The Player Carries on Tradition for Bradley

The Player, a 3-year-old Street Hero   colt, is headed to bigger things after a victory June 3 in an allowance race at Churchill Downs.

Owned and bred by trainer William "Buff" Bradley in partnership with Carl Hurst, The Player is out of the Gilded Time mare Hour Queen, who was bred by Hurst, Bradley, and Bradley's late father, Fred. Hour Queen is out of the Williamstown mare Town Queen, yet another homebred who gave Buff Bradley his first stakes win in the 2002 My Charmer Stakes at Turfway Park.

The Player is being pointed to the Indiana Derby (gr. II) July 16 at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino.

"Most of my big horses are in this pedigree," Bradley told Churchill Downs media officials. "I bought Town Queen's mother (Regal Export) for $20,000 and she produced King of Speed, Town Queen, and Chief Export, who were all black-type horses. If (The Player) moves on, this will be the biggest horse that we have had out of this pedigree.

"We always thought that this would be our big pedigree and then we had Brass Hat out of a different one and then Groupie Doll out of another different one, so we're kind of glad to see this horse come along and that's why we kept the mare. This family matures late—you don't see them really start coming around until they're about four years old. I think he has got great conformation, he's sound, and he could really improve."

The Player finished fourth in his career debut last fall at Churchill in a race that included Tom's Ready, Forevamo, and Cherry Wine. He then finished second behind Conquest Harlequin in a maiden special weight event at Keeneland in April, and then broke his maiden by 5 1/2 lengths in a one-turn-mile event at Churchill.

In the June 3 race, also at one mile, The Player was in front before the half-mile mark under Shaun Bridgmohan and won by 1 1/2 lengths over the highly regarded Unbridled Outlaw, who was ridden by Corey Lanerie.

"What made me feel good was after the race, (Lanerie) came up to me before The Player even walked in the winner's circle and said, 'Buff I ran right up to him and your horse just hit the next gear. I thought I was going to go by him and your horse went on.' So he's a very nice horse and I've got other jockeys complimenting me before I even got to the winner's circle, which was good.

"I said that if this horse can win this race then we'll go to the Indiana Derby. I felt like he's that type of horse. He's a nice, big, good-looking horse and he has got the right demeanor. He knows how to relax and he knows how to take everything in. He's had personality from day one."

The $500,000 Indiana Derby is run at 1 1/16 miles.