As of a few days ago, I was under the impression that Oxbow would be the favorite in the William Hill Haskell Invitational (gr. I) this Sunday at Monmouth Park. Why wouldn't he be? He won the Preakness (gr. I) in good fashion, and his runner-up effort in the Belmont (gr. I) was as game a performance as I've ever seen.
Yet much to my surprise, it seems that most people are favoring Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner Verrazano to defeat Oxbow in the Haskell, and the morning line odds reflect this -- Verrazano was made the favorite at 9-5, with Oxbow at 2-1.
Granted, Verrazano is a very good horse. All told, he's won five of his six starts, including a romping win in the Pegasus Stakes (gr. III) here at Monmouth last month. True, he got a very easy lead in that race when Itsmyluckyday broke down, but he responded by running his fourth quarter in :23.31 and his final sixteenth in :05.74, fractions that are virtually unheard of on dirt.
But in handicapping the Haskell, I can't help but think back to the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), the only blemish on Verrazano's record. Perhaps the sloppy track was an excuse for his defeat, but much more likely was the blazing pace set by Palace Malice that destroyed the chances of any horse near it. Verrazano was four lengths off the lead after three-quarters of a mile in 1:09.80, and that surely contributed to his fourteenth-place finish. But let's not forget that Oxbow raced even closer to that blazing pace and held on much better, remaining in contention until the final furlong and eventually finishing sixth.
I understand why people are supporting Verrazano in the Haskell. But given that Oxbow outran him in their lone meeting, and went on to win a classic, I think it's going to take a monstrous effort from Verrazano to lower Oxbow's colors in the Haskell.
*************
One other colt that intrigues me in the Haskell is Power Broker. Trained by Bob Baffert, who has won the last three runnings of the Haskell, Power Broker was very impressive in winning the Easy Goer Stakes at Belmont Park in June, drawing off to win by 3 3/4 lengths over Micromanage. The latter, of course, returned to win the Long Branch Stakes in powerful fashion here at Monmouth, and is also entered in the Haskell. Power Broker may not be receiving much hype, but from a trainer perspective alone, he deserves respect. Don't count him out by any means.
-Keelerman
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Friday, July 26, 2013
The Juveniles at Saratoga: 7-25-13
Todd Pletcher unleashed two promising juveniles,
including the ultra-impressive filly Our Amazing Rose . . .
Race 2: Maiden Special Weight
5 furlongs for 2yos
The Coolmore/Todd Pletcher first-time starter Corfu
was the favorite at 1-2, and he ran to his odds. After dueling Aaron's
Orient into submission through spectacular fractions of :21.40 and :44.88,
Corfu opened up a 1 1/2-length lead and narrowly held off a late challenge from
Pure Sensation to win by a half-length in :58.27. Crescent took
advantage of the pace duel to rally for third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Pure
Sensation and two lengths clear of Aaron's Orient. Sum Superstar and Rooster
Cruiser trailed throughout and never threatened.
Race 3: Maiden Claiming
5-1/2 furlongs for 2yo fillies
First-time starter was Little Miss Brown, but
after bobbling at the break and racing wide, she failed to contend and wound up
finishing fourth. In the meantime, Chase My Tail settled into fourth
place early on, rallied on the turn to reach contention, moved up to take the
lead inside the eighth pole, and powered away in deep stretch to win by 3 1/4
lengths. Trained by Richard Violette Jr., Chase My Tail completed the race in
1:06.65. Friends Pro dueled with She's Coal Fired through an
opening quarter mile in :22.53, kicked clear to lead in the stretch, and gamely
held on for second after being passed by the winner. Icing On the Cake
tracked the pace in third early on, moved up to challenge for the lead in
midstretch, but gave way late and wound up third.
Race 5: Maiden Special Weight
5 furlongs for 2yo fillies
As if the impressive debut of Corfu in race two wasn't
enough, trainer Todd Pletcher provided an encore when Our Amazing Rose
drew off under hand-urging to win the fifth race by 7 3/4 lengths. Content to
settle in second early on through an opening quarter in :21.80, Our Amazing
Rosie moved up effortlessly to take the lead shortly thereafter, drew off to a
six-length lead through a half-mile in :45.39, and finished up in a strong
:12.29 to win in a very quick :57.68 seconds. 25-1 shot Snowbell raced
in fifth-place early on, and trailed by ten lengths passing the quarter pole,
but rallied well to finish second by 3 1/2 lengths in an impressive
performance. Feels So Right had a similar trip, breaking slowly and
racing in fourth early before moving up to second in midstretch and getting
caught late en route to third place. Zip On set the early pace before
stopping in the stretch and finishing last of seven.
-Keelerman
Thursday, July 25, 2013
The Juveniles at Saratoga -- 7/22/13
Juvenile racing on the turf made its yearly debut, with a pair of impressive victories by Ready to Act and Sea Queen. On the dirt, Big Sugar Soda made a nice impression and looks bound for a stakes race.
Race 1: Maiden Special Weight
5-1/2 furlongs for 2yos
Financial Mogul was the favorite at just over 2-1, but the Richard Violette Jr.-trainee failed to kick on after tracking the early pace and wound up fourth as Big Sugar Soda won by 8 1/4 lengths. Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden to victory by Javier Castellano, Big Sugar Soda was very quick out of the gate and sprinted clear through fractions of :22.07 and :45.30, then kept on rolling through a final three-sixteenths in :18.29 to win in powerful fashion. This is definitely a colt to watch! Pecorino, from the barn of Todd Pletcher, closed from fifth after three furlongs to secure second place, but was never a match for the winner. Grand Arrival broke slowly and raced wide throughout, but did finish up with a nice rally to be third. The D. Wayne Lukas-trainee Strong Mandate made a brief middle move before tiring to finish fifth, but has the breeding to suggest he could be a nice one in the future.
Race 2: Maiden Special Weight
5-1/2 furlongs on turf for 2yo fillies
The first juvenile turf race of the meet was won by Chad Brown's Ready to Act, who unleashed a determined stretch rally to make up a 2 1/2-length deficit in the final furlong and win by a half-length. The final time was a solid 1:04.08. Being by More Than Ready out of Mizzen Mast, she certainly appears to have a bright future on the turf, and is on my early watch list for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. I). Ruslana set a quick pace of :22.98 and :46.27, kicked clear in the stretch, and was just nabbed in the final sixteenth by the winner. Super Sky broke in the air and trailed by eight lengths early on before rallying well to finish third, just three lengths behind the winner. Cello, a D. Wayne Lukas-trainee ridden by Joel Rosario, was five lengths behind at every call en route to an even sixth-place finish. A daughter of English Channel out of the well-bred A.P. Indy mare Indy Pick, I'm very excited about Cello's future and look forward to her next start!
Race 5: Maiden Special Weight
8-1/2 furlongs for 2yo fillies
Trainer Christophe Clement always deserves respect when running a horse on the turf, and bettors who remembered that were rewarded when Clement's Sea Queen romped to victory in her debut performance at odds of 4.40-1. A daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, Sea Queen raced up close in fourth, and then third, through fractions of :23.58 and :48.52, then blitzed her third quarter in about :23.20 seconds to seize command of the lead. From there, the race was virtually over, as Sea Queen blazed the fourth quarter in :24 flat and the final sixteenths in :06.11 to win by a length in 1:41.93. Kitten Kaboodle ran in seventh early, made a nice run along the rail to reach contention, steadied briefly at the top of the stretch, and then rallied well late to finish second in a promising effort. Candy Kitty, the favorite for trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez, tracked the pace throughout but lacked a sufficient stretch kick and wound up third.
-Keelerman
Race 1: Maiden Special Weight
5-1/2 furlongs for 2yos
Financial Mogul was the favorite at just over 2-1, but the Richard Violette Jr.-trainee failed to kick on after tracking the early pace and wound up fourth as Big Sugar Soda won by 8 1/4 lengths. Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden to victory by Javier Castellano, Big Sugar Soda was very quick out of the gate and sprinted clear through fractions of :22.07 and :45.30, then kept on rolling through a final three-sixteenths in :18.29 to win in powerful fashion. This is definitely a colt to watch! Pecorino, from the barn of Todd Pletcher, closed from fifth after three furlongs to secure second place, but was never a match for the winner. Grand Arrival broke slowly and raced wide throughout, but did finish up with a nice rally to be third. The D. Wayne Lukas-trainee Strong Mandate made a brief middle move before tiring to finish fifth, but has the breeding to suggest he could be a nice one in the future.
Race 2: Maiden Special Weight
5-1/2 furlongs on turf for 2yo fillies
The first juvenile turf race of the meet was won by Chad Brown's Ready to Act, who unleashed a determined stretch rally to make up a 2 1/2-length deficit in the final furlong and win by a half-length. The final time was a solid 1:04.08. Being by More Than Ready out of Mizzen Mast, she certainly appears to have a bright future on the turf, and is on my early watch list for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. I). Ruslana set a quick pace of :22.98 and :46.27, kicked clear in the stretch, and was just nabbed in the final sixteenth by the winner. Super Sky broke in the air and trailed by eight lengths early on before rallying well to finish third, just three lengths behind the winner. Cello, a D. Wayne Lukas-trainee ridden by Joel Rosario, was five lengths behind at every call en route to an even sixth-place finish. A daughter of English Channel out of the well-bred A.P. Indy mare Indy Pick, I'm very excited about Cello's future and look forward to her next start!
Race 5: Maiden Special Weight
8-1/2 furlongs for 2yo fillies
Trainer Christophe Clement always deserves respect when running a horse on the turf, and bettors who remembered that were rewarded when Clement's Sea Queen romped to victory in her debut performance at odds of 4.40-1. A daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, Sea Queen raced up close in fourth, and then third, through fractions of :23.58 and :48.52, then blitzed her third quarter in about :23.20 seconds to seize command of the lead. From there, the race was virtually over, as Sea Queen blazed the fourth quarter in :24 flat and the final sixteenths in :06.11 to win by a length in 1:41.93. Kitten Kaboodle ran in seventh early, made a nice run along the rail to reach contention, steadied briefly at the top of the stretch, and then rallied well late to finish second in a promising effort. Candy Kitty, the favorite for trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez, tracked the pace throughout but lacked a sufficient stretch kick and wound up third.
-Keelerman
The Juveniles at Saratoga -- 7/21/13
A surprising outcome in the Sanford Stakes (gr. II) and a promising New York-bred maiden special weight comprised the day's juvenile races . . .
Race 1: Maiden Special Weight
5-1/2 furlongs for New York-bred 2yos
Fox Rox was the narrow favorite at 2.45-1, but it was the 2.55-1 shot Double Gold that triumphed for trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Rosie Napravnik. After getting off to a very quick start, Double Gold settled just off the lead in third place while racing wide down the backstretch and around the turn. Following a half-mile in :46.49 seconds, Double Gold moved up to take command and held off Fox Rox in the stretch to win by 1 3/4 lengths. The latter broke outward at the start, which didn't help his chances, but he did finish up nicely in the final quarter mile to give the impression of being a horse with a future. Thug Daddy was squeezed at the start and trailed the field by nine lengths early on before rallying on the far outside to finish third, beaten 2 3/4 lengths by the winner. American Creed, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, raced wide throughout and tired to be sixth, but is certainly eligible to improve next time out.
Race 9: Sanford Stakes (gr. II)
6 furlongs for 2yos
The first of the meet's many graded stakes races for juveniles began with the 99th running of the Sanford, in which Wired Bryan scored a surprising victory at 7-1. Trained by Michael Dilger, a former assistant to Todd Pletcher, Wired Bryan broke well under Shaun Bridgmohan and spent the first :45.31 seconds of the race dueling with Hollywood Talent for command of the lead. Thereafter, Wired Bryan shook clear and drew off while racing greenly to win by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:11.06. Southern Blessing broke a bit slowly and trailed the field early on, but rallied well in the stretch to finish second at odds of 23-1, although he was never a threat to the winner. Hollywood Talent tired in the final two furlongs, but did manage to hold third. All In Blue, Jake's Magic Hat, and Debt Ceiling completed the order of finish, with the latter fading steadily after being a bit rank in the early stages and making a brief run to reach contention at the quarter pole.
-Keelerman
Race 1: Maiden Special Weight
5-1/2 furlongs for New York-bred 2yos
Fox Rox was the narrow favorite at 2.45-1, but it was the 2.55-1 shot Double Gold that triumphed for trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Rosie Napravnik. After getting off to a very quick start, Double Gold settled just off the lead in third place while racing wide down the backstretch and around the turn. Following a half-mile in :46.49 seconds, Double Gold moved up to take command and held off Fox Rox in the stretch to win by 1 3/4 lengths. The latter broke outward at the start, which didn't help his chances, but he did finish up nicely in the final quarter mile to give the impression of being a horse with a future. Thug Daddy was squeezed at the start and trailed the field by nine lengths early on before rallying on the far outside to finish third, beaten 2 3/4 lengths by the winner. American Creed, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, raced wide throughout and tired to be sixth, but is certainly eligible to improve next time out.
Race 9: Sanford Stakes (gr. II)
6 furlongs for 2yos
The first of the meet's many graded stakes races for juveniles began with the 99th running of the Sanford, in which Wired Bryan scored a surprising victory at 7-1. Trained by Michael Dilger, a former assistant to Todd Pletcher, Wired Bryan broke well under Shaun Bridgmohan and spent the first :45.31 seconds of the race dueling with Hollywood Talent for command of the lead. Thereafter, Wired Bryan shook clear and drew off while racing greenly to win by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:11.06. Southern Blessing broke a bit slowly and trailed the field early on, but rallied well in the stretch to finish second at odds of 23-1, although he was never a threat to the winner. Hollywood Talent tired in the final two furlongs, but did manage to hold third. All In Blue, Jake's Magic Hat, and Debt Ceiling completed the order of finish, with the latter fading steadily after being a bit rank in the early stages and making a brief run to reach contention at the quarter pole.
-Keelerman
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Weekend Recap: Royal Delta was amazing
The summer racing season officially began last week with the opening of Saratoga and Del Mar, and -- as a result -- the racing has been simply spectacular.
By far the highlight for this writer was Royal Delta's romping victory in the Delaware Handicap (gr. I) on Saturday. She was fully expected to win, being sent off at 2-5, but somehow managed to outrun her odds in winning by 10 3/4 lengths. It was the kind of dominance that you just don't see in grade I races. After taking the lead through a moderate opening quarter in :24.19, Royal Delta then blitzed the next half-mile in a spectacular :47.24 to open up a seven-length lead on the field. Really, after the opening three furlongs, the outcome was never in question. Without ever really being pushed by jockey Mike Smith, Royal Delta cruised home unchallenged to win in 2:02.04 seconds and establish herself as not only the leading older mare in the country, but also a leading contender for the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) against males should her connections choose to send her that route.
Royal Delta's main east-coast challenger for leadership of the division appears to be Todd Pletcher's fine mare Authenticity, who added another stakes victory to her record with a solid triumph in the Shuvee Handicap (gr. III) at Saratoga. Favored at 1-2, Authenticity showed a new dimension in rating just off the early pace before finishing up well to win by a length over Iowa Distaff Handicap winner Flashy American. Her next start is expected to come in Saratoga's Personal Ensign Handicap (gr. I), where she and Royal Delta will meet for the first time.
The big disappointment of the Shuvee was Eblouissante, a previously unbeaten half-sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta. Unfortunately, Eblouissante was anxious at the start and scraped herself up a bit, after which she failed to seriously contend and was eased to a last-place finish. The one consolation is that her performance was too bad to be a true measure of her ability, and I won't be surprised if her next start yields much, much better results.
The Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) for three-year-old fillies finally yielded a clear-cut leader of the division, as Princess of Sylmar unleashed an impressive rally around the final turn to seize command and win by six widening lengths. And let's not forget that her final time was well over a second faster than Authenticity ran in winning the Shuvee! Having completed the "Oaks" double, Princess of Sylmar is now expected to try her luck at ten furlongs in the Alabama Stakes (gr. I), where another victory would virtually sew up the Eclipse award as champion three-year-old filly.
The week's two-year-old racing was also interesting, with Sprouts continuing her domination of the West-coast division with her victory in the California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Stakes, Brazen Persuasion and Bahnah dead-heating for victory in the Schuylerville (gr. III), and Wired Bryan romping to an impressive win in the Sanford Stakes (gr. II). By default, they are the early leaders of the juvenile divisions, but it will be very interesting to see how they progress over the course of the year.
The highlight of the week at Del Mar was the grade I Eddie Read Stakes, in which Jeranimo -- somehow favored despite his recent sub-par performances -- unleashed a tremendous rally to win by 1 1/2 lengths in the spectacular time of 1:45 4/5! It's great to see him back in top form, and to be perfectly honest, that was the kind of performance that could make him a serious contender in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I) this November.
The sprint division came into clearer focus on opening day at Saratoga when Sage Valley won the James Marvin Stakes in strong fashion. The victory made amends for his poor showing in the True North Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont last month and stamps him as the horse to beat in the Forego Stakes (gr. I) at the end of the meet. That said, to truly gain command of the sprint division, he's going to have to beat the likes of Fast Bullet, Gentleman's Code, and Delaunay at some point along the way.
Before we sign off, allow me to briefly mention the San Clemente Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar. The one-mile turf race for fillies and mares was won by Wishing Gate, who rallied from fifth to win impressively in 1:33.58 seconds. It's unfortunate that there isn't a "Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Mile," because I think Wishing Gate would be a solid favorite to win. Even still, she'd probably have a shot in the Breeders' Cup Mile itself, because her victory was simply that impressive.
-Keelerman
By far the highlight for this writer was Royal Delta's romping victory in the Delaware Handicap (gr. I) on Saturday. She was fully expected to win, being sent off at 2-5, but somehow managed to outrun her odds in winning by 10 3/4 lengths. It was the kind of dominance that you just don't see in grade I races. After taking the lead through a moderate opening quarter in :24.19, Royal Delta then blitzed the next half-mile in a spectacular :47.24 to open up a seven-length lead on the field. Really, after the opening three furlongs, the outcome was never in question. Without ever really being pushed by jockey Mike Smith, Royal Delta cruised home unchallenged to win in 2:02.04 seconds and establish herself as not only the leading older mare in the country, but also a leading contender for the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) against males should her connections choose to send her that route.
Royal Delta's main east-coast challenger for leadership of the division appears to be Todd Pletcher's fine mare Authenticity, who added another stakes victory to her record with a solid triumph in the Shuvee Handicap (gr. III) at Saratoga. Favored at 1-2, Authenticity showed a new dimension in rating just off the early pace before finishing up well to win by a length over Iowa Distaff Handicap winner Flashy American. Her next start is expected to come in Saratoga's Personal Ensign Handicap (gr. I), where she and Royal Delta will meet for the first time.
The big disappointment of the Shuvee was Eblouissante, a previously unbeaten half-sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta. Unfortunately, Eblouissante was anxious at the start and scraped herself up a bit, after which she failed to seriously contend and was eased to a last-place finish. The one consolation is that her performance was too bad to be a true measure of her ability, and I won't be surprised if her next start yields much, much better results.
The Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) for three-year-old fillies finally yielded a clear-cut leader of the division, as Princess of Sylmar unleashed an impressive rally around the final turn to seize command and win by six widening lengths. And let's not forget that her final time was well over a second faster than Authenticity ran in winning the Shuvee! Having completed the "Oaks" double, Princess of Sylmar is now expected to try her luck at ten furlongs in the Alabama Stakes (gr. I), where another victory would virtually sew up the Eclipse award as champion three-year-old filly.
The week's two-year-old racing was also interesting, with Sprouts continuing her domination of the West-coast division with her victory in the California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Stakes, Brazen Persuasion and Bahnah dead-heating for victory in the Schuylerville (gr. III), and Wired Bryan romping to an impressive win in the Sanford Stakes (gr. II). By default, they are the early leaders of the juvenile divisions, but it will be very interesting to see how they progress over the course of the year.
The highlight of the week at Del Mar was the grade I Eddie Read Stakes, in which Jeranimo -- somehow favored despite his recent sub-par performances -- unleashed a tremendous rally to win by 1 1/2 lengths in the spectacular time of 1:45 4/5! It's great to see him back in top form, and to be perfectly honest, that was the kind of performance that could make him a serious contender in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I) this November.
The sprint division came into clearer focus on opening day at Saratoga when Sage Valley won the James Marvin Stakes in strong fashion. The victory made amends for his poor showing in the True North Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont last month and stamps him as the horse to beat in the Forego Stakes (gr. I) at the end of the meet. That said, to truly gain command of the sprint division, he's going to have to beat the likes of Fast Bullet, Gentleman's Code, and Delaunay at some point along the way.
Before we sign off, allow me to briefly mention the San Clemente Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar. The one-mile turf race for fillies and mares was won by Wishing Gate, who rallied from fifth to win impressively in 1:33.58 seconds. It's unfortunate that there isn't a "Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Mile," because I think Wishing Gate would be a solid favorite to win. Even still, she'd probably have a shot in the Breeders' Cup Mile itself, because her victory was simply that impressive.
-Keelerman
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Princess of Sylmar much the best in CCA Oaks
Two-and-a-half months ago, a filly named Princess of Sylmar shocked racing fans with her 38-1 victory in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). That victory caused her price to plummet in the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) this afternoon at Saratoga, but the result was still the same. With jockey Javier Castellano aboard, Princess of Sylmar drew off powerfully in the homestretch to win by six lengths at odds of 2.15-1.
In the process, Princess of Sylmar established herself as the clear-cut leader of the sophomore filly division, which has been lacking in leadership all year long. She is one of only two fillies in the country to have one two grade I races this year, the other being Kentucky Oaks runner-up Beholder, who won the Las Virgenes (gr. I) and Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) during the winter before going to the sidelines after the Oaks to get some rest.
Princess of Sylmar's victory in the Coaching Club American Oaks was achieved in a fashion that suggests she could be difficult to beat in next month's Alabama Stakes (gr. I). Content to trail the field early as My Happy Face led the way through fractions of :24.60 and :48.98, Princess of Sylmar began to rally on the far turn, and then -- with a simply explosive move -- seized command of the race turning for home and quickly opened up a two-length lead. From there, the race was over, as Princess of Sylmar cruised home under steady urging to win by six lengths in the time of 1:51.07, 1.26 seconds faster than the older mare Authenticity ran in winning the Shuvee Handicap (gr. III) earlier on the card.
My Happy Face proved no match for the winner in the final quarter mile, but did hold second by 1 1/4 lengths over Marathon Lady. Cue the Moon finished fourth, while Unlimited Budget -- the favorite at 1.20-1 -- trailed the field after breaking slowly and tiring around the far turn.
Princess of Sylmar is a daughter of Majestic Warrior out of the Catienus mare Storm Dixie. Trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by King of Prussia Stable, Princess of Sylmar has now compiled a record of 6-1-0 from eight starts, with earnings of $1,007,220.
-Keelerman
In the process, Princess of Sylmar established herself as the clear-cut leader of the sophomore filly division, which has been lacking in leadership all year long. She is one of only two fillies in the country to have one two grade I races this year, the other being Kentucky Oaks runner-up Beholder, who won the Las Virgenes (gr. I) and Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) during the winter before going to the sidelines after the Oaks to get some rest.
Princess of Sylmar's victory in the Coaching Club American Oaks was achieved in a fashion that suggests she could be difficult to beat in next month's Alabama Stakes (gr. I). Content to trail the field early as My Happy Face led the way through fractions of :24.60 and :48.98, Princess of Sylmar began to rally on the far turn, and then -- with a simply explosive move -- seized command of the race turning for home and quickly opened up a two-length lead. From there, the race was over, as Princess of Sylmar cruised home under steady urging to win by six lengths in the time of 1:51.07, 1.26 seconds faster than the older mare Authenticity ran in winning the Shuvee Handicap (gr. III) earlier on the card.
My Happy Face proved no match for the winner in the final quarter mile, but did hold second by 1 1/4 lengths over Marathon Lady. Cue the Moon finished fourth, while Unlimited Budget -- the favorite at 1.20-1 -- trailed the field after breaking slowly and tiring around the far turn.
Princess of Sylmar is a daughter of Majestic Warrior out of the Catienus mare Storm Dixie. Trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by King of Prussia Stable, Princess of Sylmar has now compiled a record of 6-1-0 from eight starts, with earnings of $1,007,220.
-Keelerman
Royal Delta dominates in the Delaware Handicap
She's won two Eclipse awards. She's won two Breeders' Cup races. As impressive as those achievements are, the best may still be ahead of the ultra-talented mare Royal Delta, who absolutely dominated in winning the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (gr. I) at Delaware Park this afternoon by 10 3/4 lengths.
With regular rider Mike Smith aboard, Royal Delta got off to a good start and went straight to the lead, running the opening quarter mile in :24.19 seconds while leading Summer Applause and She's All In by 1 1/2 lengths. Shortly thereafter, Royal Delta began to put on a show.
With Mike Smith barely asking her for any run at all, Royal Delta willingly blitzed the second quarter in :23.31 seconds, which put her five lengths clear of her nearest pursuer. Her third quarter went in an equally impressive :23.93, which extended her lead to seven lengths. At that point, the race was virtually over. Following a mile in 1:36.29, Mike Smith shook the reins at Royal Delta and the mare responded by opening up a few more lengths on her rivals, eventually reaching the wire 10 3/4 lengths in front while stopping the clock in 2:02.04.
It was a performance much more impressive than her victory in the 2012 Delaware Handicap, in which Royal Delta was all-out to win by a neck over Tiz Miz Sue. Her performance today suggests to this writer that Royal Delta is not only ready to shoot for a third straight Eclipse award, but ready to take on the best older males in the country in the $5,000,000 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita in November.
Many lengths behind Royal Delta, She's All In out-finished And Why Not for second place, while Centring and Summer Applause completed the order of finish.
Royal Delta is a five-year-old mare by Empire Maker out of Delta Princess, by A.P. Indy. Trained by Bill Mott and owned by Besilu Stables, Royal Delta has now compiled a record of 11-4-1 from 18 starts, with earnings of $4,251,126.
-Keelerman
With regular rider Mike Smith aboard, Royal Delta got off to a good start and went straight to the lead, running the opening quarter mile in :24.19 seconds while leading Summer Applause and She's All In by 1 1/2 lengths. Shortly thereafter, Royal Delta began to put on a show.
With Mike Smith barely asking her for any run at all, Royal Delta willingly blitzed the second quarter in :23.31 seconds, which put her five lengths clear of her nearest pursuer. Her third quarter went in an equally impressive :23.93, which extended her lead to seven lengths. At that point, the race was virtually over. Following a mile in 1:36.29, Mike Smith shook the reins at Royal Delta and the mare responded by opening up a few more lengths on her rivals, eventually reaching the wire 10 3/4 lengths in front while stopping the clock in 2:02.04.
It was a performance much more impressive than her victory in the 2012 Delaware Handicap, in which Royal Delta was all-out to win by a neck over Tiz Miz Sue. Her performance today suggests to this writer that Royal Delta is not only ready to shoot for a third straight Eclipse award, but ready to take on the best older males in the country in the $5,000,000 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita in November.
Many lengths behind Royal Delta, She's All In out-finished And Why Not for second place, while Centring and Summer Applause completed the order of finish.
Royal Delta is a five-year-old mare by Empire Maker out of Delta Princess, by A.P. Indy. Trained by Bill Mott and owned by Besilu Stables, Royal Delta has now compiled a record of 11-4-1 from 18 starts, with earnings of $4,251,126.
-Keelerman
Authenticity rallies for victory in the Shuvee
Heavily favored Authenticity had to work hard for her victory in the $200,000 Shuvee Handicap (gr. III) this afternoon, but she did get the job done, rallying from just off the pace to win the nine-furlong race by a length.
With jockey John Velazquez aboard, Authenticity broke well but was soon taken back to settle in second as Sea Island led the way through very slow fractions of :25.46 and :50.80. Moon Philly and Flashy American were racing in third and fourth, followed closely by Eblouissante -- who got off to a very poor start after being very unruly in the starting gate -- and stretch-running Royal Lahaina.
Following three-quarters of a mile in 1:15.03, Authenticity moved up to challenge Sea Island for the lead, gaining the advantage just prior to the eighth pole. Then Flashy American made a bold rally along the rail to reach contention, but Authenticity found enough left in the tank to hold her off for a one-length victory in 1:52.33 seconds.
Sea Island held well to finish third, 2 1/4 lengths behind Flashy American and 2 1/2 lengths clear of Moon Philly. Royal Lahaina and Eblouissante completed the order of finish, both being virtually eased after failing to commence their rallies on the far turn.
The winner is trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Padua Stables. A daughter of Quiet American out of the Deputy Minister mare Court Appeal, Authenticity has now compiled a record of 4-3-1 from nine starts, with earnings of $513,362.
-Keelerman
With jockey John Velazquez aboard, Authenticity broke well but was soon taken back to settle in second as Sea Island led the way through very slow fractions of :25.46 and :50.80. Moon Philly and Flashy American were racing in third and fourth, followed closely by Eblouissante -- who got off to a very poor start after being very unruly in the starting gate -- and stretch-running Royal Lahaina.
Following three-quarters of a mile in 1:15.03, Authenticity moved up to challenge Sea Island for the lead, gaining the advantage just prior to the eighth pole. Then Flashy American made a bold rally along the rail to reach contention, but Authenticity found enough left in the tank to hold her off for a one-length victory in 1:52.33 seconds.
Sea Island held well to finish third, 2 1/4 lengths behind Flashy American and 2 1/2 lengths clear of Moon Philly. Royal Lahaina and Eblouissante completed the order of finish, both being virtually eased after failing to commence their rallies on the far turn.
The winner is trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Padua Stables. A daughter of Quiet American out of the Deputy Minister mare Court Appeal, Authenticity has now compiled a record of 4-3-1 from nine starts, with earnings of $513,362.
-Keelerman
Friday, July 19, 2013
The Juveniles at Saratoga -- 7/19/13
The two-year-old racing season at Saratoga began with a bang on the opening day of the meet, with Stopchargingmaria and Irish Sweepstakes breaking their maidens impressively while Bahnah and Brazen Persuasion put on a terrific show in the Schuylerville. Let's take a closer look at what happened . . .
Race 3: Maiden Special Weight
5-1/2 furlongs for 2yo fillies
As usual, it didn't take Todd Pletcher long to unveil a flashy debut winner, as heavily favored Stopchargingmaria flew to an impressive victory in the very first juvenile race of the meet. Sent off at 1-2, the daughter of Tale of the Cat got off to a quick start and went straight to the lead under John Velazquez. After setting fractions of :22.84 and :46.32, Stopchargingmaria charged threw her fifth furlong in :12.01 seconds before cruising home under a strong hand ride to win the race in 1:04.69. Owned by Mike Repole, Stopchargingmaria is expected to contest a stakes race sometime during the meet, with the Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) being a logical goal. J. Quirk, a 23-1 shot trained by Gary Contessa, chased the pace throughout to finish second, 5 1/2 lengths behind Stopchargingmaria and 7 1/2 lengths clear of Predicate, who ran evenly for third. Looking further down the road, fourth-place finisher Art of the Game deserves another chance after hitting the gate at the start, breaking several lengths behind the field, and rallying for fourth. Another name to watch is Ireland, a D. Wayne Lukas-trained filly that was a bit awkward during the early stages of the race before winding up in fifth place.
Race 5: Maiden Special Weight
5-1/2 furlongs for New York-bred 2yo fillies
Irish Sweepstakes was the favorite at just over even money, and she definitely ran to her odds. With Rajiv Maragh aboard for trainer Mark Hennig, Irish Sweepstakes dueled with Aspree for the early lead, disposed of that rival on the turn, and drew off strongly in the stretch to win by 7 1/2 lengths. The final time was 1:06.24 seconds, considerably slower that Stopchargingmaria's time two races earlier. Being a daughter of Any Given Saturday out of a Dynaformer mare, Irish Sweepstakes should have plenty of potential to succeed at longer distances in the future. Talk to Me received a very nice ride from jockey Joshua Navarro, riding the rail for most of the race, but proved no match for the winner in the stretch. Hangingwithsonny closed from last with a five-wide run to finish third in an effort that suggests that she could have a bright future.
Race 9: Schuylerville Stakes (gr. III)
6 furlongs for 2yo fillies
In what was without doubt the most exciting race on opening day, favored Bahnah rallied determinedly from third place to finish in a dead-heat with second choice Brazen Persuasion, who led throughout while setting fractions of :21.75 and :44.68 to just hang on at the finish. The final time was only 1:12.12 -- the result of a final furlong in :14.40 seconds -- but both fillies deserve credit for being part of such a fast pace and still finishing 1-2. Finishing third and fourth were the Todd Pletcher-trained fillies Elena Strikes and Yes Liz, the former being out-kicked in the late stages after making a rally on the turn and the latter tiring a bit after pressing the fast pace. True Blue Nation, who broke her maiden so impressively last month at Belmont, finished a dull sixth without any obvious excuse.
-Keelerman
Race 3: Maiden Special Weight
5-1/2 furlongs for 2yo fillies
As usual, it didn't take Todd Pletcher long to unveil a flashy debut winner, as heavily favored Stopchargingmaria flew to an impressive victory in the very first juvenile race of the meet. Sent off at 1-2, the daughter of Tale of the Cat got off to a quick start and went straight to the lead under John Velazquez. After setting fractions of :22.84 and :46.32, Stopchargingmaria charged threw her fifth furlong in :12.01 seconds before cruising home under a strong hand ride to win the race in 1:04.69. Owned by Mike Repole, Stopchargingmaria is expected to contest a stakes race sometime during the meet, with the Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) being a logical goal. J. Quirk, a 23-1 shot trained by Gary Contessa, chased the pace throughout to finish second, 5 1/2 lengths behind Stopchargingmaria and 7 1/2 lengths clear of Predicate, who ran evenly for third. Looking further down the road, fourth-place finisher Art of the Game deserves another chance after hitting the gate at the start, breaking several lengths behind the field, and rallying for fourth. Another name to watch is Ireland, a D. Wayne Lukas-trained filly that was a bit awkward during the early stages of the race before winding up in fifth place.
Race 5: Maiden Special Weight
5-1/2 furlongs for New York-bred 2yo fillies
Irish Sweepstakes was the favorite at just over even money, and she definitely ran to her odds. With Rajiv Maragh aboard for trainer Mark Hennig, Irish Sweepstakes dueled with Aspree for the early lead, disposed of that rival on the turn, and drew off strongly in the stretch to win by 7 1/2 lengths. The final time was 1:06.24 seconds, considerably slower that Stopchargingmaria's time two races earlier. Being a daughter of Any Given Saturday out of a Dynaformer mare, Irish Sweepstakes should have plenty of potential to succeed at longer distances in the future. Talk to Me received a very nice ride from jockey Joshua Navarro, riding the rail for most of the race, but proved no match for the winner in the stretch. Hangingwithsonny closed from last with a five-wide run to finish third in an effort that suggests that she could have a bright future.
Race 9: Schuylerville Stakes (gr. III)
6 furlongs for 2yo fillies
In what was without doubt the most exciting race on opening day, favored Bahnah rallied determinedly from third place to finish in a dead-heat with second choice Brazen Persuasion, who led throughout while setting fractions of :21.75 and :44.68 to just hang on at the finish. The final time was only 1:12.12 -- the result of a final furlong in :14.40 seconds -- but both fillies deserve credit for being part of such a fast pace and still finishing 1-2. Finishing third and fourth were the Todd Pletcher-trained fillies Elena Strikes and Yes Liz, the former being out-kicked in the late stages after making a rally on the turn and the latter tiring a bit after pressing the fast pace. True Blue Nation, who broke her maiden so impressively last month at Belmont, finished a dull sixth without any obvious excuse.
-Keelerman
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Princess of Sylmar no longer a longshot in CCA Oaks
When Princess of Sylmar rallied to win the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) at odds of 34-1 -- defeating a field that many considered to be the strongest for that race in a long, long time -- many people felt that Dreaming of Julia, who finished fourth after a difficult trip, would rebound to reclaim leadership of the sophomore filly division. However, a distant runner-up finish in the Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) put a damper on Dreaming of Julia's championship credentials, and with no other filly having stepped up in the meantime, Princess of Sylmar will look to bolster her own Eclipse award chances in the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) on Saturday at Saratoga.
However, this time around, Princess of Sylmar won't be 34-1. Her credentials are obvious. Kentucky Oaks winners don't go off at 34-1 in any race, let alone their first start since their victory under the Twin Spires. Assuming she wins on Saturday, the combination of Kentucky Oaks/Coaching Club American Oaks will hold a lot of weight at the end of the year, when votes are cast for the Eclipse awards. Basically, victory on Saturday will go a long way toward establishing Princess of Sylmar as the queen of her division.
That said, victory is by no means guaranteed. Four very talented rivals have lined up to face Princess of Sylmar, including stablemate Unlimited Budget, who won the first four starts of her career -- including three graded stakes -- before finishing third in the Kentucky Oaks and sixth in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) against colts. For Unlimited Budget, victory in the CCA Oaks would put a grade I win on her record, something noticeably absent at this time. But while it would stamp her as a contender for the division title, it would also put her in pretty much the same boat as Princess of Sylmar, Close Hatches, Midnight Lucky, etc. etc. -- very good fillies that have yet to stamp themselves as superior to the rest of the pack.
In a similar position is Marathon Lady, a consistent filly that has placed in four consecutive graded stakes races this year without winning any. That streak includes a third-place finish in the Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) last time out, in which she was beaten just a half-length for second by Dreaming of Julia. If she can put it all together on Saturday, a victory is not out of the question, but her late-running style may be compromised by the small field.
Rounding out the field are My Happy Face and Cue the Moon, who finished just a neck apart when first and second in the Tempted Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct last November. Since that meeting, each filly has made two starts, with My Happy Face finishing second in the Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II) and winning the one-mile Lotka Stakes while Cue the Moon finished a distant third in the Gulfstream Oaks (gr. II) and fourth in the Acorn Stakes (gr. I). Nine furlongs may be a bit beyond each filly's best distance, but both may have a tactical edge in terms of early speed, My Happy Face especially.
Exactly what will transpire in the CCA Oaks is difficult to predict. But it's not hard to predict that the winner will step to the forefront of the sophomore filly division -- at least for the time being.
-Keelerman
However, this time around, Princess of Sylmar won't be 34-1. Her credentials are obvious. Kentucky Oaks winners don't go off at 34-1 in any race, let alone their first start since their victory under the Twin Spires. Assuming she wins on Saturday, the combination of Kentucky Oaks/Coaching Club American Oaks will hold a lot of weight at the end of the year, when votes are cast for the Eclipse awards. Basically, victory on Saturday will go a long way toward establishing Princess of Sylmar as the queen of her division.
That said, victory is by no means guaranteed. Four very talented rivals have lined up to face Princess of Sylmar, including stablemate Unlimited Budget, who won the first four starts of her career -- including three graded stakes -- before finishing third in the Kentucky Oaks and sixth in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) against colts. For Unlimited Budget, victory in the CCA Oaks would put a grade I win on her record, something noticeably absent at this time. But while it would stamp her as a contender for the division title, it would also put her in pretty much the same boat as Princess of Sylmar, Close Hatches, Midnight Lucky, etc. etc. -- very good fillies that have yet to stamp themselves as superior to the rest of the pack.
In a similar position is Marathon Lady, a consistent filly that has placed in four consecutive graded stakes races this year without winning any. That streak includes a third-place finish in the Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) last time out, in which she was beaten just a half-length for second by Dreaming of Julia. If she can put it all together on Saturday, a victory is not out of the question, but her late-running style may be compromised by the small field.
Rounding out the field are My Happy Face and Cue the Moon, who finished just a neck apart when first and second in the Tempted Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct last November. Since that meeting, each filly has made two starts, with My Happy Face finishing second in the Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II) and winning the one-mile Lotka Stakes while Cue the Moon finished a distant third in the Gulfstream Oaks (gr. II) and fourth in the Acorn Stakes (gr. I). Nine furlongs may be a bit beyond each filly's best distance, but both may have a tactical edge in terms of early speed, My Happy Face especially.
Exactly what will transpire in the CCA Oaks is difficult to predict. But it's not hard to predict that the winner will step to the forefront of the sophomore filly division -- at least for the time being.
-Keelerman
Eblouissante to make stakes debut in Shuvee Handicap
Eblouissante, the unbeaten four-year-old half-sister to Zenyatta, is scheduled to make her long-awaited stakes debut in Saturday's $200,000 Shuvee Handicap (gr. III) at Saratoga.
Trained by John Shirreffs, the daughter of Bernardini began her career with an eye-catching maiden victory on November 16th, in which she rallied from next-to-last to win the 1 1/16th miles maiden special weight by 4 1/4 lengths. She followed up on that triumph with an equally impressive allowance win on January 17th, once again winning from off-the-pace in a fashion eerily similar to that of Zenyatta. Unfortunately, various minor issues have kept her from the races since then, but her strong recent workouts suggest that she is back in top form and ready to win her first stakes race.
Six other fillies and mares are entered in the Shuvee, with Eblouissante's primary opposition expected to come from Summer Applause, winner of the Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes (gr. III), and Authenticity, winner of the La Troienne Stakes (gr. II) and runner-up in the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I). However, both fillies have been cross-entered in the Delaware Handicap (gr. I) at Delaware Park, which is also on Saturday.
Assuming that both Summer Applause and Authenticity scratch from the Shuvee in favor of the Del Cap, Sea Island would loom as the most logical candidate to upset Eblouissante. Trained by Shug McGaughey, the daughter of Pulpit was generally disappointing last summer while losing four stakes events at Saratoga and Belmont, but did come around to finish second in the Gazelle Stakes (gr. I) at Aqueduct. She began her 2013 campaign with a runner-up effort in an allowance race at Keeneland, then shipped to Pimlico and was beaten two lengths when second to Summer Applause in the Allaire DuPont. However, her most recent effort was a puzzler. Sent off as the second-choice in Belmont's Mariensky Stakes, she apparently didn't handle the sloppy track and wound up last in a field of six, never challenging while trailing by about eleven lengths at the finish. It's difficult to say with certainty whether she'll rebound -- consistency isn't something she's known for! -- but if she does, she could make things very interesting for Eblouissante.
Another intriguing contender is Moon Philly, who won the Nellie Morse Stakes and Maryland Racing Media Stakes at Laurel Park early in the year. Owned by Country Life Farm, Moon Philly's recent form has not been great -- she was fifth in the Allaire DuPont after a tough trip and was beaten nearly eighteen lengths in Monmouth's Lighthouse Stakes -- but if she runs back to her Maryland form, I think she could win this race as a bit of a longshot.
Rounding out the field are Flashy American, impressive winner of the Iowa Distaff Stakes last month, and Royal Lahaina, who beat Sea Island when winning the Mariensky Stakes. If you excuse the latter's dismal defeat in the Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. III) at Hawthorne, her form this year has been very good, and a top three finish is definitely within the realm of her abilities, especially if Summer Applause and Authenticity scratch.
In conclusion, there are a number of very talented fillies in this race, and a victory for Eblouissante not a given. But as a huge fan of Zenyatta, I have to pick her to win.
-Keelerman
Trained by John Shirreffs, the daughter of Bernardini began her career with an eye-catching maiden victory on November 16th, in which she rallied from next-to-last to win the 1 1/16th miles maiden special weight by 4 1/4 lengths. She followed up on that triumph with an equally impressive allowance win on January 17th, once again winning from off-the-pace in a fashion eerily similar to that of Zenyatta. Unfortunately, various minor issues have kept her from the races since then, but her strong recent workouts suggest that she is back in top form and ready to win her first stakes race.
Six other fillies and mares are entered in the Shuvee, with Eblouissante's primary opposition expected to come from Summer Applause, winner of the Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes (gr. III), and Authenticity, winner of the La Troienne Stakes (gr. II) and runner-up in the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I). However, both fillies have been cross-entered in the Delaware Handicap (gr. I) at Delaware Park, which is also on Saturday.
Assuming that both Summer Applause and Authenticity scratch from the Shuvee in favor of the Del Cap, Sea Island would loom as the most logical candidate to upset Eblouissante. Trained by Shug McGaughey, the daughter of Pulpit was generally disappointing last summer while losing four stakes events at Saratoga and Belmont, but did come around to finish second in the Gazelle Stakes (gr. I) at Aqueduct. She began her 2013 campaign with a runner-up effort in an allowance race at Keeneland, then shipped to Pimlico and was beaten two lengths when second to Summer Applause in the Allaire DuPont. However, her most recent effort was a puzzler. Sent off as the second-choice in Belmont's Mariensky Stakes, she apparently didn't handle the sloppy track and wound up last in a field of six, never challenging while trailing by about eleven lengths at the finish. It's difficult to say with certainty whether she'll rebound -- consistency isn't something she's known for! -- but if she does, she could make things very interesting for Eblouissante.
Another intriguing contender is Moon Philly, who won the Nellie Morse Stakes and Maryland Racing Media Stakes at Laurel Park early in the year. Owned by Country Life Farm, Moon Philly's recent form has not been great -- she was fifth in the Allaire DuPont after a tough trip and was beaten nearly eighteen lengths in Monmouth's Lighthouse Stakes -- but if she runs back to her Maryland form, I think she could win this race as a bit of a longshot.
Rounding out the field are Flashy American, impressive winner of the Iowa Distaff Stakes last month, and Royal Lahaina, who beat Sea Island when winning the Mariensky Stakes. If you excuse the latter's dismal defeat in the Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. III) at Hawthorne, her form this year has been very good, and a top three finish is definitely within the realm of her abilities, especially if Summer Applause and Authenticity scratch.
In conclusion, there are a number of very talented fillies in this race, and a victory for Eblouissante not a given. But as a huge fan of Zenyatta, I have to pick her to win.
-Keelerman
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Boisterous rallies for decisive triumph in Man o' War Stakes
The $600,000 Man o' War Stakes (gr. I) was originally supposed to feature Point of Entry, the very talented five-time grade I winner that won the Man o' War in 2012. Unfortunately, an injury suffered last month kept the turf star from defending his title, and so it was up to stablemate Boisterous to step in and save the day, which he did so decisively this afternoon at Belmont Park.
Ridden to victory John Velazquez, Boisterous was content to settle back in fifth place during the early stages of the eleven-furlong race, about seven or eight lengths behind runaway leader Folk Singer. Speaking of Which and Twilight Eclipse were racing together in second, followed on the outside by Optimizer. Finnegans Wake was back in sixth, while Al Khali and Exclusive Strike were the trailers.
Folk Singer, at odds of 88-1, was running well to lead through fractions of :23.44, :48.07, and 1:13.06, but was caught shortly thereafter by Speaking of Which and Twilight Eclipse, who continued to race as a pair down the backstretch and into the final turn. Optimizer was looming a threat on the outside, but the real challenge was coming from Boisterous, who split horses with a powerful rally to reach contention at the top of the homestretch. Twilight Eclipse tried his best, but couldn't stay with Boisterous in the late stages, as the latter drew off to win by about two lengths while stopping the clock in 2:14.11 over a course labeled good.
Twilight Eclipse narrowly held off the late-closing Exclusive Strike for second, while Finnegans Wake, Optimizer, Al Khali, Speaking of Which, and Folk Singer completed the order of finish.
Boisterous is trained by Shug McGaughey and owned by Phipps Stable. The Man o' War marked his seventh graded stakes victory, but his first in a grade I race.
-Keelerman
Ridden to victory John Velazquez, Boisterous was content to settle back in fifth place during the early stages of the eleven-furlong race, about seven or eight lengths behind runaway leader Folk Singer. Speaking of Which and Twilight Eclipse were racing together in second, followed on the outside by Optimizer. Finnegans Wake was back in sixth, while Al Khali and Exclusive Strike were the trailers.
Folk Singer, at odds of 88-1, was running well to lead through fractions of :23.44, :48.07, and 1:13.06, but was caught shortly thereafter by Speaking of Which and Twilight Eclipse, who continued to race as a pair down the backstretch and into the final turn. Optimizer was looming a threat on the outside, but the real challenge was coming from Boisterous, who split horses with a powerful rally to reach contention at the top of the homestretch. Twilight Eclipse tried his best, but couldn't stay with Boisterous in the late stages, as the latter drew off to win by about two lengths while stopping the clock in 2:14.11 over a course labeled good.
Twilight Eclipse narrowly held off the late-closing Exclusive Strike for second, while Finnegans Wake, Optimizer, Al Khali, Speaking of Which, and Folk Singer completed the order of finish.
Boisterous is trained by Shug McGaughey and owned by Phipps Stable. The Man o' War marked his seventh graded stakes victory, but his first in a grade I race.
-Keelerman
Ride On Curlin impressive in Ellis Park maiden victory
Lightly-raced two-year-old Ride On Curlin gave an impressive performance in Saturday's fourth race at Ellis Park, breaking the track record for 5-1/2 furlongs in a fashion that suggests he could be a budding star.
Trained by William Gowen, the son of Curlin broke a step slowly but was quickly sent to the lead by jockey Calvin Borel and led the way by 1 1/2 lengths through an opening quarter in :22.75 seconds. Union Hall was tracking him in second, followed by Innovative Fashion, Victory Colors, Thatcher Street, and Roman Unbridled.
The positions remained unchanged around the turn, but entering the homestretch Ride On Curlin drifted out a bit and allowed Union Hall to seize command of the rail. For a few brief moments, it appeared that Union Hall had the momentum to challenge Ride On Curlin, but the latter found another gear when urged by Borel and drew off powerfully to win by 7 3/4 lengths, with seemingly something left at the finish. The final time for 5-1/2 furlongs was a very quick 1:03 flat, the result of Ride On Curlin blazing his final three-sixteenths in a spectacular :17.51 seconds.
The time eclipsed the track record of 1:03.29 set by Don Manuel on August 20th, 2006.
Union Hall finished second, 8 1/4 lengths clear of Thatcher Street. Victory Colors, Innovative Fashion, and Roman Unbridled completed the order of finish.
Ride On Curlin is a son of Curlin out of the Storm Cat mare Magical Ride. Owned by Daniel J. Dougherty and bred by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and Louise Ireland Humphrey Revocable Trust, Ride On Curlin has now compiled a record of 1-1-0 from two starts, with earnings of $26,700.
-Keelerman
Trained by William Gowen, the son of Curlin broke a step slowly but was quickly sent to the lead by jockey Calvin Borel and led the way by 1 1/2 lengths through an opening quarter in :22.75 seconds. Union Hall was tracking him in second, followed by Innovative Fashion, Victory Colors, Thatcher Street, and Roman Unbridled.
The positions remained unchanged around the turn, but entering the homestretch Ride On Curlin drifted out a bit and allowed Union Hall to seize command of the rail. For a few brief moments, it appeared that Union Hall had the momentum to challenge Ride On Curlin, but the latter found another gear when urged by Borel and drew off powerfully to win by 7 3/4 lengths, with seemingly something left at the finish. The final time for 5-1/2 furlongs was a very quick 1:03 flat, the result of Ride On Curlin blazing his final three-sixteenths in a spectacular :17.51 seconds.
The time eclipsed the track record of 1:03.29 set by Don Manuel on August 20th, 2006.
Union Hall finished second, 8 1/4 lengths clear of Thatcher Street. Victory Colors, Innovative Fashion, and Roman Unbridled completed the order of finish.
Ride On Curlin is a son of Curlin out of the Storm Cat mare Magical Ride. Owned by Daniel J. Dougherty and bred by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and Louise Ireland Humphrey Revocable Trust, Ride On Curlin has now compiled a record of 1-1-0 from two starts, with earnings of $26,700.
-Keelerman
Optimizer, Al Khali seeking grade I win in Man o' War
The tough-as-nails Optimizer may not win often, but you know he's always going to try his best no matter what the circumstances. A veteran of twenty-six starts, including fourteen alone as a three-year-old last year, the D. Wayne Lukas-trainee will attempt to pick up the first grade I victory of his career on Saturday when he takes on seven rivals in the eleven-furlong Man o' War Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park.
To be perfectly honest, I'm surprised that Optimizer has yet to win a grade I. He's certainly proven himself to be of the caliber, placing third in the Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) as a two-year-old, third in the Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (gr. I) as a three-year-old, and second in both the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (gr. I) and the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (gr. I) this spring, losing the latter two events simply because he couldn't handle the likes of Wise Dan and Point of Entry, two of the finest turf horses we have seen in this country during the last few years.
Fortunately for Optimizer, neither Wise Dan nor Point of Entry are entered in the Man o' War, which leaves the race ripe for conquest. Aside from Optimizer, who will have red-hot jockey Joel Rosario in the saddle, other top contenders include Boisterous, third in this race two years ago, and Twilight Eclipse, who set a world record for twelve furlongs (2:22.63) in winning the Pan American Stakes (gr. II) earlier this year. In particular, Boisterous looms as a major contender off of his triumph in the Monmouth Stakes (gr. II) last time out, in which he beat subsequent United Nations (gr. I) winner Big Blue Kitten by 1 1/4 lengths.
Another intriguing entrant is Speaking of Which, an Irish-bred colt that won the ten-furlong Gallinule Stakes (Ire-III) at the Curragh in May 2012 and -- more recently -- an 8.5-furlong turf allowance race at Monmouth in June. In that allowance race, he blitzed his third quarter in something like :22 4/5 seconds, which was made even more remarkable by his fourth quarter in about :23 2/5. It's hard to say what to think of him going eleven furlongs, but given that he won at ten furlongs in Europe, I'm not too worried about the stretch out.
One major factor in Optimizer's favor is the Rosario factor. The fact is, Rosario seems to fit Optimizer like no other jockey, and I don't think it's a coincidence that several of Optimizer's best efforts -- including his two runner-up efforts in grade I company this year -- have come with Rosario in the saddle. Rosario just seems to understand Optimizer particularly well, and as a result, they make a great team. I think Optimizer would have a terrific chance at winning tomorrow regardless of who rode him, but to me, the presence of Rosario makes him an even more serious contender.
All that said, there is no horse I'd like to see win this race more than Al Khali, a seven-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro that is 10-1 on the morning line. Believe it or not, Al Khali has contested seventeen grade I races over the years without ever reaching the winner's circle. Those efforts include a heartbreaking defeat in last year's Northern Dancer Stakes at Woodbine, which he lost by a neck after leading into the final furlong. Time may be running out for Al Khali to win a grade I, for his last two efforts have been very sub-par and his old legs may not have quite the zip that they once did. But if he's got one more top-notch run in him somewhere, now would be an appropriate time to unleash it, in the absence of Point of Entry, Wigmore Hall, and Gio Ponti -- horses he has chased home in seemingly endless top-level races of the years.
-Keelerman
To be perfectly honest, I'm surprised that Optimizer has yet to win a grade I. He's certainly proven himself to be of the caliber, placing third in the Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) as a two-year-old, third in the Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (gr. I) as a three-year-old, and second in both the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (gr. I) and the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (gr. I) this spring, losing the latter two events simply because he couldn't handle the likes of Wise Dan and Point of Entry, two of the finest turf horses we have seen in this country during the last few years.
Fortunately for Optimizer, neither Wise Dan nor Point of Entry are entered in the Man o' War, which leaves the race ripe for conquest. Aside from Optimizer, who will have red-hot jockey Joel Rosario in the saddle, other top contenders include Boisterous, third in this race two years ago, and Twilight Eclipse, who set a world record for twelve furlongs (2:22.63) in winning the Pan American Stakes (gr. II) earlier this year. In particular, Boisterous looms as a major contender off of his triumph in the Monmouth Stakes (gr. II) last time out, in which he beat subsequent United Nations (gr. I) winner Big Blue Kitten by 1 1/4 lengths.
Another intriguing entrant is Speaking of Which, an Irish-bred colt that won the ten-furlong Gallinule Stakes (Ire-III) at the Curragh in May 2012 and -- more recently -- an 8.5-furlong turf allowance race at Monmouth in June. In that allowance race, he blitzed his third quarter in something like :22 4/5 seconds, which was made even more remarkable by his fourth quarter in about :23 2/5. It's hard to say what to think of him going eleven furlongs, but given that he won at ten furlongs in Europe, I'm not too worried about the stretch out.
One major factor in Optimizer's favor is the Rosario factor. The fact is, Rosario seems to fit Optimizer like no other jockey, and I don't think it's a coincidence that several of Optimizer's best efforts -- including his two runner-up efforts in grade I company this year -- have come with Rosario in the saddle. Rosario just seems to understand Optimizer particularly well, and as a result, they make a great team. I think Optimizer would have a terrific chance at winning tomorrow regardless of who rode him, but to me, the presence of Rosario makes him an even more serious contender.
All that said, there is no horse I'd like to see win this race more than Al Khali, a seven-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro that is 10-1 on the morning line. Believe it or not, Al Khali has contested seventeen grade I races over the years without ever reaching the winner's circle. Those efforts include a heartbreaking defeat in last year's Northern Dancer Stakes at Woodbine, which he lost by a neck after leading into the final furlong. Time may be running out for Al Khali to win a grade I, for his last two efforts have been very sub-par and his old legs may not have quite the zip that they once did. But if he's got one more top-notch run in him somewhere, now would be an appropriate time to unleash it, in the absence of Point of Entry, Wigmore Hall, and Gio Ponti -- horses he has chased home in seemingly endless top-level races of the years.
-Keelerman
Sunday, July 07, 2013
Weekend Recap: The battle for Horse of the Year begins
It may be hard to believe, but for the first time in recent history, the reigning Horse of the Year -- Wise Dan -- and the horse he beat out for the honor -- Game On Dude -- are both back in training, seemingly just as good as ever, and gearing up for another thrilling battle for the golden Eclipse award.
Last week, we saw Wise Dan overcome a tough trip, a soggy racecourse, and a substantial weight assignment (128 pounds) to win the Firecracker Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs, which marked his third victory of the season. Yesterday, we watched Game On Dude carry a career-high 127 pounds to a determined victory in the Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (gr. I). Not only was that triumph Game On Dude's fourth victory of the season -- his others include the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) and Charles Town Classic (gr. III) -- it was also his second straight win in the Hollywood Gold Cup. If not for a nose defeat in the 2011 renewal, Game On Dude would have joined Native Diver and Lava Man as a three-time winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup.
Granted, Game On Dude did get a pretty easy trip yesterday. Allowed to waltz through fractions of :25.00, :49.31, and 1:12.60, Game On Dude seemed to have the race sewn up on the far turn, but that was before Kettle Corn made a tremendous run along the rail to challenge Game On Dude in the homestretch. To be perfectly honest, I thought Kettle Corn was going to go on by, but Game On Dude responded gamely and held on well to win by a length in 2:01.88. Given that he was conceding Kettle Corn eleven pounds, it was really a pretty impressive performance. It should set him up well for a run in the Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar, a race Game On Dude has lost twice previously. He doesn't seem to be quite as good over the Del Mar Polytrack as he is over dirt and Cushion Track, but then again, I think Game On Dude is better this year than ever before, so perhaps he can overcome his disdain for Del Mar. However, before we move on to other subjects, allow me to speculate on one idea that occurred to me last night. Last year, trainer Bob Baffert mentioned that he was considering shipping Game On Dude to Saratoga to run in the Woodward, rather than take another shot at winning over the Del Mar Polytrack. Now remember, this is just speculation, but suppose that Baffert changes his mind and sends Game On Dude to the Woodward. That race is also on the potential agenda for Wise Dan. So, it's possible -- albeit unlikely -- that we could witness a Game On Dude/Wise Dan showdown in the Woodward. That would be, without doubt, one of the best races of the last several years.
Moving onward, let's give a lot of credit to the remarkable seven-year-old Flat Out, who showed a new dimension in tracking the pace en route to a decisive victory in the Suburban Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park. Once just a closer, Flat Out showed a great deal of tactical speed in the Suburban, sitting in second through fractions of :23.54, :47.22, and 1:11.14 before rocketing the final three-eighths in :35.73 to win by 2 1/2 lengths. It's so unfortunate that there won't be a Breeders' Cup at Belmont until at least 2015, for in my opinion, Flat Out would be almost impossible to beat in a Breeder's Cup Classic at Belmont.
Big Blue Kitten has long given the impression of being a talented runner, but the five-year-old son of Kitten's Joy put it all together in yesterday's United Nations Stakes (gr. I) at Monmouth to win the eleven-furlong turf race in a quick 2:11.98. Allowed to settle back in sixth-place early on, Big Blue Kitten commenced a rally inside the final quarter mile and charged up the rail to win by a decisive 1 1/4 lengths. Teaks North, winner of the United Nations in 2011, also finished well to claim second, but just couldn't match strides with the winner. Nevertheless, it's remarkable the way Teaks North has turned things around following his abbreviated 2012 campaign.
Another horse that ran well in the United Nations was 2012 Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I) winner Little Mike, who was making his first start since a failed two-race campaign in Dubai. With jockey Joel Rosario aboard for the first time, Little Mike got off to an absolutely brilliant start that put him a couple of lengths clear of the field just a few strides out of the gate. Then, after setting fairly moderate early fractions, Little Mike blitzed through a mile in 1:35.91 and ten furlongs in 2:00 flat, after which he tired a bit in the final furlong and wound up fourth by 3 1/4 lengths. This should set him up well for a defense of his Arlington Million (gr. I) title at Arlington Park next month.
Calder's Summit of Speed was, as usual, a thrilling affair headlined by the grade I Princess Rooney Handicap and the grade II Smile Sprint Handicap (gr. II), the latter a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Starship Truffles proved much the best in the Princess Rooney, seizing command with a powerful run around the turn and drawing off to win by an uncontested 3 3/4 lengths. Favored Judy the Beauty ran well in defeat, rallying to be best of the rest after a very poor start, but I'm not sure she was going to beat Starship Truffles even with a perfect start.
The Smile Sprint was a much more exciting affair, with Bahamian Squall pulling away late to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Eclipse champion sprinter Trinniberg, who turned in an admirable performance to rally for second after being beaten to the lead by both Cajun Breeze and Artefacto. However, the horse that impressed me most was Jackson Bend, who ran wide every step of the way before rallying to be beaten a nose for second. Given that it was only his second start since an injury-induced retirement last summer, it's truly remarkable how well he ran yesterday. Hopefully, he'll turn up at Saratoga this summer for the Forego Stakes (gr. I), a race I definitely believe he can win.
Three other sprint races were run over the last few days that warrant mentioning. The first was the Parx Dash Handicap (gr. III) at Parx Racing, where the seven-year-old gelding Ben's Cat rallied for a convincing victory over favored Tightnd Touchdown. The record Ben's Cat has compiled since his debut in 2010 is simply amazing -- 33 starts, 22 wins, 3 seconds, 2 third, earnings of nearly $1.6 million, and seventeen stakes victories. Who knows how many more he'll pick up before retirement, which could be well off in the future given how well he's been running as of late.
The second of these sprint stakes was the Jersey Shore Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park, where the three-year-old colt Rainbow Heir brought his record to a perfect 4-for-4 with an easy five-length triumph. He did it the hard way too, setting fractions of :21.89, :44.76, and :56.77 en route to a final clocking of 1:09.43 seconds. He may very well be one of the better sprinters in the country, and should his connections choose to point him at the King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga next month, I think he'd have a great chance at winning.
The last sprint I'd like to mention was the six-furlong Hockessin Stakes at Delaware Park, in which the five-year-old Picko's Pride triumphed in the blazing time of 1:08.62. He got a pretty good setup with a speed duel in front of him, but I have long felt Picko's Pride to be a horse of exceptional quality, and perhaps this race was a sign of better things to come.
In the Swaps Stakes (gr. II) at Hollywood Park, Chief Havoc took advantage of a paceless race to win in gate-to-wire fashion, turning back challenges from Tiz a Minister, Dice Flavor, and Java's War to win the nine-furlong race by 2 1/2 lengths. It was certainly a sharp performance, but I think Tiz a Minister was probably the best runner in the race, given that he was attempting to close into slow fractions. I would be interested in seeing a Chief Havoc/Tiz a Minister rematch in a race with more early speed.
Likewise, the Dwyer Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont was run and won in similar fashion, with front-running Moreno waltzing through a slow pace before romping to a seven-length triumph. As impressive as he was, third-place finisher For Greater Glory was probably better, given that he reared at the start and lost six lengths right there before rallying off the slow pace to be beaten 7 1/4 lengths. I look forward to seeing where he turns up next, for assuming he gets off to a better start, he could wind up being an interesting contender in a race like the Travers (gr. I) next month.
-Keelerman
Last week, we saw Wise Dan overcome a tough trip, a soggy racecourse, and a substantial weight assignment (128 pounds) to win the Firecracker Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs, which marked his third victory of the season. Yesterday, we watched Game On Dude carry a career-high 127 pounds to a determined victory in the Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (gr. I). Not only was that triumph Game On Dude's fourth victory of the season -- his others include the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) and Charles Town Classic (gr. III) -- it was also his second straight win in the Hollywood Gold Cup. If not for a nose defeat in the 2011 renewal, Game On Dude would have joined Native Diver and Lava Man as a three-time winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup.
Granted, Game On Dude did get a pretty easy trip yesterday. Allowed to waltz through fractions of :25.00, :49.31, and 1:12.60, Game On Dude seemed to have the race sewn up on the far turn, but that was before Kettle Corn made a tremendous run along the rail to challenge Game On Dude in the homestretch. To be perfectly honest, I thought Kettle Corn was going to go on by, but Game On Dude responded gamely and held on well to win by a length in 2:01.88. Given that he was conceding Kettle Corn eleven pounds, it was really a pretty impressive performance. It should set him up well for a run in the Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar, a race Game On Dude has lost twice previously. He doesn't seem to be quite as good over the Del Mar Polytrack as he is over dirt and Cushion Track, but then again, I think Game On Dude is better this year than ever before, so perhaps he can overcome his disdain for Del Mar. However, before we move on to other subjects, allow me to speculate on one idea that occurred to me last night. Last year, trainer Bob Baffert mentioned that he was considering shipping Game On Dude to Saratoga to run in the Woodward, rather than take another shot at winning over the Del Mar Polytrack. Now remember, this is just speculation, but suppose that Baffert changes his mind and sends Game On Dude to the Woodward. That race is also on the potential agenda for Wise Dan. So, it's possible -- albeit unlikely -- that we could witness a Game On Dude/Wise Dan showdown in the Woodward. That would be, without doubt, one of the best races of the last several years.
Moving onward, let's give a lot of credit to the remarkable seven-year-old Flat Out, who showed a new dimension in tracking the pace en route to a decisive victory in the Suburban Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park. Once just a closer, Flat Out showed a great deal of tactical speed in the Suburban, sitting in second through fractions of :23.54, :47.22, and 1:11.14 before rocketing the final three-eighths in :35.73 to win by 2 1/2 lengths. It's so unfortunate that there won't be a Breeders' Cup at Belmont until at least 2015, for in my opinion, Flat Out would be almost impossible to beat in a Breeder's Cup Classic at Belmont.
Big Blue Kitten has long given the impression of being a talented runner, but the five-year-old son of Kitten's Joy put it all together in yesterday's United Nations Stakes (gr. I) at Monmouth to win the eleven-furlong turf race in a quick 2:11.98. Allowed to settle back in sixth-place early on, Big Blue Kitten commenced a rally inside the final quarter mile and charged up the rail to win by a decisive 1 1/4 lengths. Teaks North, winner of the United Nations in 2011, also finished well to claim second, but just couldn't match strides with the winner. Nevertheless, it's remarkable the way Teaks North has turned things around following his abbreviated 2012 campaign.
Another horse that ran well in the United Nations was 2012 Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I) winner Little Mike, who was making his first start since a failed two-race campaign in Dubai. With jockey Joel Rosario aboard for the first time, Little Mike got off to an absolutely brilliant start that put him a couple of lengths clear of the field just a few strides out of the gate. Then, after setting fairly moderate early fractions, Little Mike blitzed through a mile in 1:35.91 and ten furlongs in 2:00 flat, after which he tired a bit in the final furlong and wound up fourth by 3 1/4 lengths. This should set him up well for a defense of his Arlington Million (gr. I) title at Arlington Park next month.
Calder's Summit of Speed was, as usual, a thrilling affair headlined by the grade I Princess Rooney Handicap and the grade II Smile Sprint Handicap (gr. II), the latter a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Starship Truffles proved much the best in the Princess Rooney, seizing command with a powerful run around the turn and drawing off to win by an uncontested 3 3/4 lengths. Favored Judy the Beauty ran well in defeat, rallying to be best of the rest after a very poor start, but I'm not sure she was going to beat Starship Truffles even with a perfect start.
The Smile Sprint was a much more exciting affair, with Bahamian Squall pulling away late to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Eclipse champion sprinter Trinniberg, who turned in an admirable performance to rally for second after being beaten to the lead by both Cajun Breeze and Artefacto. However, the horse that impressed me most was Jackson Bend, who ran wide every step of the way before rallying to be beaten a nose for second. Given that it was only his second start since an injury-induced retirement last summer, it's truly remarkable how well he ran yesterday. Hopefully, he'll turn up at Saratoga this summer for the Forego Stakes (gr. I), a race I definitely believe he can win.
Three other sprint races were run over the last few days that warrant mentioning. The first was the Parx Dash Handicap (gr. III) at Parx Racing, where the seven-year-old gelding Ben's Cat rallied for a convincing victory over favored Tightnd Touchdown. The record Ben's Cat has compiled since his debut in 2010 is simply amazing -- 33 starts, 22 wins, 3 seconds, 2 third, earnings of nearly $1.6 million, and seventeen stakes victories. Who knows how many more he'll pick up before retirement, which could be well off in the future given how well he's been running as of late.
The second of these sprint stakes was the Jersey Shore Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park, where the three-year-old colt Rainbow Heir brought his record to a perfect 4-for-4 with an easy five-length triumph. He did it the hard way too, setting fractions of :21.89, :44.76, and :56.77 en route to a final clocking of 1:09.43 seconds. He may very well be one of the better sprinters in the country, and should his connections choose to point him at the King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga next month, I think he'd have a great chance at winning.
The last sprint I'd like to mention was the six-furlong Hockessin Stakes at Delaware Park, in which the five-year-old Picko's Pride triumphed in the blazing time of 1:08.62. He got a pretty good setup with a speed duel in front of him, but I have long felt Picko's Pride to be a horse of exceptional quality, and perhaps this race was a sign of better things to come.
In the Swaps Stakes (gr. II) at Hollywood Park, Chief Havoc took advantage of a paceless race to win in gate-to-wire fashion, turning back challenges from Tiz a Minister, Dice Flavor, and Java's War to win the nine-furlong race by 2 1/2 lengths. It was certainly a sharp performance, but I think Tiz a Minister was probably the best runner in the race, given that he was attempting to close into slow fractions. I would be interested in seeing a Chief Havoc/Tiz a Minister rematch in a race with more early speed.
Likewise, the Dwyer Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont was run and won in similar fashion, with front-running Moreno waltzing through a slow pace before romping to a seven-length triumph. As impressive as he was, third-place finisher For Greater Glory was probably better, given that he reared at the start and lost six lengths right there before rallying off the slow pace to be beaten 7 1/4 lengths. I look forward to seeing where he turns up next, for assuming he gets off to a better start, he could wind up being an interesting contender in a race like the Travers (gr. I) next month.
-Keelerman
Saturday, July 06, 2013
Big Blue Kitten springs mild upset in United Nations
Big Blue Kitten, with jockey Joe Bravo aboard, scored a mild upset in the $750,000 United Nations Stakes (gr. I) this afternoon at Monmouth Park, rallying along the inside of favored Little Mike to win the eleven-furlong turf race by 1 1/2 lengths.
Sent off as the 5-2 second choice in a field of eight, Big Blue Kitten broke smoothly but was content to settle toward the rear of the field as Little Mike, who got off to an absolutely brilliant start, led the way through an opening quarter in :23 4/5 seconds. Skyring, with Gary Stevens aboard, was tracking the pace in second, followed by Russian Greek, Teaks North, and Harrods Creek. Willcox Inn, Big Blue Kitten, and Hangover Kid were the trailers.
Little Mike and Skyring continued to lead the way through six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 and a mile in 1:35 4/5, after which Little Mike put away Skyring and attempted to open up on the field. However, Big Blue Kitten -- who had saved ground on every turn -- was rallying strongly along the inside, and quickly shot past Little Mike to take the lead. Teaks North and Hangover Kid both came running late to edge Little Mike for second and third, but neither could threaten Big Blue Kitten, who stopped the clock in a quick 2:11.98 to garner his first-ever grade I victory.
Little Mike wound up fourth, followed by Willcox Inn, Skyring, Harrods Creek, and Russian Greek.
The winner, a five-year-old son of Kitten's Joy out of the Unaccounted For mare Spent Gold, is trained by Chad Brown and owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey. He is the
-Keelerman
Sent off as the 5-2 second choice in a field of eight, Big Blue Kitten broke smoothly but was content to settle toward the rear of the field as Little Mike, who got off to an absolutely brilliant start, led the way through an opening quarter in :23 4/5 seconds. Skyring, with Gary Stevens aboard, was tracking the pace in second, followed by Russian Greek, Teaks North, and Harrods Creek. Willcox Inn, Big Blue Kitten, and Hangover Kid were the trailers.
Little Mike and Skyring continued to lead the way through six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 and a mile in 1:35 4/5, after which Little Mike put away Skyring and attempted to open up on the field. However, Big Blue Kitten -- who had saved ground on every turn -- was rallying strongly along the inside, and quickly shot past Little Mike to take the lead. Teaks North and Hangover Kid both came running late to edge Little Mike for second and third, but neither could threaten Big Blue Kitten, who stopped the clock in a quick 2:11.98 to garner his first-ever grade I victory.
Little Mike wound up fourth, followed by Willcox Inn, Skyring, Harrods Creek, and Russian Greek.
The winner, a five-year-old son of Kitten's Joy out of the Unaccounted For mare Spent Gold, is trained by Chad Brown and owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey. He is the
-Keelerman
Flat Out Triumphs Again in Suburban Handicap
The remarkable Flat Out brought his record at Belmont Park to five wins from six starts when he romped to a decisive victory in the $350,000 Suburban Handicap (gr. II) on July 6th.
With jockey Junior Alvarado in the saddle, Flat Out got off to an excellent start and quickly settled into second place behind pace-setting Percussion, who rattled off fractions of :23.54, :47.22, and 1:11.14 while leading by a length. Alpha, who reared up and broke through the starting gate prior to the start, was a few lengths back in third, followed closely by Last Gunfighter and Fast Falcon.
Entering the final five-sixteenths of a mile, Flat Out moved up powerfully to take command of the lead, throwing down a :23.79-second fourth quarter to reach the mile marker in 1:34.93. From there, the race was over, as Flat Out cruised through a final eighth in :11.94 to win by a couple of lengths in the sharp time of 1:46.87 seconds.
Last Gunfighter narrowly edged Fast Falcon for second, while Alpha and Percussion completed the order of finish.
Flat Out, a seven-year-old son of Flatter, is trained by Bill Mott and owned by Preston Stables. He has now compiled a record of 25-8-4-4 with earnings of about $2.9 million.
-Keelerman
With jockey Junior Alvarado in the saddle, Flat Out got off to an excellent start and quickly settled into second place behind pace-setting Percussion, who rattled off fractions of :23.54, :47.22, and 1:11.14 while leading by a length. Alpha, who reared up and broke through the starting gate prior to the start, was a few lengths back in third, followed closely by Last Gunfighter and Fast Falcon.
Entering the final five-sixteenths of a mile, Flat Out moved up powerfully to take command of the lead, throwing down a :23.79-second fourth quarter to reach the mile marker in 1:34.93. From there, the race was over, as Flat Out cruised through a final eighth in :11.94 to win by a couple of lengths in the sharp time of 1:46.87 seconds.
Last Gunfighter narrowly edged Fast Falcon for second, while Alpha and Percussion completed the order of finish.
Flat Out, a seven-year-old son of Flatter, is trained by Bill Mott and owned by Preston Stables. He has now compiled a record of 25-8-4-4 with earnings of about $2.9 million.
-Keelerman
Wednesday, July 03, 2013
Weekend Recap: Wise Dan was stunning
It's not often that you see a horse overcome as much trouble as Wise Dan did in the Firecracker Handicap (gr. II) last Saturday. Over a rain-soaked turf course that he didn't seem to relish, Wise Dan spent much of the race trapped in a pocket along the rail with nowhere to run. In the homestretch, he had to try a couple of times to get through on the rail before finally squeezing -- and I mean squeezing -- along the inside of Seruni to take the lead. Thereafter, the race was virtually over, but Wise Dan did cause this writer's heart to miss a beat when he stumbled briefly nearing the finish. I shouldn't have worried. Wise Dan, unaffected by his misstep, continued to draw clear and won by two lengths in what very well may have been the most defining race of his career.
I say that not only because Wise Dan overcome a very tough trip, but because he did so while carrying 128 pounds and conceding his rivals between eleven to thirteen pounds apiece. Granted, that's not the kind of weight that legends like Kelso and Forego used to carry, but in the racing of today, that's a pretty big spread. For Wise Dan to overcome it the way he did further stamps him as something more than just another good horse. Wise Dan may very well be on his way to becoming a legend. Certainly, if he can win either the Whitney Handicap (gr. I) or the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga this summer, it would cement his status as one of the finest horses to ever set foot on an American racetrack. From a versatility standpoint, there simply isn't a precedent for what Wise Dan has accomplished. On turf, he has won the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I), Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. I), Woodbine Mile (gr. I), Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (gr. I), Maker's 46 Mile (gr. I), Fourstardave Handicap (gr. II), and two runnings of the Firecracker (gr. II). On synthetic tracks, he has won the Fayatte Stakes (gr. II), Ben Ali Stakes (gr. III), Phoenix Stakes (gr. III), and the Presque Isle Mile Stakes. On dirt, he has won the Clark Handicap (gr. I), finished second by a head in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), and missed by just 2 1/2 lengths in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I). All told, his record on turf stands at 9-8-0-0. On dirt, it is 7-3-1-0. On synthetic, it is 7-5-0-0. Wise Dan is remarkable. As it stands now, he deserves ranking as a genuinely special horse. A few more victories, and he could legitimately be called one of the greatest horses the sport has ever seen.
Another top miler seen in action last Saturday was Obviously, who ran a very strong third to Wise Dan in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile. Sent off as the odds-on favorite in the Shoemaker Mile (gr. I) at Hollywood Park, Obviously used his trademark early speed to open up a commanding early advantage and was never challenged thereafter, cruising to an easy 3 1/4-length triumph in the blazing time of 1:32.86. This is a seriously good horse, and if he's any better this year than he was in 2012, he could make things very challenging for Wise Dan come Breeders's Cup time.
The male sprinters division had a series shakeup when Gentleman's Bet upset Delaunay in the Iowa Sprint Handicap and Centralinteligence romped in the Triple Bend Handicap (gr. I) over the likes of Comma to the Top, Drill, Rail Trip, Camp Victory, and Jimmy Creed. The victory by Gentleman's Bet wasn't a huge surprise, given that he entered the Iowa Sprint off of a sharp victory in a Churchill allowance race, but what was surprising was that Delaunay had no not response in the final furlong. Granted, the heavy favorite broke poorly and had to make a wide bid to gain the lead, but I really expected him to go right on by Gentleman's Bet and win in a romp.
As for the Triple Bend, Centralinteligence had proven himself to be a high-quality horse in the past, so his victory wasn't too surprising either. But the dull efforts from Camp Victory and Jimmy Creed -- who finished seventh and eighth, respectively -- were even more shocking than Delaunay's defeat.
On a happier note, the veteran gelding Rail Trip ran very well in his first start since his runner-up finish in last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I), rallying to finish fifth after trailing for much of the race. All told, he was beaten just 2 1/2 lengths for second at a distance that's really too short for him, and I'm hopeful that he'll come back with a big effort in the San Diego Handicap (gr. II) later this month.
Starformer may not be the most consistent mare, but on her best day, the Bill Mott-trainee is among the better turf mares in this country. Her decisive victory in the New York Stakes (gr. II) was visually impressive, and her :22 4/5-second final quarter mile was very good indeed. However, the very slow early pace (:50.15 for the half-mile) put a serious damper on the chances of late-closers like Lady of Shamrock and Dream Peace, who nevertheless rallied well to finish second and third in performances that were undoubtedly better than they looked on the surface.
Adding further intrigue to the filly and mare turf division was the Eatontown Handicap (gr. III) at Monmouth Park, where the immensely talented Dayatthespa was sent off as the 2-5 favorite. Really, she ran quite well, sprinting through blazing fractions of :46 2/5 and 1:09 1/5. However, those fast fractions proved to be her undoing, as Laughing came charging on the outside to win by three-quarters of a length while stopping the clock for 1 1/16th miles in a spectacular 1:39 1/5. I have long been of the opinion that Laughing has the potential to be one of the finest turf mares in the country, and I believe that the Eatontown Handicap was the first step toward reaching that status.
Following Dreaming of Julia's upset in the Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) on June 22nd, the three-year-old filly division continues to lack a standout leader. Bob Baffert's Fiftyshadesofhay may have taken a major step toward assuming leadership with her 3 1/2-length victory in the Iowa Oaks (gr. III). Having already won the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) and Santa Ysabel Stakes (gr. III) earlier this year, in addition to placing in both the Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) and Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I). She hasn't picked up a grade I victory yet, which is something she would need to do in order to secure division leadership, but she's flashed enough talent to suggest that grade I company is well within her reach, and I look forward to seeing where she turns up next.
We'll wrap up this week's recap by briefly mentioning the Chicago Handicap (gr. III) at Arlington Park. The seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares marked the first start for Aubby K since her game victory in the Humana Distaff (gr. I) at Churchill Downs on Derby day, and thanks to this grade I triumph, Aubby K was sent off as the heavy favorite. But as we all know, synthetic tracks like the one at Arlington are very different from dirt tracks like the one at Churchill, and Aubby K never really threatened for the win while finishing third behind Cozze Up Lady and Queen's Award. Granted, those are a couple of nice fillies, but I'm pretty certain that Aubby K will rebound upon returning to dirt. An Aubby K/Groupie Doll showdown in the Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga could be very interesting indeed!
-Keelerman
I say that not only because Wise Dan overcome a very tough trip, but because he did so while carrying 128 pounds and conceding his rivals between eleven to thirteen pounds apiece. Granted, that's not the kind of weight that legends like Kelso and Forego used to carry, but in the racing of today, that's a pretty big spread. For Wise Dan to overcome it the way he did further stamps him as something more than just another good horse. Wise Dan may very well be on his way to becoming a legend. Certainly, if he can win either the Whitney Handicap (gr. I) or the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga this summer, it would cement his status as one of the finest horses to ever set foot on an American racetrack. From a versatility standpoint, there simply isn't a precedent for what Wise Dan has accomplished. On turf, he has won the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I), Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. I), Woodbine Mile (gr. I), Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (gr. I), Maker's 46 Mile (gr. I), Fourstardave Handicap (gr. II), and two runnings of the Firecracker (gr. II). On synthetic tracks, he has won the Fayatte Stakes (gr. II), Ben Ali Stakes (gr. III), Phoenix Stakes (gr. III), and the Presque Isle Mile Stakes. On dirt, he has won the Clark Handicap (gr. I), finished second by a head in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), and missed by just 2 1/2 lengths in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I). All told, his record on turf stands at 9-8-0-0. On dirt, it is 7-3-1-0. On synthetic, it is 7-5-0-0. Wise Dan is remarkable. As it stands now, he deserves ranking as a genuinely special horse. A few more victories, and he could legitimately be called one of the greatest horses the sport has ever seen.
Another top miler seen in action last Saturday was Obviously, who ran a very strong third to Wise Dan in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile. Sent off as the odds-on favorite in the Shoemaker Mile (gr. I) at Hollywood Park, Obviously used his trademark early speed to open up a commanding early advantage and was never challenged thereafter, cruising to an easy 3 1/4-length triumph in the blazing time of 1:32.86. This is a seriously good horse, and if he's any better this year than he was in 2012, he could make things very challenging for Wise Dan come Breeders's Cup time.
The male sprinters division had a series shakeup when Gentleman's Bet upset Delaunay in the Iowa Sprint Handicap and Centralinteligence romped in the Triple Bend Handicap (gr. I) over the likes of Comma to the Top, Drill, Rail Trip, Camp Victory, and Jimmy Creed. The victory by Gentleman's Bet wasn't a huge surprise, given that he entered the Iowa Sprint off of a sharp victory in a Churchill allowance race, but what was surprising was that Delaunay had no not response in the final furlong. Granted, the heavy favorite broke poorly and had to make a wide bid to gain the lead, but I really expected him to go right on by Gentleman's Bet and win in a romp.
As for the Triple Bend, Centralinteligence had proven himself to be a high-quality horse in the past, so his victory wasn't too surprising either. But the dull efforts from Camp Victory and Jimmy Creed -- who finished seventh and eighth, respectively -- were even more shocking than Delaunay's defeat.
On a happier note, the veteran gelding Rail Trip ran very well in his first start since his runner-up finish in last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I), rallying to finish fifth after trailing for much of the race. All told, he was beaten just 2 1/2 lengths for second at a distance that's really too short for him, and I'm hopeful that he'll come back with a big effort in the San Diego Handicap (gr. II) later this month.
Starformer may not be the most consistent mare, but on her best day, the Bill Mott-trainee is among the better turf mares in this country. Her decisive victory in the New York Stakes (gr. II) was visually impressive, and her :22 4/5-second final quarter mile was very good indeed. However, the very slow early pace (:50.15 for the half-mile) put a serious damper on the chances of late-closers like Lady of Shamrock and Dream Peace, who nevertheless rallied well to finish second and third in performances that were undoubtedly better than they looked on the surface.
Adding further intrigue to the filly and mare turf division was the Eatontown Handicap (gr. III) at Monmouth Park, where the immensely talented Dayatthespa was sent off as the 2-5 favorite. Really, she ran quite well, sprinting through blazing fractions of :46 2/5 and 1:09 1/5. However, those fast fractions proved to be her undoing, as Laughing came charging on the outside to win by three-quarters of a length while stopping the clock for 1 1/16th miles in a spectacular 1:39 1/5. I have long been of the opinion that Laughing has the potential to be one of the finest turf mares in the country, and I believe that the Eatontown Handicap was the first step toward reaching that status.
Following Dreaming of Julia's upset in the Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) on June 22nd, the three-year-old filly division continues to lack a standout leader. Bob Baffert's Fiftyshadesofhay may have taken a major step toward assuming leadership with her 3 1/2-length victory in the Iowa Oaks (gr. III). Having already won the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) and Santa Ysabel Stakes (gr. III) earlier this year, in addition to placing in both the Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) and Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I). She hasn't picked up a grade I victory yet, which is something she would need to do in order to secure division leadership, but she's flashed enough talent to suggest that grade I company is well within her reach, and I look forward to seeing where she turns up next.
We'll wrap up this week's recap by briefly mentioning the Chicago Handicap (gr. III) at Arlington Park. The seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares marked the first start for Aubby K since her game victory in the Humana Distaff (gr. I) at Churchill Downs on Derby day, and thanks to this grade I triumph, Aubby K was sent off as the heavy favorite. But as we all know, synthetic tracks like the one at Arlington are very different from dirt tracks like the one at Churchill, and Aubby K never really threatened for the win while finishing third behind Cozze Up Lady and Queen's Award. Granted, those are a couple of nice fillies, but I'm pretty certain that Aubby K will rebound upon returning to dirt. An Aubby K/Groupie Doll showdown in the Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga could be very interesting indeed!
-Keelerman
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