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SPRINT DIARY SEPTEMBER 3, 2008 by Vance Hanson The male sprint division in the East has became more chaotic following the results of the Saratoga meeting, and while an upset also occurred in the Pat O'Brien H. (G2) at Del Mar on August 24, most observers would conclude that STREET BOSS (Street Cry [Ire]) remains the West Coast's leading candidate for divisional honors. In contrast, DEAREST TRICKSKI (Proudest Romeo) and INTANGAROO (Orientate) have begun to separate themselves from the rest of the pack among filly and mare sprinters. By far the biggest news since our last entry was the injury to and subsequent retirement of BENNY THE BULL (Lucky Lionel), the pro tem leader of the division following victories in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1), True North H. (G2) and Smile Sprint H. (G2). Last Saturday's Forego S. (G1) would have served as his final prep before a tilt at the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), and his presence will surely be missed. There would probably need to be an upset of immense proportions at the Breeders' Cup for Eclipse Award voters to fall back on Benny the Bull. As noted in a previous entry, since the Breeders' Cup's inception in 1984, only Housebuster (1990) and Smoke Glacken (1997) have bypassed the Breeders' Cup altogether and claimed divisional honors. Another surprising development involves 2007 sprint champion MIDNIGHT LUTE (Real Quiet), whose chances at a title defense were seriously compromised following the Pat O'Brien H. It wasn't so much that he finished 10th as the odds-on favorite is his first start in nine months. He grabbed a quarter during the race, which caused so much damage that trainer Bob Baffert has all but ruled out an intended start in the September 27 Vosburgh S. (G1) at Belmont Park. As the Ancient Title H. (G1) will be held at Santa Anita the same day, the number of prep options Midnight Lute can choose from would dwindle if he can not recover quickly enough. His participation in the Breeders' Cup Sprint might still be secure as those involved in forming the fields have leeway in selecting approximately half the race's participants. Whether the connections of Midnight Lute would be willing to accept a spot in the starting gate without the possibility of adequate preparation remains to be seen. The Best Defence: The Bobby Frankel-trained FIRST DEFENCE (Unbridled's Song) punched his ticket to the Breeders' Cup with a 6 3/4-length romp in the Forego, undoubtedly aided by the horrible start incurred by odds-on choice LUCKY ISLAND (Arg) (Lucky Roberto), who saw his four-race win streak go up in flames after stumbling and getting pinched back leaving the gate. Nevertheless, Lucky Island showed great courage making a bold five-wide move around the turn to reach contention, but that exertion inevitably left his tank empty for the stretch as he continued to race wide down the lane. There is simply no margin for error in races like this, and it's unfortunate we didn't get to see these two combatants run their best races simultaneously. This was First Defence's first significant dirt sprint victory, his biggest win previously coming in the grassy Jaipur S. (G3). With that in mind, Frankel is also considering the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). Due to the extenuating circumstances, we're not entirely sold on First Defence for the Sprint especially being unproven on a synthetic surface. Lucky Island will probably move on to the Vosburgh, which figures to be a dynamite prep. Possibilities to join him include stablemate ABRAAJ (Carson City), BUSTIN STONES (City Zip), FABULOUS STRIKE (Smart Strike) and ROCKERFELLER (Maria's Mon). 20/20: Visionaire (Grand Slam), who exited a roughly run King's Bishop S. (G1) unscathed by rallying widest of all down the center of the track to beat a solid group, will not be heading to the Breeders' Cup Sprint and will instead target the one-mile Jerome H. (G2) and Cigar Mile H. (G1). Among the vanquished in the King's Bishop were DESERT KEY (E Dubai), who had narrowly missed in the Amsterdam S. (G2) in his previous start and again settled for runner-up honors, and the improving I'M SO LUCKY (Langfuhr), who was making his stakes debut. Finishing in mid-pack were Amsterdam winner KODIAK KOWBOY (Posse), who was bumped at the top of the stretch and didn't fire, and race favorite J BE K (Silver Deputy), who had little left after being on or near the brutally fast pace for the opening six furlongs. Three-years-olds have won six, or 25 percent, of the first 24 Breeders' Cup Sprints, so it will take a special individual to join that select group. There appears to be a plethora of talent among the older ranks, however, and from what we've seen the better three-year-olds just don't seem to match up well on paper. Polytrack Hero: Among the beneficiaries of Midnight Lute's non-performance in the Pat O'Brien was race winner LEWIS MICHAEL (Rahy), a Polytrack specialist making his second start of the year following a solid fourth in a turf stakes in late July. Lewis Michael's Polytrack record now stands at 6-3-3-0, and he was a close fourth on the old Santa Anita Cushion Track last fall in the Goodwood S. (G1) behind horses arguably better at nine furlongs. We've never really thought of Lewis Michael as a pure sprinter and neither has trainer Wayne Catalano, who as of this writing is also considering the Breeders' Cup "Dirt" Mile for his pupil. Pat O'Brien runner-up REBELLION (Mozart [Ire]) rallied from 12th to get the place in a four-way photo, an improvement over his dull fifth in the San Diego H. (G2). It is clear Rebellion would be a far more viable contender in the Sprint rather than the "Dirt" Mile, and the San Diego try was obviously an experiment to see whether the Graham Motion charge could be competitive in a much easier race than the Sprint on October 25. Six furlongs might be shorter than what Rebellion would prefer, and that is the main knock against him heading to the Breeders' Cup. BARBECUE EDDIE (Stormy Atlantic) had a much easier trip in the Pat O'Brien than he did in the Bing Crosby H. (G1) and thus held on better than he might otherwise have. We're not quite convinced that he has upset potential on the big day. IN SUMMATION (Put it Back) made a rare venture beyond six furlongs to tackle the seven-furlong O'Brien, and he just didn't have the same late kick as he's shown in shorter dashes. Given his fine form at Santa Anita last winter, even over a surface that will not be quite the same as what he'll encounter in the coming weeks, he should still be considered a plausible Sprint longshot for Christophe Clement. California Girls: As stated before, The California-based Dearest Trickski and Intangaroo have started to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the older filly and mare sprinters. Admittedly, Dearest Trickski has had the benefit of an uncontested lead in each of her last two wins, the August 24 Rancho Bernardo H. (G3) and June 28 A Gleam H. (G2), and one of these days someone is bound to make her work harder down the backside. Made to run faster splits in the 6 1/2-furlong Rancho Bernardo compared to the A Gleam, Dearest Trickski became noticeably tired in the final strides and barely held on by a nose. Given the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint will be contested at seven furlongs this year, Dearest Trickski might have her work cut out at the big dance. In contrast, Intangaroo relishes seven furlongs, proving it again with a big come-from-behind score in the August 24 Ballerina S. (G1) at Saratoga. Derided in many quarters following her near 27-1 upset of the Santa Monica H. (G1), she has proven to be no slouch with victories in both the Ballerina and in the May 3 Humana Distaff (G1). The latter two were contested on dirt, placating traditionalists who find it an anathema that many championships will be determined in large part by success or failure over synthetic surfaces during the next two years. Intangaroo, thankfully, is capable on both. MIRACULOUS MISS (Mr. Greeley), runner-up in the Ballerina, can't seem to break through at the top level, mostly due to her deep-closing style. It would be a mistake to discount her Breeders' Cup chances, however, given she was narrowly beaten last fall by Maryfield in the inaugural Filly & Mare Sprint at 43-1. On the flip side, her one previous attempt on a synthetic surface was nothing to write home about. Among those defeated in the Rancho Bernardo, TIZ ELEMENTAL (Cee's Tizzy) improved off a sub-par A Gleam to narrowly miss by a nose and is a likeable Filly & Mare Sprint longshot. MAGNIFICIENCE (Stormy Atlantic), the 3-2 Rancho Bernardo favorite, had no visible excuse in dropping her second straight race, and simply might not be the same filly as she was on dirt at the start of her career. Sixth-placer SOCIETY HOSTESS (Seeking the Gold) had not started since February 2 and was clearly in need of a race. The number of preps left for the Filly & Mare Sprint is, for some, excruciatingly thin. The Gallant Bloom H. (G2) at Belmont Park on September 20 will serve as the last major dirt prep while the October 4 Thoroughbred Club of America S. (G3) at Keeneland is the last major one on a synthetic surface. California-based runners might have to settle for the October 4 Senator Ken Maddy H. (G3) over Santa Anita's hillside turf course. Spin Out: Among the many stars who endured difficult trips in defeat at Saratoga over the past few weeks, few hurt the betting public as much as INDYANNE (Indian Charlie) in the August 23 Victory Ride S. (G3). Her slow start and subsequent rush to the early lead, combined with the fast pace she set, left her spent in the final yards as PORTE BONHEUR (Hennessy) came on to upset the 2-5 favorite. Circumstances just worked against the previously unbeaten Indyanne, and she will continue to merit respect going forward. Weed Fest: There has been little to no change as to who the main protagonists will be for the inaugural Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. GET FUNKY (Straight Man) remains on top in California following a score in the August 13 Green Flash H. at Del Mar, while MR. NIGHTLINGER (Indian Charlie) continues to coast in the Midwest, most recently with a course record 1:01 4/5 in the 5 1/2-furlong Arlington Sprint H. These two might square off as early as the September 24 Morvich H. (G3) on opening day of Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting. Labor Day brought an upset of HEROS REWARD (Partner's Hero) in the Turf Monster H. at Philadelphia Park. His outside post and subsequent wide trip appeared to do him no favors, but returning to the more expansive Woodbine turf course on October 4 Nearctic S. (Can-G2) should get him back on track. The winner of the Turf Monster by four lengths was TRUE TO TRADITION (Rahy), the ex-claimer who has found his calling in grass sprints. However, he was defeated by Heros Reward at Pimlico earlier this year and was fourth in the Jaipur behind First Defence, so this result might not have been more than a display of superiority on the Philadelphia Park turf course. Up next: Our next installment, after October 4, will be a wrap-up of the final preps or pseudo preps for the various Breeders' Cup races contested under a mile. In addition to the races mentioned earlier, the following, listed chronologically, might or might not have implications for the big weekend in late October: Endine H. (G3), Kentucky Cup Turf Dash, James B. Moseley H., Lake Michigan S., Gallant Bob H., Kentucky Cup Sprint (G3), Phoenix S. (G3) and Woodford S.
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