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THOROUGHBRED BEAT NOVEMBER 15, 2007 by James Scully Tagged -- Conditioner Barclay Tagg swept both graded stakes last Saturday, winning Aqueduct's Red Smith H. (G2) with DAVE (Ends Wells) and Churchill Downs' Mrs. Revere S. (G2) with BIT OF WHIMSY (Distorted Humor). Dave, a six-year-old New York-bred gelding making his graded debut, was dismissed at nearly 15-1 off a fifth in his previous start, the restricted Mohawk H. There was nothing surprising about Bit of Whimsy's victory. A maiden special weight winner in late April, the three-year-old miss captured the Sands Point S. (G3) next out in a dead-heat with Rutherienne (Pulpit), who went on to win the Del Mar Oaks (G1) a few starts later, but Bit of Whimsy could not overcome a stumbling start when fourth in the Virginia Oaks in her following appearance. She rebounded with a close second in the Garden City S. (G1), and the chestnut put it all together in her next two outings, taking the Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup (G1) by a commanding 2 1/4 lengths prior to the Mrs. Revere. Bit of Whimsy cut back to 1 1/16 miles on Saturday and utilized a strong late run to prevail by a half-length, registering a career-best 102 BRIS Speed rating in the process, and she'll be one of the leading turf distaffers in 2008. Sad note -- One of the favorites for the 2008 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) is out of the picture. OCTAVE (Unbridled's Song) suffered a tough beat in this year's edition at Monmouth Park, offering a tremendous rally from the back of the pack to reach contention in upper stretch, with dueling leaders Ginger Punch (Awesome Again) and Hystericalady (Distorted Humor) clearly in her sights, before coming up a half-length short. It was the story of her sophomore season as the gray filly recorded four seconds and a pair of thirds from eight starts in 2007, but there was plenty of optimism for 2008. Octave would've been bigger and stronger at four, capable of taking her game to a new level, but that isn't going to happen. The multiple Grade 1 heroine went on the auction block at the Fasig-Tipton Selected November sale, with the hammer falling at $4 million to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, and her new connections recently announced plans to retire her. As a result, Thoroughbred racing lost one of its top female performers before she reached her prime. Riches -- Kudos to the connections of RAGS TO RICHES (A.P. Indy). Winner of the Belmont S. (G1), the sophomore filly suffered a season-ending injury when suffering her first loss of the year in the Gazelle S. (G1) in mid-September. She's as valuable as they come for a filly, but the breeding appeal is different for fillies than colts -- one foal a year for mares compared to hundreds for a top-class stallion. Retirement remained a very viable option for Rags to Riches, but her connections recently announced their intentions to keep the champion-to-be in training for 2008. Good news indeed! Dickinson -- Nicknamed "The Mad Genius," Michael Dickinson is anything but mad when you talk to him. He's bright, charming and insightful, with a burning desire to improve safety for horses, and it's sad to see him leave the training business even for a good cause. Dickinson will always be remembered for two exceptional training feats, one on each side of the Atlantic Ocean. In 1983, he saddled the top five finishers in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, England's biggest steeplechase race. That achievement was voted "The Greatest Training Feat" ever by Racing Post readers. In the United States, Dickinson sent out Da Hoss to win the 1996 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). Following a two-year layoff, with only a non-descript allowance win at Colonial Downs in between, Dickinson stunningly brought Da Hoss back to championship level as the six-year-old gelding gamely captured the 1998 Mile by a head. The 57-year-old will continue to leave his mark with Tapeta footings, but Dickinson will be missed as a conditioner. Record-setter -- Garrett Gomez missed out to Edgar Prado in the 2006 Eclipse Award race for leading jockey, but the 35-year-old rider won't be denied his first Eclipse this season. The Arizona native has enjoyed a banner year, winning the Bill Shoemaker Award for top performance by a jockey in the Breeders' Cup after recording two wins and a pair of placings at Monmouth Park, and Gomez registered his record-setting 71st stakes win of the year on Sunday, guiding Spring Awakening (In Excess [Ire]) to a two-length score in the Moccasin S. at Hollywood Park. Gomez also leads all North American riders with more than $21.5 million in purse earnings this year. With more than a month remaining in 2007, Gomez figures to set the bar much higher. Mambo King -- Keeneland established a new November sales mark on Tuesday, with gross receipts exceeding $321 million, and KINGMAMBO's influence was felt during the blockbuster opening-day session on November 5 as four of the top-selling seven mares, including the $10.5 sales topper, were bred to the 17-year-old stallion in 2007. Kingmambo was responsible for the 2006 Keeneland September sales topper, a $11.7 million colt that brought the second-highest price in Keeneland sales history, and that unraced juvenile colt, named Meydan City, is currently based overseas with Godolphin. Kingmambo offers plenty of appeal to foreign buyers. He's sired some top North American runners, including champion Lemon Drop Kid and multiple Grade 1 queen and millionaire Voodoo Dancer, but his greatest success has come abroad. Divine Proportions, Russian Rhythm, Rule of Law, Alkaased, Virginia Waters, Malhub, Okawango, Light Shift, King's Best, Dubai Destination, Bluemamba, Thewayyouare, El Condor Pasa, King Kamehameha and Tawqeet are all Group/Grade 1 international winners by Kingmambo.
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