Barn Tour: Quality over quantity is working well for Motion

In the last 10 years or so, the number of Graham Motion's starters has steadily declined. He's had 347 starts this year, down from a high of 782 in 2014.

"That was by design," Motion told Horse Racing Nation on Tuesday. "We used to have two barns at Fair Hill, and we sold one of them several years ago now with the idea of trying to concentrate a little bit more on quality than quantity."

It seems to have worked. Motion's 12 graded-stakes wins this year are the most he's had since 2017, when he had the same number of graded wins with 609 starters. And there could be more on the way.

Motion said he generally has about 100 horses in training during the summer, and probably 70 to 80 over the winter, when he will split his operations between Fair Hill, Palm Meadows and Tampa.

He provided updates on his stakes winners and other talented runners for HRN's Barn Tour series.

Test Score. The 3-year-old Lookin at Lucky colt won the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita on Oct. 25 and remained in California ahead of Saturday's Hollywood Derby (G1) at the same 1 1/8-mile distance. "I think it's a good race. It's a very competitive race. But he's doing really well, and I think it's a good distance for him."

Laurelin. The 3-year-old filly by Zarak started her career with five straight wins, culminating with a victory in the Saratoga Oaks (G2). Then she was second to Lush Lips in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) and second to Fionn in the Jockey Club Oaks (G3) last out. "She's going to get a little break now over the winter. Probably keep her up here at Fair Hill." As for he last two starts, Motion said, "those two fillies seem to have taken turns beating each other, right? So I think that she ran well. I do think she handled the distance. I just think they're two very nice fillies." He expects she will return in the spring at Keeneland or Aqueduct.

One Stripe. After starting his career with six wins from nine starts in South Africa, the 4-year-old son of One World is 0-for-2 for Motion, finishing fifth in the Woodbine Mile (G1) and 13th in the Breeders' Cup Mile. "Obviously his race was disappointing in California. We drew the 1 post, which I thought was probably a good thing. But in the end I think it probably worked against us because he broke quite sharp, which we thought he needed to do, and then he ended up making the running, which I don't think is how he wants to run, and they went very quick. So we asked an awful lot of him to get him to the Breeders' Cup. My idea with him is we've kind of freshened him up a little bit here at Fair Hill. He's going to go down to Palm Meadows today, and I'll try and pick out a spot for him at Gulfstream in January, probably." One Stripe was nominated for the Hong Kong Mile (G1) but will not be sent there.

Beach Bomb. The 5-year-old mare by Lancaster Bomber started her year with wins in The Very One (G3) and the Orchid (G3) but hasn't won since, though she was second three times and third last out in the Long Island (G3). "Beach Bomb ran well the other day. We haven't actually decided if she's going to run next year or not. I'm just waiting to make a decision with the owners."

Fondly. The 3-year-old Upstart filly has a 5: 3-1-0 record this year, with her only finish out of the money coming in the Kentucky Oaks. Her most recent start was a second-place finish in the Monmouth Oaks (G3) in July. "Fondly had a little injury after her Monmouth Oaks and has had some time off, and I would imagine will be starting back around the first of the year."

Gimme a Nother. The 5-year-old mare by Gimmethegreenlight also started her career in South Africa and began racing for Motion in March, compiling a 5: 1-3-0 record. In her latest start, she won the John C. Mabee (G2) in September at Del Mar and was on her way to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. "She had a sore splint that we thought we'd gotten her through, but then it flared up again before the Breeders' Cup. And she'll have time off, and she'll start back in January with my other grass horses up north."

Soleil Volant. The 3-year-old gelding by Karakontie has had nine starts this year, with his lone win coming in a black-type stakes at Delaware Park. Last out, he was fifth in the Hill Prince (G3) on Nov. 8. "He's been a real fun horse this year because we couldn't have imagined him turning into such a competitive stakes horse earlier on in the year. But he's going to get a break and probably start back, maybe in New Orleans, in March."

Heredia. A 6-year-old mare by Dark Angel, she began her career in the U.K., was on the shelf for 2024 and had her first start for Motion in May, finishing third in the Beaugay (G3). She also won the Yellow Ribbon (G2) and was sixth last out in the First Lady (G1) at Keeneland. "Heredia runs on Sunday in the Matriarch (G1). She actually just left to go to California about an hour ago. … We decided after her last run at Keeneland, which I thought she just had no chance that day, shuffled so far back. After that race, we decided to point her to the Matriarch."

No Show Sammy Jo. The 5-year-old Lope de Vega mare won a black-type stakes at Laurel Park for her only win this year and was second last out in the Long Island (G3) at Aqueduct after being sold privately to Newstead Stables. "She ran super again last time out in the race in New York. So she's been second in that race the last two years. Kind of unlucky second both times. But ran very well, and she is already in Florida. She could run at the end of December at Gulfstream."

Warming. This 3-year-old filly by Global Campaign won the Autumn Miss (G3) at Santa Anita for her third career win from seven starts, all on turf. "She could also run at Del Mar on Sunday. We might try her on the dirt on Sunday. There's a stake for fillies and mares on the dirt."

Smart Union. The 3-year-old Union Rags filly won two optional-claiming allowances to start the year then was sixth in the Florida Oaks (G3) in March, her most recent start. "She's just coming back from a layoff. She could start up in the Tropical Park Oaks at Gulfstream in two weeks. She's going to go down to Florida today."

2-year-olds

Turf Star. The 2-year-old Caravaggio colt debuted in August, broke his maiden in his next start then was second in the Bourbon (G2) before finishing sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. "Turf Star is back at Fair Hill. I'm giving him a little break after the Breeders' Cup, and he'll go down to Florida on the next group, probably next week. And he could run in January or February in Florida." Regarding his Breeders' Cup effort, Motion said, "I thought he ran very well. There were some good horses that finished behind him. We asked a lot of him to run in that spot, but I thought he ran very creditably."

Proton. The 2-year-old gelding by Astern won his debut at Colonial Downs in August, then scored in a black-type stakes at Laurel Park and was second in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at Del Mar on Breeders' Cup Friday. He remained in California and is pointed to Sunday's Cecil B. DeMille (G3).

Brat Pack. This Gun Runner filly debuted at Laurel Park on Saturday, finishing second in the 12-horse field going a mile on turf. "I think she's kind of promising. She'll go to Florida."

Siouxse. The Union Rags filly broke her maiden Nov. 15 at Aqueduct in her third start. "She's going to have a little break. She's a pretty promising 2-year-old filly."