Spotlight Performances

SPOTLIGHT PERFORMANCES

JUNE 30, 2005

by James Scully

HIGH YIELD HUNTER (High Yield) leapt in the air at the start of

his career debut Saturday at Belmont Park, circled rivals five wide with a

scintillating run on the far turn to take a commanding lead into upper stretch

and cruised to the wire under Eibar Coa, recording a 2 3/4-length score in the 1

1/16-mile grassy maiden special weight event. Overlooked at 17-1, the James

Toner-trained sophomore gelding looked terrific. He's the second foal from the

unraced Rima (Jade Hunter), a daughter of champion and $1.9 million earner

Estrapade (*Vaguely Noble).

SWEET SYMPHONY (A.P. Indy) improved to two for two in her career

with a sharp allowance score on Friday at Belmont. Trained by Bill Mott, the

three-year-old filly captured her career bow going seven furlongs in mid-May and

stretched out to 8 1/2 furlongs here. She stalked the pace before taking over

with a quick three-wide move entering the stretch and was under wraps to the

wire, earning a 100 BRIS Speed rating for her six-length win.

UNBRIDLED SIDNEY (Unbridled's Song) made her four-year-old bow

and first attempt over the turf in a five-furlong allowance on Sunday at

Churchill Downs and crushed her rivals on the front end, crossing the wire 4 1/4

lengths ahead and earning her first triple-digit Speed figure. Now 7-3-2-0 overall for

conditioner Ronny Werner, the bay miss is out of the unraced Baltic

Sea (Danzig), dam of top sprinter Caller One and Grade 2 victor Prospect Bay.

Unbridled Sidney appears ready for an improved campaign this season.

HE'S GOT GRIT (Songandaprayer) was another good-looking

first-out winner for his freshman sire, taking a high-priced maiden claiming

event on Sunday at Churchill in front-running fashion. Trained by Steve Asmussen,

the two-year-old gelding responded when challenged in midstretch, drawing off to

a 3 1/4-length decision, and received a strong Speed figure for the 4

1/2-furlong sprint. Nobody claimed him.

COUGAR MTN LODGE (Comic Strip) needed a few starts, but the

juvenile put it all together on Saturday for trainer Mike Mitchell, rolling to a

six-length maiden win at Hollywood Park. The second foal from the stakes-winning

mare Gambling Champ (Fabulous Champ), Cougar Mtn Lodge displayed a commendable

turn of foot through the stretch and could prove to be a major factor in

two-year-old stakes events for Cal-breds this year.

REPUBLICAN HAWK (Peintre Celebre) was a visually impressive

winner going 12 furlongs on the grass Sunday in Inglewood, California, opening

up a double-digit advantage leaving the far turn and crossing the finish line 14

1/2 lengths the best over a strong-looking field of allowance/optional claiming

rivals. Out of the stakes-winning and Group 2-placed Afaladja (Ire) (Darshaan),

the Neil Drysdale charge needed six races to earn his first victory but has now

won two straight, taking a 1 1/4-mile maiden special weight event 15 days

earlier. The improving four-year-old gelding loves a route of ground.