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LADIES' CLASSIC DIARY OCTOBER 15, 2009 This year's Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) is shaping up to be a repeat of 2008, with most of the same cast and crew re-opposing reigning champion ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]). One really interesting contender has been retired, and another major player is now only 50-50 for the 1 1/8-mile event. Multiple Grade 3 heroine INDESCRIBABLE (Pleasant Tap) has been retired following a surprising ninth-place finish in Saturday's Spinster S. (G1) at Keeneland. The Bill Mott trainee had no problems with the Keeneland Polytrack earlier this season, recording an easy victory in the Doubledogdare S. (G3), then moved over to Arlington Park's version of the all-weather surface to finish third in the Arlington Matron H. (G3). Following a pair of unplaced tries on turf, the five-year-old was put back on a synthetic track, this time Turfway Park's Polytrack, to dominate the September 26 Kentucky Cup Distaff (G3) by 3 1/2 lengths. The Spinster set up perfectly for Indescribable, as she sat just off the pace while racing wide and clear of any kind of trouble. In the stretch, though, the chestnut mare just didn't have any kick and nearly all of her rivals passed her in the lane. The official winner of the Spinster, MUSKHA (Empire Maker), is now probably headed to the Ladies' Classic for Bill Mott. The four-year-old lass was forced to hit the brakes when U.S. debuter PROVISO (GB) (Dansili [GB]) suddenly took a sharp right-hand turn in late stretch. Proviso recovered and went on to post the 1 1/4-length score, but the stewards disqualified and placed her second due to the obvious interference. The two could settle the whole matter of who is really best in the Breeders' Cup, as Proviso is under serious consideration following her semi-triumphant U.S. bow. One who did not do well in the Spinster and is not headed to California is SWIFT TEMPER (Giant's Causeway). The Dale Romans charge was 10th in the 11-horse field having previously captured the Ruffian H. (G1), placed second in the Personal Ensign S. (G1) and scored in the Delaware H. (G2). All of those starts came on dirt tracks, and this chestnut made her disdain for all-weather tracks quite plain in the Spinster. Another who will more than likely skip the Breeders' Cup trip west is Personal Ensign queen ICON PROJECT (Empire Maker). The Marty Wolfson charge has missed her last two expected starts in the Beldame S. (G1) and Spinster and, according to a report in the Daily Racing Form on Wednesday, bled during a workout at Calder while preparing for that latter race. Wolfson was already concerned about running the four-year-old on the synthetics, and this latest setback will probably put to rest her Ladies' Classic bid. Division leader: Saturday's Lady's Secret S. (G1) at Santa Anita, the local major prep for the Ladies' Classic, drew the usual suspects and Zenyatta used her normal come-from-behind moved to score by 1 1/4 lengths. While I don't root against the talented mare, I've never really been a fan of the champion and was once again unimpressed by the victory. Jockey Mike Smith once more described his mount as not even trying, but why would she? Zenyatta was facing horses she's' beaten multiple times and racing on her favored track. It wouldn't surprise me to learn she was tearing the barn down the next day as if she never even raced. The Lady's Secret win now ties Zenyatta with the great Personal Ensign, as both have gone undefeated through 13 starts. That stat alone assures the dark bay a spot in the Hall of Fame, and I do agree she deserves that much. I just wish her connections had been more adventurous and really allowed Zenyatta to show the world what she could do. Trainer John Shirreffs and owners Jerry and Ann Moss have one last chance in the upcoming Breeders' Cup to allow their star to shine, and that's by NOT running her in the Ladies' Classic for the second straight year. Instead, they need to enter her in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) against the boys and give her a chance to finally face a real challenge. Let's not forget: Godolphin's COCOA BEACH (Chi) (Doneraile Court) and MUSIC NOTE (A.P. Indy) ran second and third, respectively, in last year's Ladies' Classic. That pair is considered likely to renew their rivalry with each other, and Zenyatta, in this year's race. Cocoa Beach got the jump on her stablemate by running third in the Lady's Secret, just a neck back of LETHAL HEAT (Unusual Heat). That was only the fourth start of 2009 for the dark bay mare, who has captured the De La Rose H. and run fourth in both the Heatherten S. and Ballston Spa H. (G2). The latter two races actually took place on turf, but Cocoa Beach is no stranger to running, and winning, on turf, dirt and synthetic. Music Note has the same number of starts as Cocoa Beach this year, making her four-year-old bow a fifth in the Ogden Phipps H. (G1) on June 13. She's been unstoppable since, capturing the seven-furlong Ballerina S. (G1) and 1 1/8-mile Beldame in easy fashion. The bay lass was facing her elders for the first time in the Ladies' Classic and was making her first start on a synthetic track. She put in an exceptional rally following a five-wide trip to take third. Experience and maturity could be just what Music Note needs to find the winner's circle in the Breeders' Cup. As for Lethal Heat, who was third in the Del Mar Mile H. (G2) and second in the California Cup Classic against the boys in two of her three races prior to the Lady's Secret, trainer Barry Abrams is considering his options. The surprising, though unlikely, twist is that she'll go in both the Ladies' Classic on November 6 and then once again face the boys in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint on November 7. I really can't see Abrams risking his filly in such a manner, but I do think he could be brave enough to give her another shot at the boys instead of tackling Zenyatta on her preferred surface. If Zenyatta skips the Ladies' Classic, a wide-open scenario develops and Lethal Heat has as much a chance as anybody at the victory. We'll just have to play the waiting game to see which option Abrams goes with. Two to watch: CARELESS JEWEL (Tapit) could be this year's Music Note. The Josie Carroll three-year-old dominated the Alabama S. (G1) at Saratoga by 11 lengths despite a checking incident on the first turn. The diminutive filly finally settled to the outside of early pacesetter BE FAIR (Exchange Rate), took command on the backstretch and simply drew off. The gray lass is small but spunky, and showed her versatility when leading gate-to-wire in the Cotillion S. (G2) last out. She raced wide throughout and was never in any danger while finishing up 3 1/2 lengths in front of her nearest opponent. Careless Jewel is back in Canada now, firing bullets over Woodbine's Polytrack, the same surface over which she won two of her first three starts. The Pro-Ride at Santa Anita should not be an obstacle for this talented lass. LUNA VEGA (Malibu Moon) should be given the chance to try the Ladies' Classic off a nice win in the Molly Pitcher S. (G2) and a third in the Ruffian. Though she was well-beaten in the latter event, Swift Temper and runner-up SEVENTH STREET (Street Cry [Ire]) were the obvious choices. Luna Vega was more than nine lengths in front of the fourth-placer, though, and has experience on all-weather tracks, breaking her maiden at Keeneland last October. The chestnut four-year-old could be reaching her career peak just in time for the Breeders' Cup. Hard knockers: JUST JENDA (Menifee) is exactly that, a hard-knocking filly who deserves a shot at Breeders' Cup glory. The chestnut miss will be one of the final chances for Larry Jones to get a Breeders' Cup win, as the conditioner has announced he'll retire from training after this year's running. Just Jenda would certainly be a sentimental favorite to win the Ladies' Classic, as she is owned by Jones' wife, Cindy, but the three-year-old also has the talent to get the job done. She dominated in the Serena's Song S. and Monmouth Oaks (G3), both at Monmouth Park. Following that latter race, Jones indicated he might send Just Jenda to Keeneland to give her a start on a synthetic surface in advance of a possible try in the Breeders' Cup, but instead entered her in the Cotillion, where she ran fourth behind Careless Jewel. Just Jenda was not disgraced in defeat, and should still be given her chance. GINGER BREW (Milwaukee Brew) was named Canada's 2008 champion three-year-old filly following easy wins in the Woodbine Oaks, Calder Oaks and Jammed Lovely S. as well as a head second against the boys in the Queen's Plate S. She has competed sporadically this year, taking a break between late March and July then returning to finish second in the Dance Smartly S. (Can-G2) on Woodbine's turf. She transferred back to the Polytrack to take her first win of the year in the Belle Mahone S. on August 15 and was fifth in the Spinster. The four-year-old chestnut has plenty of experience over synthetics thanks to being based at Woodbine. She had been pointing to September 20 Canadian S. (Can-G2) at Woodbine, but her connections opted to go for the Spinster. That decision could set the miss up perfectly for a Breeders' Cup run.
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