Thoroughbred Beat

THOROUGHBRED BEAT

FEBRUARY 15, 2007

by James Scully

Upset master -- Richard Violette Jr. orchestrated the upsets of two

heavily favored three-year-olds on Saturday, defeating the 2-5 Dreaming of Anna

(Rahy) with DREAM RUSH (Wild Rush) in the Old Hat S. (G3) and the 1-2 Lawrence

the Roman (Point Given) with SUMMER DOLDRUMS (Street Cry [Ire]) in the Whirlaway

S. Both won on the lead. Dreaming of Anna, who entered the Old Hat unbeaten and

was listed in Pool 1 of both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1)

Future Wager, appears to have fallen off both bandwagons with her third-place

finish as trainer Wayne Catalano said he plans to keep her on the grass in the

future. The previously undefeated Lawrence the Roman suffered a similar fall

from grace with a well-beaten fifth. Touted as a serious Derby contender by

Richard Dutrow Jr. off three dominating wins versus New York-bred rivals,

Lawrence the Roman was exposed versus open company in the Whirlaway. As a

result, owner Lawrence Roman decided to refund the recent purchase of an

interest in the colt. Dreaming of Anna and Lawrence the Roman had captured their

recent starts in front-running fashion, but Violette's runners beat them both at

their own game on Saturday.

Superb -- RAGS TO RICHES (A.P. Indy) jumped from a maiden special

weight victory to Saturday's Las Virgenes S. (G1) in grand style, knocking off

the best three-year-old fillies in California following an extremely difficult

trip. Breaking from the far outside (post 8) in the one-mile event, the $1.9

million yearling took a right turn exiting the gate and was carried at least

five paths wide into the first turn by Santa Ynez S. (G2) winner Jump On In

(Jump Start), who suffered the toll of her wide early trip when fading late.

Rags to Riches raced at the back of the pack while well off the rail down the

backstretch and rallied widest of all through the far turn, entering the stretch

about five wide with plenty left to do to catch the free-running pacesetter,

Santa Ysabel S. (G3) winner BARONESS THATCHER (Johannesburg). The inexperienced

Rags to Riches could've easily hung late following such a difficult journey, but

she determinedly wore down her rival and was going away late, crossing the wire

with a three-quarter of a length advantage. A half-sister to Belmont S. (G1)

winner Jazil (Seeking the Gold), Rags to Riches is the premiere sophomore filly

in the nation.

Regal return -- CORINTHIAN (Pulpit) made a smashing 2007 debut at

Gulfstream Park last week, winning a 1 1/8-mile allowance/optional claiming

event by 9 1/2 widening lengths over Jazil, who turned in an encouraging

performance to finish a clear second. Unraced since a third at Saratoga in late

July, Corinthian pressed the pace before taking over on the final bend and flew

home, registering a 114 BRIS Late Pace and a 108 Speed rating. If this year's

Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) were held at Gulfstream, his connections would be in

hog heaven. But the Classic will take place in New Jersey, and Corinthian must

still prove effective outside of Hallandale, Florida. He's finished first in all

three career starts over the oval (disqualified to third in the Fountain of

Youth S. [G2]), and the $350,000 Gulfstream Park H. (G2) on March 3 should be

next for the exciting four-year-old colt.

Commanding -- MASTER COMMAND (A.P. Indy) stamped himself as a major

player in the handicap ranks with an excellent six-length score in Saturday's

Mineshaft H. (G3) at Fair Grounds, earning a career-best 109 BRIS Speed rating

in the process. A late-blooming five-year-old, the Todd Pletcher-trained horse

didn't make his stakes debut until last April and recorded his second stakes

victory when taking the Meadowlands Breeders' Cup S. (G2) in mid-October. After

concluding last season with a credible fourth in the Clark H. (G1), Master

Command appeared much stronger on Saturday. It should be no surprise to see him

keep improving.

Eventful prep -- Saturday's Risen Star S. (G3) nearly turned

disastrous for the connections of CIRCULAR QUAY (Thunder Gulch), who lost all

chance when a rival clipped heels and lost his rider in upper stretch. The

late-running colt certainly had the opportunity to make a serious impact as the

top-three finishers rated well off the fast early pace in the 1 1/16-mile test.

NOTIONAL (In Excess [Ire]) avoided trouble while rallying to a 2 1/4-length

decision, notching his second straight stakes victory. The Doug O'Neill-trained

colt didn't earn a triple-digit Speed rating (97) for his facile four-length

score over questionable company in the San Rafael S. (G2), and he received only

a 100 on Saturday. Those figures aren't going to get it done this spring.

Interestingly, the Risen Star was run in the same time as the Silverbulletday S.

(G3), which was captured by Appealing Zophie (Successful Appeal) one race

earlier. A Grade 1-winning sprinter, Appealing Zophie had failed in her three

previous attempts around two turns. On Saturday, the front runner got away with

opening fractions in :24 3/5 and :48 4/5.

Slow prep -- The seven-furlong San Vicente S. (G2) isn't a serious

Kentucky Derby prep any more. Santa Anita already hosts the San Rafael at one

mile in mid-January, and the San Vicente is sandwiched between the Sham

S. (G3) and Robert B. Lewis S. (G2), which are both well-situated for Triple

Crown hopefuls. Only five runners showed up in the starting gate on Sunday, and

NOBLE COURT (Doneraile Court) was all out to hold off Law Breaker (Silver

Deputy) at the wire after blowing past that rival into the stretch. He received

only a 90 Speed rating.

Fitting tribute -- Mom's Command was one of the best distaffers in the

last 25 years, sweeping the 1985 Triple Tiara in convincing fashion before

concluding her career with a four-length triumph in the Alabama S. (G1). It's

unfortunate that she didn't get the opportunity to win the Breeders' Cup Distaff

(G1) due to injury, but the champion headed to the breeding shed with high

expectations of passing along her class. It didn't turn out that way, with her

first 12 registered foals all failing to win a stakes race, and Mom's Command

was euthanized on February 3. That's why it was so fitting to see her

four-year-old son, JONESBORO (Sefapiano), capture Saturday's Essex H. (G3) at

Oaklawn Park. Like his legendary dam, Jonesboro used his speed to crush the

opposition en route to a 5 3/4-length decision.