Went the Day Well gives connections chance at Derby glory -- again

Went the Day Well gives connections chance at Derby glory

-- again

"The only thing

that we were hoping for last year was for Animal Kingdom to qualify and then

that he would stay healthy so we could walk behind him from the backstretch to

the paddock, to have that enjoyment and that feeling. When he won, it was

euphoric. It was like no other feeling that maybe I've ever had, or at least not

in a long time.

"When you've been to the Derby as many times as I have and you have a horse

in it, it really changes the experience and the level of involvement. With all

the people that I know that are affiliated with Churchill and the Derby, it just

makes you feel much, much more apart of everything that is going on. It was just

a unique and very honorable experience.

"One of the things that my wife, Yurie,

and I have talked about it is 'How do you go back the next year after that

phenomenal experience of Animal Kingdom, Barry and Graham and everyone

associated with it?' When Howe Great and Went the Day Well started making some

noise this winter, it really re-kindled that fire and you're almost afraid to

think about what's possible," added Pascarella, who now runs a private equity firm

and lives in San Francisco. "Just the idea of being able to have a horse again

is just a phenomenal thing. We pray that he stays healthy, and if he does, that

walk from the backside again will be very, very memorable. But, as my wife

pointed out, gosh, we want him to do well, too."

Zoldan, the CEO of Northern Ohio's B.J. Alan Company, Phantom Fireworks and

the Youngstown Phantoms of the U.S. Hockey League, points to the long odds for

reaching America's greatest race with one colt, let alone two years in a row,

from an annual North American foal crop of around 30,000.

"Last year, the words were 'surreal' or 'off the charts,' and being back in

it with another opportunity, being one of 20 Thoroughbreds again with a chance to

win the Derby, it's just amazing," Zoldan said. "Some family and friends are

starting to believe that I have some sort of extraterrestrial connection. I have

to give the credit to Barry."

Last spring, Zoldan spiced up the winner's circle celebration, bringing along

his friends Joey Fatone of N'Sync and celebrity chef Guy Fieri.

"I've been going to the Kentucky Derby for 25 years, even before I partnered

with Team Valor," Zoldan said. "It's just a great event, and it's hard to

imagine what it will be like having another chance to win it, being there with

my friends and family."

Herrick is a real estate investor and Broadway and Hollywood producer. He won

a Tony Award three years ago as a producer of the revived musical "Hair."

"Nothing comes close to the Derby; that was an unbelievable feeling," Herrick,

who lives in Boca Raton, Florida, and New Jersey. "I'm just really

looking forward to racing this horse and bringing home a winner again, which

would be totally incredible. I can't wait."

Castellano, a New York native who is retired from Wall Street and lives in

Far Hills, New Jersey, has experienced a great run at Churchill dating back to

Pluck's victory in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner. He carried a

dream of owning racehorses ever since his father would take him to Aqueduct and

Belmont Park in his childhood, giving him a deep perspective of the significance

of seeing Animal Kingdom's name in gold above the Churchill paddock as the

reigning Derby winner, and what it would be like for Went the Day Well to

succeed him.

"Obviously everyone keeps comparing him to Animal Kingdom because of the

nearness to what just happened," Castellano said. "It's easy, to the point that

the horse wins the Spiral, just like Animal Kingdom, and with the same saddle

cloth number. Tell me about scary. His whole progression has been unbelievable.

At first it seemed like he started off a little slow but then all the sudden he

wins, he wins, and now he's in. The whole thing is becoming surreal in many

ways."

In 137 years, only 12 owners have conquered the Derby more than once. The

only back-to-back winners were Col. E.R. Bradley in 1932 and 1933, fabled Calumet

Farm in 1948 and 1949, and Meadow Stable in 1972 and 1973.