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HANDICAP DIARY OCTOBER 7, 2005 by James Scully ROCK HARD TEN (Kris S.) and BORREGO (El Prado [Ire]) recorded impressive wins on Saturday and they've vaulted themselves into position to win Horse of the Year with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Rock Hard Ten captured the Goodwood Breeders' Cup H. (G2) by a length over a stubborn ROMAN RULER (Fusaichi Pegasus), tracking the eventual runner-up through modest early fractions of :24 1/5, :48 3/5 and 1:12. Rock Hard Ten finished up fast as expected, completing the final eighth in :12 2/5, and earned a 105 BRIS Speed rating. He needed a stiff test off a seven-month layoff and received the perfect prep for the Breeders' Cup. Now three for three this year, the Richard Mandella-trained four-year-old captured the seven-furlong Malibu S. (G1) in late December and opened his 2005 campaign with a score in the nine-furlong Strub S. (G2) in early February. He rallied from off the pace to win the 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita H. (G1) by 1 3/4 lengths in early March, recording a 107 Speed rating, and the massive near-black colt would clearly deserve recognition for Horse of the Year honors with a victory on October 29. Mandella won the 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic with Pleasantly Perfect and prepped in the Goodwood, which has produced three of the last five Classic winners. In fact, Rock Hard Ten and Pleasantly Perfect shared a very similar workout pattern entering the 1 1/8-mile Goodwood, with a series of long-distance works spaced out every six-to-seven days prior to a fast three-furlong blowout before the race. Rock Hard Ten could easily move forward off this race and will be a huge threat at Belmont. Roman Ruler ran admirably in defeat, withstanding a stout late run from third-placer CHOCTAW NATION (Louis Quatorze), but he's clearly better at 1 1/8 miles instead of 10 furlongs. Choctaw Nation is also a very good horse, but he hung late in the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic (G1) and may prefer 8 1/2- or nine-furlong routes instead of the Breeders' Cup Classic distance. Borrego merits serious respect having won over the track and distance in the $1 million Jockey Club. Trained by Beau Greely, the four-year-old notched his second straight important stakes win and did so in highly impressive fashion, circling the entire field in about an eighth of a mile on the far turn and opening a daylight lead into the stretch. The chestnut colt could have won by a double-digit margin, but jockey Garrett Gomez really eased his mount down in the final sixteenth of a mile to be clear by 4 1/2 lengths at the wire over SUAVE (A.P. Indy). Borrego earned a 106 Speed rating. Borrego's competition was knocked by his critics, but it's difficult to imagine Borrego losing on the Jockey Club off the stiff early pace. Everything unfolded in a golden manner as 3-2 favorite FLOWER ALLEY (Distorted Humor) was rank and charged out to the early lead. The problem for him was that trainer Todd Pletcher had inexplicably entered a rabbit, Bishop Court Hill (Holy Bull), and the two were dueling on the front end as the first half-mile was reached in :46 3/5. A wire-to-wire winner of the Jim Dandy S. (G2) two starts back, Flower Alley showed that he didn't have to lead all the way in the Travers S. (G1), his win prior to running in the Jockey Club. However, Pletcher can't dictate the speedy colt's running style and comprised Flower Alley's chances by entering another front runner. Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) winner Lava Man (Slew City Slew) also failed to make an impact during the stretch run, and Suave took second by 5 3/4 lengths over Sun King (Charismatic). Those two didn't exactly flatter the winner, but Suave could be a dangerous sleeper on Breeders' Cup Day. A Grade 3 winner in 2004, four-year-old Suave captured his 2005 bow at Arlington Park in late July and then led wire to wire in the Saratoga Breeders' Cup H. (G2). Suave got away with slow fractions that day and figured to be tracking the pace on Saturday, but he stumbled leaving the starting gate and raced in sixth down the backstretch. He finished gamely under jockey Edgar Prado through the stretch and showed an affinity for Belmont. Out of multiple Grade 1 heroine Urbane, Suave is hitting his best stride now for trainer Paul McGee and figures to be overlooked on Breeders' Cup Day. The improving colt is one to keep in mind for the exotics. Dramatic late runs don't usually win the Breeders' Cup Classic, but Unbridled utilized those tactics to capture the 1990 edition at Belmont and Borrego could follow in his hoofsteps. After finishing third in the Santa Anita H. and second in the Hollywood Gold earlier this year, the chestnut stepped forward with a strong performance in the prestigious Pacific Classic, rallying from far back to win going away by a half-length, and the late-blooming closer displayed an even more vicious kick on Saturday. Borrego needs speed up front on October 29, and Super Derby (G2) hero THE DADDY (Valid Expectations) appears ready to answer the wishes of his connections. LORD OF THE GAME (Saint Ballado) is another speed-type with Classic aspirations, and one can't leave Flower Alley out of the potential mix. Things appear to be setting up quite nicely for the Horse of the Year candidate. This Saturday's Champion S. (Eng-G1) could produce a Breeders' Cup Classic starter in ORATORIO (Danehill). A three-time Group 1 victor, the sophomore colt has captured his last two starts (Irish Champion S. [Ire-G1] and Eclipse S. [Eng-G1]) at 10 furlongs and is a true 1 1/4-mile horse for trainer Aidan O'Brien. He doesn't own as promising a dirt pedigree as Giant's Causeway (second by a neck when making dirt bow in 2000 Classic) and needs to run well this weekend in order to make the trip, but Oratorio looms as a possible Breeders' Cup Classic factor if he takes to the main track.
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