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TURF DIARY MAY 13, 2008 by Kellie Reilly With the season getting into full swing, it's time to dust off our Turf Diary and take stock of divisional developments. Although the 2007 Eclipse Award winner English Channel is now ensconced as a stallion at Hurricane Hall, many of the old hands are back on deck. Star performer: Reigning Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) hero KIP DEVILLE (Kipling) returned to action as the defending champion in the April 11 Maker's Mark Mile S. (G1) at Keeneland and promptly reasserted himself as the nation's pre-eminent turf miler. Granted, the Richard Dutrow charge enjoyed a ground-saving trip throughout from his rail post, but he was also carrying the co-top weight of 123 pounds in his first outing since the October 27 festivities at Monmouth. Once again, the gray issued a pointed reminder that his tactical speed, coupled with his ability to finish up strongly, makes him a dangerous commodity in these contests. Kip Deville tracked the steady pace in fourth, launched his bid entering the stretch and drove home by one length over EINSTEIN (Brz) (Spend a Buck). His second Maker's Mark trophy came relatively easier than his first. In 2007, he had to dig down deep to outduel Showing Up after enduring a wide trip. This year, Kip Deville may have escaped a potentially stern challenge from COSMONAUT (Lemon Drop Kid), who did not have the clearest of passages at Keeneland. Traveling supremely well on the backstretch, Cosmonaut was stuck in traffic on the far turn, eventually peeled out wide and flashed home as an eye-catching fourth. Dutrow indicated that Kip Deville may not be seen again until the September 7 Woodbine Mile (Can-G1), which will serve as his prep for a title defense in the October 25 Breeders' Cup Mile at Oak Tree. If the historical trends are any indication, Kip Deville promises to be tough to dethrone. For each of the past three years, the Maker's Mark winner has gone on to Breeders' Cup glory -- Artie Schiller in 2005, Miesque's Approval in 2006 and Kip himself last season-- a statistic largely responsible for the elevation of the Maker's Mark to Grade 1 status this year. Hailing from the same connections as Kentucky Derby (G1) conqueror Big Brown (Boundary), Kip Deville underscores that the IEAH Stables team is enjoying an embarrassment of riches at present. Honorable mention: Multiple Grade 1 star Einstein was a valiant second in the Maker's Mark while competing over a distance shorter than ideal. Outpaced by the speedier sorts turning for home, Einstein stayed on powerfully under his 123-pound burden to garner runner-up honors. Bookending that sharp effort were his scores in the 1 3/8-mile Gulfstream Park Turf S. (G1) on February 23 and the 1 1/8-mile Woodford Reserve Turf Classic S. (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day. The nearly black Brazilian-bred is a marvel of adaptability to turn in top-level performances at such a range of distances. At Gulfstream Park, he raced in proximity to an honest pace for the distance, yet still threw in an :11 3/5 final furlong to hold off the late charge of DANCING FOREVER (Rahy). Einstein had won the Gulfstream Park Turf in 2006 (then staged over 1 7/16 miles) and placed a close third in that race last year, so he nearly pulled off the three-peat. In the Woodford Reserve, the Helen Pitts trainee finally came through in this third attempt, following a fourth-place finish in 2006 and a seventh in 2007. After taking up a stalking position early, he surged to the front at the top of the Churchill Downs stretch and crossed the wire with one length to spare over OUT OF CONTROL (Brz) (Vettori), who was bravely trying to rally despite being all at sea on the rain-softened ground. It should be noted that Einstein was giving Out of Control five pounds (124 versus 119). Pitts has earmarked the August 9 Arlington Million S. (G1) as Einstein's primary objective, with the June 7 Manhattan H. (G1) as a possible stop along the way. On the upswing: Dancing Forever, a scion of the Phipps Stable, is finally living up to his exquisite pedigree as a five-year-old. From the family of champion Heavenly Prize (Seeking the Gold), one of a host of exceptional relatives on his dam's side, Dancing Forever did not make his stakes debut until last December, when he captured the Our Dear Peggy S. at Calder. Shug McGaughey then pitched him straight into Grade 1 company in the aforementioned Gulfstream Park Turf. Dancing Forever turned in a rattling runner-up effort from well off the pace, making Einstein pull out all the stops to keep him at bay by a neck. The chestnut continued his progress next time out in the newly upgraded Elkhorn S. (G2) on April 25 at Keeneland. Unleashing another barnstorming late kick, Dancing Forever mowed down Ascot Gold Cup (Eng-G1) nominee DRILLING FOR OIL (Giant's Causeway) to win the 1 1/2-mile event by a decisive length. Now that he has learned the game, Dancing Forever has emerged as a force in the turf ranks. Also noteworthy in this category is the Frankel-trained PROUDINSKY (Ger) (Silvano [Ger]). The bay was seemingly on the verge of big things in 2006, when he just missed in his American debut in the Arlington Classic (G3) and wrapped up his campaign with a victory in the Bay Meadows Derby (G3). Unfortunately, Proudinsky was sidelined for a year and raced just three times in 2007, notably placing in the Citation H. (G1) and San Gabriel H. (G2). Making his 2008 bow in the March 8 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial H. (G2) at Fair Grounds, he thrived in the yielding conditions and rolled past the pacesetting DAYTONA (Ire) (Indian Ridge). In the process, he snapped Daytona's four-race winning streak, and avenged his defeat in the San Gabriel. A son of 2001 Arlington Million hero Silvano (Ger), who is compiling an excellent record at stud in South Africa, Proudinsky was originally slated to run in the Woodford Reserve. Although he did not take up that engagement, he has blitzed a pair of sharp half-miles at Hollywood Park recently. Out of the blue: EVER A FRIEND (Crafty Friend), the latest Mike Mitchell reclamation project, turned a competitive renewal of the March 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) at Santa Anita into an utter rout. Claimed from Christophe Clement for $62,500 in December, the gray gelding is now two-for-two for his new barn. Ever a Friend landed the Impressive Luck H. on the downhill turf course before tackling the Kilroe, where he spurted 3 3/4 lengths clear in a final time of 1:33 1/5 on the firm turf. It was a stunning performance, difficult to envision based upon his prior record. Ever a Friend will have to prove that the Kilroe was no fluke, and he will get that opportunity in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) on Memorial Day at Hollywood Park. The reliable Daytona, who resumed the winning thread with a wire-to-wire score in the April 5 Arcadia H. (G2) in 1:33 for the Santa Anita mile, is among the likely contenders. Also possible for the Shoemaker are BECRUX (Ity) (Glen Jordan), the 2006 Woodbine Mile hero who was last seen finishing eighth in the Mile Championship (Jpn-G1) in November, and EL ROBLAR (War Chant), a game victor of the May 3 Inglewood H. (G3). Proudinsky would likewise command respect if he follows through on his nomination. Missing the mark: Although CHAMPS ELYSEES (GB) (Danehill) has appeared to be a cut below his famous siblings Dansili (GB), Banks Hill (GB), Intercontinental (GB) and half-sister Heat Haze (GB), the Juddmonte Farms homebred looked to seize control of the Southern California turf scene after a sparkling victory in the January 19 San Marcos S. (G2). That idea took even deeper root after his excellent, if troubled, third in the March 1 Santa Anita H. (G1) in his Cushion Track debut. Back on the grass for this past Saturday's Jim Murray Memorial H. (G2), however, Champs Elysees disappointed as the 2-5 favorite. The Frankel trainee got a lovely trip, cruised to the lead turning into the stretch, but could not seal the deal. Defending champion ON THE ACORN (GB) (Inchinor [GB]), another member of the Mitchell brigade, drew alongside and simply outgamed him to win by a nose. The resurgent On the Acorn deserves credit for returning to his best form, and for showing firm resolve in those waning yards. Perhaps Champs Elysees would have preferred being the hunter rather than the prey in the final furlong of that 1 1/2-mile affair, and he was conceding three pounds (119 to 116) to On the Acorn. But any way one slices it, Champs Elysees took a full :25 to come home on firm turf. Be on the lookout: He's a son of Storm Cat out of a Grade 1-winning millionairess, his broodmare sire is a Blushing Groom (Fr)-line stallion, and he's making a splash in California. The retired After Market? No -- Stonerside Stable's homebred TYBALT, who oozed class when posting a 2 1/2-length victory in Saturday's 5TH race at Hollywood Park. The four-year-old bay was produced by Tuzla (Fr) (Panoramic [GB]), queen of the 1999 Ramona H. (G1) and a near-miss runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Mile and Matriarch S. (G1). Tybalt began his career under the tutelage of John Gosden in England, with his highlight being a rousing victory in one of those ultra-competitive, big-field, three-year-old handicaps at Newmarket. A firm turf aficionado, he did not always get his preferred ground across the Atlantic, and plans called for him to come stateside last year for graded events at Del Mar and Oak Tree. As it turned out, Tybalt did not make his American debut until Saturday's one-mile allowance. Now in the care of Frankel, he smoothly asserted himself and won convincingly over a solid field that included SHAMDINAN (Fr) (Dr Fong), who has gone completely the wrong way this season. Tybalt has the ability to make an impact at a higher level. On the horizon: Our next issue will recap Saturday's Dixie S. (G2) at Pimlico, the Shoemaker Mile and the Manhattan.
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