Morley Excited About Noble Cornerstone

Noble Cornerstone will become the first graded stakes starter for trainer Tom Morley, a 31-year-old who started his first horse in March 2013, when he competes in the Grade 1, $500,000 Ketel One King's Bishop on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

A homebred owned by Len Riggio's My Meadowview Farm, Noble Cornerstone has won two straight against New York-breds, taking a one-mile entry-level allowance by three-quarters of a length in June at Belmont Park and a 6 ½-furlong optional claimer by a half-length on July 25 at Saratoga. Both starts came against older horses.

Jose Ortiz will ride Noble Cornerstone, 15-1 on the morning line, from post 4 in the seven-furlong Ketel One King's Bishop.

"The horse has been indicating to me all year that seven furlongs probably is his best trip," said Morley. "He's had to run against older statebreds. He just got there last time going 6 ½ furlongs, and this is an opportunity to go a trip that I think is really going to suit him against his own age group."

Morley is a native of England and is a nephew of David Morley, whose accomplishments include a win in the 1997 Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup. A graduate of the Darley Flying Start program, Morley has worked in England with Ed Dunlop and Jeremy Noseda and in the United States with Eddie Kenneally. Since going out on his own, he has won 21 races from 131 starts through Wednesday.

"It's an exciting weekend," said Morley. "I'm looking forward to [running Noble Cornerstone in the Ketel One King's Bishop]. As I said to the owner, I wouldn't be running him if I didn't think he fit in the race."