Thoroughbred Beat

THOROUGHBRED BEAT

NOVEMBER 15, 2007

by James Scully

Tagged -- Conditioner Barclay Tagg swept both graded stakes last

Saturday, winning Aqueduct's Red Smith H. (G2) with DAVE (Ends Wells) and

Churchill Downs' Mrs. Revere S. (G2) with BIT OF WHIMSY (Distorted Humor). Dave,

a six-year-old New York-bred gelding making his graded debut, was dismissed at

nearly 15-1 off a fifth in his previous start, the restricted Mohawk H. There

was nothing surprising about Bit of Whimsy's victory. A maiden special weight

winner in late April, the three-year-old miss captured the Sands Point S. (G3)

next out in a dead-heat with Rutherienne (Pulpit), who went on to win the Del

Mar Oaks (G1) a few starts later, but Bit of Whimsy could not overcome a

stumbling start when fourth in the Virginia Oaks in her following appearance.

She rebounded with a close second in the Garden City S. (G1), and the

chestnut put it all together in her next two outings, taking the Queen Elizabeth

II Invitational Challenge Cup (G1) by a commanding 2 1/4 lengths prior to the

Mrs. Revere. Bit of Whimsy cut back to 1 1/16 miles on Saturday and utilized a

strong late run to prevail by a half-length, registering a career-best 102 BRIS

Speed rating in the process, and she'll be one of the leading turf distaffers in

2008.

Sad note -- One of the favorites for the 2008 Breeders' Cup Distaff

(G1) is out of the picture. OCTAVE (Unbridled's Song) suffered a tough beat in

this year's edition at Monmouth Park, offering a tremendous rally from the back

of the pack to reach contention in upper stretch, with dueling leaders Ginger

Punch (Awesome Again) and Hystericalady (Distorted Humor) clearly in her sights,

before coming up a half-length short. It was the story of her sophomore season

as the gray filly recorded four seconds and a pair of thirds from eight starts

in 2007, but there was plenty of optimism for 2008. Octave would've been bigger

and stronger at four, capable of taking her game to a new level, but that isn't

going to happen. The multiple Grade 1 heroine went on the auction block at the

Fasig-Tipton Selected November sale, with the hammer falling at $4 million to

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, and her new connections recently

announced plans to retire her. As a result, Thoroughbred racing lost one of its

top female performers before she reached her prime.

Riches -- Kudos to the connections of RAGS TO RICHES (A.P. Indy).

Winner of the Belmont S. (G1), the sophomore filly suffered a season-ending

injury when suffering her first loss of the year in the Gazelle S. (G1) in

mid-September. She's as valuable as they come for a filly, but the breeding

appeal is different for fillies than colts -- one foal a year for mares compared

to hundreds for a top-class stallion. Retirement remained a very viable option

for Rags to Riches,

but her connections recently announced their intentions to keep the

champion-to-be in training for 2008. Good news indeed!

Dickinson -- Nicknamed "The Mad Genius," Michael Dickinson is anything

but mad when you talk to him. He's bright, charming and insightful, with a

burning desire to improve safety for horses, and it's sad to see him leave the

training business even for a good cause. Dickinson will always be remembered for

two exceptional training feats, one on each side of the Atlantic Ocean. In 1983,

he saddled the top five finishers in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, England's biggest

steeplechase race. That achievement was voted "The Greatest Training Feat" ever

by Racing Post readers. In the United States, Dickinson sent out Da Hoss

to win the 1996 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). Following a two-year layoff, with only

a non-descript allowance win at Colonial Downs in between, Dickinson

stunningly brought Da Hoss back to championship level as the six-year-old

gelding gamely captured the 1998 Mile by a head. The 57-year-old will continue

to leave his mark with Tapeta footings, but Dickinson will be missed as a

conditioner.

Record-setter -- Garrett Gomez missed out to Edgar Prado in

the 2006 Eclipse Award race for leading jockey, but the 35-year-old rider won't

be denied his first Eclipse this season. The Arizona native has enjoyed a banner

year, winning the Bill Shoemaker Award for top performance by a jockey in the

Breeders' Cup after recording two wins and a pair of placings at Monmouth Park,

and Gomez registered his record-setting 71st stakes win of the year on Sunday,

guiding Spring Awakening (In Excess [Ire]) to a two-length score in the Moccasin

S. at Hollywood Park. Gomez also leads all North American riders with more than

$21.5 million in purse earnings this year. With more than a month remaining in

2007, Gomez figures to set the bar much higher.

Mambo King -- Keeneland established a new November sales mark on

Tuesday, with gross receipts exceeding $321 million, and KINGMAMBO's influence

was felt during the blockbuster opening-day session on November 5 as four of the

top-selling seven mares, including the $10.5 sales topper, were bred to the

17-year-old stallion in 2007. Kingmambo was responsible for the 2006 Keeneland

September sales topper, a $11.7 million colt that brought the second-highest

price in Keeneland sales history, and that unraced juvenile colt, named Meydan

City, is currently based overseas with Godolphin. Kingmambo offers plenty of

appeal to foreign buyers. He's sired some top North American runners, including

champion Lemon Drop Kid and multiple Grade 1 queen and millionaire Voodoo

Dancer, but his greatest success has come abroad. Divine Proportions, Russian

Rhythm, Rule of Law, Alkaased, Virginia Waters, Malhub, Okawango, Light Shift,

King's Best, Dubai Destination, Bluemamba, Thewayyouare, El Condor Pasa, King

Kamehameha and Tawqeet are all Group/Grade 1 international winners by Kingmambo.