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THOROUGHBRED BEAT MAY 24, 2007 by James Scully Hilltop mastery -- The tighter turns at Pimlico couldn't stop CURLIN (Smart Strike). While kidding about the turns, I loved the performance of the Preakness S. (G1) winner. I didn't think he could catch STREET SENSE (Street Cry [Ire]), and he did it very impressively. Now four-for-five overall, Curlin lagged more than a dozen lengths off the fast early pace after stumbling at the start at Pimlico, and he experienced trouble in the early stages of both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Rebel S. (G3). The lightly raced colt has been able to overcome it in two-of-three starts, making me wonder how good he'll be when he puts it all together (he won the Arkansas Derby [G2] by 10 1/2 lengths with a clean trip). The February 3 debuter has been able to do so much in such a short period of time. Let her run -- RAGS TO RICHES (A.P. Indy) belongs in the Belmont S. (G1). A half-sister to last year's Belmont S. (G1) winner Jazil (Seeking the Gold), she's much better than her sibling and exits a 4 1/4-length romp in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in which she earned a 109 BRIS Speed rating. A maiden winner in early January, she's rapidly improving and deserves the chance at a distance that should fit her like a glove. Curlin exits two taxing performances and remains a candidate to regress after coming so far in less than four months. Hard Spun (Danzig) might be over the top. Street Sense, who hails from a Dixieland Band mare, might be less effective at 12 furlongs. Why not give Rags to Riches the opportunity? It makes sense to me, but it's probably not going to happen. I'm afraid owner Michael Tabor and trainer Todd Pletcher will go ultra-conservative with her. Barbaro winner -- Michael Matz isn't getting carried away following CHELOKEE's (Cherokee Run) 4 3/4-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Barbaro S. on Saturday. It was an emotional scene in the winner's circle, with Roy and Gretchen Jackson presenting the trophy to the teary-eyed conditioner, and it was great to see Matz return a winner on Preakness Day following last year's circumstances. While Chelokee was visually impressive, he didn't beat much while finishing up slowly. And Matz suggested earlier this week that they would skip the "Test of Champions" with the promising colt and point toward other events. D. Wayne Lukas would be talking about winning the Belmont S. (G1) if he trained Chelokee (sprinter Flying First Class [Perfect Mandate] finished last in the Preakness), but Matz is much more practical. The 1 1/2-mile distance isn't a good fit for him, and Chelokee doesn't need to be an also-ran in such a difficult spot. Maker's prep -- Saturday's Dixie S. (G2) was marred by the tragic breakdown of pacesetter Mending Fences (Forestry), but REMARKABLE NEWS (Ven) (Chayim) was still able to put in a very admirable performance. The 1 1/8-mile distance represented a severe test for the miler (he had never been father than 8 1/2 furlongs), and Remarkable News was stuck on the far outside in post 11. Jockey Ramon Dominguez delivered the perfect ride to save ground entering the first turn, and Remarkable News eventually proved best by three parts of a length. Winner of last year's Fourstardave H. (G2) and Connaught Cup S. (Can-G3), the Angel Penna Jr. charge flatters the April 13 Maker's Mark S. (G1) at Keeneland. Sky Conqueror (Sky Classic) had already emerged from a fifth (beaten 2 1/4 lengths) to capture the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic S. (G1) next out, and Remarkable News, who finished a nose back of Sky Conqueror in sixth, used the Maker's Mark as a springboard for the Dixie. Kip Deville (Kipling), who will start in Monday's Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile S. (G1) at Hollywood, defeated Showing Up (Strategic Mission) by a neck in the Maker's Mark, which was one outstanding race. Flashy -- Only a maiden winner when finishing 14th in last year's Kentucky Derby (G1), FLASHY BULL (Holy Bull) concluded his sophomore season with an overall mark of one-for-13. He's now won three straight this year for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. The gray colt notched his first stakes tally with a head decision over Donn H. (G1) runner-up Hesanoldsalt (Broad Brush) in Saturday's William Donald Schaefer H. (G3), earning a whopping 112 BRIS Speed rating in the 1 1/8-mile event. Flashy Bull is headed in the right direction presently. 96 hours to scratch -- If you love scratches, you've got to love the early entry process. Nothing brings about a rash of scratches like taking entries four days out. Tuesday was a normal day at Delaware Park with 15 scratches. The same number scratched out of Monday's card, and 12 horses were withdrawn from Sunday's nine-race program. It's a common occurrence at tracks which take entries far in advance, and it's nerve-wracking for handicappers. Last Friday's Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) card at Pimlico was a perfect example. Entries were taken on Sunday -- five days out -- and despite fast and firm conditions, 26 horses wound up being pulled. But that's not a big surprise. At Delaware, Pimlico and other tracks with premature entry times, scratches are a problem.
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