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JUVENILE DIARY NOVEMBER 4, 2009 by Vance Hanson I'm not straying too far off the reservation in either Breeders' Cup race for juvenile colts and geldings. Affinity for the Santa Anita strip has been the virtual key to success in the Juvenile (G1) every time it has been contested there, whether on dirt or Pro-Ride. The Juvenile Turf (G2) has only been run twice previously, so no discernible patterns have emerged as to what kind of horse tends to have the most success in it. Instead, I'll stay with the tried and true motto of "class on the grass," though my view of what constitutes superior class may not look so astute once the results come in. JUVENILE 1st -- LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike) is hardly brilliant from a BRIS Speed rating perspective nor in the way he's won most of his races this year, but by gosh the undefeated colt sure does like whatever that stuff is they run on in California. And that's really all that matters once the gates open. Trainer Bob Baffert continues to be pleased with the way the bay has prepared for this, and I won't argue with him as it's the others in the field who have to worry about either the footing, the distance or both. He's already a pro in both respects, and is the deserving favorite. 2nd -- ESKENDEREYA (Giant's Causeway) strikes trainer Todd Pletcher's fancy enough for him to bypass a seemingly more logical spot in the Juvenile Turf. As a son of Giant's Causeway, the chestnut can probably run on everything, and he will have by the time Saturday night rolls around. Runner-up in a two-turn turf maiden at Saratoga, the chestnut returned to take the Pilgrim S. Belmont Park, which was downgraded after it was switched from turf to dirt, by 7 1/4 lengths. It was a fine effort that yielded a solid 95 Speed rating over a track that was clearly drying out and tiring. He's clearly an individual with multiple avenues for future success. 3rd -- D' FUNNYBONE (D'wildcat), along with Jackson Bend (Hear No Evil), are the two best juveniles I've seen on dirt this year. Take that for what it's worth, which might not be a whole lot for a race contested on Pro-Ride. The bottom line is that I'm expecting the Rick Dutrow pupil's class to get him through to at least a minor award. He's looked outstanding in winning the Saratoga Special S. (G2) and Futurity S. (G2) by wide margins, and though he will stretch out beyond seven furlongs for the first time in addition to trying a foreign surface, his raw ability might take him a long way. Longshot -- PISCITELLI (Victory Gallop), as we noted in our last edition, looks like the kind who will make great strides at nine furlongs and farther over dirt. He hasn't looked quite as home on synthetic as he did in his first two starts on dirt at Monmouth, rallying for third in a slowly-run renewal of the Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) and finishing fifth in the Breeders' Futurity (G1). He gets a pass for the latter effort after breaking slower than usual, trailing the 14-horse field for a half-mile and making a notable three-wide move to improve his position. A price play for those going deep in the vertical exotics. JUVENILE TURF 1st -- VISCOUNT NELSON (Giant's Causeway) is a beautifully-bred colt flying the flag for the Coolmore connections. A son of Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1) winner Imagine (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), who has also produced French Group 1-winning juvenile Horatio Nelson (Danehill), Group 2-winning juvenile Kitty Matcham (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) and her multiple Group 1-placed full brother Red Rock Canyon (Ire), the dark bay has the bloodlines to be any kind. While his second in the Champagne S. (Eng-G2) at Doncaster last time was not spectacular visually, he made great strides that day off a win in a listed stakes at Tipperary. He appears to handle any footing, a good thing as the course will undoubtedly be very firm for this. The Europeans have been making American turf stars look second rate for a while now, so I'm betting the trend continues here. 2nd -- INTERACTIF (Broken Vow) is easily the best juvenile turf colt to come out of this country in some time. The probable favorite here, he displayed an amazing turn of foot to reach the front in both the With Anticipation S. (G3) and Bourbon S. (G3), the latter over a course that might have been a little soft for his liking. He really doesn't have any holes and only a bad trip might prevent him from keeping this lucrative prize home. At a short price, however, I'll take a stab elsewhere. 3rd -- POUNCED (Rahy) has run first or second in all three starts, the latest being a second in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Fr-G1) on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) undercard. A plus in his corner is trainer John Gosden, the man responsible for Raven's Pass in last year's Classic (G1). From the running lines the colt appears to have a touch of speed and should be within striking distance the whole way. He might prove to be the more formidable European invader. Longshot -- BECKY'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy) was going nowhere fast on dirt, but this son of 2004 turf male champion Kitten's Joy has expectedly relished the switch to grass, starting with a maiden score at Saratoga and followed by a last-to-second rally in the Summer S. (Can-G3) at Woodbine. He's been working lights-out since his arrival in California, and could be an enticing win prospect if the price is in double-digit territory. He could certainly be rated higher here.
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