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THOROUGHBRED BEAT SEPTEMBER 28, 2005 by James Scully Preview Weekends - The road to the Breeders' Cup is in full swing as Belmont will host a "Super Saturday" with five Grade 1 races and Oak Tree's opening weekend contains six graded events. Across the pond, Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) could send several top prospects to the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). The next two weekends are always among the most exciting on the Thoroughbred calendar as Breeders' Cup hopefuls receive their final preps. Gold Rush East - Injuries have had a dreadful impact upon this year's Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), especially on the East Coast where casualties have left few locally based runners for Saturday's $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), but a Californian quartet figures to greatly enhance the prestigious 1 1/4-mile event (2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft was pointed to the Gold Cup instead of the Breeders' Cup Classic). Travers (G1) hero FLOWER ALLEY (Distorted Humor) remains the horse to beat, but BORREGO (El Prado [Ire]), LAVA MAN (Slew City Slew), ROMAN RULER (Fusaichi Pegasus) and IMPERIALISM (Langfuhr) make the Gold Cup a much better betting race following a very unappealing rendition of the Woodward S. (G1) that had only three wagering interests three weeks earlier. The California defectors leave Saturday's $500,000 Goodwood Breeders' Cup H. (G2), which has produced three of the last five Breeders' Cup Classic winners, a seemingly easy prep for comebacker ROCK HARD TEN (Kris S.), who will be making his first start since winning the Santa Anita H. (G1) in early March. The Bard - Saturday's $750,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) took a hit when champion Kitten's Joy (El Prado [Ire]) was pulled from training last week and retired. That leaves the unbeaten SHAKESPEARE (Theatrical [Ire]), who exits a course-record performance in the Belmont Breeders' Cup H. (G2) (nine grassy furlongs in 1:45), as the likely odds-on favorite in a short field. The Bill Mott-trained four-year-old beat a small group of rivals last time, but at least there will be a couple of new faces with better credentials on Saturday. ENGLISH CHANNEL (Smart Strike), whose bubble burst a little with a runner-up placing in the Secretariat (G1) last out, showed plenty of promise earlier in the season racking up wins in the Virginia Derby (G3) and Colonial Turf Cup for trainer Todd Pletcher, and Aidan O'Brien has a dangerous European invader in ACE (Ire) (Danehill). A Group 3 winner last season, Ace finished only 1 1/2 lengths back when second to Azamour (Night Shift) in the Prince of Wales's S. (Eng-G1) during the Royal Ascot meet and exits a close fourth, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, behind Oratorio (Danehill) and Motivator (Montjeu [Ire]) in the Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1) on September 10. Dirt females - I'm looking forward to Saturday's Beldame S. (G1) for a couple of reasons. One is SWEET SYMPHONY (A.P. Indy), the unbeaten three-year-old who made her stakes debut a smashing success with a 6 1/4-length romp in the Alabama S. (G1) most recently. The Mott trainee didn't beat the most accomplished rivals that afternoon so Saturday will be the acid test for the up-and-coming filly. Seven Grade 1 winners are expected for the 1 1/8-mile event, including one of the best from California, Apple Blossom H. (G1) queen DREAM OF SUMMER (Siberian Summer). The Beldame will also serve as an indicator for champion ASHADO (Saint Ballado), who shrugged off early season losses in the Apple Blossom and Pimlico Breeders' Cup Distaff H. (G3) with impressive victories in the Ogden Phipps (G1) and Go for Wand H. (G1) only to suffer a disappointing fourth-place effort in the Personal Ensign H. (G1). The four-year-old filly bruised her foot last time and needs an encouraging performance as she prepares for a title defense in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Turf ladies - Grade/Group 1 winners ANGARA (GB) (Alzao), LATICE (Ire) (Inchinor [GB]), LUNE D'OR (Green Tune), FILM MAKER (Dynaformer), WONDER AGAIN (Silver Hawk) and SAND SPRINGS (Dynaformer), as well as the highly touted Bobby Frankel trainee MELHOR AINDA (Pulpit), offer plenty of appeal for Saturday's Flower Bowl Invitational (G1) at Belmont, but Oak Tree's Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) features perhaps the country's best turf distaffer in MEGAHERTZ (GB) (Pivotal). A 12-time stakes winner, Megahertz has relished the hard turf courses in California over the past few seasons but showed another dimension when finishing an excellent second by a neck over yielding ground in the Beverly D. S. (G1) last out. Belmont's turf could have some give to it on October 29, and Megahertz appears better capable of handling any conditions this year. Speed - Bay Meadows will host a race (it ought to be called the Lost in the Fog S.) for the nation's leading sprinter on Saturday, but we get a good preview of his main challengers in Saturday's $500,000 Vosburgh S. (G1). Named after the famed handicapper, author and racing secretary, the six-furlong contest is expected to draw Grade 1 victor POMEROY (Boundary), multiple Grade 2 winner WOKE UP DREAMIN (Holy Bull), Forego (G1) and Bing Crosby (G1) runner-up BATTLE WON (Honour and Glory) and Triple Bend H. (G1) hero UNFURL THE FLAG (Bertrando). With the exception of LOST IN THE FOG (Lost Soldier), we haven't seen many notable performances from sprinters this year. Perhaps the Vosburgh will be different. Belmont attractive for Euros - OUIJA BOARD (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]) and O'Brien (saddled five starters for Tabor/Magnier) provided a European presence last year in Texas, but two races, the Canadian International (Can-G1) and E.P. Taylor (Can-G1), drew almost as many overseas shippers a week earlier at Woodbine as did the eight-race Breeders' Cup. That won't be the case this year at Belmont Park, which like Woodbine is a much more favorable locale due to the weather and track configuration. Many of Europe's leading horses, including SCORPION (Montjeu [Ire]), HURRICANE RUN (Montjeu [Ire]), Motivator, Oratorio, DUBAWI (Dubai Millenium), GEORGE WASHINGTON (Danehill), STARCRAFT (Soviet Star) and Ouija Board, are confirmed or being seriously considered for a trip to the friendly confines in Elmont, New York.
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