Thoroughbred Beat

THOROUGHBRED BEAT

MAY 24, 2007

by James Scully

Hilltop mastery -- The tighter turns at Pimlico couldn't stop CURLIN

(Smart Strike). While kidding about the turns, I loved the performance of the Preakness S. (G1) winner.

I didn't think he could catch STREET SENSE (Street Cry [Ire]), and he did it

very impressively. Now four-for-five overall, Curlin lagged

more than a dozen lengths off the fast early pace after stumbling at the start

at Pimlico, and he experienced trouble in the early stages of both the

Kentucky Derby (G1) and Rebel S. (G3). The lightly raced colt has been able to

overcome it in two-of-three starts, making me wonder how good he'll be when he

puts it all together (he won the Arkansas Derby [G2] by 10 1/2 lengths with a

clean trip). The February 3 debuter has been able to do so much in such a short

period of time.

Let her run -- RAGS TO RICHES (A.P. Indy) belongs in the Belmont S.

(G1). A

half-sister to last year's Belmont S. (G1) winner Jazil (Seeking the Gold), she's much better than her sibling

and exits a 4 1/4-length romp in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in which she earned a

109 BRIS Speed rating. A maiden winner in early January, she's rapidly improving

and deserves the chance at a distance that should fit her like a glove. Curlin

exits two taxing performances and remains a candidate to regress after coming so

far in less than four months. Hard Spun (Danzig) might be over the top. Street

Sense, who hails from a Dixieland Band mare, might be less

effective at 12 furlongs. Why not give Rags to Riches the opportunity? It makes sense to me, but

it's probably not going to happen. I'm afraid owner Michael Tabor and

trainer Todd Pletcher will go ultra-conservative with her.

Barbaro winner -- Michael Matz isn't getting carried away following

CHELOKEE's (Cherokee Run) 4 3/4-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Barbaro S. on

Saturday. It was an emotional scene in the winner's circle, with Roy and

Gretchen Jackson presenting the trophy to the teary-eyed conditioner, and it was

great to see Matz return a winner on Preakness Day following last year's

circumstances. While Chelokee was visually impressive, he didn't beat much

while finishing up slowly. And Matz suggested earlier this week that they would

skip the "Test of Champions" with the promising colt and point toward other

events. D. Wayne Lukas would be talking about winning the Belmont S. (G1) if he trained

Chelokee (sprinter Flying First Class [Perfect

Mandate] finished last in the Preakness), but Matz is much more practical. The 1

1/2-mile distance isn't a good fit for him, and Chelokee doesn't need to be an

also-ran in such a difficult spot.

Maker's prep -- Saturday's Dixie S. (G2) was marred by the tragic breakdown

of pacesetter Mending Fences (Forestry), but REMARKABLE NEWS (Ven) (Chayim)

was still able to put in a very admirable performance. The 1 1/8-mile distance represented a severe

test for the miler (he had never been father than 8 1/2 furlongs), and Remarkable

News was stuck on the far outside in post 11. Jockey Ramon Dominguez delivered

the perfect ride to save ground entering the first turn, and Remarkable News

eventually proved best by three parts

of a length. Winner of last year's Fourstardave H. (G2) and Connaught Cup S.

(Can-G3), the Angel Penna Jr. charge flatters the April 13 Maker's Mark S. (G1)

at Keeneland. Sky Conqueror (Sky Classic) had already emerged from a fifth

(beaten 2 1/4 lengths) to capture the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic S. (G1) next

out, and Remarkable News, who finished a nose back of Sky Conqueror in sixth,

used the Maker's Mark as a springboard for the Dixie. Kip

Deville (Kipling), who will start in Monday's Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile S.

(G1) at Hollywood, defeated Showing Up (Strategic Mission) by a neck in the

Maker's Mark, which was one outstanding race.

Flashy -- Only a maiden winner when finishing 14th in last year's Kentucky

Derby (G1), FLASHY BULL (Holy Bull) concluded his sophomore season with an

overall mark of one-for-13. He's now won three straight this year for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. The gray colt notched his first stakes tally with a head

decision over Donn H. (G1) runner-up Hesanoldsalt (Broad Brush) in Saturday's

William Donald Schaefer H. (G3), earning a whopping 112 BRIS Speed rating in the

1 1/8-mile event. Flashy Bull is headed in the right direction presently.

96 hours to scratch -- If you love scratches, you've got to love the early

entry process. Nothing brings about a rash of scratches like taking entries four

days out. Tuesday was a normal day at Delaware Park with 15 scratches. The same

number scratched out of Monday's card, and 12 horses were withdrawn from

Sunday's nine-race program. It's a common occurrence at tracks which take

entries far in advance, and it's nerve-wracking for handicappers. Last Friday's

Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) card at Pimlico was a perfect example. Entries were

taken on Sunday -- five days out -- and despite fast and firm conditions, 26

horses wound up being pulled. But that's not a big surprise. At Delaware, Pimlico and other tracks with premature entry times, scratches are a problem.