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KEENELAND DAILY NOTEBOOK SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2006 by Brian P. Turner Saturday was the featured day of the meet at Keeneland and highlighted by the nine-furlong Blue Grass S. (G1). A field of nine three-year-olds went to the post, many of whom were trying to get those valued graded stakes dollars needed to earn their way into the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 6. First Samurai (Giant's Causeway) was named the morning-line favorite, but it was Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat) who was sent to the post as the favorite. In the end, neither of those Derby contenders would make it into the winner's circle. Instead, the Bob Baffert-trained SINISTER MINISTER (Old Trieste) pulled off the upset. The bay desperately needed a strong showing here to make it into the starting gate for the Derby and did exactly what was asked of him. Sinister Minister bounded out of the gate and onto the lead, guiding the field through blistering early fractions of :22 4/5 and :45 4/5 while opening up a seven-length lead. Those watching had to be waiting for the field to begin to close in on him, but it never happened as the colt continued on determinedly to the wire, leaving his nearest pursuer 12 3/4 lengths behind. This has to be one of the finest displays of training in Baffert's legendary career. It was only back in January that the colt broke his maiden for a tag and then he moved into the three-time Derby winner's barn. Sinister Minister showed marked improvement in each of his two starts since and looked absolutely dazzling in winning the Blue Grass. The Steve Asmussen-trained Storm Treasure (Storm Boot), who went off at odds of more than 65-1, rallied from off the pace to pick up the place, 4 1/2 lengths clear of Strong Contender (Maria's Mon) in third. Also on Saturday, a field of 12 contested the seven-furlong Commonwealth Breeders' Cup S. (G2). SUN KING (Charismatic) was named the 3-1 morning-line favorite despite the fact that this was his first attempt sprinting since his career debut at Saratoga in August, 2004, when he finished a well-beaten fourth. The betting public sided with the Eddie Kenneally-trained Kelly's Landing (Patton), who was sent to the gate as a lukewarm favorite, but horse players should have gone with the morning-line choice. Sun King rallied from dead last, with a spectacular turn of foot through the stretch, to hit the finish line 2 3/4 lengths in front and paid $16.40 at 7-1. Kazoo (Tabasco Cat), recent winner of the Toboggan H. (G3) at Aqueduct, took the lead out of the gate and guided the field through opening fractions of :21 4/5 and :44 1/5. The chestnut pulled clear in the stretch but could not hold off the late rush of Sun King, settling for second, a nose in front of a very game Spanish Chestnut (Horse Chestnut [SAf]) in third. A field of eight fillies and mares, four-years-old and upward, contested the 1 1/16-mile Jenny Wiley S. (G2) over the Keeneland turf course. The Bill Mott-trained WEND (Pulpit) was sent to the gate as the post time favorite. One had to wonder about the bay early though as she didn't show her expected speed, instead rating in fifth, some three lengths off the early leaders, through early fractions of :24 and :48. As the field approached the second turn though, Wend began to close in on the leaders and came four wide to gain the lead at the top of the stretch. From there, the five-year-old mare gradually edged away and hit the finish line 1 1/2 lengths in front. Asi Siempre (El Prado [Ire]), who had won each of her last two starts last year here at Keeneland, rallied from last to pick up the place, a length in front of the Bobby Frankel-trained Mirabilis (Lear Fan) in third. There were five sprints contested on the main track today and horses on or near the pace won three of them. The lone route on the day, the Blue Grass, was easily won in wire-to-wire fashion. As for the four turf routes, horses on or near the pace won two of them while runners coming from off the pace accounted for the others. Nick Zito saddled a winner on the day, Sun King in the Commonwealth Breeders' Cup, and remains in the top spot in the trainer standings with nine for the meet. Todd Pletcher picked up a victory as well to take sole possession of the second spot with seven winners thus far. Dale Romans is currently in third with six. As for the jockeys, John Velazquez booted home two winners on the day to Julien Leparoux's one, leaving the pair in a tie for the top spot with nine winners each. Javier Castellano picked up two winners on the day and Rafael Bejarano picked up one, creating a four way log jam for the third spot in the jockey standings with Rene Douglas and Shaun Bridgmohan. They have six apiece. Horses to Watch 2ND - HIGH FINANCE (Talk Is Money) looked extremely impressive in this maiden special weight event. The three-year-old colt stalked the early pace through opening fractions of :21 4/5 and :44 4/5 before taking the lead and widening his advantage to hit the finish line 9 1/4 lengths clear of the field. 3RD - WHEN THE SAINTS (Saint Ballado) was making a nice move through the stretch of this turf allowance event when he was forced out by Kelly G's Cat (Catienus), causing the dark bay to completely lose all momentum. Kelly G's Cat was disqualified from third for the interference. When The Saints would probably have been a factor at the end and definitely deserves consideration in his next start. Tomorrow's Outlook Keeneland will be closed tomorrow in observance of Easter Sunday. Be sure to check back Monday for a preview of Wednesday's card, which will be highlighted by the Doubledogdare S. for fillies and mares, four-years-old and upward, going 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
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