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KEENELAND DAILY NOTEBOOK SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2008 by Brian P. Turner Saturday's feature was the Ashland S. (G1) for three-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles over the Polytrack. A field of seven went to the gate to determine exactly who among the field has what it takes to continue on to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 2. Country Star (Empire Maker) was sent off the heavy favorite despite the fact that she was making her first start of 2008. The dark bay was extremely impressive last year as she broke her maiden here in the Alcibiades S. (G1) before ending the year with an impressive 2 3/4-length score in the Hollywood Starlet S. (G1). She had been working well for her return to racing, including a sharp work here at Keeneland on April 1, and the betting public obviously felt she was sitting on a big effort. When the gates sprang open, Bsharpsontata (Pulpit) and long shot LITTLE BELLE (A. P. Indy) bounded out of the gate to vie for the lead, with the latter gaining the advantage as she guided the field through opening fractions of :24 4/5 and :49 2/5. Once the pair reached the final turn, Bsharpsonata moved up to challenge and took the lead at the top of the stretch as she appeared to be well on her way to an easy victory. Little Belle wasn't done yet, though, as she dug in determinedly through the stretch drive to regain the lead and held on stubbornly late to hit the finish line a neck in front, paying a very impressive $34.20 for the effort. It was only two starts ago that Little Belle broke her maiden on the inner dirt at Aqueduct before following that up with a solid score in the Busher S., where she pressed the pace early before taking command in the stretch drive on her way to an easy 2 3/4-length victory. Making the transition from listed stakes company to the level of competition she faced in the Ashland is not an easy task, but the bay handled it very well and has established herself as a legitimate threat in the Kentucky Oaks. Bsharpsonata crossed the wire in second, tasting defeat for the first time since beginning a four-race win streak last season, 2 1/2 lengths clear of Proud Spell (Proud Citizen) in third. Country Star was never in contention at any point and crossed the finish line in fifth. There were four sprints contested over the main track today with horses on or near the pace winning all of them. In addition to the feature, there were two main track routes with closers winning both of them. There were three turf races contested on the day with horses closing from off the pace winning all three of these as well. Jamie Theriot booted home three winners on the day and Kent Desormeaux two, which moves the pair into a tie atop the jockey standings with three winners each. Javier Castellano rode two winners on the day and Miguel Mena added one to his total, which moves the pair into a tie for the second spot with Robby Albarado. The trio has two winners each. Dallas Stewart saddled a winner on the day and has sole possession of the top spot in the trainer standings with two for the meet. There are currently 18 other trainers with one winner each. Horses to Watch 2ND - LIL TREE (Lil Honcho) reeled off his second win in a row since moving into the barn of Cody Autrey in this seven-furlong claiming event. The chestnut bounded out of the gate and onto the lead, guiding the field through opening fractions of :22 3/5 and :45 2/5, and never looked back on his way to an easy 3 1/2-length victory. The six-year-old gelding is extra appealing if he makes another start before the end of the meet, as he is now a perfect two-for-two over the Keeneland Polytrack. 3RD - MISS BUFFALEEN (Indian Charlie) followed up her impressive maiden score at Turfway, in which she rallied from 18 lengths off the lead to claim the victory by eight lengths, with a solid turf debut in this allowance event. The dark bay was more than seven lengths off the pace early and had a bit of trouble getting on track at the top of the stretch. Once she got going, the four-year-old filly found her best turn of foot late and closed ground quickly. The move didn't come soon enough, though, and Miss Buffaleen was forced to settle for third, beaten by 2 1/2 lengths. Tomorrow's Outlook - Sunday, April 6 Sunday's featured stakes offering is the $100,000 Lafayette S. for three-year-olds going seven furlongs over the Polytrack. A field of eight is scheduled to go to the gate headed by KODIAK KOWBOY (Posse), who will be looking for his sixth win in his ninth career start. The bay made his 2008 debut last out at Oaklawn Park in an allowance/optional claimer, where he stalked the pace early before opening up in the stretch drive on his way to an easy six-length victory. The colt has had only one lackluster effort in his career and that came in last year's running of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) where he was the victim of a troubled trip and crossed the finish line in third, beaten by 16 3/4 lengths. The 1 1/16 miles of the Juvenile may have been a bit out of Kodiak Kowboy's reach, but he appears more than capable of handling the seven furlongs he gets today. EATON'S GIFT (Johannesburg) is exiting a nice victory in the Swale S. (G2) at Gulfstream in which he took the lead early and never looked back on his way to an easy 3 1/2-length victory. The bay will be dangerous here if allowed an easy lead, and his supporters have to love the fact that he broke his maiden here over the Polytrack last fall. LING LING QI (Yonaguska) should appreciate the return to sprinting after failing horribly while going a route last out in the Gotham S. (G3) at Aqueduct where he finished fifth, beaten by 12 lengths. Look for the bay to be stalking the pace early before attempting to run down the pacesetters in the stretch drive. KEEP LAUGHING (Distorted Humor) has some interesting long shot possibilities after breaking his maiden by 6 1/4 lengths last out at Gulfstream Park. The dark bay possesses a solid early turn of foot and could have a say here with any improvement at all. HATTA FORT (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]) holds some interesting possibilities here as well in his North American debut. The bay is a Group 2 winner across the pond and is capable here if he is ready to roll after a layoff of more than five months. BONANZA (Jump Start) put in some nice efforts over Woodbine's Polytrack last year and could move forward off a dismal showing in his first start of the year in the Risen Star S. (G3) at Fair Grounds. CUSH (Arch) as been running well against fellow Bayou-breds in Louisiana, but this will be far and away his toughest test to date. CAPE OF STORMS (Cape Town) likes the Polytrack but would be a surprise against this group. Sunday's forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with highs in the mid-60s. Sunday's Best Plays 1ST - WHISPER LOUDLY (Real Quiet) could find the drop in class to be exactly what she needs to get back into the winner's circle in this claiming event. The bay has hit the board in seven of 10 starts over all-weather surfaces and this is definitely one of the softer groups she has ever faced in her career. The four-year-old filly tops the field in BRIS Prime Power by more than four points and her BRIS Class rating is near the top as well. Toss in the fact that she has won three of her four starts at today's distance of 1 1/16 miles and there is a lot to like. 4TH - WIND ME UP (Pleasant Tap) offers nice value if she goes off anywhere near her morning line of 6-1. The dark bay is exiting a very solid debut performance against maiden claiming company at Fair Grounds in which she attempted to lead the field from wire-to-wire only to tire in the stretch drive. The three-year-old filly posted a very solid Early BRIS Pace rating in that event and poses a threat here on the lead at what should be a fair price.
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