Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Dogwood Stable
Breeder: Anthony Robinson & Mitzi Robinson
Atoned's 2008 debut saw him finish just a neck behind Big Truck in the Tampa Bay Derby. This builds on a foundation of seven 2-year old starts. Among these starts was a win in the Continental Mile Stakes and seconds in both the Whirling Ash and Dover Stakes. However, it was his game finish in the Remsen Stakes, just a neck behind the highly regarded Court Vision after clipping heels and almost going down, that gained him the most attention among Derby watchers. One of two colts (along with Blackberry Road) pursuing Derby glory for Dogwood. The owners surely must have been encouraged with the colt's strong runner-up placing in the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III), his first start in nearly four months. The flipside of the Tampa race was his fourth place finish in the Illinois Derby (gr. II), where he had no closing kick.
| Year | Sale | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | OBS Winter Mixed Sale | $65,000 |
| 2007 | OBS Selected Sale of 2-Year Olds in Training | $165,000 |
| Date | Race Name | Distance | Finish | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/19/08 | Coolmore Lexington (gr. II) | 8.5f | 8 | $0 |
| 04/05/08 | Illinois Derby (gr. II) | 9 f | 4 | $30,000 |
| 03/15/08 | Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) | 8.5f | 2 | $60,000 |
| 11/24/07 | Remsen (gr. II) | 9f | 2 | $40,000 |
| 10/20/07 | Dover Stakes | 8.5f | 2 | $20,000 |
| 09/17/07 | Whirling Ash Stakes | 8f | 2 | $11,670 |
| 08/18/07 | Continental Mile Stakes | 8f | 1 | $36,000 |
| 08/03/07 | MSW | 8f | 1 | $21,600 |
| 06/30/07 | MSW | 5f | 7 | $287 |
| 06/06/07 | MSW | 5f | 2 | $7,200 |
| Record: 10 Starts, 2-5-0 | Total Earnings: $226,757 | ||||
| Race Records provided by equineline.com | ||||
With the Derby getting closer, we're doubling up this week to take a look at the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) and mostly to discuss what may turn out to be one of the most important works on this year's Derby trail.
For several 3-year-olds pointing toward the $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland, the April 19 event offers a final chance at graded earnings and entry into the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). But the horse whose form points to a likely win in the 1 1/16-mile event has no aspirations of making the Derby -- and he could spoil the plans of those who do when a field of 11 goes postward in the final Derby prep of the season.
Dogwood Stable's Atoned, fourth last time out in the grade II, $500,000 Illinois Derby, will be entered in the grade II $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 19, according to Cot Campbell, Dogwood Stable President.
Recapturetheglory, thought to be nothing more than a pacesetter, jumped to the early lead and never gave it up, powering home to a commanding four-length victory in the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. II) April 5 at Hawthorne Race Course.
William K. Warren's Denis of Cork will put his undefeated record on the line and try to remain near the top of a small list of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) favorites April 5 when he takes on six rivals in the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. II) at Hawthorne Race Course.
Dogwood Stable has finalized plans for their two Kentucky Derby hopefuls Atoned and Blackberry Road. The former will make his next start in the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. II) April 5, while Blackberry Road will have his final prep in the $1-million Arkansas Derby (gr. II) April 12.
Trainer Barclay Tagg had prophetic words of wisdom for jockey Eibar Coa before he sent Eric Fein's Big Truck to the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III). He told Coa to ride for second, remarking that they'd win if 1-9 favorite War Pass did not. And that's exactly what happened.
Handicappers who take on the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) will probably find their challenge not in choosing a winner, but in selecting the order of finish behind Robert LaPenta's prohibitive favorite War Pass.
Two horses owned by Dogwood Stable have validated their status as early candidates for the 2008 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, the partnership announced Nov. 26.
Bill Mott figured that the Remsen Stakes (gr. II) would be a good test for his promising 2-year-old colt Court Vision, one that would give the trainer an idea of whether the son of Gulch was a legitimate, early Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) candidate.
| Atoned | Repent | Louis Quatorze |
| Baby Grace (ARG) | ||
| Amidst | Icecapade | |
| Ambo |