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SPOTLIGHT PERFORMANCES JUNE 23, 2005 by James Scully SHARK (Danzig) finally broke through with his first career victory, taking a six-furlong maiden special weight event by 3 1/2 lengths at Churchill Downs Saturday. Bothered by a loose horse when second by a nose in his 2005 debut previously, the D. Wayne Lukas-trained colt showed speed from the start, opened a clear advantage entering the far turn and was never threatened while under a hand ride to the wire. The Overbrook homebred earned a solid 95 BRIS Speed rating and may continue to show more in the future. Shark is the first foal from Surfside (Seattle Slew), the 2000 champion three-year-old filly, four-time Grade 1 queen and Clark H. (G2) winner over males. SWEPT GOLD (Touch Gold), the first foal from multiple Grade 3 heroine Swept Away (Mystery Storm), turned in a sharp debut performance on Sunday at Churchill, closing from off the pace to win a five-furlong maiden special weight by 2 1/2 lengths. Trained by Steve Flint, the juvenile filly finished very fast and received a commendable 96 Speed figure. Watch for her in upcoming stakes. WHAT A SONG (Songandaprayer) looks like a major player in upcoming stakes events for conditioner Bob Baffert. Purchased for $1.9 million at auction earlier this year, the two-year-old colt made his career bow impressively on Saturday at Hollywood Park, drawing off sharply to a 3 1/4-length score while completing 5 1/2 furlongs in a snappy 1:03 4/5. The second foal to race from stakes winner What a Knight (Tough Knight), What a Song is definitely one to watch. COUNTY (Menifee) turned in a professional performance last Wednesday at Hollywood when recording a 5 1/2-length triumph over optional-claiming rivals. A 6 1/2-length maiden winner in late April, the three-year-old gelding was exiting a good second to Keep on Punching (Silver Deputy), who returned to win easily on Saturday, in his first start against winners. County took another step forward here for Neil Drysdale and is an intriguing prospect for the future. STORM CREEK RISING (Storm Creek) earned his first triple-digit Speed rating and second career win when gamely taking a first-level allowance at Belmont Park last Thursday. Trained by Christophe Clement, the three-year-old colt concluded his juvenile campaign with a second in the Huntington S. and now owns a 7-2-3-2 career mark. Storm Creek Rising is out of Goulash (Mari's Book), making him a half-brother to champion Ashado (Saint Ballado). SPANISH MISSION (Coronado's Quest) rolled to his first career win when capturing a one-mile maiden special weight event by two lengths on Sunday at Belmont. Out of Grade 3 winner Cuando Puede (Lord at War [Arg]), the three-year-old colt posted a 0-4-1 record from his first six starts before breaking through here and may continue to show more for Shug McGaughey.
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