Churchill Downs Notebook

CHURCHILL DOWNS NOTEBOOK

JUNE 17, 2005

by Dick Powell

Neil Howard struck again with a sharp first time starter in Saturday's finale

when he sent out MUSIC SCHOOL (A.P. Indy) to win despite a rough beginning. The

first foal out of a stakes-winning Dixieland Band mare represented an

interesting choice for pedigree handicappers.

A.P. Indy's first time starters win at a 12 percent rate according to BRIS.

Not great, but not bad either. Despite siring many long-distance types, he has

also sired his share of first out speedballs like PULPIT and A.P. ARROW. And his

sire, SEATTLE SLEW (Bold Reasoning), was a monster first out influence, siring

more than his share of precocious runners during an illustrious stud career.

What tipped the balance to Music School was the fact that his broodmare sire,

Dixieland Band, produces an extraordinary 20 percent first out winners. Neil

Howard wins with 14 percent of his debuters with a flat bet profit, and Music

School received action on the tote board, closing as the close second choice in

the wagering after being listed at 8-1 on the morning line.

Breaking from post 4, Music School broke inward at the start, stumbled badly,

but still wound up pressing the pace. The Seattle Slew blood must have kicked in

at this point. He went up after Bubba Swayback (Cat Thief) and they dueled to

the top of the stretch. After putting that rival away, a new challenge appeared

turning for home when Spotsgone (Bright Launch) appeared on the scene.

Music School had a clear lead at the eighth pole and held on gamely to win by

a head in 1:04.55 for 5 1/2 furlongs. He has stakes quality written all over

him. If he was the reason why Robby Albarado was not at Belmont to ride America

Alive (American Chance) in the Manhattan H. (G1), kudos to the rider and his

agent Lenny Pike.

On Sunday, juvenile fillies were in action. A very competitive field of 11

went to the post and Lauren's Tizzy (Tiznow) was made the lukewarm favorite.

Four other fillies were sent off at between 4- and 8-1, and the five of them

swept the first five spots at the finish.

Starting from post 11, ENTH (Seeking The Gold) broke well for Pat Day and

went up after the lead around the far turn on a sloppy track. She poured it on

in the stretch and drew off to a sharp three-length win over Joint Effort

(Runaway Groom), covering the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.58. By Seeking the Gold out

of a stakes-winning Cox's Ridge mare, the youngster had every right to win first

time out, especially on a sloppy track.

One factor against her was that four of her five previous workouts were from

the gate. This is usually a sign of a youngster having trouble learning their

lessons, but Enth on the lead from the extreme outside post when the bell was

run there was . Another negative was Frank Brothers' less-than-stellar 8 percent

record with firsters, but somehow I can't get brilliant first-out winners Madcap

Escapade (Hennessy) and Pulpit out my mind when thinking about Brothers.

The Dogwood Breeders' Cup (G3), for three-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles

on the main track, was the only graded stakes last week. MISS MATCHED (Formal

Gold) broke her maiden at Monmouth Park last year by 12 1/2 lengths in her

career debut going 5f in :57 4/5. The performance was so special that John Oxley

privately purchased her and brought her to Saratoga for the Spinaway S. (Gr2).

It was quite an ambitious move for the normally conservative John Ward, and she

rewarded their confidence with a good second behind Sense of Style (Thunder

Gulch), who was dominating the juvenile filly division at the time.

After a brief freshening, Miss Matched tried two turns in the Alcibiades S.

(G2) but wouldn't relax for Albarado and wound up a well-beaten sixth. She was

given the winter off and didn't re-appear until taking a first-level allowance

sprint at Gulfstream Park in early April

Instead of racing in Kentucky, Ward sent her to Arlington Park where Miss

Matched won a six-furlong handicap sprint in a good time in mid-May. With two

wins under her belt, Ward decided to try two turns again and this time was

well-prepped. With Steal The Show (Cat Thief) a late scratch, there was little

pace in the race and rider Shaun Bridgmohan seized the moment out of the gate,

sending Miss Matched right to the top. She raced evenly through modest fractions

and pulled away to a dominant 2 1/2-length win in the good time of 1:43.49.

Considering the early fractions, the final time was excellent.

Ward has some interesting options with Miss Matched. She could remain at

routes while preparing for the Alabama S. (G1) at 1 1/4 miles or point toward

the Test S. (G1) going seven furlongs. Or he could try to win both like Allen

Jerkens did last year with Society Selection (Coronado's Quest).

Fifty races were run here last week with one dead-heat. Twenty-three

different riders won a race and 13 won two or more. Mark Guidry, Rafael Bejarano,

Eddie Martin Jr. and Albarado topped all riders with four wins each. Corey

Lanerie, Pat Day, Cal Borel, Bill Troilo, Brian Hernandez, Jr., John McKee, and

Willie Martinez all captured three races.

BIAS REPORT

In one-turn races on the main track, 18 of 36 winners (50 percent) were

either first or second after a quarter of a mile. In two-turn races on the main

track, two of eight winners (25 percent) were either first or second after the

opening quarter.

Saturday's sprint races were hard to judge. Aided somewhat by a tailwind, we

saw first quarters of :21.51 and :21.38 in races 1 and 7, but other short

sprints went a full second slower. Speed did well all week in one-mile races.

On the turf going two turns, two of five (40 percent) winners were either

first or second after a quarter mile was run. One of two turf sprint (50

percent) was won by a horse either first or second after a quarter mile was run.

For the first 32 days of racing:

In one-turn races on the main track, 81 of 215 winners (38 percent) were either first or second after a quarter-mile was run.

In two-turn races on the main track, 18 of the 57 winners (32 percent) were either first or second after the opening quarter-mile.

In two-turn races on the turf, 15 of the 48 winners (31 percent) were either first or second after the first quarter-mile.

In turf sprints, three of the nine winners (33 percent) were either first or second after the opening quarter-mile.

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (6/8)

7TH -- FEEL THE WIND (Cozzene) rallied nicely behind a slow pace and was

beaten less than a length from an outside post.

9TH -- SIBERIAN AMUR (Charismatic) broke slowly and then chased a slow pace

in a turf marathon. Was only beaten a head for all the money and will be very

tough if back in against straight 3yo fillies.

Thursday (6/9)

3RD -- TEXAS GOLD DIGGER (Texas City) was roughed up at the start and after

being forced out and had to chase the pace out in the middle of the track. Toss

the race.

4TH -- MAKERS AT MIDNIGHT (Siphon) ran a huge race going down to a nose

defeat after dueling for the lead throughout and wearing bar shoes on his front

feet. Watch for shoe announcements next time he runs.

9TH -- SHEER LUCK (A.P. Indy) added blinkers last out for the first time and

she ran too close to the pace. This time, she settled nicely but couldn't catch

a runaway winner who was allowed to go :24.96 in her first quarter.

Friday (610)

3RD -- BEAM QUEEN (Siphon) returned to the races off a 355-day layoff for

Dale Romans and chased a front-end winner going a mile before weakening late.

5TH -- LEO'S GAL (Gold Case), a first time starter from Doug Matthews

(0-for-13 with debuters), broke in at the start then had to rally out in the

middle of the track to get third on a sloppy track.

6TH -- EARTH SHAKING (Regal Intention) chased a demanding pace before tiring

going a mile in good time for bottom-level claimers.

8TH -- APACHE POINT (Royal Academy) held on gamely after chasing the pace

while down on the inside in a long sprint.

9TH -- SATURDAY DEELITES (Afternoon Deelites) has run strong in all three

career turf starts and was a good third here after settling early and not being

able to catch a front-end winner.

Saturday (6/11)

1ST -- VANILLAZUELA (Boston Harbor) dropped into a high-priced claimer for

the first time and held on for third after chasing a brutal pace going six

furlongs.

4TH -- SUMMER MAN (Menifee) woke up with a good second after setting a solid

pace going two turns with blinkers removed.

5TH -- NICK'S LIGAN (Ligan's Cold) wound up setting the pace while on the

inside of two other horse who applied constant pressure.

6TH -- DAWN OF WAR (Catienus), a first-time starter, raced greenly throughout

the stretch as he lugged in every time it looked like he would go by the winner.

Sunday (6/12)

5TH -- ONE BAD DUDE (Ghazi) was a good second chasing a front-end winner on a

sloppy track.

7TH -- POPPA CORKY (Heff) raced out in the middle of the track with a rider

who was making his pari-mutuel debut.