|
|
THOROUGHBRED BEAT AUGUST 9, 2007 by James Scully Haskell star -- ANY GIVEN SATURDAY (Distorted Humor) turned Sunday's $1.06 million Haskell Invitational (G1) into a blowout by midstretch, registering a career-best 112 BRIS Speed rating for an outstanding 4 1/2-length decision. As Todd Pletcher noted, he's improved significantly over the past few months. After recording a dull third in the Wood Memorial (G1) and weakening to eighth in the Kentucky Derby (G1), the dark bay colt earned a vacation. Any Given Saturday returned to the races with a vengeance, romping by four lengths in the July 4 Dwyer S. (G2) (108 Speed rating) prior to the Haskell runaway. He now rates as a top contender for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Monmouth on October 27. The last three Haskell winners -- Bluegrass Cat, Roman Ruler and Lion Heart -- never won another stakes race, but Any Given Saturday is poised to end that trend. He's going very good. Turf preps in 07 -- The Clement L. Hirsch H. (G2), Vanity Invitational H. (G1) and Milady Breeders' Cup H. (G2) were strictly preps for the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) when held on dirt in Southern California. In this new era of synthetic racing, the context of those races has changed. The premiere "main track" distaffer on the West Coast, NASHOBA'S KEY (Silver Hawk), swept all three events in impressive fashion, but she won't be running in the 2007 Distaff over the dirt at Monmouth. She's being pointing toward the Filly & Mare Turf (G1). Given her outstanding form over synthetic surfaces, her connections will likely aim for the 2008 Distaff over the Cushion Track at Santa Anita, and Nashoba's Key will be a top contender for next year's Distaff. Winning Hare -- Once Scott Blasi successfully submitted a $3,500 claim at Remington Park last August, GOLDEN HARE (Gilded Time) turned into a win machine. We can't explain what happened on May 1 at Churchill Downs, when Golden Hare fell a nose short to Que Candy (Arg) (Candy Stripes) in a starter allowance race, but the eight-year-old gelding has captured every other start (12 and counting) since being haltered. He's won at 5 1/2, six and seven furlongs, on turf and dirt, usually in wire-to-wire fashion. Golden Hare led all the way in Saturday's Claiming Crown Express S. at Ellis Park, increasing his bankroll to $114,380 since being claimed for $3,500 less than 12 months ago. Mena mania -- Jockey Miguel Mena showcased his skills in Saturday's Claiming Crown, recording three wins, two seconds and two thirds in the seven-race series at Ellis Park. The leading rider at Ellis in 2006, the 20-year-old native of Peru currently trails Orlando Mojica in the jockey standings but remains favored to win his second straight title at the "Pea Patch." Mena won aboard five of eight mounts at the Henderson, Kentucky, track on July 25. Oceanport blues -- Sunday's Oceanport S. (G3) confirmed the worst suspicions -- KIP DEVILLE (Kipling) is still off form -- and the rest of his season is in doubt. He ranked as a top American prospect for the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) earlier this year, defeating excellent company when capturing the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) and Maker's Mark S. (G2), but the four-year-old colt returned from a six-week freshening with a sixth as the 7-5 favorite in the Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) in late May. It was a tough spot -- The Tin Man (Affirmed) won -- and Kip Deville finished only two lengths in arrears, but he didn't deliver a typical effort and his connections immediately wheeled him back over the Cushion Track in the Californian S. (G2) five days later, where he faded to eighth. The gray colt will need to improve noticeably off Sunday's third-place effort because the winning Silent Roar (Unbridled's Song) would've been no match for an in-form Kip Deville four months back.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
