Quality Road named Aiken-trained Horse of the Year for 2009

Spring Hill Farm's Quality Road became the seventh horse to be honored as Aiken Trained Horse of the Year Sunday for his accomplishments in 2009.

Quality Road's owner and breeder Spring Hill Farm's Edward Evans accepted the honor on behalf of the son of Elusive Quality during a ceremony at the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum. Bloodstock consultant John Adger served as the Master of Ceremonies for the presentation.

Quality Road was bred by Spring Hill Farm and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens. The now 4-year-old colt enjoyed an outstanding 3-year-old campaign, where he distinguished himself as one of the best horses of his generation, setting track records in winning the 1âÖõ-mile Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park and the 6¬½-furlong Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

Quality Road's 2-year-old sister Kobla Cat is in training with Stevens. Quality Road won the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes and Grade 1 Florida Derby while in the barn of trainer James Jerkens. After being transferred to four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher, the bay colt won the Grade 2 Amsterdam.

"He's a very calm horse. He's 17 hands, 1,200 pounds and he sleeps all the time," said Evans. "Any impression anybody got about him misbehaving in the Breeders' Cup was really a consequence of the gate crew rushing him and putting a blindfold on him. He doesn't like people ordering him around. Otherwise, he's like a big dog but a very fast big dog."

In this year's Grade 1 Donn Handicap, Quality Road broke his own track record for 1âÖõ miles, winning the race by 12¬æ lengths. He won the Grade 3 Hal's Hope Stakes in January.

"He was barely challenged in the Donn Handicap; he didn't even know he was in a race because he didn't see anybody," said Evans.

The colt had been considered the race favorite for the 2009 Kentucky Derby, when he developed quarter cracks in both his right front and rear hooves. He's being pointed toward the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park on Memorial Day and will have three races after that - more than likely at Saratoga and Belmont with the primary objective being the Breeders' Cup Classic, said Evans.

"I'm very hopeful that we'll have good luck this year as opposed to the bad luck he had last year," said Evans. "We have a manageable schedule outlined for him this year."

Quality Road had a full-brother born Friday at Spring Hill Farm, said Evans.

"He was identical to Quality Road except he was 147 pounds, four more pounds than when Quality Road was born in 2006," said Evans. "So maybe there will be another one coming along."

Quality Road has now earned $1,332,830.

Contact Ben Baugh at bbaugh@aikenstandard.com.