FF           -6 ' 9 ./ D, 2? &' Meadows,the venue where he made ish second by a head to Powhatan grade their primary target to the ( 5 @ 31    9  :  '. . . 5,8  &' ( 5 K 31> +,<1>    :  .9 9   . 6L G# !%  9& the strong first impression. County, who got loose on the lead Kentucky Derby rather than the (B  G ,>11      ' -=.-6.9 L 2<1 $$ & Motion and Irwin picked a one- on a speed-friendly course. Blue Grass, and the conservative   G 8<C 7 1      .  . 9   :  2,0G '& mile optional claiming race on grass The plan called for two preps for trainer successfully lobbied for the ( )  ,8+,8+,8+      9.9 9. -  -6   2#,1$ & '( 3  7+1H1 ,#       ' '. '  . M

wide with less than three furlongs to go, came out eight wide into the stretch, and made a good late bid on IMES T the outside. DIALED IN squeezed back at start, was far back for seven furlongs while unhurried, swung to the outside for the drive, and made a belated bid. PANTS ON FIRE moved out to the four path on the sec- ond turn while maintaining position, held on well to the stretch, and weakened. TWICE THE APPEAL swung seven wide entering the stretch and passed tiring rivals. SOLDAT stayed on well for seven furlongs, came out five wide leaving the second turn, and tired. brushed at start, angled out a bit for the drive, and gave way. DERBY KITTEN broke inward, lacked speed, steadied behind DECISIVE MOMENT HOROUGHBRED nearing the sixteenth marker, and could not threaten thereafter. DECISIVE MOMENT stalked the pace, held on well to the final quarter, and gave way. ARCHARCHARCH steadied early, had his saddle slip entering the backstretch, never a factor, pulled up lame, vanned off. MIDNIGHT INTERLUDE failed to respond when ridden with three furlongs to go. TWINSPIRED steadied briefly with three furlongs to go and gave way. WATCH ME GO lost footing at start, faded. COMMA TO THE TOP angled out entering the first turn when in closest attendance to the pace, challenged three wide, but gave way readily in the final furlong. 2011 Kentucky Derby charts reprinted with permission of Daily Racing Form and Equibase PhotosByZ.com/T

16 THOROUGHBRED TIMES May 14, 2011 The dominoes tumbled from third at 1-to-10 odds. there. The winner, at 8.70-to-1, was Dialed In enhanced his quick Toby’s Corner, trained by Motion rise with a victory in the Florida for another client, Dianne Cotter, Derby (G1) on April 3 in his who beat much greater in odds in fourth career start, but Soldat breeding the colt from her roster of and Stay Thirsty fizzled after only a handful of broodmares. winning the Fasig-Tipton Foun- Dialed In and Arkansas Derby tain of Youth Stakes (G2) and (G1) winner Archarcharch were the Stakes (G3), respec- only horses to reach the Derby with tively. two prep wins in stakes,and the hits The next week, San Felipe continued throughout Derby week. Stakes (G2) winner Premier Pe- Animal Kingdom cleared up his gasus and Norfolk Stakes (G1) status with a sharp six-furlong work- winner Jaycito were entered in out on April 30 at Churchill. He was the (G1) but scheduled for two dirt drills lead-

Shigeki Kikkawa photo both were scratched with injuries ing into the Derby, but record rain- Jockey Robby Albarado, who later tells reporters “you may be looking at a Derby winner there, boys,” that eventually knocked them fall in the area kept him on the breezes Animal Kingdom six furlongs in 1:13 a week before the race. Albarado suffers facial injuries in out of the Kentucky Derby. all-weather Polytrack surface at post-parade incident three days before the Derby and loses mount to John Velazquez To Honor and Serve, regarded Keeneland until April 28. by many as the top threat to Garcia stuck with Soldat as his chestnut colt to head straight to Uncle Mo began the Uncle Mo at the start of the Derby mount, so Motion and Irwin the classic. year as a potential super- Longest-priced year, joined the list of defec- turned to Albarado, who rode An- star, based on his three Kentucky Derby favorites tions on April 8 with a suspen- imal Kingdom in his only victory. Contenders drop out dominant wins as a two- Year Horse Odds Finish sory injury. Albarado guided the colt through The decision came in the thick year-old,and he added to 2010 6.30-to-1 6th The crucial question emerged the final workout in 1:13 in com- of a tumultuous prep season that his imposing reputation 2002 Harlan’s 6-to-1 7th the next day when Uncle Mo pany with stablemate Meistersinger 2006 5.50-to-1 7th extended to Pluck, who was with- with an easy victory in 2011 Dialed In 5.20-to-1 8th came up empty in the stretch and beamed when he dismounted drawn from a European trip when the Stakes 2007 Street Sense 4.90-to-1 1st of the Resorts World New York back at the barn. sidelined with cannon bone issues on March 12 at Gulf- 1999 Excellent Meeting- 4.80-to-1 5th Casino after faring poorly in two starts. stream. General Challenge (entry) 11th (G1) at Aqueduct, finishing continued on page 18

Motion weathers range of EMOTIONS BY TERESA GENARO Graham Motion Date of birth: May 22, 1964 LITTLE more than a month ago, trainer Graham Birthplace: Cambridge, England Residence: Fair Hill, Maryland Motion was entertaining few thoughts about tak- Family: Wife Anita; children Jane and Mar- cus ing a horse to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Career highlights: Saddled Better Talk Now A to victory in 2004 John Deere Breeders’ Cup Yum! Brands (G1). His promising dirt three-year-old Toby’s Turf (G1) and Shared Account to victory in 2010 Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1); other major stakes win- Corner had lost the (G3) in early March ners trained include Film Maker, Bullsbay, Olaya, Rosinka (Ire), T. D. Vance; former as- after winning the Stakes in February; Animal sistant to Racing Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard Kingdom had only a maiden win to his credit, that coming Kentucky Derby starters (finish): 1998 Chill-

ito (11th), 2008 Adriano (19th), Animal King- IMES on the Polytrack surface at Keeneland Race Course last fall. dom (1st) T Motion admitted on the evening of May 7 that walloping the Louisville area with rain in the “I was not thinking Derby with this horse.” weeks before the Derby, and Animal King- This horse was Animal Kingdom and it all dom was able to get in only one workout Wins first Kentucky Derby HOROUGHBRED changed on March 26 when the colt decisively there, on April 30. Fortunately, that workout with his third starter won the Vinery Spiral Stakes (G3) over Turfway was good enough to convince them that An- Park’s Polytrack. Two weeks later, Toby’s Cor- imal Kingdom could run on dirt. Irwin char- in American classic ner pulled a huge upset in the Resorts World acterized it as a “real eye-opener.” New York Casino Wood Memorial Stakes (G1), “It’s what gave us the confidence to go defeating early Derby favorite Uncle Mo. ahead,” he said. PhotosByZ.com/T Suddenly, Toby’s Corner’s Derby future looked Meanwhile, Toby’s Corner was getting all especially bright, given his rebound from a bad the buzz, while Animal Kingdom’s chances “After I worked Toby’s Corner last Sunday,” imal Kingdom his “second-tier” Derby horse. prep race, and Motion was in the enviable po- in the Derby were largely disregarded given the Motion said, “I felt about as good as I’d felt for The disappointment turned to jubilation late sition of having two horses on the Derby trail. lightness of his racing schedule and the sur- a long time about anything. I walked in the barn in the afternoon, when Motion watched Animal That trail would not, however, be a smooth one. face over which his wins had come. Toby’s Cor- Monday morning—I’d even had a good night’s Kingdom charge down Churchill Downs’ long Motion and Barry Irwin, chief executive offi- ner stayed at Fair Hill Training Center to train, sleep, finally—and [assistant trainer] Adrian stretch to win America’s most famous race. cer of Team Valor International, which owns An- with Motion intending to ship him to Louisville [Rolls] told me that the horse wasn’t right, I “It has,” he said, in a characteristic bit of un- imal Kingdom, cautiously began to plot out a the week before the race, in order to get in one about fell over. That’s about as tough a blow as derstatement, “been an extraordinary week.” course to the Derby. Given that the colt’s only work over the track. you can get the week of the Derby.” two wins had come over synthetics, they de- And two days after Animal Kingdom’s im- Motion admitted he came to Louisville with termined that he would start only if he worked pressive work, Motion’s plans abruptly changed a sense of disappointment, even though he had Teresa Genaro is a New York correspondent of well twice over the dirt at Churchill Downs. again, this time less than a week before the starters in both the (G1) and the THOROUGHBRED TIMES. Unfortunately, Mother Nature intervened by Derby. Derby and even though he did not consider An-

THOROUGHBRED TIMES May 14, 2011 17 KENTUCKY DERBY

Connections hope to solve mystery of Uncle Mo’s ailment

THE CONNECTIONS of Uncle Mo started Kentucky Derby week in training. He even exercised on the Churchill main track on the with dreams of winning the American classic but ended the week morning he was scratched. with deep concerns about the health of the 2010 champion two- Pletcher told Repole on the evening of May 5 that he did not

year-old male. want to start Uncle Mo, and a team of veterinarians also advised Patricia McQueen photo Owner Mike Repole said he was highly concerned about last against it. After hearing those opinions, Repole said making the Uncle Mo trains at Churchill Downs in weeks leading year’s Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner when he decision not to run was easy. up to Kentucky Derby but is withdrawn the day before announced the day before the Derby that Uncle Mo would be The scratch reduced the Derby field to 19 starters—one less scratched. He said expert veterinarians are baffled by the ailment than the maximum—for the second time in three years. The Derby the race with mysterious ailment his connections say that caused Uncle Mo to lose his appetite and energy level. does not allow an also-eligible list, which would have cleared the saps his energy and curbs his appetite “That’s what makes me nervous,” Repole said. “There are a lot way for excluded entry Sway Away to run. Churchill Downs offi- of injuries to a horse that you can figure out. And ’s cials said they look at the issue of an also-eligible list each year. was taken to WinStar Farm in Versailles on May 9 for contin- so good at what he does, I know he’s upset that we can’t figure “The stumbling block has been the early wagering on Friday,” ued treatment. The plan would then be to move him to Bel- this out. We’ve flown experts in, we’ve had top vets, we’ve talked said Churchill spokeman John Asher, noting that adding a horse mont Park. Pletcher said no racing plans would be made until to people in New York and California. to the field after a Friday scratch could be confusing. Asher also the ailment is fully diagnosed. “Now we’re really worried about the horse—really worried. We’re noted that the Derby draws many less-experienced bettors and Pletcher stopped short of saying Uncle Mo is out of training, not worried about his racing; we’re worried about the horse.” also-eligible entries could confuse them. but the Preakness (G1) and Belmont (G1) Stakes seem unlikely. Uncle Mo won his first four career starts before finishing third Asher said Churchill officials look at the process every year and Repole is hoping for a campaign built toward the in the Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial Stakes if they can come up with a plan to iron out some of the concerns, (G1) this summer and the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) this fall. (G1). After the race he was diagnosed with gastrointestinal prob- an also-eligible list could be added in future years. “Right now we have no race plans, period,” Pletcher said. “Until lems. While he has not raced since that April 9 start, he has been Pletcher said Uncle Mo will stay in Kentucky for a while and we know what’s wrong with him, no race plans.”—Frank Angst

KENTUCKY DERBY ing Center in Elkton, Maryland. “That’s about as tough a blow as from page 17 Road to the NOW ONLINE:Visit the Road to the Triple Crown™ Motion said he even got a good you can get the week of the Derby,” on the THOROUGHBRED TIMES website at www.thor- ® night’s sleep, which had been a rar- Motion said. “It was an odd feel- TRIPLE CROWN oughbredtimes.com for extensive coverage of “You may be looking at a Derby ity with two colts approaching the ing … to come [to Churchill] with all the action leading up to the classics. New this year: Weekly analysis by Jeff Lowe and ex- winner there, boys,”Albarado said. Derby. what I felt was a very live horse in presented by panded pedigree commentary on each Triple The Derby Festival Marathon that When Motion stepped into the the Derby but still to have a sense Crown contender. Learn about the trainers, jockeys, owners, and breeders of Triple Crown hopefuls; read previews and results of major prep races; snarls traffic in and around Churchill barn on May 2, assistant trainer of disappointment.” and view a weekly poll of the leading contenders. on the Saturday before the Derby Adrian Rolls delivered the equiva- The twists and turns were not fin- almost prevented Irwin and his wife, lent of a nightmare, informing him ished. Albarado broke his nose in Date Race Trk Dist. Time First three finishers 1/1 S. Aqu 1m70y 1:42.42 MONZON, J J’s Lucky Train, Pants On Fire 1 Kathleen, from seeing any of the that Toby’s Corner was lame be- a post-parade accident on May 4 at 1/1 Tropical Park Derby Crc 1 ⁄8mT 1:49.46 KING CONGIE, Private Prize, Swift Warrior crucial breeze. As it was, they saw hind. Although no injury was pin- Churchill. When he took off his 1/8 Spectacular Bid S. GP 6f 1:11.13 DETERMINATO, Leave of Absence, Cane Garden Baby 1/14 Jean Lafitte S. DeD 1m 1:38.91 DECISIVE MOMENT, Su Casa G Casa, Expecting Cash 1 only a portion. pointed, the colt did not show mounts on May 5-6, Irwin and Mo- 1/15 California Derby GG 1 ⁄16mAW 1:44.56 POSITIVE RESPONSE, Jakesam, Bluegrass Reward 1 Motion filled them in on the work improvement by the next morning, tion decided they needed to find a 1/15 S. (G3) SA 1 ⁄16m 1:40.38 TAPIZAR, Clubhouse Ride, Anthony’s Cross 1/17 Jimmy Winkfield S. Aqu 6f 1:08.33 FORT HUGHES, Royal Currier, Rift 1 in about as enthusiastic as he could so Motion withdrew him from con- new rider. 1/17 San Pedro S. SA 6 ⁄2f 1:15.23 INDIAN WINTER, City Cool, Sinai be in his quiet,deliberative manner. sideration for the Derby. The timing was remarkable,con- 1/17 Smarty Jones S. OP 1m 1:43.07 CALEB’S , Dreaminofthewin, Bluegrass Bull 1/22 Lecomte S. (G3) FG 1m40y 1:40.97 WILKINSON, Pants On Fire, Action Ready “I don’t think it could have gone current with ongoing drama over 1/29 Dancing Count S. Lrl 6f 1:11.76 WICKED THUNDER, Diski Dance, Afternoon Action any better,” Motion said. Down to one the status of Uncle Mo. 1/30 S. (G3) GP 1m 1:35.19 DIALED IN, Sweet Ducky, Gourmet Dinner 2/5 WEBN S. TP 1mAW 1:41.57 TWINSPIRED, R Fast Cat, Taptowne Motion returned home that night Motion returned to Louisville that The champion two-year-old male 1 2/5 Whirlaway S. Aqu 1 ⁄16m 1:45.66 TOBY’S CORNER, J J’s Lucky Train, Preachintothedevil 1 to oversee Toby’s Corner’s last afternoon to focus on Animal of 2010 came out of his shocking 2/6 Hallandale Beach S. GP 1 ⁄16mT 1:41.30 MASTER DUNKER, Brilliant Speed, King Congie 1 2/12 El Camino Real Derby (G3) GG 1 ⁄8mAW 1:50.45 SILVER MEDALLION, Jakesam, Positive Response workout on May 1 at Fair Hill Train- Kingdom. Wood Memorial defeat with a gas- 1 2/12 Robert B. Lewis S. (G2) SA 1 ⁄16m 1:48.63 ANTHONY’S CROSS, Riveting Reason, Quail Hill 1 trointestinal tract infection and con- 2/12 Sam F. Davis S. (G3) Tam 1 ⁄16m 1:45.07 BRETHREN, Too Experience, Watch Me Go 1 2/19 S. (G2) FG 1 ⁄16m 1:43.98 MUCHO MACHO MAN, Santiva, Rogue Romance tinued in full training while he 2/20 San Vicente S. (G2) SA 7f 1:20.34 THE FACTOR, Sway Away, Premier Pegasus underwent treatment. With the pro- 2/21 Southwest S. (G3) OP 1m 1:38.23 ARCHARCHARCH, J P’s Gusto, Elite Alex 1 gressive withdrawal of medication, 2/26 Borderland Derby Sun 1 ⁄16m 1:45.06 FUSA CODE, Behold de Buy, Special Kid 2/26 Fasig-Tipton 1 Uncle Mo’s condition declined,and Fountain of Youth S. (G2) GP 1 ⁄8m 1:50.23 SOLDAT, Gourmet Dinner, To Honor and Serve he was finally withdrawn the morn- 2/26 Hutcheson S. (G2) GP 7f 1:22.03 FLASHPOINT, Travelin Man, Little Drama 2/26 Miracle Wood S. Lrl 7f 1:23.60 J J’S LUCKY TRAIN, Bandbox, Wicked Thunder 1 ing before the Derby after being in- 2/26 Turf Paradise Derby TuP 1 ⁄16m 1:41.99 BEER MEISTER, Indian Winter, Mr Artistic M D 3/5 Fred “Cappy” Capossela S. Aqu 6f 1:10.61 SENSATIONAL SLAM, Diski Dance, Vengeful Wildcat stalled as the 9-to-2 second choice 1 3/5 Gotham S. (G3) Aqu 1 ⁄16m 1:44.78 STAY THIRSTY, Norman Asbjornson, Toby’s Corner 1 behind Dialed In, the morning-line 3/5 John Battaglia Memorial S. TP 1 ⁄16mAW 1:45.13 POSITIVE RESPONSE, Taptowne, Son of Posse favorite at 4-to-1. 3/5 Mountain Valley S. OP 6f 1:11.26 SMOKE IT RIGHT, Keep On Giving, Glint 1 3/12 Palm Beach S. (G3) GP 1 ⁄8mT 1:47.85 JOES BLAZING AARON, Queen’splatekitten, Newsdad 1 Uncle Mo’s defection left Ve- 3/12 San Felipe S. (G2) SA 1 ⁄16m 1:41.23 PREMIER PEGASUS, Jaycito, Bench Points 1 lazquez, the leading active jockey 3/12 (G2) Tam 1 ⁄16m 1:44.25 WATCH ME GO, Crimson Knight, Brethren 3/12 Timely Writer S. GP 1m 1:36.56 UNCLE MO, Rattlesnake Bridge, Gallant Dreams by career purse earnings and a fi- 1 3/14 OBS Championship S. OTC 1 ⁄16mAW 1:47.40 REPRIZED HALO, Extended Family, Strike Oil nalist this year for induction into 3/19 S. Lrl 1m 1:37.25 BANDBOX, Rush Now, No Easy Answer 1 3/19 Rebel S. (G2) OP 1 ⁄16m 1:42.19 THE FACTOR, Caleb’s Posse, Archarcharch the Racing Hall of Fame, without 3/26 S. TP 6fAW 1:10.78 GHOST IS CLEAR, Philippe, Getaway Guy 1 a horse in the Derby, and Motion 3/26 (G2) FG 1 ⁄16m 1:49.92 PANTS ON FIRE, Nehro, Mucho Macho Man 1 3/26 Rushaway S. TP 1 ⁄16mAW 1:45.73 SWIFT WARRIOR, Crimson China, The Ole Gen and Irwin picked him up within a 3/26 UAE Derby (UAE-G2) Mey 1,900mAW 1:58.83 =KHAWLAH (Ire), Master of Hounds, =Mahbooba (Aus) 1 few hours to replace Albarado. 3/26 Vinery Racing Spiral S. (G3) TP 1 ⁄8mAW 1:52.32 ANIMAL KINGDOM, Decisive Moment, Twinspired 1 3/27 Sunland Derby (G3) Sun 1 ⁄8m 1:50.91 TWICE THE APPEAL, Astrology, Winless in 12 previous Derby 1 4/3 (G1) GP 1 ⁄8m 1:50.07 DIALED IN, Shackleford, To Honor and Serve tries, Velazquez had recent experi- 4/3 Swale S. (G2) GP 7f 1:21.94 TRAVELIN MAN, Indiano, Little Drama 1 ence that had not been kind. He lost 4/8 Transylvania S. (G3) Kee 1 ⁄16mT 1:41.99 AIR SUPPORT, Great Mills, Adirondack Summer 4/9 Bay Shore S. (G3) Aqu 7f 1:22.54 J J’S LUCKY TRAIN, Vengeful Wildcat, Justin Phillip 1 expected favorites Quality Road 4/9 TVG (G3) Haw 1 ⁄8m 1:51.91 JOE VANN, Zoebear, The Fed Eased 1 and to injuries the 4/9 Santa Anita Derby (G1) SA 1 ⁄8m 1:48.66 MIDNIGHT INTERLUDE, Comma to the Top, Mr. Commons 4/9 Resorts World New York Casino 1 week before the race in 2009 and Wood Memorial S. (G1) Aqu 1 ⁄8m 1:49.93 TOBY’S CORNER, Arthur’s Tale, Uncle Mo 1 2010, respectively, and went into 4/10 La Puente S. SA 1 ⁄8mT 1:48.70 SURREY STAR (IRE), Major Art (GB), Jakesam 1 4/16 Arkansas Derby (G1) OP 1 ⁄8m 1:49.34 ARCHARCHARCH, Nehro, Dance City 2011 as the rider of both Uncle Mo 4/16 Northern Spur S. OP 1m 1:37.20 UNCLE BRENT, Albergatti, Derivative 1 and To Honor and Serve. 4/16 Toyota Blue Grass S. (G1) Kee 1 ⁄8mAW 1:50.92 BRILLIANT SPEED, Twinspired, King Congie 1 4/23 Coolmore Lexington S. (G3) Kee 1 ⁄16mAW 1:42.03 DERBY KITTEN, Prime Cut, Casper’s Touch Motion simply emphasized that 4/23 Jerome S. (G2) Aqu 1m 1:36.81 ADIOS CHARLIE, Astrology, Justin Phillip Velazquez should try to keep Ani- 4/30 The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial S. (G3) CD 1m 1:35.47 MACHEN, Dominus, J J’s Lucky Train mal Kingdom out of trouble in the 5/7 Kentucky Derby Presented 1 field of 19 on the first fast track for by Yum! Brands (G1) CD 1 ⁄4m 2:02.04 ANIMAL KINGDOM, Nehro, Mucho Macho Man 3 5/21 Preakness S. (G1) Pim 1 ⁄16m the Derby since 2008. Dismissed 1 6/11 Belmont S. (G1) Bel 1 ⁄2m at 30-to-1 on Mike Battaglia’s morn- Triple Crown nominees are listed in bold.

18 THOROUGHBRED TIMES May 14, 2011 introduced at a post-race party at Largest win payoffs the . Year Horse Win price “We’re going to take this horse 1913 $184.90 2009 Mine That Bird 103.20 to St. Moritz this winter and see how he does in the snow,” Irwin 2005 Giacomo 102.60 Team Valor’s Barry Irwin, leading 1940 72.40 quipped, before emotion struck as Animal Kingdom into the winner’s 1999 Charismatic 64.60 his voice cracked and he reached 1967 62.20 circle, lambastes racetrack 1918 61.20 to wipe his eyes, struggling to get management for what he sees as 1953 51.80 out five more words. “It’s a dream mistreatment of racing partnerships 1995 51.00 come true.” and criticizes the media for not 1908 ($5 mutuel) 123.60 1982 Gato Del Sol 44.40 assessing his horse enough as an individual 2011 Animal Kingdom 43.80 Jeff Lowe is a THOROUGHBRED TIMES staff writer. 2002 War Emblem 43.00 Patricia McQueen photo 1936 43.00 1923 40.40 1986 Ferdinand 37.40 ing line, the colt was bet down to THE ONE THING 20.90-to-1 after drawing morning raves all week. Animal Kingdom answered pow- for every part of your horse. erfully. Starting from the 16 post, he settled into 12th place from two or three wide and launched his rally at the three-eighths pole. Angling six wide, he advanced toward game leaders Shackleford and Nehro in the stretch and surged away to cross 3 the wire 2 ⁄4 lengths in front. Animal Kingdom completed the 1 1 ⁄4 miles in 2:02.04, including the JOINT HEALTH DIGESTIVE HEALTH final quarter-mile in a razor-sharp Platinum Performance® Platinum Performance® :24.55,in front of a crowd of 164,858 contains powerful that toppled the 37-year Churchill provides a host of natural record of 163,628 from the centen- ingredients that support ingredients benefi cial to nial Derby in 1974. healthy joint and connective the digestive system, to tissue function. help support your horse’s gastrointestinal tract. Birthplace of Derby winners State/Country Winners Kentucky 104 Florida 6 Virginia 4 California 3 HOOF SUPPORT ATHLETIC Tennessee 3 Platinum Performance® PERFORMANCE New Jersey 2 contains Biotin as part Platinum Performance® Pennsylvania 2 Texas 2 of a network of natural can help support Canada 2 ingredients that help lean muscle and aid in Great Britain 2 maintain hoof health. muscle recovery after Illinois 1 Kansas 1 training or performance. Maryland 1 Missouri 1 Montana 1 New York 1 Ohio 1

WEIGHT SKIN AND COAT Irwin,a longtime writer for Daily MANAGEMENT Racing Form and other industry A blend of several ingredients publications before he solidified his A recent study showed in Platinum Performance®, partnership ventures in the 1980s, that supplementation with provides a comprehensive chided reporters for dwelling too Platinum Performance® approach to a healthy, shiny much on what he considers to be helped horses achieve a coat for your horse. trivial statistics, but Animal King- healthy body condition. dom’s unusual ascent was not lost on him. He noted that the colt was the first Derby winner without a previ- ous start on dirt and the first horse Backed by 15 years of results. since in 1956 to win the classic off a six-week layoff. See the difference just one bucket makes. “I like to try to make history if I can, and we made a lot of history today,” Irwin said. “I’ve only won a couple of really big ones and when it happens, it’s just surreal. That’s all I can tell you. You see it and you know what happened, you’re there, but it’s just hard to process.” Irwin continued to fire off jokes Call us at 1-800-553-2400, speak to your veterinarian or check out and blunt answers,but the enormity real results at www.platinumperformance.com. of the triumph set in when he was

THOROUGHBRED TIMES May 14, 2011 19

Platinum_TOT_your_8.0625x10.5.indd 1 9/9/10 1:39 PM KENTUCKY DERBY OWNER-BREEDER Writing another chapter Team Valor’s homebred Animal Kingdom is the first classic winner for the racing partnership IMES

BY MARK SIMON T HOROUGHBRED

ARRY IRWIN started in

racing as a Turf writer. So Team Valor International PhotosByZ.com/T maybe it was just natural Chief executive officer: Barry Irwin Barry Irwin heads the Team Valor International syndicate that whenB he went to the post-race in- Best horses campaigned by syndicates managed by Irwin: 1989 Breeders’ Cup campaigns Animal Kingdom and races around the world terview as the winning owner of the Turf (G1) winner Prized, 1987 (G1) winner Political Ambition, 1997 Florida Derby (G1) and Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner Captain Bodgit, 1993 Ar- 137th running of the Kentucky lington Million Stakes (G1) winner Star of Cozzene, 2000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) win- Derby Presented by Yum! Brands ner The Deputy (Ire), 2001 Santa Anita Oaks (G1) winner Golden Ballet, 2007 Beldame prominent. In 2010,it attained more Consolidating (G1) that the first thing out of his Stakes (G1) winner Unbridled Belle, 2008 NetJets King’s Bishop Stakes (G1) winner than $2-million in international operations mouth sounded like he was writing Visionaire, 2001 Stakes (G1) winner Cashier’s Dream earnings,its year highlighted by the Not long after last year’s Breeders’ the lead,putting the victory by Team victory of homebred Pluck, trained Cup,Irwin decided he wanted to have Valor International’s Animal King- then by Todd Pletcher, in the all his horses with one trainer in the dom into historical perspective, as “This is the first horse that has won quarter-century. The business has Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) U.S. and convinced Graham Motion, well. this race with only four previous gone through name changes and at Churchill Downs. who is based at Fair Hill Traiing Cen- “I like to try to make history if I starts, since Exterminator in 1918. structure, but it has been one of the This year, Team Valor is the ter in Maryland, to be that person. can, and we made a lot of history The first horse to win the Derby most successful racehorse partner- nation’s leading owner by earn- “This is my 25th year racing today,” said Irwin, chief executive never having raced on dirt. The first ship entities in this country. An op- ings, aided in large part by the horses for a syndicate,” said Irwin, officer of Team Valor who covered horse to win after a six-week lay- eration like Cot Campbell’s $1,411,800 earned by Animal who now resides in Versailles, the sport for the Daily Racing Form off since Needles in 1956. So that Dogwood Stable has been a stan- Kingdom in the Derby. Earlier on Kentucky, with his wife, Kath- in the 1970s on the be- means a lot to me.” dard-bearer for partnerships, but Derby day, Team Valor’s Daveron leen. “I’ve reached the point where fore getting into the bloodstock busi- Irwin, now 68, has been manag- Team Valor, notably in the last sev- (Ger) won the Beaugay Handicap I still want to work hard, but I ness and racehorse syndication. ing racehorse partnerships for a eral years, has been especially (G3) at . don’t want to have 18 trainers. I don’t want to hear stories from 17 trainers every day. Unless you’re there and you have one guy on The breeding side of Team Valor your team that’s on your side, you’re not going to get the truth. Operation has produced Derby winner and Breeders’ Cup winner And I reached the point where I was fed up with it. WHILE PRIMARILY a racing syndicate, cia (Ger), by Acatenango. An- [prospects] for him. I bought “I also wanted to have my horses Team Valor has launched a smaller imal Kingdom is the first Derby three of them, Leroidesani- breeding operation. It typically has about starter bred by Team Valor. maux, Lawyer Ron, and trained off-site from the racetrack, 20 broodmares, 12 of which are sold Dalicia caught Irwin’s eye another horse [Medaglia d’Oro] because racetrack life for a horse and eight of which are part of its per- when she defeated eventual that was already retired.” isn’t any good. And we found Fair manent band. multiple German highweight Irwin noted that Leroidesan- Barry Irwin said most racing partners male Soldier Hollow (GB) in the imaux won an Hill, which is, I wouldn’t say it’s a are not interested in the breeding side 2005 Preis der Sparkassen- as 2005 champion turf male paradise for horses,but it’s the clos- of the business, but it is an option made Finanzgruppe (Ger-G3). After and Lawyer Ron won an est thing to a European training cen- available to potential syndicate mem- her next start, she was pur- Eclipse Award as 2007 cham- ter that we have in America. bers when Team Valor purchases a filly. chased by Team Valor for pion older male. “We buy the , we run them, we 400,000 euros at a Baden- “For doing it, Haisfield—he’s “We have had horses with Gra- breed them, we sell them,” Irwin said. Baden auction. a real entrepreneur and as ham for the last three years. I asked “If we have a horse that didn’t quite She then raced in the U.S. some entrepreneurs are, he’s him early last year if he would train prove themselves in America, and I like for Team Valor and Richard Ha- a cheap guy—he didn’t want it, I will either buy the horse from the isfield’s NeverTell Racing, win- to pay me in cash, so he gave horses for us on a private basis. He partners … or we just keep it and try ning just one of four starts. The me breeding rights.” didn’t want to do it. So we waited to breed it.” decision was made to breed photo Frank Sorge Team Valor’s eight brood- about six, seven months, after he Dalicia, dam of Derby winner Animal Irwin enjoys tracking European rac- her to Leroidesanimaux (Brz), are kept at Craig and had a little more chance to work ing to find potential racehorses and producing Animal Kingdom as Kingdom, was Group 3 winner in Germany Holly Bandoroff’s Denali Stud broodmares. He trusts European per- her first foal. Dalicia was sold and an optional claiming winner in the U.S. in Paris, Kentucky. In Novem- with me, and I asked him again, and formance because the countries do not for $397,316 to Shadai Farm ber, Team Valor’s breeding op- he decided to do it. permit race-day medications. at the 2009 Tattersalls December mixed Comfortable in many industry areas, eration picked up a Breeders’ Cup “It’s hard to find one guy that can “In Germany, you are not allowed to sale. Irwin through his ties to Haisfield made World Championships win when the breed a mare that has ever raced on “In this instance, we kept the mare Leroidesanimaux an easy option as a More Than Ready colt Pluck won the train every kind of horse, but I think drugs, [Salix], Bute, nothing,” Irwin said. [for breeding]—and I wanted to keep to Dalicia. Team Valor had breed- Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2). Pluck Graham comes pretty darned close.” “So when you buy some stock from her forever—but Haisfield had some fi- ing rights to the young stallion follow- is out of Secret Heart (SAf), a stakes- Irwin, who was at times was a there, you know you’re getting some- nancial difficulties, so we had to sell ing a stallion deal Irwin worked on for winning mare Irwin purchased for Team thing good.” her,” Irwin said. Haisfield’s racing op- Haisfield. Valor while still racing in her native controversial Turf writer, could not Irwin’s international ties paid off in erations went through a bankruptcy in “I got hired by [Haisfield],” Irwin said. land before importing to the U.S. help but make a few pointed re- landing Animal Kingdom’s dam, Dali- 2010. “He wanted me to buy some stallion —Frank Angst marks in the post-race press con-

20 THOROUGHBRED TIMES May 14, 2011 ference about the underappreciated He had an extra little punch. ... It was bers close to 100 horses, races in racing, even when I was a Turf tougher and stronger and sounder. role of partnerships. a tough race for me ... and it was very South Africa, England, France, writer,” he said. “It’s more interest- “We won the Breeders’Cup [Ju- “Let me say one other thing,” hard to get over it. But I was hoping Germany, Uruguay,Argentina, and ing. I’m the kind of guy that gets venile Turf] with a horse that was he remarked. “This was a big I would be back again and be able to Brazil, in addition to North Amer- bored very easily. I need a lot of out of a mare that I brought from weekend for the partnerships; win it, and it happened.” ica. This is an outgrowth of Irwin’s different things to do. Following in- South Africa, and [Animal King- Peachtree Stable [owner of Ken- In 2007,Irwin bought out Siegel’s interest in international racing, and ternational racing is a lot of fun. dom is out of] a horse that I bought tucky Oaks (G1) winner Plum interests to become the sole owner a necessity as the stable combs the “I also think that we have not done in Germany.” Pretty] and Cot Campbell [owner of Team Valor. world looking for racing prospects enough importing of horses and of Churchill Downs Stakes (G2) The International part of Team that can be bought and either cam- bloodlines from other places where Mark Simon is editor of THOROUGHBRED TIMES. winner Aikenite] won big races. Valor’s name was added at that paigned in their home country or horses don’t run on drugs, and His e-mail address is msimon@thoroughbred I hope these racetracks pay atten- time, an appropriate addition, as brought to the U.S. horses’ legs are not manipulated, times.com. tion to the partnerships and treat the stable, which sometimes num- “I’ve always liked international and horses,basically,are bigger and us a little better than they have been treating us.” While he declined further com- ment during the press conference (“I think the people that hear that, they will know exactly what I mean; it does not require elaboration”), afterward he said, “If partnerships did not enter any horses in races for a week,they would have a hard time filling races.” Irwin knows well the importance and challenges of racing partner- ships, and the demands they can make on racetracks,which have lim- ited seating,especially for big events. The syndicate that races Animal Kingdom is composed of 20 shares, so once you start adding spouses, children,relatives,and friends,man- aging the social aspect of a partner- ship can be a demanding job. Owners bought into Animal King- dom at different times, with the ini- tial investors buying in at a valuation of $100,000, while other came in at $150,000 and $350,000. Irwin said someone bought an interest be- fore the Derby at a valuation of $2- million. Homebred winner What made Animal Kingdom’s classic triumph particularly reward- ing for Irwin and Team Valor is that Animal Kingdom is a homebred, and Team Valor has not been in the breeding end of the business for long. The homebreds are the result of fillies and mares that had been raced by Team Valor and retired as broodmares. (See sidebar on Team Valor’s breeding operation.) Irwin started his entrepreneurial foray into the sport first by form- ing Pacifica in 1978, buying and selling horses, and in 1987 formed Clover Racing with newspaper handicapper Jeff Siegel, with the object of buying racehorses in training and then syndicating them and managing their careers. The partners enjoyed some high- profile success with such horses as Prized,winner of the 1989 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), and Political Am- bition, winner of the 1987 Holly- wood Derby (G1). Clover eventually turned into Team Valor in 1992, and in 1997, Team Valor brought to the Derby Captain Bodgit, winner of the Florida Derby (G1) and Wood Memorial Stakes (G2). “I had utter confidence in the horse,” Irwin said of Captain Bodgit. “I really did not think he would lose. I knew how good [eventual winner] Silver Charm was and I knew that when you came to him, he just didn’t quit.

THOROUGHBRED TIMES May 14, 2011 21 KENTUCKY DERBY PEDIGREE From turf to dirt Animal Kingdom’s ancestry is completely

dominated by grass specialists Courtesy of Stonewall Farm/Suzie Picou Oldham photo Leroidesanimaux, who stands for $7,500 at Stonewall Farm Ocala in Florida, BY JOHN P. SPARKMAN raced exclusively on turf and sires winner of America’s most prestigious race when Animal Kingdom wins Kentucky Derby in his dirt debut

1 OR THE last 20 years or so, 522 foals (17.6%), including dirt importation to serve Northern Hemi- by when second in Pokal (Ger-G3), all at around 1 ⁄4 American breeders have champions , Sky sphere seasons at Taylor Made Farm the NetJets Breeders’Cup Mile (G1), miles, before winning the Preis der F been strongly averse to Beauty, , Blushing Katy, and (1997-1999) and Stoneriggs Farm Leroidesanimaux had done enough Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe (Ger-G3) foreign-raced horses and American . (2000), but the experiment was not to earn his Eclipse Award. at the same distance at Baden-Baden, turf horses as breeding prospects. also sired top European runners a success. Animal Kingdom is from the sec- defeating multiple Group 1 winner Perhaps the success of Animal King- (a great sire Soldier Hollow (GB). dom, neither of whose parents ever in Europe), , Fire Acquired by Team Valor won on dirt, will help correct the the Groom, Groom Dancer, American classic winners from the * male line for 400,000 euros at a Baden- somewhat irrational bias against and Sillery, and his progeny Horse Year Race(s) Sire Sire-line branch Baden sale at the end of that grass runners that has rather warped seemed equally effective on Aloma’s Ruler 1982 Preakness Iron Ruler season, Dalicia raced five the American breeding scene for dirt and turf. Animal Kingdom 2011 Derby Leroidesanimaux (Brz) Blushing Groom (Fr) times in the U.S. for Team A.P. Indy 1992 Belmont Seattle Slew the last two decades. Blushing Groom’s son 2006 Preakness A.P. Indy Bold Ruler Valor and Richard and Au- In fact, the pedigree of Animal , out of Bub- 1976 Derby, Belmont Irish Castle Bold Ruler drey Haisfield’s NeverTell 1 Kingdom is pretty much all turf all ble Company (Fr), by Bold Ruler 1957 Preakness *Nasrullah Bold Ruler Racing, winning a 1 ⁄4-mile Cannonade 1974 Derby Bold Ruler optional claiming race on the the time. The closest ancestor in his , clearly possessed 1983 Belmont Cannonade Bold Ruler five-cross pedigree who won on dirt high-class ability but was Dust Commander 1970 Derby Bold Commander Bold Ruler Hollywood Park turf and fin- is , his great-great- not very sound. Winner of a Foolish Pleasure 1975 Derby Bold Ruler ishing fourth in the 2006 Bev- 1968 Derby, Preakness On-and-On On-and-On erly Hills Handicap (G2). grandsire, a temperamental son of maiden race at 1,600 meters 1962 Belmont *Nasrullah Jaipur *Nasrullah who began his racing (7.95 furlongs) in his debut 1975 Preakness Dust Commander Bold Ruler Dalicia is one of 80 stakes career on turf in England, but won at three, he finished third in 1955 Preakness, Belmont *Nasrullah Nashua winners from 593 foals the Handicap at Belmont the Poule d’Essai des Rags to Riches 2007 Belmont A.P. Indy Bold Ruler (13.5%) sired by Acate- Risen Star 1988 Preakness, Belmont Secretariat Bold Ruler nango, one of the greatest Park on dirt after returning to the Poulains (Fr-G1) (French Seattle Slew 1977 Derby, Preakness, Belmont Bold Ruler U.S. at four. Two Thousand Guineas) in Secretariat 1973 Derby, Preakness, Belmont Bold Ruler Bold Ruler racehorses and sires in Ger- Red God returned to Europe for his third start but was pro- Spectacular Bid 1979 Derby, Preakness Bold Bidder Bold Ruler man history. Acatenango led Swale 1984 Derby, Belmont Seattle Slew Bold Ruler the German sire list four his stud career to stand at Loughton moted to second behind No Winning Colors 1988 Derby (Ire) Caro (Ire) times, and the German Stud in Ireland, where he sired 57 Pass No Sale on the disqual- broodmare sire list once. His stakes winners from 495 foals ification of River Mist. ond crop of Leroidesanimaux and best offspring include high- (11.5% stakes winners to foals), in- Candy Stripes continued his good weights (Ger),Quijano (Ger), cluding Animal Kingdom’s great- American sojourn work in the Southern Hemisphere, he is one of only three stakes win- ners from 140 foals age three and and (Ger), and his daughters grandsire, Blushing Groom (Fr). Candy Stripes ran only three more however,and in 2006 his Argentine- have produced 37 stakes winners. older by his sire. Blushing Groom was one of the times, winning an allowance race bred son (Arg) (Quendom, Dalicia’s female line has been res- Animal Kingdom is the first Ken- greatest U.S.-based sires during that at four, and spent most of his stud by Interprete) earned Horse of the ident in Central and Eastern Europe tucky Derby winner and first Amer- most international of decades, the career in Argentina, where he led Year honors in the U.S. since her English-bred tenth dam, ican classic winner from the Blushing 1980s. Champion two-year-old in the sire list in 1995 and 2000. The Invasor was not Candy Stripes’ Ardentive,by William the Third,was France in 1976 and champion Eu- success of his third-crop daughter first American champion, though, Groom male line,but the 11th Derby exported to Hungary about 100 years ropean miler at three, Blushing Different (Arg) (out of Diferente since Animal Kingdom’s sire, winner from the male line of Blush- ago. The family has repeatedly pro- Groom sired 92 stakes winners from [Arg], by Propicio) motivated his Leroidesanimaux (Brz) (Dissemble, ing Groom’s grandsire,*Nasrullah. duced high-class horses, including by ),had earned champion German classic winner Diacada. Animal Kingdom, ch. c., 2008 turf male honors in 2005. Leroidesan- German mare Dalicia’s full sister, Darwinia, is the Bred in Germany by Carlton Con- *Nasrullah 40 imaux (whose name means “King dam of Daveron (Ger),by Black Sam Blushing Groom (Fr) 74 Red God 54 Spring Run 48 sultants Ltd., Animal Kingdom’s 82 512 fls, 92 SWs of the Animals”in French) had begun Bellamy, who won the Beaugay Candy Stripes =Wild Risk (Fr) 40 SI 4.76 DI=1.52 Runaway Bride (GB) 62 2 wins, $47,357, Spl =Aimee (GB) 57 his racing career in his native Brazil, dam, Dalicia (Ger), never raced on Stakes (G3) on Derby day. 1001 fls, 61 SWs 61 dirt in 21 starts. Unplaced in her SI 2.31 DI=2.11 Bubble Company (Fr) 77 Lyphard 69 where he was bred by the Levy fam- Animal Kingdom is Dalicia’s first 10 fls, 3 SWs Goofed 60 =Prominer (GB) 62 ily’s Haras Bage do Sul. Goncalo only start as a two-year-old, she foal, and she has an unraced two- Leroidesanimaux (Brz) 00 DI=1.88 Prodice (Fr) 69 152 fls, 3 SWs =Euridice (Fr) 62 Borges de Torrealba’s Stud TNT pur- showed immediate improvement year-old colt by Mr. Greeley named *Klairon 52 SI 3.40 DI=1.67 =Ahonoora (GB) 75 * 65 =Phoenissa (GB) 51 chased Leroidesanimaux as a year- when tried at distances of around Thursby. Team Valor sold Dalicia to Dissemble (GB) 89 467 fls, 45 SWs =Martial (Ire) 57 1 Unraced SI 2.00 DI=3.00 =Helen Nichols (GB) 66 ling for about $16,000 at a Bage do 1 ⁄4 miles and beyond as a three- Shadai Farm for $397,316 at the 2009 9 fls, 3 SWs =Quaker Girl (GB) 61 =High Hat (GB) 57 Sul dispersal in 2001. Unplaced in year-old. Second in the listed Jean Tattersalls Ltd. December mixed sale. DI=1.29 =Kerali (GB) 84 =High Line (GB) 66 10 fls, 3 SWs =Time Call (GB) 55 his first start on dirt, he won his sec- Harzheim-Rennen, she did not win Animal Kingdom is inbred 4x4 to 69 DI=1.21 Sookera 75 Lyphard, but his pedigree is other- Irule 68 ond start on turf and then ran sec- until her sixth sophomore start,beat- =Birkhahn (Ger) 45 =Surumu (Ger) 74 =Literat (Ger) 65 ond to Ay Caramba (Brz) in the Gran ing the eventual multiple group- wise an outcross. Perhaps his Derby 517 fls, 60 SWs =Lis (Ger) 60 victory will remind American =Acatenango (Ger) 82 =Reliance II (Fr) 62 Premio Associacao Brasileira de Cri- winning colt Egerton over 2,000 SI 1.64 DI=0.29 =Surama (Ger) 70 16 wins, $164,296 =Suncourt (GB) 52 adores e Proprietarios do Cavalo de meters (9.94 furlongs) at Hannover. breeders that horses raced only on Champion =Combat (GB) 44 588 fls, 80 SWs =Aggravate (GB) 66 * II 55 turf have been producing top Amer- 9 fls, 3 SWs =Phaetonia (GB) 45 Corrida (Brz-G1). Fourth in the Prix du Prince d’Or- SI 2.52 DI=0.71 =Mr. Jinks (GB) 26 ican dirt horses for centuries. Dalicia (Ger) 01 DI=3.00 =Raven Locks (GB) 45 Imported to the U.S.,Leroidesan- ange (Fr-G3), she disappointed in 2 fls, 1 SW =Gentlemen’s Relish (GB) 26 Northern Dancer 61 imaux finished fourth in his first her final German start at three. DI=0.78 83 Lyphard 69 =Dynamis (Ire) 91 412 fls, 38 SWs Goofed 60 start and then won eight races in Dalicia ran fourth in another John P. Sparkman is bloodstock editor of Drone 66 Placed, $5,382 SI 2.47 DI=2.36 Navajo Princess 74 THOROUGHBRED TIMES and author of Foundation 5 fls, 1 SW Olmec 66 succession, including the 2004 Ci- French group race,the Prix Corrida =Sparkler (GB) 68 Mares. His e-mail address is ormonde1@ DI=1.91 =Diasprina (Ger) 86 =Aspros (Ger) 77 tation Handicap (G1) and 2005 Atto (Fr-G2), in her second start at four, 12 fls, 3 SWs =Antwerpen (Ger) 72 gmail.com. More of his work can be viewed =Rheffic (Fr) 68 Mile Stakes (Can-G1) and Frank and third in the listed Grand Prix DI=0.00 =Dorle (GB) 74 at http://pedigreecurmudgeon.blogspot.com. =Diu (Ger) 69 E. Kilroe Mile Handicap (G1). Upset de Compiegne and the Lotto Hessen-

22 THOROUGHBRED TIMES May 14, 2011 KENTUCKY DERBY POST-RACE Matt Goins photo A celebration even in defeat Few excuses, other than a slow pace, were offered after the race by Derby connections

BY ED DEROSA

HIS YEAR’S Kentucky “To think he was just a maiden thought the six weeks between Derby Presented by Yum! winner seven weeks [ago],I’m very Mucho Macho Man’s third-place T Brands (G1) was one of the proud of what he’s accomplished,” finish in the Louisiana Derby (G2) cleanest-run editions of America’s said , who trains and the Kentucky Derby may have most famous race, leaving the con- the Mineshaft colt for Ahmed compromised his chances for a bet- nections of the beaten horses behind Zayat’s Zayat Stables. “He’s done ter performance. The Macho Uno winner Animal Kingdom to ruminate it with talent and has just shown un- colt was rolling late, but his rally fell on their experiences surrounding the believable class.” a neck short of catching Nehro for race rather than on the “what ifs.” If any element of this year’s Derby second. Nehro finished second in The wide-open nature of this caused trouble for some starters, it the Louisiana Derby but ran back in 1 year’s race allowed the attention to was the pace of the 1 ⁄4-mile race. the Arkansas Derby three weeks later. be spread among the field. Three Shackleford set the tempo through The Arkansas Derby is three weeks women had a chance to become the quarter-mile splits of :23.24,:25.39, before the Kentucky Derby and in first woman to ride or train a Derby :24.77, and :24.09 to a mile, and recent years has produced classic winner; local connections featured that dawdling pace may have com- winners Smarty Jones (2004), prominently; and the concept of promised the chances of closers (2007), and Super Saver (2010). what an ideal Derby prep schedule such as Nehro and 5.20-to-1 favorite “He’s only going to get better,” should look like continued to evolve. Dialed In. Ritvo said. “[Jockey] Rajiv [Maragh] “There was way less pace than I said he gave it his all and tried really Derby runner-up thought there would be, and thank hard.” Nehro had the busiest goodness [jockey] Corey [Nakatani] Ritvo credited being involved prep schedule, racing was smart enough to take advan- with Mucho Macho Man and co- five times in five tage of that,” Asmussen said. owners Reeves Thoroughbred Rac- months before the ing and Dream Team One Racing Derby, recording a pair of runner- Another changing ele- Stable with generating positive pub- up finishes in the Louisiana Derby ment to the prep sched- licity for organ donation and heart

(G2) and Arkansas Derby (G1) after ule is the amount of Patricia McQueen photo conditions. winning a maiden race in his third time between races,and ’s Nehro finishes second for third consecutive time career start on February 21. trainer Kathy Ritvo after taking a brief lead in the stretch continued on page 24

THOROUGHBRED TIMES May 14, 2011 23

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