|
|
THOROUGHBRED BEAT FEBRUARY 8, 2008 by James Scully New York label -- After only one race this year, it's too early to jump to conclusions. But it's interesting to note that DAAHER (Awesome Again) entered Saturday's Donn H. (G1) unbeaten in New York -- winning a total of four starts at Belmont Park, Aqueduct and Saratoga -- and winless from three attempts outside the Empire State. Make that zero-for-four. Favored at 4-5, Daaher faltered to seventh in the 1 1/8-mile Donn, beating only one horse. He's now probably headed to Dubai, which isn't much like New York. Dubai resident -- No surprise to hear that CURLIN (Smart Strike) will be pointed toward the $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) on March 29. The news that he will spend six weeks in the desert, with a prep race in late February, came from out of left field. He's not owned by one of the sheikhs. On February 28, Nad al Sheba will host a $175,000 handicap race at 1 1/4 miles. The 2007 Horse of the Year is scheduled to be in the field. Suddenly brilliant -- MONTEREY JAZZ (Thunderello) looked like a world-beater when switching to the Cushion Track at Santa Anita last week. Winner of the grassy Sir Beaufort S. (G3) in his previous outing, he was mostly accomplished on the turf, compiling three of his previous four wins over sod. In Saturday's Strub S. (G2), the four-year-old colt took his game to a new level, scorching seven rivals from the start. Monterey Jazz hit the six-furlong mark in 1:08 with a seven-length advantage before cruising under the finish line 4 1/2 lengths better than multiple Grade 1 winner TIAGO (Pleasant Tap). In two starts this season over synthetic tracks, Tiago has finished behind Air Commander (Point Given), Johnny Eves (Skimming) and Monterey Jazz. Painful -- Grade 1 winner and Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) runner-up HYSTERICALADY (Distorted Humor) moved to zero-for-four on synthetic tracks with an upset loss in Saturday's Santa Monica H. (G1). Favored at 1-5 against only four rivals, she managed a fourth-place finish. The biggest outsider in the field, a filly whose name rhymes with kangaroo, earned her first stakes victory. INTANGAROO (Orientate) also won her second straight start over Santa Anita's Cushion Track. Believe -- I believe CROWN OF THORNS (Repent) will prove to be legit on any main track. At least I want to believe it. The same can't be said for other Cushion Track stakes winners this winter like Zappa (Afternoon Deelites), Dearest Trickski (Proudest Romeo), Johnny Eves, Air Commander and Intangaroo, but I was really impressed with Crown of Thorns in Saturday's Robert B. Lewis S. (G2). My only apprehension is that it came over a funky Cushion Track that is in the process of becoming something else this week. Bad schedule -- We will eventually get a stakes race of significance for Kentucky Derby (G1) hopefuls at Gulfstream Park, but not for a couple of more weeks. Track management decided this year to switch the Holy Bull S. (G3) from early February to April, making it totally irrelevant, and then refused to fill the gap with a two-turn stakes race. The Holy Bull has produced a Kentucky Derby winner (Barbaro) and a runner-up (Closing Argument) in two of the last three runnings, but I guess that wasn't good enough. Track management now leaves us waiting until February 24 for the Fountain of Youth (G2). That puts Gulfstream behind Fair Grounds, Oaklawn, Santa Anita, Tampa Bay, Aqueduct and Turfway Park.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
