Thanks in large part to Commanding Curve’s second-place finish in the $2 million Kentucky Derby and his ninth in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, Kip Elser’s Kirkwood Stables of Camden is enjoying a stellar spring.Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and developed by Elser’s team at Kirkwood Stables, Commanding Curve has earned $504,000 from his four 2014 starts. Trained by Dallas Stewart, the 3-year-old Master Command colt has one win, two seconds and a pair of thirds from eight career starts while having bankrolled $542,434.Another West Point-owned runner, 3-year-old Strong Stipulation, broke his maiden on his sixth try for trainer Graham Motion by winning a $36,000 one-mile race on the dirt at Delaware Park on June 11. Ridden by Alex Cintron, the Lemon Drop Kid colt won by 2 ¾ lengths to hike his earnings to $41,790.Two days earlier at Delaware Park, the Kirkwood-developed Dominate broke his maiden in his 21st start for West Point Thoroughbreds in a $24,000 race.
Local stables enjoying strong spring

