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KEENELAND DAILY NOTEBOOK FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2008 by Brian P. Turner As April draws to a close so comes to an end the 2008 spring meet at Keeneland. Over the past three weeks, fans of the central Kentucky track have been treated to some exciting racing, a bevy of long shots who produced a record-breaking Pick 6 pool, some talented two-year-olds, and some surprises that have left even the most seasoned handicappers scratching their heads. The biggest surprise of the meet has to have come in the center piece event of the meet which was, of course, the Blue Grass S. (G1). Pyro (Pulpit) was sent to the gate by the betting public as the overwhelming even-money favorite with the Blue Grass appearing to be nothing more than a stepping stone to Churchill Downs for the big dance on the first Saturday in May. Though everyone accepted the fact that the colt did not have to get his picture taken to still be considered a top contender for the Kentucky Derby (G1), very few could have anticipated the totally lackluster effort he put in over the Polytrack as he was never once in contention on his way to a 10th-place finish, beaten by 11 1/2 lengths. The dark bay has since returned to work well and is still on course to compete, though he has undoubtedly lost some of the luster he possessed prior to this effort. For Todd Pletcher's uncoupled entry of Monba (Maria's Mon) and Cowboy Cal (Giant's Causeway), the Blue Grass served as their ticket to Churchill Downs as the crossed the finish line first and second, respectively, to pick up the graded earnings needed to make it into the starting gate. Though the Derby will be Cowboy Cal's first start on a dirt track and at Churchill, Monba won an allowance event there last fall after breaking his maiden debut at Keeneland by 4 1/4 lengths. Other Blue Grass runners scheduled to move on to the Derby are fifth-place finisher Visionaire (Grand Slam), ninth-place finisher Cool Coal Man (Mineshaft) and 11th-place finisher Big Truck (Hook and Ladder). Of the rest, seventh-place finisher Halo Najib (Halo's Image) has a shot to get in but he will need a couple of defections from the top 20 in graded stakes earnings. Pletcher also produced another Triple Crown contender in Behindatthebar (Forest Wildcat), who rallied from 15 lengths off a torrid early pace in the Lexington S. (G2) to capture the victory by a length. Immediately after the race, the trainer said they would most likely not move on to the Derby but now the connections seem to be a bit more on the fence. The Ashland S. (G1) appears to have produced a couple of solid starters for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in Little Belle (A.P. Indy) and Bsharpsonata (Pulpit) who engaged in one of the most thrilling duels in recent memory at Keeneland. The two talented fillies went head-to-head all the way through the stretch with Little Belle prevailing by a neck. Both have the potential of pulling off the victory in the Oaks and don't be surprised if during a rematch Bsharpsonata turns the tables on her rival. Third-place finisher Proud Spell (Proud Citizen) is also slated to move on to the Oaks but trainer Larry Jones has also indicated that the Derby itself is a possibility. The one thing that didn't come as a surprise for the meet, though, was Kip Deville (Kipling), who put in a spectacular performance in the Maker's Mark Mile S. (G1) in his first start since winning the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) at Monmouth last October. The five-year-old horse repeated as champion of this event by stalking the pace early before coming through on the rail with a nice late kick to claim the victory by a length. The gray holds the honor of winning the inaugural Grade 1 running of this event and his victory here last year, which came on his way to the Breeders' Cup, at least contributed to the event receiving such lofty recognition this year. Another great aspect of racing in the spring at Keeneland is that the track plays host to some of the first two-year-old races of the year and any one of these 4 1/2-furlong events has the potential to be the debut of one of racing's future stars. Trainer Wesley Ward's Dicey Riley (Hennessy) has that potential as he won his debut by three lengths while posting an impressive 102 BRIS Speed rating. Run Away and Hide (City Zip), from the barn of Ronny Werner, broke from the 11 hole in his debut but made his way to the lead and never looked back on his way to an easy 3 1/4-length victory where he posted a solid 100 BRIS Speed rating. Pletcher introduced a couple of talented two-year-old fillies at the meet in Garden District (Dixie Union), who was a three-length winner here on April 10, and Royal Card (Chapel Royal). The latter made a bit of a splash when she dumped jockey John Velazquez before the start of the race and had to be run down by the outriders. Once the filly was loaded in the gate, she showed that she still had plenty left in the tank as she easily handled the competition by 1 3/4 lengths. Kent Desormeaux had an outstanding meet as he visited the winner's circle 22 times to claim the riding title. John Velazquez was second with 15 followed by Jamie Theriot in third with 13. Pletcher captured the training title as he saddled 14 winners for the meet. Bill Mott finished in second with eight followed by Rusty Arnold with six. Keeneland concluded the last day of the spring meet with one final stakes offering as a field of 11 contested the Elkhorn S. (G2) for four-year-olds and up going 12 furlongs on the grass. Stream of Gold (Ire) (Rainbow Quest) was sent to the gate as the favorite off his performance last out in the Mac Diarmida H. (G2) at Gulfstream where he rallied from 14 lengths off the early pace to claim the victory by a neck. The seven-year-old gelding had been in good form since arriving in North America as he had hit the board in five of six starts, most of which came against graded stakes competition. In the end though, it was DANCING FOREVER (Rahy) who was content to lay off the pace early through opening fractions of :26 2/5, :51 4/5 and 1:16 2/5 before moving into contention in the stretch drive and taking command on his way to an impressive one-length victory. The chestnut made his 2008 debut last out in the Gulfstream Park Turf S. (G1) where he rallied from 7 3/4 lengths off the early lead to finish second, beaten by only a neck. The five-year-old horse definitely moved forward off that effort as he was extremely impressive in picking up the victory here. Drilling For Oil (Giant's Causeway), who pressed the pace throughout, dug in determinedly through the stretch and held on gamely to cross the wire in second, 2 1/2 lengths clear of venerable old gelding Brass Hat (Prized) in third. The favored Stream of Gold finished a nose farther back in fourth. I would like to thank everyone who has followed the Keeneland Daily Notebook through the meet and wish you nothing but winners until October, when it will be time to reconvene in Lexington for the fall meet. Horses to Watch 1ST - PRIDE (Lion Heart) is yet another solid two-year-old filly from the barn of Pletcher. The chestnut stalked the pace early before taking command in the stretch drive to hit the finish line 1 1/2 lengths in front, stopping the clock for the 4 1/2 furlongs in :50 4/5. CAMERON CRAZIES (Lion Heart) put in a game effort to pick up the place in her career debut for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, and though she crossed the wire in second, she was eight lengths clear of her next nearest competitor. The chestnut looms a threat to break her maiden next out. 3RD - I'M SO LUCKY (Langfuhr) made his first start since finishing third here last October and broke his maiden in impressive fashion in this seven-furlong event. The three-year-old colt stalked the pace early through opening fractions of :23 and :46 1/5 before coming through on the rail in the stretch drive and taking command on his way to an easy seven-length victory.
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