Fair Grounds Notebook

FAIR GROUNDS NOTEBOOK

FEBRUARY 16, 2005

by Brian P. Turner

Saturday's Risen Star S. (G3) highlighted the week's stakes action at Fair

Grounds and anchored what was quite possibly the best card of the meet thus far

as four stakes races were featured. A field of 11 three-year-olds went to the

gate, headed by the Todd Pletcher-trained Harlington (Unbridled) who was coming

off of an impressive three-length score at Gulfstream against allowance company

on January 15. The betting public obviously saw the Risen Star as nothing more

than a small detour for Harlington on his way to Kentucky for the first Saturday

in May as they sent him off as the overwhelming favorite. As is so often the

case though, the road to the Kentucky Derby can be filled with potholes, for

after racing wide through the entire event, the dark bay came up empty in the

stretch drive and staggered home a disappointing sixth.

In the end, the day belonged to SCIPION (A.P. Indy) who caused a bit of a

stir after breaking his maiden at Saratoga last August but quickly caused public

opinion to cool with back-to-back disappointing efforts in the Miller Genuine

Draft Cradle S. (G3) at River Downs and the Breeders' Futurity S. (G1) at Keeneland. The dark bay

finally lived up to a bit of the early hype in the Risen Star

as he rallied from dead last, some 10 lengths off of the lead, to cross

the finish line 1 ¼ lengths in front. The Steve Asmussen-trained Real Dandy

(Yankee Victor) rallied from well off the pace as well to pick up the place, a

neck in front of Storm Surge (Storm Cat) in third.

Three-year-old fillies were featured in the Silverbulletday S. (G3) as a

field of nine went to the gate for the 1 1/16-mile event. Locally based SUMMERLY

(Summer Squall) was sent off as the 3-2 favorite off of her impressive 9

¾-length score against optional claiming company on January 17. The chestnut

rewarded her backers by stalking the early pace before taking over on the

second turn and pulling clear through the stretch to hit the finish line 3

¼-lengths clear of the field. Eyes On Eddy (Touch Gold), a respectable fourth

last out in the Tiffany Lass S., rallied from off the pace to pick up the place,

1 ¼-lengths clear of Enduring Will (Arch).

Pollard's Vision (Carson City) was sent off as the 3-2 favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Mineshaft H. (G3) for four-year-olds and up. The four-year-old colt was

making his first start since taking the Lone Star Derby (G3) last October and

that, combined with the fact that he has never been the model of consistency,

made him a bit of an underlay against a very talented field. As it turned out,

the Nick Zito-trained WANDERIN BOY (Seeking the Gold) took the lead out of

the gate and guided the field through early fractions of :23 1/5 and :46 1/5

before actually widening his lead through the stretch to hit the wire 1 ¾

lengths in front. Pollard's Vision easily claimed the place, 1 ¾ lengths in

front of Alumni Hall (A.P. Indy) in third.

A field of nine contested the 5 ½-furlong Taylor's Special H. on the Fair

Grounds lawn. WRZESZCZ (Langfuhr) put in a solid effort by rallying from off the

pace and fighting gamely to the end to hit the finish line a nose in front of

favorite Mighty Beau (Rainbow Prospect). It was another 2 ¾ lengths

back to third-place Chosen Chief (Marquetry).

On the main track, horses that ran on or near the pace held the advantage in

sprint races this week, but the routes were dominated by horses coming from off

the pace. As for the turf, Monday's races were moved to the main track but as

for those run on their intended surface, the sprints played pretty fair but

horses coming from off the pace won all four route races.

Asmussen has opened up a commanding lead in the trainer standings with 46

winners thus far. Tom Amoss is a distant second with 28 followed by Gamaliel

Vazquez with 26. Robby Albarado's tally atop the jockey standings currently

stands at 72 winners for the meet. Corey Lanerie and Donnie Meche are in a tie

for second with 49 winners each.

HORSES TO WATCH

Friday (2/11)

6TH – MY POCKET (My Friend Max) found the move to the grass to be exactly what he needed to break his maiden after eight previous tries on the

main track proved to be less than fruitful. The three-year-old colt trailed the

field through the early stages of this state-bred event but absolutely exploded

in the stretch drive, getting up in time to cross the wire a half-length in

front.

7TH – ALEXAGOGO (Wheaton) was absolutely mugged at the start of

this maiden claiming event. The three-year-old colt recovered nicely and made a

game effort through the stretch to miss by a length in his first career

start.

Saturday (2/12)

5TH – MR. CANAVERAL (Canaveral) put in a solid performance in his

first career start as well. The three-year-old colt stalked the pace early and

made a late run that found him finishing second. Though he was 1 ¼ lengths

behind the winner, the chestnut was 3 ¾ lengths clear of the rest of the field.

7TH – Summerly went four-fifths of a second faster in winning the

Silverbulletday than Scipion went in winning the Risen Star only two races

later. Provided the chestnut filly continues to show improvement, she could

definitely loom as a contender on Kentucky Oaks (G1) day.

Sunday (2/13)

9TH – TRUALLY WILD (Wild Event) broke awkwardly at the start of

this 5 ½-furlong turf allowance event. Ultimately, this may have cost her a trip

to the winner's circle as she closed with a solid turn of foot to miss by three

parts of a length.

Monday (2/14)

7TH – JUNQUEMAN JOHN (Gold Case) swerved sharply upon leaving the

starting gate in this eight furlong maiden special event originally scheduled

for the turf. The four-year-old colt recovered nicely and closed from off the

pace to hit the wire 4 ¾ lengths in front.