Delaware attorney Stuart Grant’s stable The Elkstone Group had a promising start to the summer racing season as two horses broke long-standing track records within two weeks of each other. Top Line Growth, a 3-year-old gelding trained by Kelly Rubley and ridden by Julien Pimental, broke the track record for the mile at Laurel Park on June 8th in 1:34.07 beating the previous record of 1:34 2/5, set in 1980.
Just days later on June 20th, homebred Irony of Reality, by Animal Kingdom, set the track record under the guidance of trainer Ron Potts and jockey Huber Villa-Gomez. She ran the 1 1/16th miles on the all-weather surface at Presque Isle Downs in record time of 1:42:87.
“It was a thrill to have Top Line Growth and Irony of Reality set track records within two weeks of each other, particularly considering how long those records have been standing,” said Mr. Grant. “Top Line Growth and Irony of Reality are still young horses and I’m looking forward to seeing them progress.”
Mr. Grant won’t have to wait long. Top Line Growth is entered on July 5th in the 21st running of the Iowa Derby with $250,000 up for grabs. Also running this weekend is The Elkstone Group’s 3-year-old colt Social Paranoia, trained by Todd Pletcher, who is entered on Saturday in the G-1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational, the first leg of the newly created Turf Trinity, headlining the Stars & Stripes Racing Festival that will be broadcast live on NBC. Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl (who Mr. Grant owns in partnership with Michael Dubb, Michael Caruso and Sol Kumin) is in training and expected to make her much anticipated return to racing later this summer.
About The Elkstone Group
The Elkstone Group is a racing stable owned by prominent lawyer Stuart Grant. The stable’s horses are bred and trained at top equine facilities, including Camden Training Center in Camden, South Carolina, and C-Dog Farm in Chesapeake City, Maryland, a broodmare facility which has produced such notable horses as graded stakes winners Mor Spirit, Edge of Reality, and Kiss the Daddy.
