Surprise sub Valenzuela lifts Becrux to victory in Woodbine Mile

Surprise sub Valenzuela lifts Becrux to victory in Woodbine

Mile

Jockey Pat Valenzuela, who had not ridden in a race since July 16

reportedly because of back pain, was a surprise replacement for Corey Nakatani

aboard the Neil Drysdale-trained BECRUX (Ity) (Glen Jordan) in Sunday's $896,460

Woodbine Mile S. (Can-G1). Showing no signs of rustiness in the wake of his

two-month absence, Valenzuela guided the four-year-old bay to a stirring neck

victory over Rebel Rebel (Ire) (Revoque). For a horse who had often failed to

live up to lofty expectations since his juvenile campaign, it was a long overdue

first graded stakes score.

Drysdale announced the rider switch on Sunday morning, explaining that

Nakatani had been "in a training accident" in California but "he's fine."

According to Drysdale, Valenzuela had been out of action because he "had

surgery," but that the rider has "been working horses for over a week now."

"Yesterday morning, I was working horses at Hollywood Park," Valenzuela said.

"My agent called me and told me that Corey had a sore shoulder. I think I'm

feeling better than when I was riding eight or nine horses a day. I'm taking

care of my body and doing the right things."

Valenzuela positioned Becrux just beyond midpack in the early going, settled

off the demanding pace set by Sweet Return (GB) (Elmaamul), who posted a rapid

first quarter of :22 4/5 and half-mile in :45. Remarkable News (Ven) (Chayim)

applied constant pressure to the leader before taking control himself through

six furlongs in a withering 1:09 1/5 and setting sail for home at the top of the

lane.

As the tempo began to take its inevitable toll on both Remarkable News and

Sweet Return, the closers kicked into gear, and a veritable cavalry charge broke

out in midstretch. Three Valleys (Diesis [GB]), the nearly 3-1 favorite, and

Captain Kurt (NZ) (Volksraad) briefly telegraphed that they could be involved in

the finish, but each flattened out before making a serious impact.

Meanwhile, Valenzuela had steered Becrux to the center of the course, and his

mount burst from the pack to secure a tenuous lead. Rebel Rebel then uncorked

his rally even wider out, and with ground devouring strides, looked as if he

would overpower Becrux. The closer he came, however, the more determinedly

Becrux knuckled down for the fight. The Drysdale charge managed to hold his

rival at bay, reeling off the mile on firm turf in 1:33 4/5.

Another 1 1/4 lengths adrift came Ad Valorem (Danzig), who closed

purposefully late to snare third by a head from a brave Sweet Return. Remarkable

News tired to fifth, followed by Therecomesatiger (Tiger Ridge), Three Valleys,

Diamond Green (Fr) (Green Desert), Captain Kurt, Dalavin (Native Regent), Shoal

Water (Smart Strike), Vanderlin (GB) (Halling) and Ballast (Ire) (Desert Prince

[Ire]).

Leaving the gate as the fifth choice in the wagering at odds of 8-1, Becrux

furnished mutuels of $18.70, $8 and $5.90 while keying $2 exotics worth $145.20

(exactor) and $1,166.90 (triactor). The 6-1 Rebel Rebel returned $7.50 and $6.10

at 6-1, and Ad Valorem yielded $5.10 at 5-1. With the 9-1 Sweet Return occupying

fourth, the $1 superfecta (10-11-5-2) swelled to $6,378.65.

Owned by Team Valor and Gary Barber, Becrux advanced his record to 19-8-1-4

and deposited Sunday's lucrative payday of $536,160 to his account, bringing his

total up to $834,236. The well traveled bay began his career in his Italian

homeland, winning his first four starts as a two-year-old, including the 2004

Premio del Dado. Acquired by Team Valor and transferred to South African

horseman Michael de Kock, Becrux wintered in Dubai and evoked high hopes for a

classic campaign. Although he scored an impressive allowance win on the dirt at

Nad al Sheba, he was soundly beaten when unplaced in both the 2005 U.A.E. Two

Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3) and U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2).

The bay was then shipped to the United States and returned to the turf. He

showed flashes of talent when taking the first division of the 2005 Oceanside S.

at Del Mar for Drysdale, but despite a pair of stakes-placed efforts thereafter,

he remained something of an underachiever considering his early reputation.

After being gelded over the winter, Becrux finally seemed to turn the corner

when returning to Del Mar, scoring in the Wickerr H. two starts ago. He prepped

for this engagement in Woodbine's Play the King S. (Can-G2), in which he stormed

home late for second.

Bred by Scuderia Siba Spa in Italy, Becrux is a son of the winning Persian

Heights mare Rebecca Parisi. This is the family of 1993 Cheveley Park S.

(Eng-G1) heroine Prophecy (Warning [GB]), English Group 3 winner Andaleeb (Lyphard)

and current Brazilian Group 3 victor Deuteronomio (Baynoun [Ire]). Becrux's

third dam is 1973 Kentucky Oaks (G2) queen Bag of Tunes (*Herbager), who was

also runner-up in that year's Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Alabama S.

(G1).

Drysdale said that Becrux would point toward the October 7 Shadwell Turf Mile

S. (G1) at Keeneland.

Earlier on the card, Todd Pletcher sent out READY'S GAL (More Than Ready) to

post a wire-to-wire victory in the $313,117

Canadian

S. (Can-G2). With jockey Ramon Dominguez carefully rationing out her speed

through steady splits of :23, :47 and 1:11, the James Scatuorchio colorbearer

shifted into another gear entering the stretch and opened up by two lengths as

she reeled off a mile in 1:34 1/5. Three-year-old Arravale (Arch), the 4-5

favorite who stalked in second throughout, persevered in her dogged chase and

managed to claw to within a half-length at the wire, but she never posed a

danger to the winner. Ready's Gal completed nine furlongs on the turf in a sharp

1:46 2/5 to return $11.90, $5.70 and $3.70 as the 9-2 fourth choice.

Arravale's gritty determination resulted in payouts of $3 and $2.10 to her

supporters. Elle Runaway (El Prado [Ire]) raced evenly in third, yielding $3.80

to show at odds of 14-1. Ambitious Cat (Storm Cat) came just a nose behind in

fourth. German sophomore Almerita (Ger) (Medicean) lengthened her stride in

deep stretch to finish a flying fifth and continued to gallop out powerfully

well past the line. Velvet Snow (Subordination) rounded out the order of finish.

Ready's Gal boosted her earnings to $609,603 from her 16-7-2-1 line. The

Canadian represented her fifth career stakes win. Successful last time out in

the Matchmaker S. (G3) at Monmouth Park, the four-year-old chestnut filly had

captured the Hillsborough S. (G3) earlier this year as well as the 2005 editions

of the Lake George S. (G3) and Little Silver S. As a juvenile, she placed second

in the Frizette S. (G1).

Out of multiple stakes queen Exquisite Mistress (Nasty and Bold), the winner

is a half-sister to three-time stakes hero Go Scotty (Bold Ruckus). Another

half-sister, the unraced Guilty Pleasure (Pine Bluff), is herself the dam of

this year's Fantasy S. (G2) heroine, Ready to Please (More Than Ready), and

two-time juvenile stakes victress Chief Officer (Officer).

In the $224,830

Summer S.

(Can-G3), Frank Calabrese's homebred DREAMING OF ANNA (Rahy) thrashed a

field of colts to extend her unbeaten mark to three for three. After dueling

early with Seaside Links (Street Cry [Ire]) through fractions of :23 3/5 and :47

2/5, the Wayne Catalano juvenile put that rival away for good on the far turn

while clocking 1:12 for six furlongs. When the previously undefeated Marcavelly

(Johannesburg) appeared poised to challenge in upper stretch, Rene Douglas

simply gave Dreaming of Anna the signal, and she quickly asserted her

superiority to draw off by 3 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:35 for the grassy

mile. Dispatched as the 2-1 second choice, the chestnut paid $6.30, $4.10 and

$3.70.

"I think she's the best filly I have ever ridden in my life," Douglas said.

"I've been on nice fillies before, but this filly gives me goose (bumps). I

think people are going to fall in love with this filly. She made the boys look

bad today."

Marcavelly had to settle for being the best of the rest, crossing the wire 4

3/4 lengths ahead of his nearest rival to give back $2.70 and $2.60 as the

nearly 7-5 favorite. The unheralded Orna (Tethra) hung on for third at 55-1,

returning a healthy $11. Next came Streets Ahead (GB) (Beat Hollow [GB]),

Seaside Links, Walk With Kings (Monarchos), L. A. Boy (Explicit), Samurai Prince

(War Chant) and Approval Rating (Lemon Drop Kid), who broke in the air.

The winner more than tripled her bankroll to $186,240. In her prior start,

Dreaming of Anna sprinted home by 7 1/4 lengths in the Tippett S., setting a new

course record for 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Colonial Downs. She had been

entered in last Sunday's Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Lassie S. (G3) on

the main track but was withdrawn when the dirt turned to a sea of slop.

Dreaming of Anna was produced by multiple stakes heroine Justenuffheart

(Broad Brush), making her a full sister to stakes-winning sophomore Lewis

Michael, who was second in the May 20 Peter Pan S. (G2) and third in the August

26 St. Louis Derby. Justenuffheart is herself a half-sister to 2004 champion

turf horse Kitten's Joy (El Prado [Ire]) as well as current Grade 3-placed

performer Precious Kitten (Catienus).

"I told Mr. Calabrese, I think we have something very, very special here,"

Catalano said. "We have the Breeders' Cup (Juvenile Fillies [G1] at Churchill

Downs on November 4) in the back of our minds."