As an 11-1 winner of the Wood Memorial (G2) in its final iteration at Aqueduct Racetrack, Albus made the move from impressive maiden winner to the top 10 on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 100 points. Having exhibited both tactical speed and a strong closing kick in his four-race career, the Pin Oak Stud color-bearer seems to have gotten it together for trainer Riley Mott as he joins stablemate Incredibolt in the starting gate for the Run for the Roses.
Albus’ final time (1:51 3/5) and Equibase speed figure (87) for the Wood may not be all that impressive, but trainer Riley Mott said he was heartened by the colt’s professionalism in just his fourth career start.
“He came back covered in mud, and Jaime (Torres) said he wasn’t at all bothered by the kickback and everything that comes with it,” said Mott. “He went around horses, split horses – it showed a lot of professionalism. I don’t think the numbers were all that strong, but he did it in a very workmanlike fashion and that gives you confidence potentially going into a 20-horse field.”
Bloodlines Pin Oak Stud paid $320,000 for Albus at the Keeneland September yearling sale. More interesting are his bloodlines – he is the son of multiple graded stakes winning sprinter Yaupon, who took the 2021 Forego (G1) in his last start. But Yaupon himself – last year’s leading freshman sire – is the son of Uncle Mo, sire of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Mo Donegal.
His maternal grandfather is noted broodmare sire Bernardini, whose daughter produced, among others, 2026 Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Magnitude and last year’s Derby and Belmont winner, eventual Horse of the Year Sovereignty. Who, speaking of bloodlines, was trained by Mott’s father Bill, who also won the 2019 Derby (via DQ) with Country House.
Albus began his career last year in Kentucky, finished fourth and third in maiden races at Keeneland and Churchill Downs under Jaime Torres. He broke his maiden at third asking under Samy Camacho, a visually impressive 6 ¾-length win going 1 mile, 40 yards at Tampa Bay Downs after staying close to the pace. Reunited with Torres at Aqueduct, he barreled around and through horses to win by 1 ¼ lengths.
Torres, also the regular rider of Incredibolt, was given the choice between the two and Albus will be piloted by Manny Franco, whose best Derby finish in six tries came with Tiz the Law, who was second in 2020.
Albus’ Equibase base rating is 110, which is in the top half of the field, and his highest Equibase speed figure is 89.
Albus has won from close to the pace and from far back. The question is, will the race set up for his blend of speed and stamina for him to win?
Looking at his races as a 2-year-old and 3-year-old, it’s clear how far Albus has come in terms of maturity and professionalism. Franco is a seasoned rider who knows how to ride in the world’s most famous horse race, and who better for Riley Mott to learn from than his father? Ignore at your own risk.
- Albus, who traveled to Kentucky a week ago, had his penultimate workout for the Derby on April 18, breezing 4 furlongs 49.00 seconds in company with stablemate Theoretical, galloping out 5 furlongs in 1:02.20. “That’s the move you’re looking for in the first work back from a race,” said Mott.
- Albus’s name was inspired by the quote “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live,” by Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series. The Facebook post by Pin Oak Stud went on to note: “The only thing that could have been better was if his face marking was a lightning bolt.” In the series, an adult Harry Potter later had a son he named Albus Severus, after the two headmasters at Hogwarts – the aforementioned Dumbledore, and Severus Snape. There are three thoroughbreds with similarly familial names, although none have fared as well as Albus. Dumbledore, a 2016 foal, was 0-1 at Finger Lakes, beaten 28 ¾ lengths in a $10,000 maiden claimer. Severus, also born in 2016, was 0-for-6 in Florida, but did earn $1,910 when third in a maiden special. And the Puerto Rican-bred Snape (2020) went 6-for-6 at Camarero and retired with earnings of $42,862.
Jenny Kellner is an award-winning journalist and teacher who has covered thoroughbred racing for years. As a reporter for both United Press International and The Associated Press, her work has appeared in publications and on websites around the world. Jenny has also written for The New York Times, the New York Post, Newsday and Sports Illustrated.
