Keeneland Daily Notebook

KEENELAND DAILY NOTEBOOK

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2008

by Brian P. Turner

As April draws to a close so comes to an end the 2008 spring meet at

Keeneland. Over the past three weeks, fans of the central Kentucky track have

been treated to some exciting racing, a bevy of long shots who produced a

record-breaking Pick 6 pool, some talented two-year-olds, and some

surprises that have left even the most seasoned handicappers scratching their

heads.

The biggest surprise of the meet has to have come in the center piece event

of the meet which was, of course, the Blue Grass S. (G1). Pyro (Pulpit) was sent

to the gate by the betting public as the overwhelming even-money favorite with

the Blue Grass appearing to be nothing more than a stepping stone to Churchill

Downs for the big dance on the first Saturday in May. Though everyone accepted

the fact that the colt did not have to get his picture taken to still be

considered a top contender for the Kentucky Derby (G1), very few could have

anticipated the totally lackluster effort he put in over the Polytrack as he was

never once in contention on his way to a 10th-place finish, beaten

by 11 1/2 lengths. The dark bay has since returned to work well and is still on

course to compete, though he has undoubtedly lost some of the luster he possessed

prior to this effort.

For Todd Pletcher's uncoupled entry of Monba (Maria's Mon) and Cowboy Cal

(Giant's Causeway), the Blue Grass served as their ticket to Churchill Downs as

the crossed the finish line first and second, respectively, to pick up the

graded earnings needed to make it into the starting gate. Though

the Derby will be Cowboy Cal's first start on a dirt track and at Churchill, Monba

won an allowance event there last fall after breaking his maiden debut at Keeneland by

4 1/4 lengths.

Other Blue Grass runners scheduled to move on to the Derby are fifth-place

finisher Visionaire (Grand Slam), ninth-place finisher Cool Coal Man

(Mineshaft) and 11th-place finisher Big Truck (Hook and Ladder). Of the

rest, seventh-place finisher Halo Najib (Halo's Image) has a shot to get in but

he will need a couple of defections from the top 20 in graded stakes earnings.

Pletcher also produced another Triple Crown contender in Behindatthebar

(Forest Wildcat), who rallied from 15 lengths off a torrid early pace in the

Lexington S. (G2) to capture the victory by a length. Immediately after the

race, the trainer said they would most likely not move on to the Derby but now

the connections seem to be a bit more on the fence.

The Ashland S. (G1) appears to have produced a couple of solid starters for

the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in Little Belle (A.P. Indy) and Bsharpsonata (Pulpit)

who engaged in one of the most thrilling duels in recent memory at Keeneland.

The two talented fillies went head-to-head all the way through the stretch with

Little Belle prevailing by a neck. Both have the potential of pulling off the

victory in the Oaks and don't be surprised if during a rematch Bsharpsonata turns the tables on her rival.

Third-place finisher Proud Spell (Proud Citizen) is also slated to move on to

the Oaks but trainer Larry Jones has also indicated that the Derby itself is

a possibility.

The one thing that didn't come as a surprise for the meet, though, was Kip

Deville (Kipling), who put in a spectacular performance in the Maker's Mark Mile

S. (G1) in his first start since winning the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) at Monmouth

last October. The five-year-old horse repeated as champion of this event by

stalking the pace early before coming through on the rail with a nice late kick

to claim the victory by a length. The gray holds the honor of winning the

inaugural Grade 1 running of this event and his victory here last year, which

came on

his way to the Breeders' Cup, at least contributed to the event receiving

such lofty recognition this year.

Another great aspect of racing in the spring at Keeneland is that the track

plays host to some of the first two-year-old races of the year and any one of

these 4 1/2-furlong events has the potential to be the debut of one of racing's

future stars. Trainer Wesley Ward's Dicey Riley (Hennessy) has that potential as

he won his debut by three lengths while posting an impressive 102 BRIS Speed

rating. Run Away and Hide (City Zip), from the barn of Ronny Werner, broke from

the 11 hole in his debut but made his way to the lead and never looked back on

his way to an easy 3 1/4-length victory where he posted a solid 100 BRIS Speed

rating.

Pletcher introduced a couple of talented two-year-old fillies at the meet in

Garden District (Dixie Union), who was a three-length winner here on April 10, and

Royal Card (Chapel Royal). The latter made a bit of a splash when she dumped

jockey John Velazquez before the start of the race and had to be run down by the

outriders. Once the filly was loaded in the gate, she showed that she still had

plenty left in the tank as she easily handled the competition by 1 3/4 lengths.

Kent Desormeaux had an outstanding meet as he visited the winner's circle 22

times to claim the riding title. John Velazquez was second with 15 followed by

Jamie Theriot in third with 13.

Pletcher captured the training title as he saddled 14 winners for the meet.

Bill Mott finished in second with eight followed by Rusty Arnold with six.

Keeneland concluded the last day of the spring meet with one final stakes

offering as a field of 11 contested the Elkhorn S. (G2) for four-year-olds and

up going 12 furlongs on the grass. Stream of Gold (Ire) (Rainbow Quest) was sent

to the gate as the favorite off his performance last out in the Mac Diarmida H.

(G2) at Gulfstream where he rallied from 14 lengths off the early pace to claim

the victory by a neck. The seven-year-old gelding had been in good form since

arriving in North America as he had hit the board in five of six starts, most of

which came against graded stakes competition.

In the end though, it was DANCING FOREVER (Rahy) who was content to lay off

the pace early through opening fractions of :26 2/5, :51 4/5 and 1:16 2/5 before

moving into contention in the stretch drive and taking command on his way to an

impressive one-length victory. The chestnut made his 2008 debut last out in the

Gulfstream Park Turf S. (G1) where he rallied from 7 3/4 lengths off the early

lead to finish second, beaten by only a neck. The five-year-old horse definitely

moved forward off that effort as he was extremely impressive in picking up the

victory here.

Drilling For Oil (Giant's Causeway), who pressed the pace throughout, dug in

determinedly through the stretch and held on gamely to cross the wire in second,

2 1/2 lengths clear of venerable old gelding Brass Hat (Prized) in third. The

favored Stream of Gold finished a nose farther back in fourth.

I would like to thank everyone who has followed the Keeneland Daily Notebook

through the meet and wish you nothing but winners until October, when it will be

time to reconvene in Lexington for the fall meet.

Horses to Watch

1ST - PRIDE (Lion Heart) is yet another solid two-year-old filly from the

barn of Pletcher. The chestnut stalked the pace early before taking command in

the stretch drive to hit the finish line 1 1/2 lengths in front, stopping the

clock for the 4 1/2 furlongs in :50 4/5.

CAMERON CRAZIES (Lion Heart) put in a game effort to pick up the place in her

career debut for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, and though she crossed the wire in

second, she was eight lengths clear of her next nearest competitor. The chestnut

looms a threat to break her maiden next out.

3RD - I'M SO LUCKY (Langfuhr) made his first start since finishing third here

last October and broke his maiden in impressive fashion in this seven-furlong

event. The three-year-old colt stalked the pace early through opening fractions

of :23 and :46 1/5 before coming through on the rail in the stretch drive and

taking command on his way to an easy seven-length victory.