Motions

Knee and hip replacements have been common for decades, offering patients who suffered from degeneration a full range of pain-free movement. But spines and backs have been more problematic. Spinal fusions, the gold standard, have meant a limited range of motion for patients and even future procedures on adjoining discs. But a newer procedure that involves inserting an artificial disc, called total disc replacement, means patients can get that range of motion and pain relief without the drawbacks of fusion.

Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Althea M. Handy on Wednesday denied a state motion to dismiss a lawsuit over the $1.5 billion State Center proposal, a controversial redevelopment of a state government complex in midtown Baltimore. Downtown commercial property owners filed the lawsuit against the developer and two state agencies overseeing the state-owned project in December, accusing public officials of failing to comply with procurement laws when they gave developers building rights and negotiated long-term leases for state agencies at above-market rates.

Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up Animal Kingdom put in a final workout this morning before Saturday's Belmont Stakes. Trainer Graham Motion told reporters that  “it couldn't have gone any smoother.” With jockey John Velazquez aboard, Animal Kingdom worked four furlongs in 47.76 seconds over the main dirt track at Belmont Park, according to the Associated Press. The 3-year-old colt, who is based in Fair Hill, Md., traveled to New York over the weekend. Motion says he wanted a four-furlong workout because he figured Animal Kingdom would gallop out strongly for another furlong, which he did, according to the AP. Velazquez concurred, saying everything went well, and “he knew he had a jockey on top of him because he just played with me. He had me at hello.” Animal Kingdom and Preakness winner Shackleford are the top two horses in a likely field of 12 starters for Saturday's Triple Crown race.

Graham Motion's day got off to a good start when he saddled a winner in the first race. Technique, who went off at 7-1 and was ridden by Edgar Prado, won by at least two lengths. Motion, of course, is the Maryland based trainer of Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom. Technique paid $14 to win.

In the moments after Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom came up a few feet short of capturing the second jewel of the Triple Crown on Saturday, trainer Graham Motion expressed no regret. His horse put on another great show, even if it did not keep its date with racing history. "He ran great," Motion said. "It's hard to be disappointed when he ran so well. It was perfect, except that we didn't win. " No one should be surprised that the gentlemanly Motion would put Animal Kingdom's heart-stopping — and heartbreaking — performance in such a positive perspective, and no one should be surprised if the rest of us find it much easier to be disappointed that he was unable to overtake Shackleford down the stretch this time.

Trainer Graham Motion has made his final preparations for the Preakness, and feels confident Animal Kingdom will run well Saturday. By the time betting closed Friday night, Animal Kingdom had slipped a bit in the eyes of betters. Dialed In will begin Saturday as a 3-1 favorite, and Animal Kingdom is currently the second choice at 7-2, but none of that matters at all to Motion. "I just couldn't be happier with how he's doing," Motion said of Animal Kingdom, who will ship from Fair Hill around 5 a.m. Saturday.

No matter how hard you work, or how brilliant you may be, the art of training thoroughbred race horses often comes down to the simple matter of fate. Graham Motion probably understands this better than most. In fact, he's thought about it a lot recently, especially during the past two weeks, ever since his life was turned into a state of beautiful chaos when he won the Kentucky Derby with Animal Kingdom. On Saturday, Motion, 47, will live out a fantasy that is nearly 20 years in the making.

Trainer Graham Motion not only has the favorite in the Preakness on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course, he has Shared Account, the odds-on favorite in the Grade III, $100,000 Gallorette Handicap for fillies and mares on the turf. Shared Account is owned by Sagamore Farm and had a stunning (46-1 odds) victory in the in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf last Novemeber. Motion is concerned that Shared Account, the 4-5 morning line favorite, has been assigned to carry 125 pounds, a minimum of 10 pounds more than her seven rivals.

Trainer Graham Motion said Monday that he's leaning strongly toward bringing Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom to Pimlico Race Course on Saturday, the day of the Preakness Stakes, instead of bringing him in Friday and having him stay overnight in an unfamiliar environment. Since he won the Derby on May 7, Animal Kingdom has been settling in at his new home at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, where Motion has his base of operations. "I'm really thinking I'm leaning that way right now," Motion said.