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THOROUGHBRED BEAT NOVEMBER 29, 2007 by James Scully Daaher -- He merited respect prior to Saturday's Cigar Mile H. (G1), but DAAHER (Awesome Again) now looks like a top contender for Horse of the Year honors in 2008. Saturday's exceptional front-running victory in the Cigar Mile was the latest success for the exciting three-year-old colt. Following a maiden special weight win at Belmont in mid-May, Daaher went right into the stakes ranks for Kiaran McLaughlin, finishing fourth in the 1 1/4-mile Queen's Plate at Woodbine. Following a third in the July 15 Prince of Wales S. at Fort Erie, he returned to the winner's circle with a sensational 13 3/4-length score over allowance/optional claiming rivals at Saratoga on August 26. Daaher earned a 110 BRIS Speed rating for that win and registered a 109 for his 2 1/4-length score in the Jerome H. (G2) next out. He raced in hand through quick early splits in the Cigar, netting a 113 E2 Pace rating, and faced an ominous challenge on the far turn from the heavily favored Midnight Lute (Real Quiet), who ranged up to the outside of Daaher as they approached the top of the stretch. Daaher found the proverbial extra gear, accelerating away from Midnight Lute as they passed the quarter-pole, and drove to an impressive 2 1/2-length decision. The Shadwell-owned colt received a 115 Speed rating, and Daaher will be fun to watch next year. Clark -- Battling between horses most of the way, A. P. ARROW (A.P. Indy) was able to outfinish a game BRASS HAT (Prized) to win Friday's Clark H. (G2) by three-quarters of a length. Todd Pletcher said the key was getting the five-year-old involved in the early stages, and Ramon Dominguez always kept his mount close before surging at the top of the stretch. Brass Hat, who was dismissed at 13-1 despite winning the Massachusetts H. two starts back and setting a track record at Churchill this summer when defeating Student Council (Kingmambo), ran his heart out in a tough loss and showed great tenacity, coming over to bump A. P. Arrow hard in upper stretch. He couldn't knock his rival out of the running, however, but the soon-to-be seven-year-old gelding figures to get a rematch in the February 2 Donn H. (G1). Juveniles -- Remsen S. (G2) winner COURT VISION (Gulch) was bottled up with nowhere to go from the far turn to midstretch, finally bursting through after repeatedly bumping between rivals to gamely nail ATONED (Repent), and you've got to give the runner-up credit after Atoned nearly fell entering the backstretch, stumbling badly. The winner earned only a 90 BRIS Speed rating, but both colts looked good. This was the strongest of two Grade 2 divisional events on Saturday. In the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2), ANAK NAKAL (Victory Gallop) benefited from the perfect drafting trip behind a three-pronged pace battle and just got up to win a tight three-horse finish, receiving a 94 Late Pace rating. By comparison, runner-up BLACKBERRY ROAD (Gone West), who closed from far back in last, received a 112 Late Pace number. A half-brother to undefeated champion Vindication, Blackberry Road had victory in his sights in deep stretch but lacked the needed kick while closing up the rail. He's still got a ways to go, but it was an encouraging effort from the maiden winner, who was stuck in quarantine during the early part of the meet in David Carroll's stable. Blackberry Road has never run fast, but he's got potential. Juvenile Fillies -- MUSHKA (Empire Maker) was the best-looking two-year-old performer over the weekend. She trailed far behind during the early stages of the Demoiselle S. (G2) before gracefully inhaling her competition, and the $1.6 million yearling purchase went on to post a 4 1/2-length decision under John Velazquez, who kept her wide throughout to avoid any trouble. While we're not sure about the competition, Mushka certainly impressed us. The Zayat Stables colorbearer broke her maiden on October 19 and has now won two straight for Bill Mott. Her 95 Speed rating on Saturday is respectable, and Mushka immediately ranked as one of the top contenders for next year's Kentucky Oaks (G1) following the Demoiselle. PURE CLAN (Pure Prize) established herself as a prime Oaks candidate on Saturday with her second straight stakes win at Churchill, taking the Golden Rod S. (G2) by a widening two lengths. Now unbeaten in four career outings for Bob Holthus, the late-running chestnut filly overcame a less-than-perfect trip to run down the pacesetting C J'S LEELEE (Mizzen Mast), who held second. Mushka and Pure Clan are both strong finishers. Derby, River City -- DAYTONA (Ire) (Indian Ridge) captured Sunday's Hollywood Derby (G1) in wire-to-wire style, following a 4 1/4-length upset in the Oak Tree Derby (G2) with his first Grade 1 win. The Dan Hendricks-trained colt appeared desperate to hold in the final furlong, but he kept finding more to keep the fast-finishing MEDICI CODE (GB) (Medicean) at bay for a half-length decision. Grade 1 hero Nobiz Like Shobiz (Albert the Great), the even-money choice off a close fourth in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), was a no-show, checking in a tiring eighth. THORN SONG (Unbridled's Song) notched his first career stakes victory when taking Friday's River City H. (G3) at Churchill, but he was very lucky. Seldom does one see a horse from post 2 head straight for the grandstand rail after the break without seriously interfering with his rivals, but Thorn Song was determined to get out while under snug restraint from jockey Kent Desormeaux and fortunate to avoid trouble. Thorn Song remained well off the rail while following the early running COSMONAUT (Lemon Drop Kid), and the in-form colt (Thorn Song has gone 6-4-2-0 since being switched to the turf by Dale Romans) was able to run down the even-money favorite for a half-length decision over the yielding turf. Turf Festival -- In addition to the Hollywood Derby, two other Grade 1 turf events were held at Hollywood over the Holiday Weekend. LANG FIELD (Langfuhr), a former claimer who was unable to win his previous four stakes attempts, including a pair of recent listed events, captured probably the weakest edition ever of the Citation H. (G1) on Friday. PRECIOUS KITTEN (Catienus) was much more impressive in Sunday's Matriarch S. (G1). She wanted the early lead but eventually settled behind a longshot during the early running, seized the advantage on the far turn, and gamely withstood the rally of champion WAIT A WHILE (Maria's Mon), who flattered herself in defeat. Winner of the John C. Mabee H. (G1), Palomar Breeders' Cup H. (G2) and Gallorette H. (G3) earlier this season, Precious Kitten lost all chance in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) after being sabotaged by a European entrant who refused to run straight. She returned to form with an excellent win in the Matriarch. Shug -- Shug McGaughey swept the graded stakes at Aqueduct and Churchill on November 17, sending out a pair of up-and-coming performers in CRIMINOLOGIST (Maria's Mon) and HUNTING (Coronado's Quest). The latter recorded an upset win in the Stuyvesant H. (G3), and the favored Criminologist notched an authoritative 2 1/2-length score in the Cardinal H. (G3). Criminologist owns a four-race win streak, adding the Cardinal to victories in the Athenia H. (G3) and Perfect Sting S., and the gray filly is poised to become a serious factor in the distaff turf ranks next season. Hunting made his stakes debut in the Stuyvesant. After breaking his maiden in the April, the four-year-old gelding knocked around without success in the allowance and optional claiming ranks before finally garnering a win in the slop in a Monmouth allowance on October 26. He registered a career-best 102 Speed rating for his one-length decision in the Stuyvesant, and it will be interesting to see if Hunting keeps improving in 2008.
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