Distaff Diary

DISTAFF DIARY

SEPTEMBER 14, 2007

by Jennifer Caldwell

GINGER PUNCH (Awesome Again) stamped herself as a force in the distaff ranks

on September 8 with an easy three-quarter of a length score in the Ruffian H.

(G1) at Belmont Park. The Bobby Frankel trainee didn't post as large a margin of

victory as she did in the First Flight H. (G2) and Go for Wand H. (G1), but 

Rafael Bejarano still had her well in hand when crossing under the line. The

chestnut lass is obviously a late bloomer, but now that she's put it all

together she's going to be tough no matter where she shows up. Which, according

to Frankel, will be in the Beldame S. (G1) on September 30. That nine-furlong

event is the perfect final prep for the four-year-old in advance of the

Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), but her status for the year-end championship isn't

as assured.

Ginger Punch -- for some strange, incomprehensible reason -- is not

nominated to the Breeders' Cup. This means that, even though she's guaranteed a

spot in the gate at Monmouth Park on October 27 via her victory in the Go for

Wand, her connections will still have to pay the supplemental fee. The Breeders'

Cup Challenge Win and You're In! promotion is a good -- no, scratch that --

great idea, but it's not very well thought out. It doesn't appear that the

officials counted on horses winning who weren't Breeders' Cup nominated. It

would have been better, and probably would attract even more horses to compete

in these specific Challenge races, if they put in a proviso that if a horse who

isn't nominated wins a Challenge race that the supplemental fee would be waived.

The connections would still have to pay the entry fee along with everyone else,

but it would be more of an incentive to owners of non-Breeders' Cup nominated

horses to run their charges.

I can only hope that Ginger Punch's owner, Stronach Stables, decides to pay

up so she can compete in the Distaff. The filly is by far the most dominant

older

runner on the dirt this year, and the Distaff won't truly be a model of the

division this year without her.

MISS SHOP (Deputy Minister) continued to show improvement as trainer Allen

Jerkens left her on the dirt. After an easy three-length win in the Personal

Ensign S. (G1) at Saratoga, I was a little worried he might move her back to the

turf, as he did earlier in the season. But she stayed on the dirt and was the

only one challenging Ginger Punch at the end of the Ruffian. She couldn't get to

her rival, but that will only make it more exciting if they meet back up in the

Distaff. TAKE D' TOUR (Tour d'Or) set the early pace, but uncharacteristically

faded at the end to wind up fourth and last. The multiple Grade 1-winning mare

is more talented than this one indicates, and I'll probably throw it out when

looking at her in the future.

This coming Saturday will feature the much anticipated return of Belmont S.

(G1) winner RAGS TO RICHES (A.P. Indy). The Todd Pletcher-trained miss has made

a couple of abortive tries at returning to competition since her history-making

Belmont victory, but so far all lights are green for her to go against what

looks like four over-matched rivals in the Gazelle S. (G1) at Belmont. The only

one who appears to have a shot is LEAR'S PRINCESS (Lear Fan), who just missed in

both the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Alabama S. (G1).

While I'm looking forward to this race, I won't believe Rags to Riches is

actually running until I see her break from the gate. I've gotten my hopes up

too many times just to have them dashed when something, be it a fever or a bad

feeling during workout, precipitated her being kept in the barn.