**Please see the attached photos, one of Toby's Corner winning the Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial and one of Toby's Corner's connections from the post-race press conference, Mr. Julian Cotter, owner Mrs. Dianne Cotter, and Trainer Graham Motion. Credit NYRA.**
Saturday, April 9, 2011
TOBY'S CORNER PULLS STUNNING UPSET IN $1 MILLION RESORTS WORLD
By Jenny Kellner
The neck victory was the race's biggest upset since Secretariat finished third to Angle Light by four lengths in 1973.
Ridden by Eddie Castro, Toby's Corner, a 3-year-old son of 2005 Wood winner Bellamy Road, stayed on the rail as 1-10 favorite Uncle Mo led the field through an opening half-mile in 47.98, three-quarters in 1:12.28 and a mile in 1:37.26 while under pressure from a trio of longshots. Advancing steadily after having been shuffled back to last at the half-mile pole, Toby's Corner kicked into gear once tipped to the outside in the stretch. As
Uncle Mo, the 2010 Eclipse winner as the nation's Top 2-Year-Old Male and the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby, finished third, another length back, as he suffered his first loss in five starts.
"I can't say I'm shocked but I'm disappointed," said Todd Pletcher, who trains
"He came a little flat down the lane," said jockey John Velazquez. "Hopefully we can get him back together and get him back to the
It was the fourth win in five starts and first in a graded stakes for the late-developing Toby's Corner, who broke his maiden at Laurel Park on November 25 in his second start. Winner of an optional claimer at Laurel in January, Toby's Corner traveled to New York in February to win the Whirlaway Stakes by two lengths over J J's Lucky Train – who won the Grade 3 Bay Shore earlier on Saturday's card – and then came back to the Big A to finish third behind the Repole-owned Stay Thirsty in the Grade 3 Gotham on March 5.
"Oh, I'm surprised," said Graham Motion, who equipped Toby's Corner with blinkers for the Wood. "I think [the blinkers] were big. It's the first time he's really run straight like that. I should have done it a long time ago.
"I was worried it was going to make him keen, and he was actually more relaxed with them on. I've never had a horse respond like that to them."
The 8-1 second choice in the field of 10, Toby's Corner returned $19.40 for a $2 win bet to his backers in the crowd of 12,144. The winner's purse of $600,000 increased his earnings to $722,240, which put him solidly amongst the top tier of 3-year-olds vying for 20 berths in the May 7
"We're going [to the
Arthur's Tale, who was sent off as the third choice at 20-1, might also be making the trip to
"It looks like he's starting to get his act together now, and it looked like he ran on at the end," said trainer Tom Albertrani. "I'll talk to the Sheikh [Mohammed] and we'll make some decisions this week. A lot depends on earnings, I guess.
"We were kind of using this as a steppingstone to keep him on a schedule, but now we may be thinking differently."
Finshing fourth was Norman Asbjornson, who was followed by Isn't He Perfect, Starship Caesar, Son of Posse, Preachintothedevil and Duca.
Plans still called for Uncle Mo, who won his first four starts by a combined margin of 27 lengths, to go on to the 1 ¼-mile Derby, providing the Indian Charlie colt comes out of his first defeat in good order, said Pletcher.
"My confidence hasn't changed in the horse," said the trainer, who won last year's Wood with Eskendereya and then took his first Kentucky Derby with Super Saver. "He's got a good win at Churchill [Breeders' Cup Juvenile], and maybe this is what he needed to step forward four weeks from now."
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