Maker’s 46 Mile hopeful Legendary is ‘very special…a really cool horse’

Walter Swinburn proudly leads Legendary into the Knickerbocker winner’s circle (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography)

Walter R. Swinburn’s Grade 3 winner Legendary (Exceed and Excel) will
make his 2015 debut in Friday’s $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile (G1) at Keeneland.

“A Grade 1 is ambitious for his first start back,” admitted Rosella Saville,
whose husband, Niall, trains Legendary. “We wanted to come down here and try the
track out. The race looked like a good spot for him.”

The six-year-old gelding, who was bred by the Swinburn family’s Genesis Green Stud, began his career in England.
A year ago he made his North American debut in a Keeneland turf allowance and
finished second under jockey Rosie Napravnik. Saville recalled that performance.

“He ran a mile and a half and the owners thought, ‘You guys
crazy? That horse won’t get the trip,'” she said. “But it was really just to
school him, teach him to settle because he had struggled with that in England.
Rosie did a great job with him. He’s gotten better and better.

“We like Keeneland, so why not come back? The horse seemed to like the
(course) and with Breeders’ Cup here this year, it’ll be interesting to see what
he does throughout the year and if he has the opportunity to come back.”

After his Keeneland debut, Legendary went on to win four of
six races, all on turf, including the 1 1/16-mile Japan Racing Association
S. at Laurel Park and the 1 1/8-mile Knickerbocker S. (G3) at Belmont Park in consecutive
starts. The Knickerbocker was run on a yielding turf course, an experience that
could be useful on Friday if predicted rains arrive in the Lexington, Kentucky,
area.

Legendary and Cranky, a former racehorse turned stable pony
for the Savilles, arrived from their base at Fair Hill Training Center in
Maryland about 5 p.m. (EDT) Wednesday. On Thursday morning, Cranky and Rosella Saville
accompanied Legendary and exercise rider Joanne Robinson to the main track,
where the Maker’s 46 Mile hopeful jogged and stood in the starting gate.