Nov. 2, 2011 - Dullahan has drawn attention as one of the nation’s premier up-and-coming horses.

A win Saturday could propel him into an even bigger spotlight.

The horse, owned by a group made up of a majority of Iowans, will race in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, where his owners believe a victory could drum up interest of sizable horse proportions.

“If he were to win this race, he would be the horse that everybody talked about worldwide between now and the Kentucky Derby,” said Jerry Crawford, Des Moines native and president of Donegal Racing.

Crawford, along with a group of Iowans and out of state owners, purchased Dullahan in September of 2010. Six owners who control a high percentage of Dullahan also owned Paddy O’Prado, the horse that captured the attention of Iowans by finishing third in the 2010 Kentucky Derby.

The Dullahan buy has produced big dividends.

Dullahan positioned himself for a spot in the Kentucky Derby after a win in the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland in October.

A victory Saturday could be just as big. A win would help Dullahan’s pursuit of an Eclipse Award as the top American champion 2-year-old of the year.

Crawford said he believes it would drum up interest in the horse.

“It would stamp him as the best 2-year-old in the world if he were to win the race,” Crawford said.

That was the goal when Crawford and his group made the purchase last year.

Being in a position to win an Eclipse Award, one of racing’s biggest honors, though, was something members of the group said they never saw coming.

“Shocked,” George Cataldo of Des Moines asked. “Yes. Above shocked.”

It’s been just as surprising for Crawford.

“You never see an Eclipse Award coming when you buy a horse,” Crawford said. “That’s the pinnacle of the entire horse world and something to aspire to.”

Paddy O’Prado was nominated for an Eclipse Award after the high Kentucky Derby finish behind winner Super Saver.

Crawford thinks this time could be different.

It all starts Saturday, when Dullahan will race out of the No. 2 hole in the 13-horse field.

Morning odds call him an 8-1 shot to win. Undefeated Union Rags is the favorite at 2-1.

Crawford said he’s happy with the post position and the odds.

“As long as we didn’t get the one-hole where you can get pinned against the rail, we were just fine with it,” he said.

read more: Des Moines Register