Sprint Diary

SPRINT DIARY

JUNE 7, 2006

by Jordan Strickler

Well, it looks like LOST IN THE FOG (Lost Soldier) finally

defeated some horses of merit. It's about time after all the bums he beat up on

last year. Sarcasm aside, I've been on the

"Fog" bandwagon since he broke his maiden in November of 2004, and the negative

comments surrounding his ability the past year or so have been very unfortunate. Especially

after the Greg Gilchrest trainee had his perfect record snapped in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) and

then lost his seasonal opener in the Golden

Gate Fields Sprint S. to CARTHAGE (Smoke Glacken) (who by the way was entering

that race off his second stakes win of the year while Lost in the Fog had been

on a six-month hiatus).

"Fog" made his debut in the Bluegrass State on Saturday when

going six furlongs in the Aristides Breeders' Cup H. (G3) at Churchill Downs.

The four-year-old rated in second for the first quarter-mile under jockey

Russell Baze but didn't stay there long, passing EXCITING METRO (Carson City)

midway on the turn and proving much the best through the stretch as he held off last year's Aristides winner, KELLY'S LANDING (Patton), who looks ready to break out to

better things this year. Lost in the Fog conceded seven pounds to that rival and as much as

14 pounds to other members of the field.

"I was just worried about the 124 pounds," Gilchrist said.

"Russell did say that (Lost in the Fog) got a little bit tired, but in the

stretch he showed what kind of horse that he is."

The move to run Lost in the Fog at Churchill was good decision,

so that it will familiarize the dark bay with the Churchill Downs surface in

preparation for this year's Breeders' Cup Sprint.

"I'm looking forward to that Breeders' Cup," 86-year-old owner

Harry Aleo said. "I'd give my right arm to win that one this year."

And I will give kudos to Aleo, who said that he also plans on

running him next year. Gilchrist said that "Fog" would probably make his next

start in the Smile Sprint H. (G2) in the "Summit of Speed" at Calder Race Course

on July 15.

What a season it is for Northern Californian sprinters.

Carthage annexed his fourth stakes race of the year on Sunday when the

six-year-old outdueled a very game TRICKEY TREVOR (Demaloot Demashoot), who

entered off a strong win in the Churchill Downs H. (G2). Battling neck and neck for

a majority of the six-furlong affair, Carthage was able to pull away from a very

talented competitor to eventually win by a length. The gray gelding has improved with age,

but we're still not sure how he will run outside of California

now (his lone start outside of the Golden State resulted in an 11th-place finish

early in his career start while trained by Ron Ellis). I'm thinking that Churchill

Downs may start to look a little bit more eye-catching now.

First, however, trainer Art Sherman wants to give Carthage a try

over the turf, but turf or dirt, it looks like the Summit of Speed will be the next stop

on the map for this son of Smoke Glacken.

Last but not least was the return to the winner's circle for

Breeders' Cup Sprint winner SILVER TRAIN (Old Trieste), who held on to take the

Metropolitan H. (G1) by a head over the fast closing SUN KING (Charismatic).

Shadowing in second through quick early splits, the Richard Dutrow Jr. charge

passed MASS MEDIA at the eighth-pole and proved very game in deep stretch.

After two failed attempts this year, it was good to see the

four-year-old colt get back to his winning ways over a talented field which

included three Grade 1 winners, a Grade 2 hero, and two Grade 3 winners.