By Bill Finley
Irish War Cry (Curlin) has not had a workout since his disappointing effort in the March 4 GII Fountain of Youth S., but that is about to change. Trainer Graham Motion said that weather permitting, the New Jersey-bred will work five furlongs Saturday morning at Palm Meadows.
“Everybody is freaking out because the horse hasn't worked, but I don't work my horses every two weeks,” Motion said. “I've never done that, even with [future GI Kentucky Derby winner] Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). I always work my horses three weeks after a race. This is no different than with anyone else.”
Motion said that Irish War Cry's next start will probably come in the GII Wood Memorial S. Aqueduct Apr. 8.
“Most likely I will ship him home to Fair Hill on Sunday and point for the Wood,” he said. “I'm not completely committed to it, but that's the way I am leaning. He'll have one work at Palm Meadows and one more at Fair Hill before his next race. So far as not running in the [GI] Florida Derby, I like the idea of having an extra week. I'm also worried about running him on that track [at Gulfstream] when he's coming off a very disappointing race. Of all the preps, the Florida Derby should be the toughest prep being that it's the only Grade I in the East.”
As the 11-10 favorite, Irish War Cry was seventh in the Fountain of Youth, beaten 21 3/4 lengths. He looked nothing like the horse who had won the GII Holy Bull S. by 3 3/4 lengths.
“It's still a mystery.” Motion said of the Fountain of Youth. “The only thing I can think of is that it was a perfect storm of bouncing, laying too close to the pace on cuppy, drying-out track. It was very windy that weekend and anyone not there wouldn't realize how dry it was. I know I'm reaching, but that's the only thing I can come up with. He certainly
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
