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FILLY & MARE TURF DIARY SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 by Jennifer Caldwell The big turf news from the past two weeks comes out of Saratoga Springs, New York. In Monday's 8TH race at Saratoga, ALINGHI (Aus) (Encosta de Lago) made her U.S. debut, capturing the Ballston Spa Breeders' Cup H. (G3) by 1 1/4 lengths. Performing to expectations, the dark bay four-year-old rallied four wide from midpack to blow past the leaders and easily pull away in the final yards. Her record shows a long list of Group victories in her native Australia, including the Robert Sangster S. (Aus-G1) and Newmarket S. (Aus-G1) from this season, and she only looks to improve on that while racing stateside. Alinghi will be an exciting addition to the Breeders' Cup. SHACONAGE (El Prado [Ire]) earned her first win since late June of last year when taking the Ellis Park Breeders' Cup Turf on August 20 by 4 1/4 lengths. The Mitch Shirota trainee has been close in most of her starts this year, showing much better form over 12 months ago. She finished sixth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) last year and could move into the top three of the 2005 edition if she continues on the improve. SINGHALESE (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) showed that there was more to her than her third-place in the American Invitational Oaks (G1) indicated in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) on August 20. The chestnut miss rallied from near the back while coming wide into the stretch, overtook the pacesetting Dancing Edie (Moscow Ballet) and held off THREE DEGREES (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]) to post her first graded victory in style. She earned a 98 BRIS Speed rating, which isn't as nice at her 102 Speed figure garnered in the American Oaks, but is nothing to sneeze at either. Three Degrees earns a mention off her run in the Del Mar Oaks as well. The gray filly, winner of the Honeymoon Breeders' Cup H. (G2), raced in between rivals in the Del Mar Oaks before having to bide her time when caught behind some runners on the second turn. She moved toward the inside, then sat just off the pacesetter in midstretch before finding room passing eighth pole and getting up for second. After all that, Three Degrees was just a half-length back of Singhalese and could show much more in her next one with an unimpeded trip. As promised last week, I would like to add something to my previous Filly & Mare Turf Diary. A reader was kind enough to advise me to watch the Beverly D. S. (G1) once again and this time pay better attention to the trip of the winner, ANGARA (GB) (Alzao). So I did. My friend, let me just say you were 100 percent correct! With Gary Stevens sitting chilly in the saddle, Angara ran eighth in the nine-horse field while three wide. The only horse she had beat was Megahertz (GB) (Pivotal), but at no point did Stevens seem worried. As the field approached the stretch, Angara accelerated on her own, with her jockey just along for the ride. Megahertz had also started her rally, and for a brief moment the two raced in tandem down the middle of the stretch. But Angara was not to be denied and, under just a hand ride from Stevens, pulled away from her rival for the neck victory at the wire. It was a sensational run, and Angara has moved to the top of the her division off that win. If she reproduces her Beverly D. effort on Breeders' Cup Day, everyone else will be running for second. I would like to end this week's Diary with a big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to write me and my fellow columnists with your comments and rebuttals. We welcome all e-mails, both the positive and negative. We are but a few trying to cover a large subject and everything sent to us helps in providing much more insightful articles. So please, keep sending your thoughts and opinions. We are listening.
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