Irish War Cry in Good Order After Wood

Isabelle de Tomaso's Irish War Cry has settled back into his Fair Hill base in good condition following his victory in the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack, according to trainer Graham Motion.

"He seems good this morning," Motion said. "He's obviously a little tired. It was a long day, shipping back last night and everything. He didn't eat up everything last night, but otherwise he seems absolutely fine. He's perky and looks nice."

A New Jersey-bred colt by Curlin  , Irish War Cry started his career three-for-three before a seventh-place finish in the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) March 4 at Gulfstream Park. Irish War Cry was able to rebound in the Wood, however, with a 3 1/2-length score under jockey Rajiv Maragh to earn his spot in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) starting gate May 6 at Churchill Downs.

NOVAK: Irish War Cry Rebounds in Wood

"Things pretty much went as we hoped they would go," Motion said. "He settled just off the pace and I guess I was a bit concerned on the backside, because he kind of moved up quite early to the leader and, from what Rajiv told me, he felt like he had so much horse underneath him. My big question for him was how he thought about how he won, and he said he felt like he did it pretty comfortably really. 

"He said he did everything he wanted him to do, that he could have put him anywhere in the race that he wanted, and that was the kind of feedback I needed to hear."

Motion, who won the 2011 Derby with Animal Kingdom  , noted that Irish War Cry is likely to complete his major preparations for the Derby at the Maryland training center before traveling to Louisville.

"I don't see a necessity to get him to Churchill in a hurry. It's very busy over there," he said. "One of the reasons I wanted to get him home from Palm Meadows (Training Center) was to get him in a quieter environment at Fair Hill, where he's used to being, and I think it's shown in his behavior this last week.

"I think he's been more settled and I think it's going to be advantageous to him to keep him there as long as I can. Right now, that's my gut feeling. I can certainly change my mind, but I'd probably keep him at Fair Hill and give him his one work before the Derby there."