Intriguing showdowns in Super Saturday features
Championship implications abound in the other three Super Saturday features
at Belmont Park, with the most competitive top-to-bottom arguably the $350,000
(G1) over six furlongs. The Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) prep features that
race's 2010 winner, BIG DRAMA (Montbrook), who was also honored with an Eclipse
Award last season as the nation's top sprinter.
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Given a long vacation following a sensational triumph in the January 15 Mr. Prospector H. (G3) at Gulfstream, Big Drama got back to work over Labor Day weekend in the Whippleton S. at Calder. Winning by 2 1/4 lengths against a modest group, the champion will need his running shoes on as he faces several entering at the peak of their power.
The Bob Baffert-trained California invader, EUROEARS (Langfuhr), is one. Kept to races at six furlongs since his arrival in the Baffert barn late last season, the seven-year-old veteran has run away in two California starts, the Palos Verdes S. (G2) and Bing Crosby S. (G1), and also fared well in a trip to the Middle East in March. when second in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) at Meydan. |
TRAPPE SHOT (Tapit) blasted a capable field in the True North H. (G2) over
the Vosburgh course-and-distance in June, then missed in a tight photo last out
in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G1) at Saratoga. Also exiting the Vanderbilt are
multiple Grade 3 winner CALIBRACHOA (Southern Image), and APRIORITY (Grand
Slam), who had solid runner-up finishes in the Carter H. (G1) and Churchill
Downs S. (G2) last spring.
GIANT RYAN (Freud), a Calder mainstay like Big Drama, enters the Vosburgh off
a three-month break. An allowance winner at the Belmont spring meet, he shipped
to South Florida afterwards to take the Ponche H. and Smile Sprint H. (G2) in
consecutive starts.
The gelding FORCE FREEZE (Forest Camp), who began his career in the U.S.
before spending a couple years racing in Dubai, made a successful return to his
homeland in the July 31 Teddy Drone S., a race he won by four lengths in a
blistering 1:07 3/5 for six furlongs. The Vosburgh field is completed by the
Grade 2-winning three-year-old JUSTIN PHILLIP (First Samurai) and Westchester S.
(G3) scorer CAIXA ELETRONICA (Arromanches).
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The $500,000 Flower Bowl Invitational (G1), a 1 1/4-mile grass test for fillies and mares, is a last stop before the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). The top draws include STACELITA (Fr) (Monsun), the multiple French Group 1 winner who ran third against males in the United Nations S. (G1) before taking the Beverly D. S. (G1) last time over soft ground.
DELUXE (Storm Cat), a daughter of blue hen broodmare Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi), will be making just her second U.S. appearance for owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms. The four-year-old, who was Grade 1-placed in France last season, fell short by a head going a mile in the Paris Opera S. at Saratoga in her seasonal bow. |
Among the other major players are ARUNA (Mr. Greeley), this year's All Along
S. (G3) winner who ran second in the Diana S. (G1) last time; EMERALD BEECH
(Maria's Mon), the improving five-year-old who landed the Glens Falls S. (G3)
last time; Grade 2 veteran DYNASLEW (Dynaformer), second in the Glens Falls most
recently; and the consistent New York-bred GITCHEE GOOMIE (City Zip).
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The $200,000 H. (G2) over a mile drew just five entries, but quality is in abundance. The marquee attraction is last year's juvenile colt champion and early Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite UNCLE MO (Indian Charlie), who made a near-successful comeback from a layoff of more than four months in the August 27 King's Bishop S. (G1) at Saratoga. Seizing control in that seven-furlong feature in the stretch, the Todd Pletcher trainee just narrowly failed to hold off Caleb's Posse (Posse) in a thrilling finish. If victorious in the Kelso following that tightener, Uncle Mo is an intended starter in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), according to owner Mike Repole.
Fresh off a dominating Saratoga campaign is JACKSON BEND (Hear No Evil), who swept the James Marvin S. and Forego S. (G1) in fine style. The Nick Zito trainee is using the Kelso as a final prep for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Also likely headed in that direction is JERSEY TOWN (Speightstown), last year's Cigar Mile H. (G1) winner who was second in the Forego in only his second appearance of the season.
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The Kelso quintet is completed by the Grade 1-placed stakes winner SANGAREE
(Awesome Again) and longshot GOLDDIGGER'S BOY (Jump Start).
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