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TURF DIARY JUNE 22, 2010 Reigning champion GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat) has endured a string of tough-luck losses, but the Christophe Clement charge still deserves to be rated at the top of the division in our inaugural Turf Diary of the season. Partly this is because he has continued to perform at a very high level in defeat, but Gio Ponti is also clinging to his crown because no other claimant can put forth a credible case for divisional leadership at the moment. Devil of a time at Tampa Bay: In his reappearance in the February 20 Tampa Bay S., Gio Ponti accelerated to challenge a loose-on-the-lead KARELIAN (Bertrando) in the stretch, and looked bound to sweep right past him. Karelian came again, while bearing out and floating Gio Ponti several paths across the course. Even so, Gio Ponti lost literally on the head-bob. Given his clear loss of both ground and momentum caused by Karelian's drifting, some jurisdictions might well have disqualified the winner and awarded the victory to Gio Ponti. After a stewards' inquiry, though, the result stood. Each put forth a terrific effort, blazing the final sixteenth in a shade more than :6. I don't think that Gio Ponti ran any better than that when capturing the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) early last year. At that time, he had a ferocious pace to set up his late kick, and he had to catch Ventura, who was known to idle in front. In contrast, at Tampa, Gio Ponti was disadvantaged by the way the race unfolded -- a pedestrian pace set by a stubborn competitor in Karelian, who bothered him to boot. As subsequent events were to prove, the eight-year-old veteran Karelian is in the form of his life for Rusty Arnold, putting the Tampa Bay in an even more favorable light. His victory next time out in the April 9 Maker's Mark Mile S. (G1) at Keeneland, and his last-stride loss in the May 31 Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Hollywood Park, will be described in the milers' section below. Meydan mess: Gio Ponti was just prepping at Tampa for his primary objective, the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) on March 27 at Meydan. Frankly, in light of the reports by on-site observers that he did not travel particularly well to Dubai, and did not make a favorable impression during training hours, I thought that he was going to run poorly in the World Cup. Gio Ponti actually did well in the circumstances to rally for fourth, beaten a total of 1 1/2 lengths by the front-running Gloria de Campeao (Brz) (Impression), in a grand mess of a race. "Gloria" had been trounced by Gio Ponti in last year's Arlington Million (G1), but a vastly different scenario on the Tapeta produced the upset. Settled too far back off a ridiculously slow tempo that was not worthy of Thoroughbreds, Gio Ponti angled out wide for the drive and made appreciable headway, but it was too little and too late. At the time, my knee-jerk response was that the World Cup form would be shredded, but the top two have upheld it back on turf in the Far East. Runner-up Lizard's Desire (Lizard Island) returned to finish an excellent second in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1) at Sha Tin, then collared Gloria to gain his revenge in the Singapore Airlines International Cup (Mal-G1). Gloria's future targets include the August 17 Juddmonte International (Eng-G1) at York and possibly the October 23 Cox Plate (Aus-G1), so the World Cup winner could theoretically continue to solidify the form. Manhattan traffic: Gio Ponti did not have an ideal preparation for his title defense in the June 5 Manhattan H. (G1), and wound up with only two published works since returning from Dubai. According to Daily Racing Form, his exercise rider mistakenly let him go too slowly to merit a clocking on May 16, and he skipped a planned May 23 work because of a cough. Those foibles could have been overcome, if his bullet move on May 30 were anything to go by, but they paled in comparison to the frustrating trip he endured in the race itself. Gio Ponti not only had to tap on the brakes on the far turn, when a horse was stopping in front of him, but he had to wait for room in a wild and wooly stretch run as well. With regular rider Ramon Dominguez daringly maneuvering him among rivals, he finally burst through a gap on the inside. Gio Ponti lost valuable time to deploy his killer move, while his 21-1 stablemate WINCHESTER (Theatrical [Ire]) enjoyed the luxury of wide open space and all the time in the world to build up momentum. To his credit, Winchester flew home from the back of the pack, sizzling his final quarter in about :22. That high-class change of gear carried him a half-length past Gio Ponti on the wire. The question remains: if Gio Ponti had gotten clear sailing earlier, would he have been long gone already before Winchester arrived on the scene? If he hadn't been bottled up, would he still have been within striking range for Winchester? What is crystal-clear, however, is that Gio Ponti was conceding six pounds to his stablemate (122 to 116). Presumably we should find out if Gio Ponti has really lost a step, or not, when he defends his title in the July 10 Man o' War S. (G1). Locked and loaded: In any event, it was good to see Winchester finally live up to the promise inherent in his 2008 Secretariat S. (G1) romp for Dermot Weld -- in a time faster than the Arlington Million on the same day. He hadn't run badly in his stakes attempts since joining Clement in 2009, but he hardly looked like star material. I'd convinced myself that I'd rated him too highly off the Secretariat, and that he just wasn't what I hoped he'd be. The Manhattan, even allowing for the traffic trouble suffered by Gio Ponti and a few others, has dispelled my negativity about him. Significantly, Winchester had been racing in graded marathons of upwards of 1 3/8 miles; the Manhattan marked the first time he'd cut back to 1 1/4 miles in a graded stakes since his Secretariat heroics. A compelling case can be made, both on pedigree and performance, that Winchester is simply more effective at 1 1/4 miles in top company. He can stay longer, but he becomes more vulnerable as the distances increase. Hopefully, Clement will test this hypothesis by giving Winchester more opportunities in 1 1/4-mile turf stakes. Dubai aftermath: Gio Ponti is not the only American runner to be beaten on his first start back from Dubai, but it would be too simplistic to view these setbacks as a Dubai bounce. TAKE THE POINTS (Even the Score), who faded to fifth behind the improbable Al Shemali (Medicean) in the Duty Free (UAE-G1) on World Cup night, got a dream trip in the Manhattan, but couldn't close the deal. After enjoying the perfect stalking scenario, the Todd Pletcher colt rolled to the front and had a 1 1/2-length lead in midstretch, only to get swallowed up late and relegated to fourth. Take the Points had to have been fit, since he'd been working steadily since late April, and he ran too well for too long in the Manhattan to blame it on his Mideast travel. A one-paced, grinding type, the gray might have just been susceptible to rivals with a sharper turn of foot, but I also wonder if 1 1/4 miles is stretching him a bit. Sure, he scored a hard-fought victory at that distance in last year's Secretariat, but the very slow fractions, a less-than-stellar field, and an energizing bump from Black Bear Island (Ire) that got his dander up, all combined to give him an assist. I think his best performances have come at nine furlongs, in last year's Jamaica H. (G1) and his 2010 bow in the February 6 Gulfstream Park Turf H. (G1), which he won convincingly on the track before losing it in an ill-judged call in the stewards' room. COURT VISION (Gulch) was the beneficiary of the disqualification, but Take the Points beat him fair and square again when Court Vision could muster only sixth in the Manhattan. Front runner extraordinaire PRESIOUS PASSION (Royal Anthem) had tuned up for the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) with a repeat victory in the February 28 Mac Diarmida S. (G2) at Gulfstream, holding on by 1 1/4 lengths from a gamely chasing Winchester. His catch-me-if-you-can trick didn't figure to play as well at the vast expanse of Meydan, especially since the Dubai authorities tend to water the turf course to render it European-style "good," not the American hoof-rattling firm that Presious Passion requires. As a result, it wasn't much of a surprise that he packed it in a long way out in the Sheema, eventually trailing home last of 16. The Sheema winner was the mare Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]), whom Presious Passion had beaten when runner-up in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). Returning to action in the June 12 Monmouth S. (G3), the seven-year-old gelding promised to turn in his typical effort as the defending champion. But when another speedy entrant and accomplished course specialist, GET SERIOUS (City Zip), challenged him early from the rail, Elvis Trujillo conceded the lead and let Presious Passion stalk. That was a plot twist, since Presious Passion has gone much faster splits over a lot farther than the nine furlongs of the Monmouth, and he should have been able to secure the lead if he were intent upon it. As it turned out, Presious Passion did not take kindly to rating, utterly quit, and crossed the wire in seventh. Get Serious went on to score by 1 1/4 lengths, and in the process, moved his mark over the Monmouth course to eight-for-10. The two could clash again in the July 3 United Nations S. (G1), where Presious Passion would be gunning for an unprecedented three-peat. Between Get Serious' stamina doubts, and the lesson learned in the Monmouth, Presious Passion should be allowed to open up as far as he likes, come what may. The United Nations figures to have a wealth of early speed, with STRAIGHT STORY (Giant's Causeway) also planning to line up. One of last year's leading turf sophomores who was unlucky to miss by a head in three graded stakes, including the Jamaica to Take the Points, Straight Story has crushed allowance rivals in his last two. Those must have done his confidence a world of good, and if so, the Alan Goldberg pupil could be on the verge of a big season. The heir apparent to Ventura? The only two-time Grade 1 winner on the American turf so far this season is Juddmonte Farms' homebred mare PROVISO (GB) (Dansili [GB]), who will also be mentioned in the upcoming Filly & Mare Turf Diary. The Bill Mott trainee showed a potent late kick to defeat males in the March 6 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita, succeeding where Juddmonte's Ventura failed by so slim a margin to Gio Ponti last year. Near last early, Proviso got a beautiful split between horses in the stretch and capitalized on it, flying her eighth furlong in a smidgeon less than :11 to nip Citation H. (G1) winner FLUKE (Brz) (Wild Event). Both carried 116 pounds, so Proviso was actually "giving weight" according to scale. The genuine BATTLE OF HASTINGS (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) was a slightly troubled third, giving the form a solid look. Proviso followed up with a professional victory in the June 5 Just a Game S. (G1) back among distaffers, but if she ventures into male territory again, she could lay strong claim to leadership among the milers. Paging the top male miler: Going into Dubai World Cup night, COURAGEOUS CAT (Storm Cat) might have been termed our leading miler in training. A fantastic runner-up to two-time champion Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) last November, the Mott charge opened his four-year-old season with a determined decision in the February 20 Canadian Turf S. (G3) at Gulfstream. Courageous Cat, the co-highweight at 124 pounds, fought off CHEROKEE ARTIST (Cherokee Run) in a blistering 1:31.58, just off then-world record time for a mile on turf. Such a grueling race left its mark on both of them. Courageous Cat dropped away tamely in the Duty Free, ending up a subpar ninth, and has still not returned to the worktab. In his next start, Cherokee Artist retreated to a remote seventh behind Karelian in the Maker's Mark Mile. Karelian's 2010 efforts have been outstanding, if not quite enough to nail down top miler pro-tempore status. In the Maker's Mark Mile, he played the stalking role to perfection, drove to the front on the far turn, and hurled back a menacing bid from Court Vision to win a shade comfortably by 1 1/4 lengths. Karelian was getting four pounds from multiple Grade 1 victor Court Vision, who had beaten him by a whisker when they met at level weights in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) last fall. To be fair to Karelian, though, he was returning from an 11-month layoff that day, but came into the Maker's Mark in razor-sharp form, as Gio Ponti can attest. Karelian would have strengthened his grip on the mile division with a victory in the Shoemaker Mile on Memorial Day, but he was just gunned down by the 21-1 VICTOR'S CRY (Street Cry [Ire]). With two-time San Simeon H. (G3) winner MR GRUFF (Mr. Greeley) winging it on the front end, Karelian was happy to track in second early, and when the sprinter began to get leg-weary late, Karelian was on the premises to cut him down. He was in turn overtaken, however, by the much improved Victor's Cry and a heady Corey Nakatani. Might Nakatani have learned from Gio Ponti and Court Vision that he shouldn't attack Karelian too soon? By waiting until they were nearing the wire, Nakatani produced the winning surge from Victor's Cry before Karelian could respond. Victor's Cry, who was previously a rallying second to Mr Gruff in the San Simeon, is still a relatively unexposed five-year-old, and he is eligible to keep progressing for Eoin Harty. As a footnote to the Shoemaker, it must be pointed out that COMPARI (Brz) (Redattore [Brz]) is much better than he showed in seventh. The California-bred had won six straight, capped by the April 3 Arcadia H. (G2) over Fluke and a troubled Battle of Hastings. With those two replicating their finishing positions from the Kilroe, the Arcadia form looked rock solid. Compari subsequently came down with an injury scare, but resumed training once declared fine and went for the Shoemaker. The confirmed front runner had an awful trip -- hung out wide, tried to drop in, steadied off heels, and got shuffled back on the far turn -- and deserves another crack at the Grade 1 level. Waiting in the wings: A pair of talented four-year-olds also deserve mention as potentially top-class milers, and both could meet in Sunday's King Edward S. (Can-G2) at Woodbine. GRAND ADVENTURE (Grand Slam) just missed the seven-furlong course record when landing the May 30 Connaught Cup S. (Can-G3) at Woodbine, defeating an unusually deep field that included three Canadian champions. A Sam-Son Farms homebred trained by Mark Frostad, Grand Adventure traveled conspicuously well throughout, smoothly swept to the front, and won with his ears cocked. Finishing fourth was Cherokee Heaven (Cherokee Run), who had been chasing Mr Gruff and Victor's Cry in California, to provide a neat tie-in for the form. The September 19 Woodbine Mile (Can-G1) is a natural target for Grand Adventure, and we should be hearing a lot more from him. Interestingly, the Tom Bush-trained GET STORMY (Stormy Atlantic) is also headed to Canada in the near-term. The flashy bay, who ended 2009 with four straight wins, capped by the Bryan Station S. (G3) and Commonwealth Turf S. (G3), extended his winning streak to five in the May 22 Elkwood S. at Monmouth. Get Stormy is using the King Edward as a stepping stone to the August 1 Fourstardave H. (G2) at Saratoga. Seismic shift in California: The long-distance division in Southern California has been dominated by two four-year-olds who have improved beyond all recognition since stepping up in distance. BOURBON BAY (Sligo Bay [Ire]) ruled supreme at Santa Anita over the winter, becoming only the third horse to sweep the San Luis Obispo H. (G2), San Luis Rey H. (G2) and San Juan Capistrano Invitational H. (G2). The last to pull off the triple was Kotashaan (Fr) during his Horse of the Year campaign in 1993, but to keep things in perspective, Bourbon Bay wasn't facing remotely the same caliber of horses. There were no Bien Biens or Fraises standing in his way. Still, Bourbon Bay is tactically adaptable, has a tremendous late kick, and is unbeaten at 1 1/2 miles. In the February 21 San Luis Obispo, the Neil Drysdale charge stalked a slow pace in second, delivered an instantaneous burst of speed entering the stretch, and bounded 4 1/4 lengths clear. In the March 20 San Luis Rey, Bourbon Bay tracked a considerably faster pace, took over earlier than ideal when the leader gave way, and easily held by 2 1/2 lengths. In both races, he blasted a final quarter in :23 and change. The about 1 3/4-mile San Juan Capistrano proved to be a severe test, especially with the front runner opening up Presious Passion-style early, but Bourbon Bay prevailed on heart and class by a half-length. Not very big or robust, the gelding carried the top weight of 122 pounds in the marathon, seven more than the runner-up, and has earned a break. The mighty Kotashaan himself didn't reappear until Del Mar. When Bourbon Bay left the picture, and the scene shifted to Hollywood Park, ACCLAMATION (Unusual Heat) picked up the baton to capture the May 15 Jim Murray H. (G2) in his first try at 1 1/2 miles. A California-bred trained by Donald Warren, the bay colt built up a massive early lead, despite the fact that he wasn't even going that fast at all. He picked up the tempo through the final half-mile and was in splendid isolation at the wire, but his 7 1/2-length margin is more an indictment of his foes than anything else. Many of them had previously been pummeled by Bourbon Bay, again underscoring how weak Bourbon Bay's rivals had been. New import SCINTILLO (GB) (Fantastic Light) had back class from Europe, but showed little of it in fourth. If a fresh Bourbon Bay had contested the Jim Murray, I suspect that he would have been lapped right onto Acclamation's flank, and would probably have outkicked him in the final quarter. Acclamation dropped down to 1 1/4 miles, while facing a couple of better opponents, in the June 5 Charles Whittingham Memorial H. (G1). Although he injected more pace at an earlier juncture, he was not nearly as visually impressive, and was pretty much all out to score by 1 1/2 lengths from an unknown in HYADES (Aldebaran). I wonder if Acclamation could have won at all if the other pace factor, RED SUN (Redattore [Brz]), hadn't scratched. The class horses, LOUP BRETON (Ire) (Anabaa) and Battle of Hastings, never threatened and wound up fourth and fifth. While Battle of Hastings had no visible excuse, Loup Breton was kept too far back by Rafael Bejarano, who would do the same thing to Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision) the next day in the Hollywood Oaks (G2). Acclamation would face a real class test if he ventures to Monmouth for the United Nations. The closing-day Sunset H. (G3) at Hollywood shapes up as a much easier spot, but I don't blame his connections at all for chasing the more prestigious Grade 1 with a $750,000 purse. After all, Acclamation deserves the chance. Out of sight, but not out of mind: The last time Acclamation had raced over 1 1/4 miles, he finished third in the Hollywood Derby (G1) to THE USUAL Q. T. (Unusual Heat), whose absence has been keenly felt. The California-bred bled when last of nine as the even-money favorite in the January 30 Sunshine Millions Classic on Pro-Ride, which brought his six-race winning streak (all on turf) to a crashing halt. Despite that episode, The Usual Q. T. was packed off to Dubai for the Duty Free, where he ran a strong race and outdueled Take the Points for fourth. There was some initial speculation that he would tackle the June 6 Yasuda Kinen (Jpn-G1) at Tokyo, but trainer Jim Cassidy was right to give him plenty of time to recover from his Dubai exertions. The Usual Q. T., who didn't return to the worktab until May 18, is rounding into shape, firing a bullet six furlongs in 1:11 1/5 at Santa Anita on June 14. He could end up restoring order to the Southern California circuit. The same could be said for FERNELEY (Ire) (Ishiguru), winner of last year's Del Mar Mile H. (G2) and runner-up to Ventura in the Woodbine Mile. Unraced since his barnstorming fifth in the Hong Kong Mile (HK-G1) in December, the Ben Cecil trainee has recently returned to the worktab and is another who should impose his influence. Among the long-distance set, Canadian Grade 1 star MARSH SIDE (Gone West), who was just reinstated as the winner of last year's Northern Dancer Turf S. (Can-G1), and MARLANG (Langfuhr), hero of the 2008 Breeders' S. and Saranac S. (G3), have also been working regularly at Hollywood for Neil Drysdale. Choosing your terrain for battle: The heartwarming tale of owner/trainer Tom McCarthy and his one-horse stable took on a new twist when GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa) pulled a mild upset in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day. Unplaced in his only prior turf attempt as a juvenile, the 2009 Blue Grass S. (G1) hero opened up an entirely new range of options when slogging home on a yielding turf course at Churchill Downs. General Quarters simply outgamed the 124-pound highweight Court Vision, who struck the front in midstretch but failed to hold onto his lead. Displaying never-say-die resolve, while getting five pounds from Court Vision, General Quarters fought back on the inside to get up by a neck. Two things make me wary about the value of the form -- first, the significant trouble encountered by the third- and fourth-place finishers Loup Breton and Battle of Hastings, which cost them both dearly; and second, the yielding course condition, which likely favored General Quarters, with his exaggerated, round type of action. It's also disconcerting that all but one of the defeated horses have come back to run disappointingly, but on the other hand, the Woodford Reserve might have just been a grueling race that took a lot out of them. General Quarters, who returned to finish a good third in the Stephen Foster H. (G1) on dirt, will revert to turf for the July 17 Arlington H. (G3) to prep for the August 21 Arlington Million (G1). Sophomores on the march: Each year, a veteran of the Triple Crown trail takes command of the three-year-old turf set, and PADDY O'PRADO (El Prado [Ire]) auditioned for the role with a three-length success in Saturday's Colonial Turf Cup (G2). The Dale Romans pupil was returning to the grass for the first time since his smashing triumph in the March 6 Palm Beach S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park. In the interim, "Paddy" had finished second in the Blue Grass S. (G1), an excellent third in the Kentucky Derby (G1), and sixth in the Preakness S. (G1). With the possible exception of the Churchill dirt, turf appears to be his preferred surface, and Paddy reiterated that at Colonial while handling a decent group. Among his victims were recent Arlington Classic S. winner WORKIN FOR HOPS (City Zip), who finished second; American Turf S. (G2) romper DOUBLES PARTNER (Rock Hard Ten), a flat fourth; and Lane's End S. (G2) scorer DEAN'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy), a wide-trip fifth. Another Triple Crown participant who figures to thrive back on turf this summer is INTERACTIF (Broken Vow). NORDIC TRUCE (Yes It's True) might be best of those natural turfers who didn't get lured into the Triple Crown hunt. From the well-stocked Clement barn, the Ammerland Stud homebred produced a brilliant turn of foot to win his first three starts, including the January 16 Dania Beach S. at Gulfstream and the April 2 Transylvania S. (G3) at Keeneland. Nordic Truce next found himself in the wildly uncharacteristic job of pacesetter in the June 4 Hill Prince S. (G3) at Belmont Park. That tactical miscue, combined with the top weight of 123 pounds and scrimmaging with KRYPTON (Rock Hard Ten) in the stretch, proved too much to overcome. Krypton, in receipt of seven pounds, won the duel by a neck, and survived a stewards' inquiry. The Hill Prince started slowly, but finished fast with a last quarter in :22 2/5. Both colts are promising, but in a truly run race at level weights, Nordic Truce can exact revenge. R.I.P. Kip: Finally, I can't sign off without paying my respects to KIP DEVILLE (Kipling), who lost his struggle with laminitis and colic recently. He set the standard for our milers in recent years, with his tremendous victory in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Mile, his runner-up effort behind Goldikova in 2008, and his repeat scores in the Maker's Mark Mile, to list only a few of his accomplishments. A true battler both on the course and off, he leaves a void that will not soon be filled.
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