Real Story could come back in Secretariat

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – All Real Story wants to do is run free.

Try to restrain the horse and you are in for a battle you both will lose. Let Real Story dictate his race, as happened Saturday in the American Derby, and he’ll show his best.

Real Story, all on his own, darted off to a clear early lead through a quick 23.25-second opening quarter-mile in the American Derby. Then he settled into a strong rhythm, essentially going 12-second furlongs the rest of the 1 1/8-mile race, and never was threatened. He got an 86 Beyer Speed Figure and might have earned a start in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes here on Aug. 11.

“It’s not set in stone we go there; there are a lot of things to consider,” said trainer Ignacio Correas. “I’d prefer to stay at home. It would have to be a super-tough race to get me out. He lives 300 yards away from the track.”

Real Story, a Fast Bullet gelding bred and owned by Jeffrey Amling and Merriebelle Stables, has three wins from six starts and two throw-out races. The first was a failed dirt experiment, the second a turf allowance race at Churchill Downs in which Correas instructed jockey Florent Geroux to try and rate Real Story behind horses.

“I think they fought for seven furlongs,” said Correas. “It was brutal, but it was all my fault.”

Jose Valdivia rode Real Story to an easy Arlington allowance win, but in the American Derby he was committed to Arlington Classic winner Ezmosh, who would finish seventh. So Joe Bravo got the mount on Real Story.

Correas made a change in the morning, too, minimizing Real Story’s fast workouts to focus on long, controlled gallops.

“We already know he has speed,” Correas said. “I decided to train him like a stayer.”

Real Story stays with the Correas string at Arlington. Back at Keeneland, the trainer is preparing Dona Bruja for the Beverly D. Stakes on the Arlington Million program. Dona Bruja dead-heated for second in the race last year, and after requiring some time to bounce back from a draining fifth-place finish April 14 in the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland, the mare is back on track.

“She’s training very, very well,” said Correas.