|
|
THOROUGHBRED BEAT SEPTEMBER 19, 2008 by James Scully With less than six weeks remaining until the 25th running of the Breeders' Cup, this is an opportunity to take an advanced look at some of the races. There will be 14 Breeders' Cup events offered at Santa Anita on October 24-25, but I won't focus upon the Juvenile Fillies Turf and other non-traditional races at this early date. In this second installment, I'll cover the Mile (G1), Sprint (G1), Juvenile (G1) and Juvenile Fillies (G1). Mile -- KIP DEVILLE's (Kipling) fifth-place effort in the Woodbine Mile (Can-G1) was a head scratcher, but perhaps he didn't like the yielding turf at Woodbine. When he's on his game, the defending Breeders' Cup Mile winner is terrific. He opened 2008 with a commanding victory in the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) and easily captured the Poker H. (G3) in his second outing. The Richard Dutrow-trained gray won the 2007 Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) and is two-for-two over the turf at Santa Anita. Foreign-based horses in the Mile have excelled in Southern California, winning twice in Arcadia and five-of-six runnings of the Mile at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park combined, and this year's Mile will likely feature a strong international presence. English (Eng-G1) and Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) winner HENRYTHENAVIGATOR (Kingmambo), a four-time Group 1 hero this season for Aidan O'Brien, was originally targeting the Classic (G1), but Duke of Marmalade (Danehill) could now represent his Ballydoyle connections in that spot, allowing "Henry" the opportunity to run his best race at his best distance. Three-year-old TAMAYUZ (Nayef) and three-year-old filly GOLDIKOVA (Anabaa) are multiple Group 1 winners in France considering the race, and the English-based RAVEN'S PASS (Elusive Quality) will merit serious respect if he makes the trip as expected. Champion DARJINA (Zamindar) would add more depth with her presence, and Arlington Million (G1) runner-up ARCHIPENKO (Kingmambo) hasn't been eliminated from consideration. Coronation (Eng-G1), Yorkshire Oaks (Eng-G1) and Matron S. (Eng-G1) heroine LUSH LASHES (Galileo [Ire]) is another possible Mile invader with tons of class. Trainer Jim Bolger could also opt to send her to the Filly & Mare Turf (G1). WHATSTHESCRIPT (Ire) (Royal Applause [GB]) owns wins in the Del Mar Mile (G2) and American H. (G2) this season, and he's probably the best miler in California. Eddie Read H. (G1) winner MONZANTE (Maria's Mon) also ranks high out west, and HYPERBARIC (Sky Classic) has run well in his recent starts for Julio Canani, a two-time Mile winner. RAHY'S ATTORNEY (Crown Attorney) earned an automatic spot in the Mile with his victory in the Woodbine Mile, but he's not Breeders' Cup nominated and won't be running. Monmouth S. runner-up PROUDINSKY (Ger) (Silvano [Ger]), a Grade 2 winner this season, will likely represent Bobby Frankel. Sprint -- The Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) will be held over a synthetic track for the first time, and no sprinter owns better synthetic form than STREET BOSS (Street Cry [Ire]), a superb winner of the Bing Crosby H. (G1) and Triple Bend Invitational H. (G1) in his last two starts. Six for seven this year with a current five-race win skein, the Bruce Headley trainee will prep for the Sprint in the Ancient Title S. (G1) at Santa Anita on September 27. Street Boss has earned triple-digit BRIS Speed ratings in his last four starts. One potential liability is his late-running style, which allows for the possibility of being stopped in traffic or compromised on a speed-favoring track. This isn't a deep year for sprinters. Benny the Bull, arguably the nation's premiere short-distance specialist, was recently retired, and the rest of the division lacks memorable performances. LUCKY ISLAND (Arg) (Lucky Roberto) recorded a couple of nice wins in the Tom Fool H. (G2) and Bold Ruler H. (G2) earlier this season, but he couldn't overcome a slow start in the Forego S. (G1) last time and checked in sixth. Forego winner FIRST DEFENCE (Unbridled's Song) runs his best races at Saratoga and will need to prove himself elsewhere. Unbeaten BUSTIN STONES (City Zip) hasn't started since winning the Carter H. (G1) in April, and health issues are always a concern for the lightly raced but accomplished Sprint hopefuls FABULOUS STRIKE (Smart Strike) and KELLY'S LANDING (Patton). Defending Sprint hero MIDNIGHT LUTE (Real Quiet) is running out of preparation time. The Bob Baffert runner didn't return to the races until the Pat O'Brien H. (G2) on August 24, and nothing went right for him over the Polytrack at Del Mar as he wound up seventh. That doesn't figure to set him up for his best in this year's Sprint, and we'll see if Baffert can get one more prep into Midnight Lute or possibly train him straight up to the race. I will take a hard look at a couple of other California-based sprinters, IDIOT PROOF (Benchmark) and IN SUMMATION (Put It Back). Idiot Proof owns plenty of speed, but he can also sit close before offering his best run. Second to Midnight Lute in the slop at Monmouth Park last year, the Cliff Sise Jr. runner captured the 2007 Ancient Title over Cushion Track and owns a 4-2-0-2 mark on all-weather tracks. After finishing a good second to Benny the Bull in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) in March, the four-year-old was freshened for nearly five months, reappearing with a second in the grassy Green Flash H. at Del Mar on August 13. He'll prep for the Breeders' Cup in the Ancient Title and could enter the Sprint in top form. In Summation has class concerns, but his affinity for synthetic tracks is appealing. Winner of the 2007 Bing Crosby, the Christophe Clement charge won the Palos Verdes H. (G2) earlier this season and exits a pair of respectable efforts in the Pat O'Brien and Bing Crosby at Del Mar. Juvenile -- CHARITABLE MAN (Lemon Drop Kid) established himself as a top Juvenile contender in Saturday's Futurity S. (G2). After running away from his rivals on the front end in his career debut, a 11 1/2-length trouncing at Saratoga, the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee displayed a new dimension in the seven-furlong Futurity, rating off the pace before rallying strongly to a one-length decision. The Virginia-native is bred to run long on both sides of his pedigree, and Charitable Man looks special. VINEYARD HAVEN (Lido Palace [Chi]) recorded a wire-to-wire decision in the Hopeful S. (G1) on September 1, but I believe runner-up CRIBNOTE (Read the Footnotes) owns the most appeal going forward. A smashing 13 1/2-length maiden winner over state-bred rivals two starts back at the Spa, the Richard Violette Jr. charge appeared to be making a winning move in the seven-furlong Hopeful when he bolted out of the far turn toward the grandstand rail. Despite the extreme ground loss, the chestnut colt regained his momentum and finished up strongly for second. Third-placer MUNNINGS (Speightstown), the 2-1 favorite off his impressive debut score, couldn't overcome a slow start in the Hopeful, but he's eligible to show more in the future for Todd Pletcher. I'll put three youngsters -- MIDSHIPMAN (Unbridled's Song), CORONET OF A BARON (Pure Prize) and AZUL LEON (Lion Heart) -- at the top of the West Coast division. Midshipman and Coronet of a Baron staged a thrilling stretch duel in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) on September 3, with the former edging the latter by a nose, and both figure to stretch out effectively around two turns. Azul Leon was the best runner in the Best Pal S. (G3) and improved to three-for-three with the victory via disqualification. The Norfolk S. (G1) on September 28 figures to be a dandy if all three show up. RUN AWAY AND HIDE (City Zip) returned from a 3 1/2-month layoff to record an impressive win in the Saratoga Special S. (G2) on August 14, and the Ronny Werner runner looks like a top contender for the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland on October 4. Juvenile Fillies -- STARDOM BOUND (Tapit) broke her maiden in spectacular fashion when taking the Del Mar Debutante (G1) on September 1, drawing off to a 4 1/4-length decision, and the long-striding filly presently looks like the one to beat in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. The gray lass is a slow starter, but she'll swoop past her rivals in the stretch. EVITA ARGENTINA (Candy Ride [Arg]) checked in fourth in the Del Mar Debutante, but she displayed a fine turn of foot when winning the Sorrento S. (G3) two starts back and remains an intriguing Juvenile Fillies prospect. She's conditioned by John Sadler, who will attempt to parlay the home-town advantage into his first Breeders' Cup race win. Spinaway S. (G1) and Adirondack (G2) winner MANI BHAVAN (Storm Boot) owns plenty of talent, but the speedster figures to be extremely tested around two turns. Spinaway runner-up DOREMIFASOLLATIDO (Bernstein) flattered her rival when posting a two-length score in the Matron S. (G2) last Saturday. The Shug McGaughey-trained PERSISTENTLY (Smoke Glacken) recorded a good second from off the pace in the Matron. C. S. SILK (Medaglia d'Oro) could prove to be a serious threat from the Midwest. Trained by Dale Romans, the dark bay filly broke her maiden by 6 1/4 lengths two starts back at Churchill Downs and followed with a stylish, six-length romp in the Arlington-Washington Lassie (G3) on September 6. She's proven formidable on dirt and synthetic, and that versatility is a real asset in North American racing.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
