First Turn - 7/2

FIRST TURN

JULY 2

by James Scully

Independence Day brings good racing

The Holiday Weekend features a bevy of of top-class races from

coast to coast, including the nation's premiere turf event for

three-year-old fillies, the $750,000 American Oaks (G1) on

Saturday at Hollywood Park. The 1 1/4-mile affair has drawn an

international cast of 14.

Three females have come from New Zealand as well as invaders

from Ireland, France and Japan. The morning-line favorite, DANCE

IN THE MOOD (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), hails from the Far East and

proved her class this spring with a convincing win in the

Japanese One Thousand Guineas (Jpn-G1).

The American Oaks received Grade 1 status in 2004, its first

year of eligibility, and the first two editions were long on

quality. Megahertz (GB) (Pivotal) and Dublino engaged in a

thrilling battle through the stretch during the inaugural

running, and Dimitrova (Swain [Ire]) shipped in from England to

turn in a smashing victory last year.

The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) remains an

attractive option in the fall, producing champions Perfect Sting

and Ryafan as well as classy runners like Affluent, Memories of

Silver and Plenty of Grace, but three-year-old fillies are

tempted to take on their elders at that point of the year in

races like the Flower Bowl Invitational H. (G1) or Yellow Ribbon

S. (G1). Dimitrova won the former last fall. The American Oaks

stands alone as the biggest race for the division during the

summer.

The Triple Bend Breeders' Cup H. (G1) is also carded Saturday

at Hollywood, and the best thing that can be said about the field

assembled is that it makes for a good betting race. There are no

standouts among the 14 entered, and Sunday's seven-furlong Tom

Fool H. (G2) at Belmont Park should feature a much more talented,

but not as competitive, field.

A total of five Grade 1 races are scheduled nationwide on

Saturday, and the $500,000 Suburban H. (G1) is the bigger of two

events in New York. COLONIAL COLONY (Pleasant Colony), an upset

winner of the Stephen Foster H. (G1) last out, will face seven

rivals in the 1 1/4-mile test.

It's difficult to go off at 62-1 in a six-horse field

regardless of the competition, and Colonial Colony's form

couldn't have been more dismal entering the Stephen Foster. Many

quickly dismissed his performance as a fluke, but it took plenty

of moxie to out-game Southern Image (Southern Halo) through that

final furlong for a nose decision. Showers are possible and a wet

track would only help his chances.

Other top contenders include PEACE RULES (Jules), DYNEVER

(Dynaformer) and BOWMAN'S BAND (Dixieland Band).

The Prioress S. (G1) owns similarities to the Triple Bend.

With 10 betting interests (two couplings among the 12 entries)

and plenty of deserving candidates, it looks like a good race to

play. But its Grade 1 standing for next year is in jeopardy.

METEOR STORM (GB) (Bigstone [Ire]), the country's best turf

horse, will run at Monmouth Park on Saturday in the $750,000

United Nations H. (G1). The 1 3/8-mile race always seems to be a

thrilling contest, and there's a twinge of sadness at the absence

of With Anticipation, a staple for the past three years but

retired earlier this season due to injury. With Anticipation won

the 2002 U.N. by a neck and was controversially disqualified from

a head score in 2001. He shouldn't have come down that day.

Meteor Storm is another prime example of the excellence and

patience of conditioner Wally Dollase. The five-year-old horse

showed some talent at three in France, placing in a couple of

stakes, and came to the United States for his four-year-old

season. Instead of plunging him right into stakes, Dollase took

his time with Meteor Storm and placed him where he belonged in

allowances and optional claiming events. He didn't enter him in a

stakes race until this February, where Meteor Storm finished a

close fourth in the San Luis Obispo H. (G2).

His next start resulted in a narrow victory in the San Luis

Rey H. (G2), and Meteor Storm then easily captured the San Juan

Capistrano Invitational (G2). He continued to improve with a

smashing 1 1/4-length victory in the Manhattan H. (G1) last time,

and don't be surprised to see Meteor Storm keep getting better.

The Independence Day holiday is always a great time for

Thoroughbred racing.