Legendary Begins Season in Maker's 46 Mile
Walter R. Swinburn’s Grade 3 winner Legendary (GB) will make his 2015 debut in Friday’s $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile (G1).
“A Grade 1 is ambitious for his first start back,” said Rosella Saville, whose husband, Niall, trains Legendary. “We wanted to come down here and try the track out. The race looked like a good spot for him.”
A 6-year-old gelding by Exceed And Excel bred by the Swinburn family’s Genesis Green Stud, Legendary began his career in England. A year ago, he made his North American debut in a Keeneland allowance race on the turf and was second under jockey Rosie Napravnik.
Saville recalled that performance.
“He ran a mile and a half and the owners thought, ‘You guys crazy? That horse won’t get the trip.’ ” she said. “But it was really just to school him, teach him to settle because he had struggled with that in England. Rosie did a great job with him. He’s gotten better and better.
“We like Keeneland, so why not come back? The horse seemed to like the (course) and with Breeders’ Cup here this year, it’ll be interesting to see what he does throughout the year and if he has the opportunity to come back.”
After his Keeneland debut, Legendary went on to win four of six races, all on turf, including the 1 1/16-mile Japan Racing Association Stakes at Laurel and the 1 1/8-mile Knickerbocker (G3) at Belmont in consecutive starts. The Knickerbocker was run on a yielding turf course, an experience that could be useful tomorrow if predicted rains arrive.
Legendary and Cranky, a former racehorse turned stable pony for the Savilles, arrived from their base at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland about 5 p.m. Wednesday. This morning, Cranky and Rosella Saville accompanied Legendary and exercise rider Joanne Robinson to the main track, where the Maker’s 46 Mile hopeful jogged and stood in the starting gate.
Back in his stall, Legendary showed off some of the behavior that has endeared him to Rosella Saville. After being untacked, the gelding immediately sank to his knees and rolled in the straw.
“He’s very special,” she said while holding the shank as Legendary received a bath. “He’s a really cool horse, and we’re lucky to have him.”
Niall Saville is to arrive here mid-afternoon. Maryland-based jockey Sheldon Russell, who rode Legendary to his stakes wins, will be aboard in the Maker’s 46 Mile. They will break from post five in the field of seven and are 8-1 in the morning line.
Owner Swinburn, a former leading jockey in Ireland, is the father of noted former jockey and trainer Walter Swinburn. The younger Swinburn rode such horses as 1983 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner and North American Horse of the Year All Along (FR); 1996 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) winner Pilsudski (IRE); and 1981 Epsom Derby (G1) winner Shergar.
Source: Keeneland Association