Handicap Diary

HANDICAP DIARY

AUGUST 26, 2005

by James Scully

BORREGO (El Prado [Ire]) earned his first stakes win and firmly

established himself as a contender for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) with a

half-length score in the August 21 Pacific Classic (G1). Trained by Beau Greely,

the four-year-old colt closed from the back of the pack to catch the pacesetting

LAVA MAN (Slew City Slew) and out-finished PERFECT DRIFT (Dynaformer) for the

win. Borrego earned a 106 BRIS Speed rating.

Borrego's fast finish was aided by a Del Mar track that was kind

to late runners and he'll be labeled as a one-hit wonder by critics. Whether he

can earn another Grade 1 victory remains to be seen, but the Sustained runner is

hitting his best stride right now and could carry his form forward into the

fall. Perfect Drift typically finishes second or third while competing at the

highest level and registered his second straight runner-up finish in the Pacific

Classic. Lava Man turned in a terrific effort in defeat, dueling from the start

with Surf Cat (Sir Cat) through fast fractions before putting away that

well-regarded rival and facing a legion of late runners. The Doug O'Neill

trainee remained game all the way to the wire and was then vanned off the track.

However, he doesn't appear to have been injured. After improving substantially

at Hollywood Park during the spring/summer, Lava Man proved he could carry his

form forward outside of Inglewood, California.

COMMENTATOR (Distorted Humor) recorded his first graded success,

and first win around two turns, when annexing the August 6 Whitney H. (G1) by a

neck over the heavily favored SAINT LIAM (Saint Ballado). Now seven for eight in

his career, the four-year-old gelding looked like a possible Breeders' Cup

Sprint (G1) when capturing a seven-furlong optional-claiming event in

late June by 16 1/2 lengths, but Commentator will now be pointed toward the

Breeders' Cup Classic by Nick Zito. After getting away with an easy lead in the

Whitney, Commentator will have to prove himself against probably more pace

pressure in his next start, but he did receive a whopping 117 BRIS Speed rating

for his gutsy, front-running victory at Saratoga and may continue to get

stronger in the future.

Saint Liam's rally came up a neck short and trainer Richard

Dutrow said he will enter a "rabbit" to pressure Commentator if he shows up

against Saint Liam in the September 10 Woodward S. (G1). It's difficult to knock

his effort, but I wonder if Saint Liam will continue to perform at the same

level the rest of the year. He ran big in February's Donn H. (G1) and the

Stephen Foster H. (G1) in mid-June, but the five-year-old horse appeared to have

plenty of opportunity to reel in Commentator in upper stretch and could be a

little over the top now for Dutrow.

SUAVE (A.P. Indy) is another new Breeders' Cup Classic prospect

following a slight upset win in the August 21 Saratoga Breeders' Cup H. (G2).

The four-year-old was able to steal the race on the front end and prohibitive

favorite OFFLEE WILD (Wild Again) didn't fire in a last-place effort, but Suave

is now two for two this year for trainer Paul McGee and earned a commendable 109

Speed figure for his 10-furlong triumph.

Offlee Wild recorded a 1 1/4-length score in the Suburban H.

(G1) in early July, but the five-year-old horse has dealt with physical problems

throughout his career and doesn't appear to be doing well presently as the fall

campaign approaches.

Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) winner ROSES IN MAY (Devil His Due) and Pimlico Special

(G1) victor EDDINGTON (Unbridled) have both been retired since the last installment of the

Handicap Diary, but at least ROCK HARD TEN (Kris S.) has returned to serious

training for Richard Mandella. The well-built, nearly black colt breezed six

furlongs in a bullet 1:12 1/5 (fastest of 17 at the distance) recently at Del

Mar.