Communique breaks spell in Bewitch

For much of her sophomore campaign in 2007, COMMUNIQUE (Smart Strike) turned

in solid efforts in graded stakes without managing to win one. At Keeneland on

Thursday, the G. Watts Humphrey Jr. homebred broke through in swashbuckling

style in the $150,000

Bewitch

S. (G3). With Garrett Gomez aboard, the Rusty Arnold filly produced a fine

burst of speed inside the final furlong to reel in the pacesetting Tejida (Rahy),

completing 1 1/2 miles on the firm turf in 2:28.91. The final time was just .17

off the course record set in 1997.

Tejida, the 3-1 favorite, enjoyed a comfortable lead through splits of :25

1/5, :49 4/5, 1:14 3/5, 1:39 2/5 and 2:04 2/5. At the top of the stretch, the

longtime leader appeared to hold a commanding position as she kicked three

lengths clear. Meanwhile, Communique, who had been loping far off the pace,

stealthily advanced along the inside. When Tejida began to lose a bit of steam

in deep stretch, Communique angled to the outside and took off, just collaring

her target by a half-length at the wire.

Communique rewarded her loyalists with mutuels of $10.80, $5 and $3.60 as the

nearly 9-2 third choice in the 10-horse field. Tejida held second by 1 1/2

lengths, yielding $5.20 and $3.60. Rising Cross (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]) raced

evenly throughout and wound up third, with a neck to spare over a rallying

Flawless Treasure (War Chant). The third-placer paid $3.60 to show at 7-2. The

exotics were worth $49.60 (exacta), $217 (trifecta) and $1,604.40 (8-5-1-11

superfecta). Palmilla (Crowd Pleaser) crossed the wire fifth, followed by Jive (Dynaformer),

Final Refrain (Lion Cavern), Swingit (Victory Gallop), Eres Magica (Chi) (Stuka)

and Monte Crystal (Per) (Surely Six). Gulchic (Gulch) and Viva La Flag (Rahy)

were scratched.

With this first stakes score to her credit, Communique improved her mark to

13-3-3-2, $265,164. As a juvenile, the bay filly was ambitiously spotted in her

career debut in the Caressing H. at Churchill Downs, where she was not disgraced

in sixth. After duly capturing a maiden event at Gulfstream Park next time out,

Communique returned to stakes company and finished a rallying third in the Gaily

Gaily S. and runner-up in the Herecomesthebride S. (G3). She was a creditable

fourth in the Regret S. (G3) and the American Oaks Invitational (G1), but could

manage only a non-threatening fifth in the Lake Placid S. (G2). Communique was

then given class relief by dropping into entry-level allowance company for her

last four starts. The four-year-old finally cleared that condition last time

out, earning her way back into the graded ranks.

The Kentucky-bred is the first foal from the winning Pleasant Colony mare

Martinique, who is herself a half-sister to Muhtarram (Alleged), an Irish and

Italian highweight, and Grade 3 victress Profit Column (Private Account), the

dam of Grade 3 heroine and multiple Grade 1-placed Final Round (Storm Cat). This

is the family of Italian champion St Hilarion (Sir Ivor) and multiple Grade

2-winning millionaire Savinio (The Minstrel). Communique has two younger full

brothers, an unraced juvenile named Final Count and an unnamed yearling.