Keeneland: Motion has full barn for spring meet

He might be an Englishman living happily in Maryland, but in April and October, Graham Motion is as active at Keeneland as any Kentucky hardboot.

Motion had entries in five races on the Friday opener and three more Saturday, a trend in keeping with recent meets. Motion has been in the top five in wins at five straight meets, dating to fall 2011, and usually is among the leaders in starts.

“We’ve got a full barn here this spring, which is more than we usually bring,” said Jane Buchanan, racing manager for Motion. “We’re loaded most every day with horses for stakes, allowances, and quite a few maiden races. We like the seven furlongs for first-time starters. They’ve all been training at Palm Meadows and Fair Hill and are ready to run.”

On Saturday, Motion will be in Florida to saddle Ring Weekend as the favorite for the Calder Derby in his final prep for the Kentucky Derby. He is expected to be here next weekend.

Buchanan said they are particularly excited about a 3-year-old colt named Thunder Strike, who will make his North American debut in a third-level allowance at this meet.

◗ Typical for a Saturday program at Keeneland, the Ashland undercard is a real gem, with four allowances and three maiden special weight races supporting the Grade 1 feature.

The first race of the day is the first for 2-year-olds in Kentucky this year, with the uncoupled Wesley Ward pair of Time Out of Mind and Climb In Back likely to dominate the wagering.

The fifth race, a $68,000 turf allowance, drew millionaire Forte Dei Marmi and Grade 1 winners Up With the Birds and Boisterous among a field of seven older horses.