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SPRINT DIARY JULY 24, 2010 by Vance Hanson Following inconclusive results in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride in 2008 and 2009, a majority of Eclipse Award voters looked eastward to find the champion among the male sprinting set. In both years, the horse that was ultimately crowned did not contest what is generally considered the premier race in the division. The odds are much higher that the Breeders' Cup Sprint will once again play a more important role in determining the divisional championship as both this year and next year's editions will be contested over old-fashioned dirt at Churchill Downs. However, the championship picture leading up to both renewals has the potential to be just as blurry as in recent years, but for an entirely different reason. While in 2008 and 2009 the issue was one of dirt vs. synthetic, in 2010 and 2011 the issue might come down to Breeders' Cup Sprint vs. Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). With the latter race a one-turn event for the next two seasons, expect to see the connections of various runners keep their options open in regard to which spot seems most favorable. It's hypothetically conceivable, probably not this year but perhaps next, that someone could clean up in tradition-laden seven-furlong sprints like the Carter H. (G1), Churchill Downs S. (G2) and Forego S. (G1) and then bypass the Sprint in favor of the Dirt Mile as sort of a position-protecting move (presuming that many Eclipse Award voters would give sprint championship contenders the benefit of the doubt for losing at a mile or longer -- I would). It's hard to know for certain the long-term intentions of those connections with top-level runners proficient in the seven furlongs-to-one mile range, but in the meantime we'll do our best to zero in on the true contenders for male sprint championship honors. With no corresponding one-mile race for females on the Breeders' Cup program, this is less of a problem in the filly and mare sprint division. As always, our focus is on those races contested at less than a mile. Tres tres bon: When trainer Todd Pletcher announced that BRIBON (Fr) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]) would not be given an opportunity to defend his title in the May 31 Metropolitan H. (G1) but instead run in the June 5 True North H. (G2) at six furlongs, my initial thoughts were that the future Hall of Famer not only wanted to keep Bribon and his stable star Quality Road (Elusive Quality) separated, but that he also didn't want to beat himself by risking his valuable stallion prospect against a seven-year-old gelding with no breeding value. Beyond feeling sorry for Bribon that his chance at history was being denied for material reasons, I was at a loss to understand why the True North was necessarily the correct alternative. After all, Bribon had demonstrated time and again under the tutelage of former trainer Bobby Ribaudo that he was a one-turn miler to the core. Well, Bribon and Pletcher showed me and a lot of other people. Naturally outrun in the early stages of the Belmont S. (G1) Day dash, Bribon made steady advancement throughout while stablemate Checklist (Gone West) set a fast pace. Asked for his run at the quarter pole, Bribon turned in a devastating five-wide rally, circled the field and drew off to win by 1 1/2 lengths while under very little pressure from jockey Garrett Gomez. The competition might not have been the deepest, but it was still a remarkable effort considering the distance questions beforehand and the doubts about Bribon's form following a sub-par fifth in the one-mile Westchester S. (G3) a month earlier. Bribon is headed toward the August 8 Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G1) at Saratoga, also at six furlongs, and can enhance his status for championship honors with a win there. Regardless of whether his success at the traditional sprint distances continues or not, both the Sprint and Dirt Mile would appear to be viable options for the chestnut. It will be interesting to see what course Pletcher takes if Bribon builds up a string of wins into the fall. Sprint or Mile?: From our vantage point now, it would seem WARRIOR'S REWARD (Medaglia d'Oro) and MUSKET MAN (Yonaguska), who were were separated by a mere nose in that order in the seven-furlong Carter H. at Aqueduct in early April, are more likely to point toward the Dirt Mile. After running second and third, respectively, in the slop in the Churchill Downs S. to longshot ATTA BOY ROY (Tribunal), the pair met again in the Metropolitan H. This time, Musket Man finished ahead of his rival when a good second to Quality Road, while Warrior's Reward finished more than 11 lengths behind in sixth. Both probably have the Forego S. at Saratoga on Labor Day weekend in their sights. Atta Boy Roy, meanwhile, appears more like a Breeders' Cup Sprint candidate. However, the Washington-bred has suffered two reversals since his victory in the Churchill Downs. The first was a two-length loss to the modest RILEY TUCKER (Harlan's Holiday) in the Aristides S. (G3) over the Sprint course and distance. While Atta Boy Roy had some excuse that day after breaking poorly and rushing up into contention, he had few problems when nearly five lengths second to the exciting MAJESTICPERFECTION (Harlan's Holiday) in the June 25 Iowa Sprint H. at Prairie Meadows. That rival, who has now won four straight by a combined margin of nearly 21 lengths, has earned BRIS Speed ratings of 112, 105 and 107 in his last three starts, which also includes a Sprint course-and-distance allowance score on May 14. We expect him to see him some time during the Saratoga meet, perhaps in a Vanderbilt showdown with Bribon that could be one of the great highlights of the Spa season. Others with distance flexibility are the Godolphin-owned trio of VINEYARD HAVEN (Lido Palace [Chi]), DESERT PARTY (Street Cry [Ire]) and GAYEGO (Gilded Time). Vineyard Haven, a smart return winner in the James Marvin S. on Saratoga's opening day card, just might be my personal rooting interest for championship honors this season. A tremendous juvenile in 2008 and top-class sprinter last year, Vineyard Haven was kept out of the Breeders' Cup the last two years presumably due to surface concerns, but seems on track to finally fulfill his destiny of racing on American racing's biggest day. Several pre-Breeders' Cup options would seem to be on the table, including the Forego, Vosburgh S. (G1) or, if it is run, the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G2), a race he won last season when it carried Grade 1 status. Desert Party is most certainly Forego bound after winning the Donald LeVine Memorial H. at Philadelphia Park on June 26 by 3 1/2 lengths. That race produced last year's sprint champion Kodiak Kowboy, but Desert Party's performance pales a bit in comparison (102 Speed rating compared to Kodiak Kowboy's 111), and with a healthy Vineyard Haven in the barn I would guess Desert Party would be more likely to aim for the Dirt Mile. It might be premature to say that Gayego's days on synthetics are over, not with races like the Pat O'Brien S. (G1) and Ancient Title S. (G1) yet to be won this year. Though with the rest of the Godolphin crew in New York, he did bother to ship to Hollywood Park for the Triple Bend H. (G1), finishing third in a race he likely needed off a layoff. Given the dearth of leading sprinters in California, which we'll get to in a moment, further cross-country trips might be in the works for Gayego. With the East Coast pretty much covered by his stablemates, an attempt at a repeat score in the Ancient Title would make sense as this former Arkansas Derby (G2) winner probably doesn't need a refresher course on dirt. Summit of Speed: While one could draw the conclusion that the July 10 Summit of Speed possibly yielded few long-term clues considering the dominance of Calder-based runners in every major race, it would be a mistake to knock the likes of BIG DRAMA (Montbrook) and MAMBO MEISTER (King Cugat), who ran one-two in the Smile Sprint H. (G2). True, Big Drama's previous forays outside Florida have produced mixed results, but trainer David Fawkes has a singular focus on sprint races this season, and will likely send his star pupil north for the Forego. Mambo Meister, whose slow start and fast finish in the Smile Sprint suggested he might fare better next time, will likely try the Vanderbilt for trainer Phil Gleaves. The multiple Grade 3 winner is undoubtedly Dirt Mile material, but could be re-routed if he shows his late-closing tactics can work effectively at six furlongs. California dreamin: Only nine horses, some of them turf specialists, bothered to nominate for the August 1 Bing Crosby S. (G1) at Del Mar, which shows the nominal lack of depth in the male sprint division out west. The list of nominees does not include KINSALE KING (Yankee Victor), the regional leader who took the Palos Verdes H. (G2) in January before his successful invasion of Dubai for the March 27 Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1). Unlike previous runnings of that straight six-furlong event, the Shaheen was contested on Meydan's new Tapeta surface for the first time. It was thus no surprise Kinsale King, who had plenty of prior synthetic success, found the conditions favorable. His globetrotting ways have continued this summer with an extended stay in England. A strong third in the Golden Jubilee S. (Eng-G1) at the Royal Ascot meeting in mid-June, Kinsale King failed to show the same form when 12th of 14 in the July Cup (Eng-G1) at Headquarters (i.e. Newmarket) on July 9. Having since returned to America, Kinsale King will now be rested for the Ancient Title prior to the Breeders' Cup. The problem Kinsale King and other California-based sprinters will have as they head to Louisville will be their relative paucity of dirt experience. The right horse could certainly overcome such obstacles, but history suggests proficiency on the surface is generally essential. That leaves other synthetic specialists like Los Angeles H. (G3) hero and 2009 Sprint third COST OF FREEDOM (Cee's Tizzy), 2009 Sprint winner DANCING IN SILKS (Black Minnaloushe) and 2009 Sprint runner-up CROWN OF THORNS (Repent) on the outside looking in. Triple Bend H. winner E Z'S GENTLEMAN (Yankee Gentleman) preceded his signature win with a Churchill allowance score on dirt, albeit in possibly favorable sloppy conditions. The sophomore set: Thus far, the leading three-year-old sprinters have not made the impression they can successfully step up to face their elders. Nominal East Coast leader D' FUNNYBONE (D'wildcat) was brought down a notch by his upset loss in the Carry Back S. (G2) earlier this month, while DISCREETLY MINE (Mineshaft) and COMEDERO (Posse) have been defeating moderate fields. The Amsterdam S. (G2) and King's Bishop S. (G1) at Saratoga will yield more information in the coming weeks, but right now the divisional chase looks exclusively like an older horse affair. The fairer dashers: Attempting to make heads or tails of the opaque female sprint race seems futile at the moment, though the conversation should rightly begin with defending champion INFORMED DECISION (Monarchos), who snapped a two-race losing skid with a head victory in the Chicago H. (G3) at Arlington Park on Independence Day. Though she was conceding seven pounds to the runner-up, the gray increasingly doesn't seem like the same mare who proved nearly unbeatable prior to last season's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). Informed Decision kicked off her 2009 season with victories in the Madison S. (G1) over Ventura, the Humana Distaff (G1) in the slop, and a 4 3/4-length triumph in the Chicago. This season, however, she was a non-threatening third in both the Madison and Humana Distaff (also in the slop) prior to her narrow score in the Chicago. Indeed, she's been faring worse while facing opponents of lesser stature than the ones she defeated last season. Informed Decision's campaign is expected to be identical to the one she had last year, which means races on her calendar prior to the Breeders' Cup should include the Ballerina S. (G1), Presque Isle Downs Masters S. (G3) and Thoroughbred Club of America S. (G2). The Ballerina should tell us a lot as it's on dirt, the latter two not so much since we know she's a synthetic specialist to the bone. The top three finishers from the July 10 Princess Rooney H. (G1) -- JESSICA IS BACK (Put It Back), the lightly-raced WARBLING (Unbridled's Song) and DUBAI MAJESTY (Essence of Dubai) -- are all potential candidates for the August 28 Ballerina at Saratoga. Other consistent notables that are Spa-bound are RIGHTLY SO (Read the Footnotes), QUALIA (Saarland) and TAR HEEL MOM (Flatter). The Saratoga meet should also showcase the return of Godolphin's SARA LOUISE (Malibu Moon), who proved herself a filly on the rise when taking the Top Flight H. (G2) and Victory Ride S. (G3) last season and finishing a head second to Indian Blessing in the Gallant Bloom H. (G2). Understandably fourth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint last November when trying Pro-Ride for the first time, recall that she is one of the last three horses of either sex to have beaten Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro). The most impressive sophomore fillies have been FRANNY FREUD (Freud), who has reeled off four straight including the Prioress S. (G1) and Beaumont S. (G2), and recent Azalea S. (G3) winner PICA SLEW (Pico Central [Brz]), who ran faster winning that Calder feature than the colts did in the Carry Back the same afternoon. Turf is the word: The results of the first two editions of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, which carries Grade 2 status this season, underscored how important experience was over Santa Anita's unique downhill turf course. I'd venture to guess Churchill Downs' tighter configuration will also benefit those with experience in such cramped surroundings, especially at the blink-and-you-miss distance of five furlongs, nearly three-sixteenths shorter than prior editions of this race. SILVER TIMBER (Prime Timber) kicked off 2010 with three straight triumphs, including the Shakertown S. (G3) and Churchill Downs Turf Sprint (G3), the latter over CHAMBERLAIN BRIDGE (War Chant), who subsequently romped home by 4 1/2 lengths in the June 26 Arlington Sprint H. Though Silver Timber was recently upset in the John McSorley S. at Monmouth Park, the connections of both he and the six-year-old Chamberlain Bridge have their eyes squarely on the Turf Sprint and will give their charges every chance to reach the big day in peak condition. Another that has caught our eye at this early date are STRADIVINSKY (Stravinsky), who, like Silver Timber, is a reformed claimer. A Turf Sprint course-and-distance winner for a $50,000 tag two back, he was claimed by trainer Rick Dutrow from that victory and took the Jaipur S. (G3) next out. He's expected to have one more run prior the Breeders' Cup. Participation from the West Coast, as well as Europe, remains very fluid, but we'll continue to follow the progress of California-based runners MR GRUFF (Mr. Greeley) and 2009 Turf Sprint winner CALIFORNIA FLAG (Avenue of Flags), who, though not necessarily five-furlong types, merit respect on class. Coming up: In our next installment in early September, we'll sum up the state of the divisions following the Saratoga and Del Mar meetings.
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