|
|
SARATOGA NOTEBOOK AUGUST 12, 2010 by Albie Johnson WEDNESDAY (8/4) The featured event was the seventh running of the De La Rose, an overnight stakes for older fillies and mares run on the inner-turf for a purse of $70,000. A solid pace was established by Be Fair (Exchange Rate), who would take them to midstretch where a flock of horses charging from off the pace all came a calling with Woodbine invader MISS KELLER (Ire) (Montjeu [Ire]) closing fastest of all to win going away by a length over lukewarm race favorite Keertana ( Johar), who had some serious traffic issues approaching the head of the stretch. Dreamt (GB) (Oasis Dream [GB]) was another three lengths back in third in a pretty nice field for a race of this nature. Winner had shown some ability overseas and came into this off a solid second in the Nassau S. (Can-G2) at Woodbine on June 5. She's trained by Roger Attfield, who was winning his second stakes at this young meet. Track conditions Fast and firm with the main surface and both turf courses playing fairly. Horse to Watch 1ST -- Making his first start around two turns, the Linda Rice-trained ABILIO (Pioneering) relished the task, quickly scampering clear to set fast fractions, and coasted home a 6 1/2-length winner in this first-level allowance for state-breds. Lightly-raced sophomore looks like stakes material down the line. 7TH -- Excellent effort by GLENWOOD CANYON( Silver Deputy) as he broke running from his inside post in this nine-furlong allowance/optional claimer and gave 3-10 favorite Convocation (Pulpit) all he could handle in deep stretch before eventually falling short by a neck. Race was his first since April 25 and was a very strong performance. THURSDAY (8/5) Featured event was the Latham S., a turf sprint that was contested on a "yielding" course which attracted a field of nine runners shipping in from all parts of the United States. Solid pace was set by Louisiana-bred Red Rally (Reformer Rally) until midstretch when the two favorites, BRIDGETOWN (Speightstown) and Flamin' Hot (Flame Thrower), both came roaring down the center of the course, with the former besting the latter by a length at the wire and the pacesetter another1 1/4 lengths back in third. Nice training job by Ken McPeek to have the lightly raced Eugene Melnyk homebred ready off a late November layoff and this colt looks like a nice edition to the turf ranks wherever he races in the future. Track conditions Sloppy and sealed on the main and that produced a steady stream of wire-to wire winners in the first strong-biased surface at the meet. Both grass courses were listed as "yielding" and the few races that were run showed no discernible edge as to style. Horses to Watch 2ND -- Gangsterontherun (City Zip) had a useful debut on the "off" going, rating back in third before making a wide bid, and he easily held the place spot to a long gone wire-to-wire winner. Wesley Ward-trained youngster should find the winner's circle soon. 5TH -- Solid debut by ELUSIVE RAVEN (Elusive Quality) as this $300,000 yearling chased a wire-to-wire winner and although beaten she never stopped trying. Nice-looking filly is in the Todd Pletcher barn and should break her maiden soon. FRIDAY (8/6) The ever popular John's Call S. attracted a full field of 12 long-winded older turf runners for 13 furlongs on the main turf course. The early pace was set by Coolcullen Times (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) who would lead them until the last sixteenth of a mile when he gave way to the late charges of both Delaware-based ALWAYS FIRST (GB) (Barathea [Ire]) and Woodbine invader Perfect Shower (Perfect Soul [Ire]), who would have a length between them at the wire with the stubborn pacesetter another head back in third. The winner was appropriately trained by Tom Voss, who enjoyed many thrills when training John's Call himself until his retirement. That gallant gelding passed away earlier this year, making the win that much more important. Track conditions Fast and good with the speed bias on the dirt the previous day no longer in existence while the turf again played fairly. Horses to Watch 4TH -- Nice effort by KEEPING THE HONOR (Tapit) as he just failed to get up after racing wide and making a nice late run. Gelding always runs well at this $25K tag and should win here if spotted at that same price. 5TH -- Making her first start since debuting in late January at Gulfstream, KAREN'S JOY (Teton Forest) raced wide the entire trip in this maiden-claimer on the turf and finished a tiring third after having a shot until midstretch. Filly should move forward enough next out to be a win threat. SATURDAY (8/7) A crowd 36,658 turned out in beautiful weather for a pair of Grade 1s, the Whitney and the Test. First up was the Test, which is always an interesting contest because of its seven-furlong distance that attracts both sprinters and runners cutting-back from longer events earlier in the year. A field of nine went to the post in a wide-open betting contest with only two of the sophomore fillies going off at odds of 10-1 are higher. Pace was set by Calder invader Pica Slew (Pico Central [Brz]), who was down on the rail and was never able to establish a clear advantage as she was tracked intently by CHAMPAGNE D' ORO (Medaglia d' Oro) and Lovely Lil (Tiznow). The fractions were fast and turning for home jockey Miguel Mena gave Champagne d' Oro her cue and the Acorn (G1) winner made quick and impressive work of the field, drawing away to a 4 1/2-length score over Bonnie Blue Flag (Mineshaft), who held a half-length margin over the previously undefeated Belle of the Hall (Graeme Hall), who raced well despite being bumped at the break and being forced into a wide trip. Winner has been nicely managed by trainer Eric Guillot and seems to be getting better as the year goes along. One race later on the card a field of six older runners went to the post in the $750,000 Whitney H. (G1) with all eyes centered on Quality Road (Elusive Quality, who was coming off of impressive wins in both the DonnH(G1) and the Met Mile(G1) earlier this year. The heavy favorite, Quality Road, was allowed a rather easy early lead, set very pedestrian fractions for the level and seemed to have things under control when second choice BLAME (Arch) began a strong wide run just past the three-eighths pole that carried him into second by midstretch. Blame was able to wear down Quality Road in the last sixteenth to win by a head in a very gutsy performance considering the way the race was run. For the record, Musket Man (Yonaguska) ran a strong race to finish third,1 3/4 lengths off the top pair. Winner has been a consistent performer his entire career and stamped himself as a good one last fall when winning the Clark H. (G2) at Churchill over a large (14) and very strong field. He's now won five straight. Congratulations to Al Stall Jr. as he's done a great job with this colt and he still has a fresh runner for whatever lies ahead for him. Track conditions Fast and firm with all three courses playing fairly. Horses to Watch 1ST-- Facing winners for the first time after an impressive maiden win at Churchill, PISTOLS AT DAWN (Grand Slam) was pinned down on the rail while setting a pressured and fast pace and gave way in the last sixteenth to finish third to a pair of runners from the Pletcher barn. Nice effort by a colt that still is learning. 3RD -- DOUGIE (Elusive Quality) had to settle for the place spot again as he was nipped on the wire by a lightly-raced gelding from the Rice barn. This colt has had a pair of less than perfect trips while racing inside and this $250,000 state-bred yearling purchase should win with a draw a bit farther out in the gate. SUNDAY (8/8) Another large crowd (43,505), due in part to a merchandise giveaway, was treated to a pair of first-rate performances by the winners of both the Honorable Miss (G2) and the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1), a pair six-furlong sprint events. First up in the Honorable Miss, SECRET GYPSY (Sea of Secrets) tracked a fast pace, took over turning for home and held sway for a two length win over Hour Glass (Petionville), who earlier this year had won the Vagrancy H. (G2). Checking-in a hard luck third was race favorite Warbling (Unbridled's Song), who had a poor start after throwing her head in the air just as the gate opened. The winning mare has always been a runner of quality and has been nursed back to her former level by trainer Ronnie Werner following some injuries that limited her to three starts in 2009. A field of seven older sprinters went to the post in the $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt and a rising star, MAJSETICPERFECTION (Harlan's Holiday), put on a scintillating display. He sprinted clear early and after repulsing a mild bid by Big Drama (Montbrook) turning for home, drew clear late under a strong hand ride by Shaun Bridgmohan to win by 2 3/4 convincing lengths over Big Drama, who held off Bribon (Fr) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]) by a half-length for the place spot. The winning colt was taking his first graded event and in the process was winning his fifth in a row. Owned by the Padua Stables, he's in the hands of Steve Asmussen, who has brought the late-developing colt along slowly. Track conditions Fast and firm with an edge on the dirt toward speed and the grass courses playing fairly. Horses to Watch 2ND -- Rumored to be a real runner, HYSTERICAL CAT (Bluegrass Cat) proved just that as the state-bred flew out of the gate from her inside post, quickly scampered clear, set fast fractions and won off by 3 1/2 lengths. Another sharp two-year-old from the loaded barn of Pletcher. MONDAY (8/9) The end of the second full week of racing featured the Signature Stallion S., an overnight feature for older fillies and mares going a distance of 1 1/2 miles on the inner turf course. Race favorite CHANGING SKIES (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) looked to have this at every step as she stayed well within range while racing last in the field of five and launched a wide move midway through the far-turn the second time around that would eventually catapult her to a 2 1/4-length win over the strong second choice, Casablanca Smile (Chi) (Ocean Terrace), who was up in the last several strides to neck Liberally (Ire) (Statue of Liberty) out of the place spot. The winning mare is a homebred from Swettenham Stud and was winning her second of the year after taking The Very One (G3) at Gulfstream in late February. Bill Mott trains the import and Kent Desormeaux had an easy time of it up top. Track conditions Fast and firm with no visible bias on dirt or turf. Horses to Watch 2ND -- Bet down to favoritism (which she also was in her debut at Churchill on June 11), ELUSIVE TARA (Elusive Quality) finished a rallying second in this spot despite being bumped early on and being forced into a wide trip. Filly won't be long in breaking her maiden 3RD -- Very sharp maiden win here for the Darley homebred DUBAI DANCER (A.P.Indy) as she devastated this field of well-bred fillies, winning off by seven lengths in only her second lifetime start coming off an eight-month layoff. She had been in training here at the nearby Greentree Training Center and appears to be one with a bright future. Have a nice week!!
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
