Keeneland Notebook

KEENELAND NOTEBOOK

APRIL 21, 2005

by Dick Powell

Zito loses a Derby prep race! After looking like he was going to win every

major Kentucky Derby (Gr1) prep race, Nick Zito's luck finally ran out in

Saturday's Blue Grass S. (G1) when Sun King (Charismatic) ran off the board in

an uncharacteristically dull effort. Just like Tiger Woods in golf, the

three-year-old picture of late has been all about Zito and the story has been

about whether he won or lost.

Before a record crowd of 33,621, seven sophomore colts took the track for the

Blue Grass, but the betting public narrowed it down to four contenders. HIGH

LIMIT (Maria's Mon), the undefeated victor of the Louisiana Derby (G2) in his

last start, was sent off as the lukewarm 5-2 favorite. Consolidator (Storm Cat)

and Bandini (Fusaichi Pegasus) were co-second choices at 3-1 and Sun King was

right behind them at 33-10.

While not coupled in the wagering, Spanish Chestnut (Horse Chestnut [SAf])

figured to be the rabbit for stablemate Bandini and Gary Stevens was able to get

him to the front after an eventful start. High Limit, who had been in front at

every call in his three career starts, settled nicely for Ramon Dominguez and

tracked the pace while racing off the rail for much of the run down the

backstretch. Consolidator, who broke a bit slow and then bumped with Spanish

Chestnut soon after the start, uncharacteristically never made his way up to

challenge for the early lead. Bandini was stalking the pace while extremely

wide.

To everyone's shock and Zito's dismay, Sun King, who was coming off a

wire-to-wire win in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), was far back and last after a

half-mile. Clearly, this year's running of the Blue Grass was going to be

different than it looked on paper.

Keeneland usually favors inside paths, but John Velazquez was content to keep

Bandini clear around the first turn and down the backside. Making his first

start in seven weeks, the Todd Pletcher-trained colt was still running

comfortably while wide around the far turn. High Limit went up after Spanich

Chestnut and gradually began to draw even heading to the top of the stretch.

But Velazquez was grinding along three wide aboard Bandini on the far turn

and straightened away even with High Limit and Spanish Chestnut. Just when it

looked like we might see an epic duel to the wire, High Limit shortened stride

and Bandini kept going at the same pace to win by six lengths in the

relatively-slow time of 1:50.16.

High Limit held on well for second and it was three lengths back to Closing

Argument (Successful Appeal) who had a nightmare trip. Another neck back was Sun

King, who rallied down the middle of the track. Consolidator was another four

lengths back.

Now that the race was over, how do we judge it? Going in, it appeared to be

the best prep race in terms of quality and depth. But, when evenly-matched

horses finish with large gaps in between them, it usually signifies that some of

the contestants did not grab a hold of the track. Thus, the question is whether

BANDINI is really that much better than the field he vanquished on Saturday or

just the beneficiary of a set of circumstances that he might not see again?

Whether he liked the racing surface more than the others, Bandini lost a lot

of ground on both turns and proved to be tons the best on this afternoon. It was

his first start in 42 days and he should improve next out.

I thought High Limit ran wonderfully and will be a major factor in the Run

for the Roses. In only his fourth career start and second start of the year, he

settled behind Spanish Chestnut and showed he doesn't have to be in front to run

well. It looked like he was a little keyed up down the backstretch with his ears

pinned back, but he continued on well the rest of the way. When Bandini passed

him, High Limit still ran on well while ducking to the rail to be a clear

second.

Closing Argument had a nightmare trip and still was third in his first start

in 70 days, an amazing layoff for a three-year-old at this time of the season. I

still don't like his pedigree for 10 furlongs on the first Saturday in May, but

Closing Argument should improve off this effort.

Sun King has always been rumored by Nick Zito's staff as their best

three-year-old, but he showed little on Saturday. The dark bay colt broke

sluggishly, raced out in the middle of the track for most of the way and rallied

mildly to just miss third. The question one has to raise out of this effort is

what went wrong and how much did he get out of the race. Following an easy

spring campaign, he could have a hard time recovering from this real bad

performance.

Bandini's win came over the strongest field assembled so far this year and

makes the Florida-based three-year-olds look very strong going into the Derby.

High Fly (Atticus) beat Bandini in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2), and Noble

Causeway (Giant's Causeway) finished a good second behind High Fly in the

Florida Derby (G1). All three are going to the Derby the right way.

CLOCK STOPPER (Gilded Time) is an unusual five-year-old who races in the

colors of Overbrook Farm, who purchased him (instead of being a homebred) for

$110,000 as a yearling and then had him gelded. In his last start at Gulfstream

Park, the Richter Scale H. (G2), the one-dimensional closer raced much closer to

the pace than normal and finished a good third behind Sir Shackleton (Miswaki)

and Lion Tamer (Will's Way).

In Saturday's Commonwealth Breeders' Cup H. (G2) going seven furlongs, Clock

Stopper stalked the pace three wide as Gators N Bears (Stormy Atlantic) led the

way and Cajun Beat (Grand Slam) chased in second. Clock Stopper sat third going

into the far turn as Cajun Beat, who suffered a career-ending injury during the

race, began to fade. Gators N Bears had a clear lead turning for home but was

under heavy pressure from the outside as Jerry Bailey had Clock Stopper in a

drive. They ran down the leader inside the eighth pole to win going away by

three-quarters of a length in 1:22.06.

Now that he is able to run a bit closer to the pace, Clock Stopper figured to

be a force in one-turn races no matter the distance the rest of the year.

However, he suffered a tendon injury in the Commonwealth and will now be

sidelined at least six months.

Bailey had a terrific week riding in what may be his last year of

competition. He's been hinting around that the Breeders' Cup will be the end of

a great career and business at Gulfstream earlier this year was very limited.

With the Triple Crown nearing, Jerry is cranking it up and has been brilliant at

Keeneland, especially out of the gate.

On Wednesday, Bailey shot CANDY BOX (Running Stag), a first time starter from

Kiaran McLaughlin, right to the lead at the start and never looked back on a

very muddy track. In Wednesday's Madison S. (G), he gunned 2-5 shot MADCAP

ESCAPADE (Hennessy) to the front down the backstretch after her usual tardy

start and flew through the first half in :43.75 before cruising to an easy 4

3/4-length win. Bailey's been riding much more aggressively recently.

On Friday, EFFECTUAL (Carson City) drew post 10 in a baby race for fillies

but it was no problem when Bailey broke sharp and won easily. After winning the

Commonwealth on Saturday, Bailey came back to take Sunday's Jenny Wiley S. (G3)

with INTERCONTINENTAL (Danehill).

The Juddmonte Farm homebred is one of the most headstrong females you will

ever see, but Bailey has learned not to fight her; at least not all the way

around the track. Intercontinental broke well going into the first turn, but she

began to throw her head around in a rank manner when Bailey tried to get her to

relax. Once she made the lead down the backside, the five-year-old began to

relax and from there she was able to repulse every challenge mounted against her

to win by a measured length.

Half-sister to champion and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) winner Banks

Hill (GB), Intercontinental will someday make a fantastic broodmare for

Juddmonte and Bobby Frankel will have her talented but headstrong babies to

train years from now.

The most impressive juvenile of the week and the meet so far was unveiled on

Sunday by Todd Pletcher. HALF OURS (Unbridled's Song) was a $625,000 yearling

purchase last September by Aaron and Marie Jones and was widely touted coming

into his career debut based on a bullet half-mile workout on April 10. He had

some kind of skin rash on his neck but was still made the 1-5 favorite against

three rivals.

Breaking on top for John Velazquez, Half Ours cruised along on an easy lead

and then exploded in the lane to a 10 3/4-length win. His time for 4 1/2 furlong

was a meet best :51.61, and the youngster gave every indication that longer

races will be no problem.

John Kimmel looks like he's going to have a nice three-year-old in AWESOME

TWIST (Awesome Again). Out of multiple Grade 1 winner Twist Afleet (Afleet),

Awesome was an impressive maiden winner last out at Gulfstream, going seven

furlongs in a fast time and showing the ability to stalk the pace and make a big

run.

On Wednesday, over a muddy track that had favored inside speed in the first

four main track races, Javier Castellano had Awesome Twist far back early but

began a wide rally at the half-mile pole. He was four wide around the turn and

six wide turning for home when he exploded in the lane to win by six easy

lengths. With his pedigree and running style, look for him this summer at

Belmont Park in races like the Dwyer (G2).

Bias Report

Wednesday's muddy main track saw a return to the old Keeneland with inside

paths and front-end speed dominating most of the card. In one turn races on the

main track, 12 of the 25 (48 percent) winners were either first or second after

a quarter-mile. In two turn races on the main track, four of eight (50 percent)

winners were either first or second after a quarter mile was run. Pretty typical

stuff.

On the turf going two turns, only 3 of 13 (23 percent) winners were either

first or second after a quarter mile was run. There was one turf sprint run last

week and it went to the speedy favorite SOARING FREE (Smart Strike).

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (4/13)

1ST - NEW DIMENSION (Golden Missile) rallied wide on a speed-favoring muddy

track to get second in her career debut for Rusty Arnold, who wins only 7

percent first-time out.

4TH - VISON OF BEAUTY (Danzig) hustled hard between horses in her first start

of the year and should be much fitter next time out.

8TH - MOLTO VITA (Carson City) was bumped around at the start and then made a

strong middle move into a brutal pace before weakening.

Thursday (4/14)

2ND - GYPSY ROVER (Mancini) had a nightmare trip in his career debut but

still showed interest and would be tough the first time a maiden claimer gets

written.

5TH - PALAESTRA (Atticus) was bumped repeatedly at the start of the race and

then ran evenly afterward.

Friday (4/15)

1ST - FLAME STITCH (Saint Ballado) showed high speed while down on the inside

before weakening late and Lukas is always tougher second time out. 

4TH - LOST IN TRANSIT (Demidoff) looked like he was getting a good trip in

behind horses but had to circle them at the top of the stretch and lost valuable

ground.

9TH - MR. LIGHT (Arg) (Numerous), the world-record holder from Gulfstream,

was turned sideways on the first turn and then ran evenly afterward. 

Saturday (4/16)

6TH - PARKER RUN (Glitterman) rallied furiously on the outside to get third

in a blanket finish at 86-1 odds.

8TH - Lion Tamer rallied widest of all turning for home before flattening out

in a paceless sprint.

9TH - High Limit showed that he doesn't have to have the lead to run well and

should keep improving next out, which will be only his fifth career start.

Sunday (4/17)

5TH - PICK FIVE (Artax) was used hard while down on the inside going seven

furlongs behind a monster winner.

6TH - TEMPERED STEEL (Tale of the Cat) rallied from last to get second in a

very fast race going a mile.

7TH - MR. MALAPROP (Distorted Humor) ran well in his track debut going two

turns when he stalked the pace and had to swing very wide at the top of the

stretch.