Breeders' Cup Wrap-up

ROAD TO THE BREEDERS' CUP

Breeders' Cup Wrap-up

by James Scully

Breeders' Cup Day went smoothly in Texas with perfect weather

and excellent racing. Favorites GHOSTZAPPER (Awesome Again),

OUIJA BOARD (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]) ASHADO (Saint Ballado) and

SWEET CATOMINE (Storm Cat) were all able to prevail and

second-choice SPEIGHTSTOWN (Gone West) verified his 2004 form in

the Sprint (G1). Grade 2 winner and Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile

(G1) runner-up SINGLETARY (Sultry Song) provided a mild surprise

at 16-1 in the Mile (G1), and a couple of bombs came in the form

of WILKO (Awesome Again) and BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin Man).

Classic

Ghostzapper was the most impressive horse in the post parade

and dominated from the moment the gates opened in the $4 million

Classic (G1), leading gate to wire for an easy three-length win.

His final time of 1:59 for 1 1/4 miles was the fastest in the

21-year history of the Breeders' Cup.

Ghostzapper should be a lock for Horse of the Year and

champion handicap honors. Nobody could beat him this year, and he

earned a victory in the prestigious Woodward S. (G1) prior to

Breeders' Cup glory. His 116 BRIS Speed rating was the top dirt

figure earned on Saturday. He also became the first son of a

Classic winner (Awesome Again scored in 1998) to duplicate his

sire's feat.

His authoritative victory figured to send the four-year-old

into retirement, but his connections have announced that

Ghostzapper will return to the races next season. What a shocker!

The sport will be able to keep one of its brightest stars on the

track. Kudos to his connections.

ROSES IN MAY (Devil His Due) suffered his first defeat this

year with a gutsy runner-up performance and is also expected to

return for a five-year-old campaign in 2005. Third-place finisher

PLEASANTLY PERFECT (Pleasant Colony) was far back early and went

too wide around the far turn. A better trip might have possibly

yielded a challenge for second, but the six-year-old wasn't

nearly as sharp following a lengthy layoff as he was last year.

AZERI (Jade Hunter) gave an excellent account of herself.

After breaking slowly from the starting gate, she settled nicely

into third entering the clubhouse turn and managed to sit a

perfect trip in striking position until the top of the stretch.

The six-year-old mare weakened a bit in the final eighth, but still managed an excellent fifth-place performance at a distance that

was too far for her. She recorded the same Speed figure (106) as

Distaff winner Ashado while running an extra furlong.

As good as she was on Saturday, Azeri probably would have

crushed her Distaff foes at 1 1/8 miles.

Japanese invader PERSONAL RUSH (Wild Rush) surprisingly took

sixth, and the three-year-old colt came out onto the track 20

minutes (10 minutes ahead of his rivals) before the post and

proceeded to gallop past the starting gate and down the

straightaway chute used for Quarter Horse racing. He just hung

out down there for a long time until the rest of field made their

way to the gate to load. It took a fine effort to beat

seventh-place BIRDSTONE (Grindstone) and others at the wire, and

Personal Rush is one to watch for next year.

Turf

Better Talk Now captured the Sword Dancer Invitational H. (G1)

over a yielding turf in August and relished similar conditions at

Lone Star when capturing the Turf (G1) by 1 3/4 lengths. He raced

on the same weekend last year, but faced much weaker foes in 2003

when capturing the Knickerbocker H. (G2) at Aqueduct. The Graham

Motion-trained five-year-old improved significantly over the last

few months, finishing first or second in three of four starts

prior to Turf, the only unplaced showing being a close fourth in

the Man o' War (G1).

The gelding received a heady ride from the up-and-coming Ramon

Dominguez, who also guided 60-1 MY COUSIN MATT (Matty G) to a

commendable third in the Sprint, but the same could not be said

for the runner-up and third-place finishers.

John Velazquez looked like a quarterback with shaky feet upon

reaching the top of the stretch aboard KITTEN'S JOY (El Prado

[Ire]). POWERSCOURT (GB) (Sadler's Wells) was in front along the

rail, but that rival received one of the worst rides in Breeders'

Cup history from Jamie Spencer and began to drift out in the

stretch.

Velazquez needed to either swing out earlier leaving the far

turn or wait for a hole to materialize up the inside. He did

neither entering the stretch run and began switching paths back

and forth while bumping with rivals. John V. is possibly the best

jockey in North America and did a commendable job guiding both

Ashado, who had to wait for a hole to materialize before

launching her run, and Speightstown to the winner's circle as

well as providing an excellent ride to Filly & Mare Turf (G1)

runner-up FILM MAKER (Dynaformer). Unfortunately, he got Kitten's Joy into

all kinds of trouble on Saturday. Trainer Dale Romans blamed the

wet turf, but the sophomore colt may have simply gotten

frustrated and spit the bit following the troubled trip.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien had to be disappointed. European jockeys

Frankie Dettori and Kieren Fallon were giving horses capable

rides all day, each winning a Breeders' Cup race earlier on the

program, but Spencer looked like a rank amateur on Saturday.

After watching Spencer get Mile runner-up ANTONIUS PIUS (Danzig)

into all kinds of trouble on both turns earlier on the afternoon,

O'Brien had to be hoping that his stable rider had his head

screwed on tight for the Turf. Instead, Spencer cost his mount

any chance of winning by launching the most premature move

possible on the backstretch.

If he needed any Texas souvenirs to take back to Ireland,

Spencer should have purchased a shirt with a burro on it.

The Turf highlighted the problem of including a heavy favorite

in the Head2Head wagers. Heading to the post, Kitten's Joy

Head2Head odds versus Powerscourt were 3-5, the same as his win

odds. He would have paid nearly the same for both, leaving

bettors who wagered only on the win pool feeling like suckers for

not taking advantage of the Head2Head, which Kitten's Joy won.

The Breeders' Cup made a big mistake here.

Sprint

Speightstown accomplished more than any other

sprinter this year, winning five of six starts - all stakes -

with the only setback coming over a drying out and cuppy track at

Belmont Park in the Vosburgh S. (G1). He should be named champion

sprinter. The Todd Pletcher-trained horse defeated runner-up KELA

(Numerous) by 1 1/4 lengths on Saturday, and that rival easily

handled his top competition for the Eclipse Award.

Pico Central (Brz) (Spend a Buck) took the Vosburgh but was no

match previously for Kela, who in turn was easily handled by

Speightstown. Pico Central failed to show up for Thoroughbred

racing's championship day while Speightstown took on all comers.

The connections of Pico Central may have feared losing and they

had to be hoping Speightstown would get beat. Should they be

allowed back into a title when a truly deserving winner

exists?

A vote for any horse other Speightstown is essentially a vote

against the Breeders' Cup this year.

Mile

Trainer Don Chatlos did an outstanding job getting Singletary

to the Mile in peak form and the four-year-old rewarded his

connections by surging to a clear lead in upper stretch and

withstanding the late run of Antonius Pius for a half-length

decision.

Chatlos utilized the same winning path taken by trainers Julio

Canani and Neil Drysdale with recent Mile victors Val Royal (Fr)

and War Chant. Following a spring campaign that included a fine

second in the Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) in late May,

Chatlos gave Singletary the rest of the summer off and brought

his charge back with an October prep to sharpen him up for the

Breeders' Cup.

In the October 9 Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile (G2), Singletary

traveled wide the entire way but still turned in a top-class

performance to miss by only a head at the wire. He figured to

move forward off that effort and turned in a career best on

Saturday, recording a 117 BRIS Speed rating.

The runner-up and third-placer, SIX PERFECTIONS (Fr) (Celtic

Swing), both ran well. Pilot error hurt the former and defending

heroine Six Perfections was also steadied in traffic on the far

turn. She was forced to swing out wide at the top of the stretch

and finished gamely, but she got free too late and had too much

to do. The four-year-old filly is one of the classiest performers

in Mile history.

Three of the four bottom positions were filled with top

contenders. Next-to-last SPECIAL RING (Nureyev) sat a good trip

before stopping abruptly leaving the far turn. Surprising 7-2

favorite ARTIE SCHILLER (El Prado [Ire]) experienced severe

traffic problems in the clubhouse turn and was never a factor

afterward, finishing 12th. NOTHING TO LOSE (Sky Classic) didn't

resemble the same horse who captured the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1)

in his previous start, laboring to an 11th-place showing.

Filly & Mare Turf

Ouija Board lived up to her pre-race billing with a convincing

1 1/2-length tally in the 1 3/8-mile Filly & Mare Turf.

Pacesetter MOSCOW BURNING (Moscow Ballet) crawled through opening

splits of :26 2/5 and :52 2/5 while Fallon bided his time in

midpack on the prohibitive favorite, and the English (Eng-G1) and

Irish Oaks (Ire-G1) queen began to creep closer down the

backstretch. She launched her rally three wide on the far turn

and displayed a strong turn of foot to easily reach the fore,

cruising to the finish line much the best.

Third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) beforehand, the

three-year-old has proved to be an exceptional filly and is

expected to race at four for owner Lord Derby. Ouija Board was

cross-entered to the Turf, but trainer Ed Dunlop mentioned

Kitten's Joy as the reason they decided for the filly and mare

race.

She would have been very difficult to beat in the 1 1/2-mile

event and should be a major player against males if she returns

to America for the 2005 Breeders' Cup at Belmont Park.

Film Maker, who was off at 16-1, got a perfect ride from

Velazquez for second, barely withstanding WONDER AGAIN (Silver

Hawk), who finished courageously from far back to just miss

second. Edgar Prado appeared asleep at the wheel during the

initial stages on Wonder Again, placing the multiple Grade 1

winner near the back of the pack through pedestrian early splits.

That's not her normal running style. Moscow Burning held for

fourth.

Distaff

Ashado deserves three-year-old filly divisional honors with her

1 1/4-length Distaff score. The Pletcher charge received a

perfect trip from her innermost post, stalking the leaders while

saving ground and pouncing up the rail leaving the far turn to

gain the advantage. The dark bay miss enjoyed a tremendous season

following a stellar juvenile campaign, earning victories in the

Kentucky Oaks (G1), Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), Fair

Grounds Oaks (G2) and Cotillion H. (G2) as well as runner-up

showings in the Mother Goose (G1) and Ashland S. (G1).

Runner-up STORM FLAG FLYING (Storm Cat) and third-place

finisher STELLAR JAYNE (Wild Rush) each performed well while

finishing fast to be close at the wire. They were next-to-last

and last, respectively, after a half-mile and both had to

overcome traffic, with Stellar Jayne traveling too wide into the

stretch. The former wrapped up a successful career while Stellar

Jayne appears poised to be a major factor in the distaff division

next year at four, provided she isn't retired (she is entered in

the Keeneland November sale).

Juvenile

Wilko was the most experienced runner in the Juvenile (G1)

field, with 10 previous starts, including five second- or

third-place finishes in stakes races. He also owned a good dirt

pedigree on top as a son of Awesome Again. Those were among the

best things that could be said for him before the race.

Inexperience probably wound up hurting many of his rivals. Top

contenders AFLEET ALEX (Northern Afleet), SUN KING (Charismatic)

and PROUD ACCOLADE (Yes It's True) owned five stakes starts

between them and none of them had ever been around two turns.

Most entrants were shipping a long way to Texas without much

seasoning.

Regardless, Wilko ran the best race on Saturday to win by

three parts of a length under Dettori and has now been turned

over to Craig Dollase in California. He could secure two-year-old

divisional honors with a victory in December's Hollywood Futurity

(G1).

Afleet Alex brought more experience than most into the race

with five career starts and finished a very respectable second.

After bobbling at the start, he traveled four wide on both turns

to reach the lead in midstretch and just missed. His troubled

Juvenile runner-up finish, coupled with wins in the Hopeful (G1)

and Sanford S. (G2) and a runner-up placing in the Champagne

(G1), leaves Afleet Alex as the division front-runner at the

present time.

ROMAN RULER (Fusaichi Pegasus) showed signs of tailing off in

his previous start, the Norfolk S. (G2), and will receive a

well-deserved break following his fifth-place showing. He could

return as any kind of three-year-old. CONSOLIDATOR (Storm Cat)

offered a good showing to be fourth and owns room for tremendous

improvement next year. Third-placer Sun King and Proud Accolade,

who finished sixth, weren't up to the task on Saturday but are

still both lightly raced colts with promising futures.

Juvenile Fillies

Sweet Catomine, a daughter of Storm Cat, is the first foal out

of the Grade 1-placed Sweet Life (Kris S.) and is one to really

get excited about next year. She developed into a tremendous

two-year-old this season, earning her third straight stakes win

with a much-the-best, 3 3/4-length victory in the Juvenile

Fillies (G1).

Trained by Julio Canani, Sweet Catomine was steadied sharply

on the far turn Saturday but quickly recovered under Corey

Nakatani to surge to the lead in upper stretch. She was on cruise

control to the wire and completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:41 3/5. Her

male rivals, who were in a dogfight through the final furlong,

posted a final time of 1:42 in the Juvenile later on the card.

BALLETTO (UAE) (Timber Country) enjoyed a perfect trip along

the rail and held second over a troubled RUNWAY MODEL

(Petionville), who keeps getting better and better for

conditioner Bernie Flint. SIS CITY (Slew City Slew) ran a big

race on the front end and finished fourth. SHARP LISA (Dixieland

Band), who owns room for major improvement off only her third

career start in the Juvenile Fillies, had a ridiculously wide

trip, going four wide around the first turn and circling near the

grandstand turning for home, before flattening out to sixth. She

should keep improving next season.

That concludes this year's Road to the Breeders' Cup. I'm

already looking forward to the 2005 event at Belmont.