Distaff Diary

DISTAFF DIARY

APRIL 13, 2005

by Hunter T. Houlihan

Divisional leader ASHADO (Saint Ballado) made her first start of 2005 in the

April 9 Apple Blossom H. (G1) at Oaklawn Park, finishing fifth as the 1-2

favorite in a stellar field of seven. The Todd Pletcher trainee ran in second

for much of the 8 ½-furlong event before faltering inside the final eighth of a

mile. The second choice in the Apple Blossom, DREAM OF SUMMER (Siberian Summer),

led the field throughout and was never headed at any call. The six-year-old

mare, conditioned by Juan Garcia and ridden to victory by Pat Valenzuela,

finished a close second in the Santa Margarita Invitational H. (G1) in her

previous start and stamped her name near the top of many distaff lists with her

win in Hot Springs. STAR PARADE (Arg) (Parade Marshall) and SHADOW CAST (Smart

Strike), the second- and third-place finishers, closed well to pass the tiring

Ashado and merit respect off their performances.

GOOD STUDENT (Arg) (Louis Quatorze) scratched from the Apple Blossom and ran

the following day in the 1 1/16-mile Bayakoa S., but to no avail. The

five-year-old was last out of the gate and came up empty in the stretch drive,

finishing fourth. In the end, the day belonged to TWO TRAIL SIOUX (Indian

Charlie), who took over after a half-mile in :46 4/5 and never looked back. This

was the four-year-old's first black-type win, and the promising filly has never

missed the board, showing a record of 8-5-2-1. She is definitely one to watch.

On Wednesday, Keeneland will host the fourth running of the Madison S. (G3),

which has achieved graded status for the first time. The new leader in the Distaff division, MADCAP

ESCAPADE (Hennessy), has been installed as the deserving 4-5 morning-line

favorite after romping in her seasonal debut, the Shirley Jones H. (G2), by two

lengths. In doing so, the four-year-old set a new track record at Gulfstream

Park, getting the seven-furlong Madison distance in 1:22. Having never finished out of the money,

Madcap Escapade should be a formidable opponent in a seven-horse field that

includes SOURIS (Defrere), who enters off four-straight stakes wins; MOLTO VITA

(Carson City), a Grade 3 winner at Keeneland; and the classy BENDING STRINGS

(American Chance), who will make her 2005 bow but has 10 graded starts in a row

under her belt.

Not to be forgotten are TARLOW (Stormin Fever), who won the Santa Margarita

over the Apple Blossom winner; Next Move H. (G3) heroine DAYDREAMING (A.P.

Indy); and SOCIETY SELECTION (Coronado's Quest), who has yet to start since her

seasonal bow in the Shirley Jones.