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JUVENILE DIARY SEPTEMBER 29, 2006 by Tom Joyce Not much has happened since the last Juvenile Diary. The most important race that took place was the Futurity S. (G2) at Belmont Park where the Todd Pletcher-trained KING OF THE ROXY (Littleexpectations) got the job done over the Nick Zito-trained C P WEST (Came Home). INCRIMINATE (Unbridled's Song), perhaps the best two-year-old owned by Darley, had no apparent excuse and finished a well-beaten fourth. King of the Roxy, a good second to CHACE CITY (Carson City) in the Saratoga Special Breeders' Cup S. (G2), stalked from the outside while in hand down the backstretch, moved closer around the turn, took the lead when asked turning for home, then held sway while under steady left-handed urging. The dark bay, who was purchased privately by Team Valor after breaking his maiden at Hollywood Park, has thrived in the Pletcher barn, but he is a notch below some of his stablemates, namely division leaders CIRCULAR QUAY (Thunder Gulch) and SCAT DADDY (Johannesburg). King of the Roxy is scheduled to make his first start around two turns in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) on November 4 at Churchill Downs. Regardless of what happens there, he has proven to be another astute acquisition by Team Valor, who always seem to be on the right horses. First-out Saratoga maiden winner C P West followed the leaders around the turn, angled out in upper stretch, then finished well while unable to catch the winner. The colt has some room for improvement, but a race as demanding as the Juvenile probably would be too much too soon. Zito said the colt may, or may not, be headed in that direction. Incriminate, a $1.5 million yearling purchase, was a disappointment in the Futurity. The big gray broke slowly, quickly advanced from between horses to duel with KONG'S REVENGE (Dixie Union) for the early lead, seemingly had the race under control when approaching the lane, then offered no response and faded late, winding up behind Kong's Revenge. Apparently, he would be better off going somewhere other than the Juvenile. The other noteworthy race was the lucrative NATC Futurity at Monmouth Park. REATA'S ROCKET (Cape Canaveral) broke well, dueled for the early lead from the outside, responded nicely when asked in upper stretch, then inched away from ICE MAN COMETH (Trippi) and ACTIN GOOD (Yes It's True), who both ran good races. Ice Man Cometh, a maiden, challenged briefly for the lead from between horses while under restraint early, was blocked behind horses on the turn, split foes in upper stretch, then dove to the rail and finished well. Actin Good stalked from the outside and then finished evenly while not being hard ridden. The winner ran the six-furlong distance on a muddy track in a snappy 1:09 2/5. All three of these could be useful sorts down the road. BARILKO (E Dubai) remained undefeated in his fourth career start with a front-running, 2 3/4-length victory as the odds-on favorite in the Swynford S. at Woodbine. With no graded earnings, he would seem unlikely for the Juvenile. Furthermore, the two-year-olds north of the border don't usually class-up well with their American counterparts. GREEN VEGAS (Trippi) won the two-turn Foolish Pleasure Breeders' Cup S. by two lengths at Calder, but the colt has been beaten three times by the undefeated Florida-bred standout STRAIGHT FACED (Straight Man). The latter probably will make his next start in the two-turn In Reality division of the Florida Stallion S. on October 14 and could emerge as a sleeper for the Juvenile. As predicted, the Bob Baffert-trained E Z WARRIOR (Exploit) will not run in either the Champagne S. (G1) on October 14 at Belmont Park or the Juvenile. The undefeated winner of the Hollywood Juvenile Championship S. (G3) has been sidelined with sore shins and has not worked since July 30. Looking ahead, SHERMANESQUE (Fusaichi Pegasus) is the one to beat in Saturday's Kentucky Cup Juvenile S. (G3) at Turfway Park. The Tony Reinstedler-trained colt finished a close second to Circular Quay in the Bashford Manor S. (G3) and was a decent, but uninspiring, third in the Saratoga Special last out. He figures to be challenged by Cradle S. second IZZIE'S HALO (Halo's Image), who is trained by the ever-dangerous Tom Amoss, and undefeated Chenery S. winner NATIVE RULER (Elusive Quality). One week later, the Breeders' Futurity (G1) will be run on the new Polytrack at Keeneland. Undefeated Hopeful S. (G1) winner Circular Quay is the leading contender for the 1 1/16-mile test. The field may also include GREAT HUNTER (Aptitude), who finished second as the favorite to HORSE GREELEY (Mr. Greeley) in the Del Mar Futurity (G2). Unbeaten Best Pal S. (G2) winner PRINCIPLE SECRET (Sea of Secrets), who defeated Horse Greeley in his first start, and Great Hunter in his second, is the top contender for the Norfolk Breeders' Cup S. (G2) on October 8 at Oak Tree. The Richard Mandella-trained Horse Greeley is expected to compete in the 1 1/16-mile event along with the impressive, first-out maiden winner BLACK SEVENTEEN (Is It True) and the Baffert-trained MALT MAGIC (Cherokee Run). On October 14, the prestigious Champagne will be decided around one turn at Belmont Park. Sanford S. (G2) winner Scat Daddy, who finished a game second in the Hopeful, is the likely favorite. GOT THE LAST LAUGH (Distorted Humor), the dead-heat winner of the Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Futurity (G3), and the Barclay Tagg-trained NOBIZ LIKE SHOBIZ (Albert the Great), an impressive first-out maiden winner, are also pointing toward the one-mile affair.
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