METTLE OF VALOR
Youngstown businessman Bruce Zoldan, a partner in the Team Valor horse racing consortium, holds the bridle of Went the Day Well, the team’s contender in the 138th Kentucky Derby. Last year, Team Valor’s Animal Kingdom won the 137th Kentucky Derby as a 21-1 longshot. Went the Day Well also is expected to be a 20-1 longshot in this year’s race, which is Saturday at Churchill Downs.
TEAM’S WENT THE DAY WELL TO run for Roses
Staff/wire report
LOUISVILLE, KY.
When you own the defending champion, flying under the radar when you return to the Kentucky Derby is probably not the easiest mission.
Still, that’s what some members of the horse racing consortium Team Valor, which includes Youngstown businessman Bruce Zoldan, are hoping for as the 138th Run for the Roses approaches.
Last year, Team Valor’s Animal Kingdom came from way behind to win the Kentucky Derby as a 21-1 longshot. Two weeks later in Baltimore, Animal Kingdom was second by half a length to Shackleford in the Preakness Stakes, just missing a shot at racing’s Triple Crown.
This year, Team Valor will be represented on Saturday at Churchill Downs by Went the Day Well, winner of the March 24 Grade III Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park, in Florence, Ky.
Like Animal Kingdom, Went the Day Well is expected to be a longshot in the 20-1 range. Zoldan, the chief executive officer and president of BJ Alan/Phantom Fireworks, is comfortable with other horses getting time in the spotlight, a philosophy that worked well for Animal Kingdom.
“We feel there are a lot of horses that are getting the hype from winning larger prep races,” said Zoldan, citing the Florida Derby, the Santa Anita Derby, the Wood Memorial and Bluegrass Stakes.
“Those were million-dollar prep races,” Zoldan said. “Our horse won a $500,000 race. Historically, the horses that get more publicity don’t often win the Derby. Animal Kingdom proved that you don’t have to win a big prep race to win it.”
Animal Kingdom won the 2011 Spiral Stakes.
In the past 20 Derbies, Zoldan said three champions advanced from winning major prep races.
Zoldan has been a member of Barry Irwin’s Team Valor for more than 15 years. Familiar faces from last year’s success are surrounding Went the Day Well. Graham Motion, who trained Animal Kingdom, has the same role with Went the Day Well.
Motion doesn’t mind if the spotlight stays away from his group and horse again.
“I’d say last year we probably floated in under the radar a bit. And I’m fine floating under the radar,” he told the Associated Press. “The biggest races I’ve won in my life I’ve been [a long shot] so I have no problem being under the radar.”
The jockey will be John Velazquez, a newly elected Hall of Famer who was an emergency replacement jockey for Animal Kingdom in the Derby. Three days before the last Kentucky Derby, jockey Robby Albarado was injured during a practice and Irwin replaced him with Velaquez.
“Animal Kingdom was a very sort of green, very laid-back horse this time last year who I would never have imagined he would have been my first Kentucky Derby winner,” Motion said, comparing his current contender.
“Developmentally they’re probably in very similar stages, perhaps even Went the Day Well is a little further ahead even.”
Saturday, Zoldan was among the many who watched Went the Day Well’s final workout before the Derby.
“Barry and Graham both were impressed,” Zoldan said of the six-furlong workout. “He showed that he likes the dirt. We think we have a shot.”
Animal Kingdom’s first race on dirt came in the Kentucky Derby. Five weeks later at the soggy Belmont Stakes, Animal Kingdom got off to a slow start and was hindered by mud that flew into his face. The horse suffered an injury that kept him idle for the rest of 2012.
Went the Day Well already has raced on dirt tracks.
As owners of a Derby winner, Zoldan said Team Valor members will receive more media attention as the race nears.
Zoldan, who admits he’s a little superstitious, is staying in the same hotel as last year.
“But it’s the same hotel I’ve stayed in for the past 25 Kentucky Derbies.”
He hasn’t decided if he’ll wear the same shirt he wore on race day a year ago.
“If I don’t, it will be in a bag with me,” Zoldan said.