Trainer:James Jerkens Jockey:John Velazquez Foaling Date: 3-23-2006 Pedigree: Elusive Quality - Kobla by Strawberry Road Dosage Profile: 7-3-11-1-0 Dosage Index/CD: 2.38 0.73 2008 Record: 1 Starts: 1 - 0 - 0, $25,800 Best Beyer Figure: 113 Note: Won his only start last year, a maiden special weight at Aqueduct in late November. Lead and faded to 2nd in an allowance at Gulfstream Park to Theregoesjojo then lead and drew off to win the Fountain of Youth over the same rival. Took command on the backstretch in the Florida Derby and held off Dunkirk to win by 2 lengths. Was included in the late Triple Crown nominees released on April 1st. Was announced on 4/6 that he has a quarter crack in his right hind foot. His trainer Jimmy Jerkens noticed it in the winner's circle for the Florida Derby and had a patch put on it right away, before his last workout. Jerkens said, "You hope it was resolved by now, that's for sure, but he's not out of it yet. The fact that he's not lame from it is a good thing." The same specialist who treated Big Brown last year is working on him. On Friday April 24, they found he has developed another quarter-crack, this one on the inside of his right-front hoof. Finally on Monday April 27 they threw in the towel and took him out of the Derby. Chris Baker, farm manager of Edward Evans' Spring Hill Farm said, "There was some tenderness in the foot this morning and he's not 100%. (Trainer) Jimmy (Jerkens) wasn't comfortable breezing him, and without a work, he can't go. He's not going to make the race."
Owner Edward P. Evans was offered $2.5 million for him back in November after his maiden win at Aqueduct but turned it down. Evans recalled, "They said the buyer wanted to win the (Kentucky) Derby. I thought about it and said, 'The owner would like to win the Derby, too.'"
Quality Road out of the Kentucky Derby - Due to his quarter crack problems, Florida Derby winner Quality Road miss the Kentucky Derby. Depending on how quickly they heal, he could still show up for the Preakness or Belmont.
Manhattan Handicap (G1) and Just a Game Stakes (G1) Results - On the Belmont undercard, Gio Ponti won over Marsh Side and Better Talk Now in the Manhattan Handicap, while Diamondrella beat favorite Forever Together in the Just a Game Stakes. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Acorn Stakes (G1), True North Handicap (G2), and Woody Stephens Stakes (G2) Results - Also on the Belmont undercard, Gabby's Golden Gal upset favorite Justwhistledixie in the Acorn, top choice Fabulous Strike beat defending champ Benny the Bull in the True North Handicap, and Munnings won by 5 1/4 lengths in the Woody Stephens Stakes. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Brooklyn Handicap (G2) and Hill Prince Stakes - Eldaafer got up by a nose to win the Brooklyn Handicap over pacesetter Nite Light in the slop, with favorite Rising Moon third. In the Hill Prince Stakes, which was taken off the turf, Despite the Odds drew away to win by 7 1/2 lengths. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
2009 Belmont Stakes Entries - A field of 10 was entered with Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up Mine That Bird the 2-1 morning line favorite from post 7. Get the entries, post positions, odds, and free past performances here.
Belmont Stakes Friday Workouts - Photos of 5 of the Belmont Stakes horses on the sloppy track in the rain Friday morning, including Mine That Bird. Get the details and photos here.
Belmont Contenders Weekend Workouts - Five of the likely entrants for next weekend's Belmont Stakes had timed works at Belmont Park on May 30-31, including Charitable Man and Dunkirk. Get the details and photos here.
Rachel Alexandra wins the Preakness - She led most of the way and was ahead by 4 at the top of the stretch, then held off Mine That Bird by a length. Musket Man was another 1/2 length back in third. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Preakness undercard stakes results - There were 7 other stakes on the card, most of them grade 2 or 3, including the Dixie Stakes (G2) won by Parading.
