Dory Enlivened by KY Derby Prospect Chase the Chaos

From almost leaving the industry in 2008, to walking away from the Feb. 11 El Camino Real Derby with a newly minted stakes winner and a free entry to the Preakness Stakes (G1), co-owner of Chase the Chaos , Bill Dory, is pretty happy he is still in the game.

Dory, who flew to Golden Gate Fields from Canada on Saturday to watch the 3-year-old son of Astern  run, was on cloud nine as the horse overtook Harcyn  and Gilmore  and pulled ahead in the final strides of the race.

"I walked probably 10,000 steps a half hour before the race, I was so nervous," Dory said. "The race started and when he came down the stretch and took the lead, I was over the moon.

"There's no other way to describe it, (I'm) totally ecstatic about it… We went out for dinner afterwards and I said, 'We're in the Preakness, we're in the Preakness."

Along with free berth to the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, Chase the Chaos earned 10 points towards a start in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Dory said that years ago he was disheartened when he had a horse that was on the Canadian Derby trail and suffered an injury before he had the chance to compete.

"He had a work before the Canadian Derby and he broke his sesamoid. I darn near quit racing at that time; I was so down in the dumps," he said.

Luckily, he stayed in and wound up purchasing Chase the Chaos from the Ballysax consignment to the 2020 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for only $10,000 after he failed to meet his reserve. Afterwards, he brought him up to Canada along with his partner Adam Ference with intention of steering him towards the Canadian Derby (G3).

The gelding found his way first to Canadian native Robertino Diodoro's shedrow where he began his career at Canterbury Park, breaking his maiden in his second start. He was then moved under the tutelage of West Coast trainer Ed Moger Jr. where he stepped up to stakes company at Golden Gate Fields.

Since coming under Moger, the gelding has not finished worse than third in his last four starts including a third in the Golden Nugget Stakes, a runner-up finish in the Gold Rush Stakes, and a win in an allowance optional claiming race to close out his 2022 season.

"This is by far the best horse I've ever had…I'm loving the ride right now," Dory said.

The late deadline for Triple Crown nominations is March 27 and includes a $6,000 fee. If Chase the Chaos is nominated, he will receive the 10 points he earned in his victory. Dory said they will likely run the gelding before the deadline and see how he performs. He could potentially be seen next in a race at Santa Anita Park or Turfway Park.

"We'll be talking to Ed in the very near future about what races we'll look at but the final decision will be up to Ed," Dory said.

Bred by Mr. and Mrs. Dale N. Krapf in Pennsylvania, Chase the Chaos is the first foal and first starter out of the winning Uncle Mo   mare Live the Moment . Only three horses bred in Pennsylvania are currently nominated to the Triple Crown.