Spotlight Performances

SPOTLIGHT PERFORMANCES

JUNE 23, 2005

by James Scully

SHARK (Danzig) finally broke through with his first career

victory, taking a six-furlong maiden special weight event by 3 1/2 lengths at

Churchill Downs Saturday. Bothered by a loose horse when second by a nose in his

2005 debut previously, the D. Wayne Lukas-trained colt showed speed from the

start, opened a clear advantage entering the far turn and was never threatened

while under a hand ride to the wire. The Overbrook homebred earned a solid 95

BRIS Speed rating and may continue to show more in the future. Shark is the

first foal from Surfside (Seattle Slew), the 2000 champion three-year-old filly,

four-time Grade 1 queen and Clark H. (G2) winner over males.

SWEPT GOLD (Touch Gold), the first foal from multiple Grade 3

heroine Swept Away (Mystery Storm), turned in a sharp debut performance on

Sunday at Churchill, closing from off the pace to win a five-furlong maiden

special weight by 2 1/2 lengths. Trained by Steve Flint, the juvenile filly

finished very fast and received a commendable 96 Speed figure. Watch for her in

upcoming stakes.

WHAT A SONG (Songandaprayer) looks like a major player in

upcoming stakes events for conditioner Bob Baffert. Purchased for $1.9 million

at auction earlier this year, the two-year-old colt made his career bow

impressively on Saturday at Hollywood Park, drawing off sharply to a 3

1/4-length score while completing 5 1/2 furlongs in a snappy 1:03 4/5. The

second foal to race from stakes winner What a Knight (Tough Knight), What a Song

is definitely one to watch.

COUNTY (Menifee) turned in a professional performance last

Wednesday at Hollywood when recording a 5 1/2-length triumph over optional-claiming rivals. A 6 1/2-length maiden winner in late April, the three-year-old gelding

was exiting a good second to Keep on Punching (Silver Deputy), who returned to

win easily on Saturday, in his first start against winners. County took another

step forward here for Neil Drysdale and is an intriguing prospect for the

future.

STORM CREEK RISING (Storm Creek) earned his first triple-digit

Speed rating and second career win when gamely taking a first-level allowance at

Belmont Park last Thursday. Trained by Christophe Clement, the three-year-old

colt concluded his juvenile campaign with a second in the Huntington S. and now

owns a 7-2-3-2 career mark. Storm Creek Rising is out of Goulash (Mari's Book),

making him a half-brother to champion Ashado (Saint Ballado).

SPANISH MISSION (Coronado's Quest) rolled to his first career

win when capturing a one-mile maiden special weight event by two lengths on

Sunday at Belmont. Out of Grade 3 winner Cuando Puede (Lord at War [Arg]), the

three-year-old colt posted a 0-4-1 record from his first six starts before breaking

through here and may continue to show more for Shug McGaughey.