Thoroughbred Beat

THOROUGHBRED BEAT

JUNE 29, 2006

by James Scully

Presence -- SHOWING UP (Strategic Mission) romped by 3 1/4 lengths in

Saturday's $1 million Colonial Turf Cup, collaring a loose-on-the-lead Kip

Deville (Kipling) with a dynamic finish in his turf debut.

Barbaro, who shares the same owners, used to crush his competition in similar style on the grass, and Showing

Up's only career setback came behind that rival in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He

entered that race with little foundation, owning only three career starts after

making his career debut in mid-February, and was on a tight schedule in the

final month after missing the Wood Memorial (G1) due to a foot bruise, forcing

trainer Barclay Tagg to prep in the Lexington S. (G2) two weeks out. The Lael

Stables colorbearer still ran a very admirable sixth at Churchill Downs in the

Derby and

received a well-deserved freshening afterward. Tagg picked the colt up for

$60,000 for his owners at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic two-year-old sale and has done a fantastic job managing him. There's no telling how good Showing Up

will wind up being on the turf. In the Colonial Cup, pacesetter Kip Deville

didn't quit after opening a 15+ length lead on the backstretch. He still led by

about 10 leaving the far turn and easily held second. Showing Up just blew by

him. The scary thing is that this was just the starting point.

Tough beat -- Jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. suffered a broken collarbone

and the connections of NEW JOYSEY JEFF (Bright Launch) endured a tough loss in

Sunday's Cinema Breeders' Cup H. (G3). Defeat was snatched from the jaws of

victory when New Joysey Jeff suddenly ducked to the outside in upper stretch,

unseating Valdivia in the midst of a winning move aboard the promising sophomore

turf runner. The bay colt made his career debut on the lawn in early January and

closed strongly to win going away at 31-1. Switching to the main track for his

next four starts, New Joysey Jeff finished third in the San Vicente S. (G2) and

recorded unplaced finishes in the San Felipe S. (G2) and Arkansas Derby (G2)

before returning to his preferred surface in the Will Rogers S. (G3). The Mark

Glatt trainee just missed that afternoon, finishing three-quarters of a length

second to Stratham (Ire) (Mozart [Ire]), and carried that momentum forward in

the Cinema. New Joysey Jeff had already hit the front and appeared ready to pull

clear when mishap struck on Sunday, and he's another good-looking three-year-old

in the turf ranks this season.

Minister -- John Ward unveiled MINISTER'S BID (Deputy Minister) over a

speed-favoring Keeneland track in mid-April, and the bay colt swooped past his

rivals from far back on the turn to win the 6 1/2-furlong sprint by a stirring 8

3/4 lengths. Making his second career start last Thursday in a one-mile

allowance at Belmont Park, the three-year-old left no doubt that he's going to

be a major player in upcoming Grade 1 stakes. Minister's Bid squared off against

stakes-tested rivals Flashy Bull (Holy Bull) and Racketeer (Awesome Again) off

the 70-day layoff and rated comfortably just off the pace before striking at the

top of the stretch, moving comfortably under Edgar Prado to challenge for the

lead before eventually drawing clear to an authoritative 2 1/4-length decision.

He earned another superb BRIS Speed rating (104) for the impressive effort and

is only going to keep getting better. Bred to run all day (out of Grade 3 winner

Princess Pietrina [Spectacular Bid]), Minister's Bid makes this year's Travers

S. (G1) an even more exciting prospect.

Heat -- Another talented three-year-old, LATENT HEAT (Maria's Mon),

left a favorable impression last week when crushing allowance rivals at Belmont

Park. A maiden winner second time out, the Bobby Frankel-trained colt

immediately stepped up to challenge Brother Derek (Benchmark) in March's Santa

Catalina S. (G2) and set the pace before tiring to third. He exited the race

with an injury and didn't re-appear until Saturday, facing only four rivals in a

seven-furlong, entry-level test. Latent Heat went right to the lead and never

drew a deep breath over the muddy track, opening up a double-digit advantage on

the far turn en route to a 9 1/2-length decision under a motionless Kent

Desormeaux. He notched a 100 Speed rating, his third triple-digit number in four

career attempts, and his future looks very bright. Despite the loss of its best

runner, Barbaro, the three-year-old division remains very deep with talent.

Comic relief -- Jesse Jackson showed up at the Jockeys' Guild meeting

on Monday and the good reverend was harping about a lack of respect.

Jockeys aren't getting any of it, according to Jackson, and he's ready to help.

It gets even better. Jackson was on hand to throw his support behind Dennis

Rodman and Karl Malone's former agent, Dwight Manley, for the post of national

manager. Manley, in all seriousness, compared the current plight

of jockeys to the lack of respect that Malone and Rodman received during their

playing days. Every time I hear Malone or Rodman's name, I can't help but feel

sorry for the indignities they suffered. Board members John Velazquez, Edgar Prado, Mark Guidry and Jon Court hopefully enjoyed a good laugh at the prospect

of bringing in a firestorm of controversy, but they must realize that they've

been down this path before. Dr. G owned excellent qualifications, but he was an

outsider with limited knowledge of Thoroughbred racing who promised to come in

and help jockeys. Manley and Jackson are selling the same line.

They talk an exceptional game, but that's all it is. Height doesn't have

anything to do with intelligence, but you'd never know it if the Jockeys' Guild

hires Manley and Jackson.