Thoroughbred Beat

THOROUGHBRED BEAT

NOVEMBER 16, 2006

by James Scully

Turf Festival -- The Cushion Track has been the center of attention

during the

current Hollywood Park meet, but I'm looking forward to the upcoming Turf

Festival, which will return following a one-year hiatus. The Citation H. (G1)

will kick off the three-day festivities on Thanksgiving, and Grade 1 heroes THE TIN MAN (Affirmed) and BECRUX (Ity) (Glen Jordan)

are expected to square off against East Coast invader ASHKAL WAY (Ire) (Ashkalani), winner of the Kelso Breeders'

Cup H. (G2) and Bernard Baruch H. (G2) in his last two outings. Talented

distaffers BEAUTYANDTHEBEAST (GB) (Machiavellian) and CLINET (Ire) (Docksider)

will renew their rivalry in the Matriarch S. (G1) after treating us to a great

battle in the Las Palmas H. (G2) last month, and the Hollywood Derby

(G1) is shaping up to be a dandy with SHOWING UP (Strategic Mission) heading

West to challenge a strong contingent of turf sophomores that includes DARK

ISLANDER (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]), OBRIGADO (Fr) (Enrique) and PORTO SANTO (Fr) (Kingsalsa).

Small fields -- Field sizes at Hollywood Park remain disappointing. The worktabs are packed each day at Hollywood and Santa Anita, but horses

tend to work a lot and race sparingly in Southern California. Oak Tree officials blamed smaller field sizes at

the end of their meet upon trainers waiting to run over the

Cushion Track, but the synthetic track hasn't made much difference. Last Sunday

was a good day, with only two five-horse fields on

Hollywood's program, but too many cards are like November 9, when seven of the

eight races contained less than eight starters. It's more common to see only

five or six horses in a race than nine or 10.

Bo-Rail -- He earned his first Breeders' Cup victory this year and

rides the early Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite, STREET SENSE (Street Cry [Ire]).

Calvin Borel has opened a commanding lead at the Churchill Downs fall meet with

21 wins (through Sunday), eight more than Shaun Bridgmohan in second, and

Churchill kingpins Rafael Bejarano (8-for-86) and Julien Leparoux (6-for-55)

have often found themselves staring at his backside. With a 24 percent win rate

at one of the country's most competitive meets, the 40-year-old native of

Louisiana has rejuvenated his career. Borel also loves to hug the rail.

Returnees -- It remains bittersweet that Bernardini has been retired

with only eight career starts after failing to win the biggest race in his

career, but some exciting older horses will be back next year. LAVA MAN (Slew

City Slew), a soon-to-be six-year-old gelding, could be a dominant force again

in California next season, but perhaps SURF CAT (Sir Cat), who went

three-for-three in 2006 with wins in the Mervyn LeRoy H. (G2), San Carlos H.

(G2) and Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup H. (G2) before heading to the sidelines,

can stay healthy and challenge the Doug O'Neill-trained gelding. STEVIE

WONDERBOY (Stephen Got Even) and BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark) will add further

depth to the handicap division in California. INVASOR (Arg) (Candy Stripes) and

DISCREET CAT (Forestry) are both expected back in the United States following

the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) in late March, and I'm anxious to see how PREMIUM

TAP (Pleasant Tap) develops. The John Kimmel trainee didn't make his stakes

debut until the Albert the Great S. in July, defeating Sun King (Charismatic) in

the 8 1/2-furlong event, and captured the Woodward S. (G1) two starts later at

31-1. Premium Tap nearly fell when clipping heels on the far turn in the

Kentucky Cup Classic (G2) next out and reportedly exited the race with a sore

shoulder. The bay colt rebounded with a top-class showing in the Breeders' Cup

Classic (G1), finishing 3 1/2 lengths back in third while earning a career-best

112 BRIS Speed rating, and he'll be better next year.

Turf to main track -- Grade 2 winner SILENT NAME (Jpn) (Sunday Silence),

sixth in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), won't be heading to stud next year as

originally planned. Trainer Gary Mandella told the Daily Racing Form that

he is looking forward to racing Silent Name over a synthetic track in 2007.

"He

really moved across the Polytrack much different than he would a conventional

track like Santa Anita," Mandella said.

Silent Name would never race on dirt,

but an all-weather track is different. We can all look forward to the day that

the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) is run over a synthetic surface because it will

open the door for the world's best turf horses to make a seamless transition and

win.