FILLY & MARE TURF DIARY
APRIL 25, 2006
by Kellie Reilly
The most noteworthy recent developments in the division have
taken place at Keeneland. WEND (Pulpit) continued to stamp her authority with a
powerful performance in the Jenny Wiley S. (G2), Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) third
GORELLA (Fr) (Grape Tree Road [GB]) returned to action with a stylish allowance
score, and sophomore LADY OF VENICE (Fr) (Loup Solitaire) could not have been
more impressive in Sunday’s Appalachian S.
Wend demonstrated her versatility by rating off the early
pace in the Jenny Wiley, as opposed to her front-running success in the Honey
Fox H. (G3) in her 2006 bow. Under confident handling by Edgar Prado, the brawny
bay was not even asked for an effort until midway on the far turn. In the
stretch, she charged through her final sixteenth in :5 4/5 to finish the 1 1/16
miles in a sharp 1:41 1/5. The Bill Mott mare doesn’t look to be running as fast
as she is, such is her easy, loping action, but the clock — and her toiling
rivals — paint the real picture. Wiley runner-up ASI SIEMPRE (El Prado
[Ire]) gets an honorable mention for her effort. Unraced since her narrow
victory in Keeneland’s Valley View S. (G3) in October, the Patrick Biancone-conditioned
gray hopped at the break, spotting the field a couple of lengths, but she closed
stoutly for the place, 1 1/2 lengths adrift of the winner.
Pedigree trivia department: Wend’s pedigree features
several strains of the magnificent champion Round Table (subject of an
Historical Cameo last month). Her sire, Pulpit, is inbred 5 x 4 to Round Table
and his full sister Monarchy. Wend’s dam, Thread (Topsider), is herself inbred 3
x 3 to Round Table as well.
Bravely barreling through a slim opening along the rail,
Gorella drew off to post a convincing 1 1/4-length victory in the 7TH race
at Keeneland last Wednesday, her first race since her troubled third in the
Breeders’ Cup Mile. The four-year-old looked as if she wanted to take off in the
early going, but Julien Leparoux managed to quiet her as she tracked the pace
while traveling fluently. The pressing question was whether she’d be able to get
through or get stopped cold on the inside. As soon as they saw a sliver of
daylight, both horse and rider were game to take it, and the 1 1/8-mile contest
was effectively over. Gorella won in hand, and the margin could have been a fair
bit bigger.
Trainer Biancone has said that the talented filly will take
on males in the May 6 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs.
That will serve as a scouting expedition to “see if she likes that track,”
Biancone said, since the Breeders’ Cup will be staged at the historic
Louisville, Kentucky, oval this year. Judging by her strong showing against
males last year, not only in the Mile but also her second to the mighty
Starcraft (NZ) in the 2005 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Fr-G1), she will figure
as a prime danger.
Biancone unveiled a budding star in the shape of Lady of
Venice, who could prove to be this year’s MELHOR AINDA (Pulpit). Just as
Melhor Ainda began her brilliant 2005 campaign with a decisive victory in the
one-mile Appalachian, so too did Lady of Venice kick off her sophomore season in
a similar vein. Breaking outwardly and then tossing her head while passing the
stands for the first time, the filly moved smoothly into contention turning for
home, and with Leparoux virtually motionless in the saddle, she strode clear
through a final furlong in :11 3/5. Lady of Venice left the rest of the field as
though they were standing still, including multiple stakes winner and 6-5
favorite J’RAY (Distant View). This was a riveting U.S. debut for a filly well
regarded by her connections.
Speaking of Melhor Ainda, the Bobby Frankel trainee just
returned to the worktab on Sunday, taking an easy three-eighths spin in :39
2/5 at Churchill Downs in her first recorded breeze since last fall. The classy
Grade 3 winner was an excellent second in the American Oaks (G1) and a close
third against her elders in the Beverly D. S. (G1) before winding up seventh in
the Flower Bowl Invitational S. (G1). After that race, she had surgery to remove
bone chips from an ankle. Let’s hope she comes back better than ever.
Finally, I’d be remiss if I failed to mention that SHARP LISA
(Dixieland Band) just held on for a wire-to-wire success in the Santa Barbara H.
(G2) at Santa Anita on Saturday. The disappointment of the race was 3-5 favorite
ARGENTINA (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells). Although she was compromised by the
lack of pace, and faced an uphill battle trying to rally from last after Sharp
Lisa walked six crafty furlongs in 1:15, still it was deflating that Argentina
managed to lose third place in a photo to the longest shot on the board. She can
do much better, and if she wants to fulfill her potential of making a real mark
stateside, she’ll have to.