Wicked Strong Looks to Inspire in Holy Bull

By Catlyn Spivey 
The Boston Marathon bombing that killed three and injured 260 people on Apr. 15 shook America, but no one was more effected than the New England residents. Since that time, funds have been developed for victims, and many have rallied together to restore the city. With the anniversary of the tragedy fast approaching, horse racing gives Boston one more reason to be hopeful, in a possible GI Kentucky Derby contender, Wicked Strong (Hard Spun). 
Don Little, Jr. of Centennial Farms purchased Wicked Strong at Keeneland September seven months before the Boston tragedy. The colt was already given a name before the purchase, but Little had other plans. 
“I wasn’t crazy about the name Moyne Spun. His dam was Moyne Abbey and he’s by Hard Spun, so that really wasn’t too catchy,” he explained. “We were in the process of changing it, but Boston Strong was taken. Since ‘wicked’ is the absolute adjective of New Englanders and Bostonians, it fit perfectly.” 
The Massachusetts-based Centennial Farms went to $375,000 for the colt at the 2012 Keeneland September sale, but the name had little to do with the colt’s appeal. 
“He has a very athletic build and he was a great mover on the walk,” said Little. “He gives you a sense of presence. His eye is very aware and you can just sense his intelligence and that he’s all business. He also has, what I like to call, the lucky spots on his shoulder.” 
The “lucky spots” Little is so fond of have taken the bay colt to the Belmont winner’s circle and earned him a graded stakes placing in the Nov. 30 edition of the GII Remsen S., where he finished third, a half-length behind Honor Code (A.P Indy) and GII Nashua winner, Cairo Prince ( Pioneerof The Nile). 
In only three starts, Wicked Strong has banked $113,000. From those earnings, Centennial Farms has vowed to donate 1% of the colt’s lifetime earnings, whether it be purse or sales revenue, to the One Fund, which was established to help the Boston bombing victims and their families. 
“So far, he has lived up to his name,” said Little. “We have sent a modest amount to the One Fund and we hope to keep it going.” 
Wicked Strong will face 10 others in Saturday’s GII Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream, his first stop on the road to the roses. When it comes to training the horses, however, Little leaves the playcalling to conditioner Jimmy Jerkens. 
“After what Jimmy saw, he felt that, with his state of mind and the way he was training, this would suit him. He’s as sound as you would like and I really just left it in the hands of Jimmy.”