|
|
THOROUGHBRED BEAT MAY 27, 2009 by James Scully Met shows handicap woes -- Monday's 116th Metropolitan H. (G1) was symbolic of the older male division this year. BRIBON (Fr) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]), who earned his first stakes victory in the April 29 Westchester S. (G3), prevailed as the favorite, edging the hard-knocking Smooth Air (Smooth Jazz) by a half-length, and Driven by Success (Precise End), whose only wins have come over New York-bred rivals, checked in third. Trainer Robert Ribaudo deserves kudos for getting the most out of Bribon this spring, but the six-year-old gelding couldn't hit the board in either the Gulfstream Park H. (G2) or the Hal's Hope H. (G3) earlier this year. He was lucky to catch a weak field in the prestigious event. It's a sad state of affairs in the older horse division. When Nick Zito removed Commentator (Distorted Humor) from consideration about a week earlier, the Met Mile was left without any Grade 1 dirt winners. Give Bill Mott credit for trying in a soft spot with Mr. Sidney (Storm Cat), who was exiting a victory in the grassy Maker's Mark Mile (G1), but the five-year-old horse couldn't make the transition and faded to 11th. Part of the problem is last year's three-year-old crop. Big Brown was a multiple Grade 1 winner, but he's retired and there are very few four-year-olds of note with the exception of turf horses. Smooth Air is a solid performer, but his biggest win to date came in the Ohio Derby (G2) at Thistledown. I'll praise older horses like Einstein (Brz) (Spend a Buck), It's a Bird (Birdstone) and Well Armed (Tiznow) for their accomplishments so far this season, and Donn H. (G1) winner Albertus Maximus (Albert the Great) would be a huge presence if he wasn't sidelined by an injury, but there is no depth in this division. The synthetic tracks out west aren't helping. Travers S. (G1) winner Colonel John (Tiznow) is unraced this year. Multiple Grade 1 hero Tiago (Pleasant Tap) always seems to be battling minor injuries and finished a disappointing third in the February 8 San Antonio H. (G2). Who will be running in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1)? Unless the landscape changes, none of the older horses in Southern California look capable of offering a serious challenge in this year's Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Help is potentially on the way from the 2009 three-year-olds. Mine That Bird (Birdstone), Pioneerof the Nile (Empire Maker), Charitable Man (Lemon Drop Kid), Dunkirk (Unbridled's Song), Quality Road (Elusive Quality) and perhaps a few others will have the opportunity to be a serious factor in Grade 1 events later this year if healthy, but the jury still remains out as to the overall quality of this group. I'm optimistic about their chances against older horses. This year's Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) will be held at Santa Anita, and we'll see if American horses can get things turned around over the next five months. In 2008, European turf horses finished one-two in the Classic as America's top dirt horse, Curlin, struggled over the Pro-Ride surface. As much as I would hate to see the Euros dominate again, it remains a distinct possibility. But there's still a long way to go. Thorny Shoemaker -- Monday's Shoemaker Mile (G1) featured an upset from the front-running THORN SONG (Unbridled's Song), who shipped in from Kentucky for trainer Dale Romans off four consecutive unplaced starts. At least the gray five-year-old had some back class, winning the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) last fall, but Thorn Song finished ninth in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) at 21-1 odds off his Shadwell score. The Shoemaker took a hit when Ventura (Chester House) was scratched by Bobby Frankel. Her absence left multiple Grade 2 winner Whatsthescript (Ire) (Royal Applause [GB]) as the 6-5 favorite, but the five-year-old came up a little short in his 2009 debut, finishing about half-length back in fourth. Citation H. (G1) victor Hyperbaric (Sky Classic) had every chance to get past Thorn Song in the stretch drive, but he came up a head short in second. As he's now proved on multiple occasions, Thorn Song is tough on his best day, but he's far from consistent. He's generally hit-or-miss and didn't rate among the top turf horses in the Midwest/East Coast based upon his recent efforts. As a result, his Shoemaker victory doesn't flatter the turf milers out west. Seaspeak -- The Dallas Turf Cup (G3) featured an up-and-coming turf runner in SEASPEAK (Mizzen Mast), who easily dispatched of his five rivals with a 4 3/4-length decision as the 1-5 favorite. Now two-for-two this season, the four-year-old colt earned his first official stakes win in the process. Seaspeak was only a maiden winner when making his stakes debut in the Bryan Station S. (G3) at Keeneland last October, and the dark bay Kentucky-bred battled through the stretch that afternoon with the well-regarded Cowboy Cal (Giant's Causeway) before edging his rival by a neck on the wire. Both runners appeared to bump each other through the lane, but the stewards sided against the unheralded Seaspeak and elevated Cowboy Cal to the win. Seaspeak rounded out his sophomore campaign with a close second in the Commonwealth Turf S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. The Ralph Nicks trainee is taking his game to another level this season. He opened 2009 with a good-looking, 4 3/4-length allowance romp at Churchill on April 29, and dominated his opposition at Lone Star Park. Seaspeak will be tested for class in his upcoming starts, but the improving turf horse has established himself as an exciting prospect for the rest of the season.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
