Maryland 'Family Ties' For Derby Winning Horse
FALLSTON, Md. (WJZ) -- Excitement builds for Preakness and the Derby-winning horse with strong ties to Maryland. Orb's sire---or father---grew up in Maryland and now the horse's bloodline grows in Baltimore County.
Adam May has more on Orb's Maryland family.
Orb will be running in the Preakness in two weeks and some of the people cheering him on have a special connection.
The Pons family has owned the Country Life Horse Farm in Fallston for almost 80 years.
"Her father was favored in the Kentucky Derby," Josh Pons said of another horse on the farm.
After all the success raising championship horses, this year's Derby winner hits close to home.
"It was exhilarating," Pons said of watching Orb win the Derby.
That's because Orb's father---called a sire---is Malibu Moon. He grew up on this 100 acre farm before going into the major leagues of horse breeding.
"I think he really has shown he's a top sire and obviously we've seen he's a top sire," said Orb's owner, Stuart Janney.
"We're proud. We're proud as can be. Moon got his start here and now he has validation with a Derby winner," said Ellen Pons.
Other horses with similar bloodlines now train for their future and the young ones will be what they call "Derby ready" in three years.
"Heart is the key to a horse's win. They can all have correct legs, X-rays are clean and the commercial may spend a lot of money on these horses but each one of these foals had the potential," Ellen Pons said.
Orb is an early favorite to win the Preakness. Analysts are impressed by his speed in the final stretch.
This year's Preakness is May 18.
