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KEENELAND DAILY NOTEBOOK THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2008 by Brian P. Turner Thursday's featured stakes offering was the Bewitch S. (G3) for fillies and mares, four-years-old and up, going 12 furlongs on the grass. A field of 10 went to the gate with Tejida (Rahy) being sent off as the slight favorite in this wide open event off her effort last out in The Very One H. (G3) at Gulfstream in which she stalked the pace early before taking the lead in the stretch drive only to come up a neck short in the end. When the doors sprang open, Tejida bounded out of the gate and onto the lead, guiding the field through easy early fractions of :25 1/5, :49 4/5 and 1:14 3/5. Once she hit the stretch, the bay quickly widened her advantage to three lengths and appeared to be well on her way to victory. It was at this time that COMMUNIQUE (Smart Strike) unleashed a tremendous closing turn of foot and quickly ate into that lead before taking command late on her way to a half-length victory. Communique was exiting a solid win against allowance competition here on the Polytrack earlier in the meet but had not been to the winner's circle in a turf race in quite some time and had only accomplished that feat once in her 11 starts over the surface. The four-year-old filly put it all together here, though, with a visually impressive performance. Tejida held on to cross the wire in second, 1 1/2 lengths clear of second choice Rising Cross (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]) in third. There were four sprints contested over the Polytrack Thursday with horses on or near the pace winning all of them. As for the two routes, horses on or near the pace won both of these as well. In addition to the feature, there was two other turf routes contested on the day with with one being won by a stalker and the other by a runner closing from off the pace. Kent Desormeaux booted home a pair of winners on the day and still leads the way in the jockey standings with 20 for the meet. John Velazquez added one to his total and remains in second with 13. Garrett Gomez rode two winners today and Jamie Theriot one, which leaves the pair in a tie for third with 12 winners each. Todd Pletcher had an extremely promising two-year-old debut today and still leads the way in the trainer standings with 12. Bill Mott added one to his total and remains in second with eight. Rusty Arnold saddled a pair of winners today to take possession of the third spot with six. No one connected on the Pick 6 again today, which leaves a record carryover going into the final day of the meet of $375,412. There will be a mandatory payout tomorrow, so it is a great time to make an investment. Horses to Watch 3RD - MR MISTOFFELEES (Storm Cat) had a very impressive career debut for Pletcher in this 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight event. The two-year-old colt bounded out of the gate and onto the lead, quickly opening up 1 1/2 lengths on the field. Once he hit the stretch, the dark bay kicked it into another gear as he left the field behind on his way to an easy 9 1/4-length victory. The $1.5 million dollar purchase has a pedigree that says he will only improve as he stretches out. 6TH - PARIS WINDS (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]) has run well in her two turf starts since coming to North America and her victory here gives her two wins in a row. The five-year-old mare stalked the pace early through opening fractions of :23 and :46 3/5 before being blocked in the stretch drive. Desormeaux dived down to the inside with a rail skimming move and found a way through at which time the chestnut unleashed a determined late turn of foot to claim the lead and hit the finish line a head in front. Tomorrow's Outlook - Friday, April 25 Friday brings to a conclusion the spring meet at Keeneland, but the central Kentucky race track will go out in style with one final stakes offering as a field of 13, including one who is an also eligible, is scheduled to contest the 12-furlong Elkhorn S. (G2). This is a very well matched turf event, so insist on value before wagering. DANCING FEVER (Rahy) rallied from 7 3/4 lengths off the early pace to miss by a neck last out in the Gulfstream Park Turf S. (G1). This was the 2008 debut for the chestnut, who put in far and away the best performance of his career and is definitely capable of moving forward off that effort. The five-year-old horse has hit the board in each of his three starts over the Keeneland grass and is more than capable of garnering the victory here at what should be a respectable price. STREAM OF GOLD (Ire) (Rainbow Quest) finished third behind Dancing Fever in the Gulfstream Park Turf before returning to rally from 14 lengths off the early pace to win the Mac Diarmida H. (G2) by a neck. The seven-year-old gelding has been sent off by the betting public as the favorite in each of his last three starts against graded company but has delivered the goods only once. Still, the bay's best effort can definitely land him in the winner's circle. TRUE CAUSE (Storm Cat) came with a huge run from 13 lengths off the early pace last out to finish a narrow second in the Mac Diarmida. The chestnut has hit the board in six of his seven starts since coming to North America and is more than capable of claiming the top prize against this group. COUGAR BAY (Ire) (Daylami [Ire]) is another among this field exiting a solid effort in the Mac Diarmida, rallying from 12 lengths off the early lead to capture the lead in the stretch only to surrender it late on his way to a third-place finish. The bay has been improving with each start as of late and any more improvement could land him in the winner's circle. DRILLING FOR OIL (Giant's Causeway) finished fifth in the Mac Diarmida before returning to finish second, beaten by 1 1/2 lengths, in the Pan American H. (G3), also at Gulfstream. The chestnut is capable of some big efforts on occasion and his best puts him squarely in the mix. TRANSDUCTION GOLD (Formal Gold) will be making his first start since finishing eighth and last in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). The dark bay has run well here in the past though, including scoreing a victory in the Sycamore S. (G3) last fall. FRENCH VINTAGE (Mecke) has been narrowly coming up on the short end of the stick against many of the same runners he faces in this one. The four-year-old colt is capable of surprising and turning the tables on this group. BRASS HAT (Prized) is an interesting entrant in this race as he is a winner of more than $1.7 million and his best efforts have all come on the dirt. Still, his lone on-the-board finish on the grass came right here at Keeneland so it wouldn't be wise to totally dismiss him. LAURO (Ger) (Monsun) is scheduled to make his first start since arriving from Germany here, but he is the also eligible in the field. The dark bay was a solid competitor in Europe and holds interesting possibilities should he draw in. BEE CHARMER (Ire) (Anabaa) has been beaten by many of the same horses he faces today but his best effort on the grass came right here at Keeneland in the aforementioned Sycamore where he finished second, beaten by only a neck. EMBOSSED (Ire) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]) is a bit inconsistent but is capable of some solid efforts against graded stakes competition on occasion. SILVERFOOT (With Approval) is a tough old gelding but his recent form is just not good enough to compete here. PELLEGRINO (Brz) (Nugget Point [Ire]) looks to be in a bit over his head. Friday's forecast calls for scattered showers with highs in the mid-70s. Friday's Best Plays 5TH - VALUE STREAM (A.P. Indy) should improve off her career debut here on April 10 in which she was bumped at the start before stalking the pace early on her way to a fifth-place finish. The three-year-old filly has fired a bullet work since that effort, where her :46 1/5 was the fastest of 39 to work that distance. The chestnut posted a nice BRIS Speed rating first out and gives off the appearance of one who could be sitting on a huge effort. 6TH - MASTER MIZZEN (Mizzen Mast) has come close to making it into the winner's circle in each of his three starts this year and may be in a prime spot to finally get over the hump here. The four-year-old gelding is exiting a second-place effort at Fair Grounds where he rallied from more than six lengths off the early pace to come up a length short at the wire. The winner of the event, Moonshine Hall (Spinning World), returned to win an allowance event here on April 10, earnings his fourth win in a row. Master Mizzen's BRIS Prime Power rating tops the field and he also possesses the best BRIS Class rating.
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