Thoroughbred Beat

THOROUGHBRED BEAT

MARCH 15, 2007

by James Scully

Uncool -- Coolmore delivered a cruel blow by retiring HOLY ROMAN

EMPEROR (Danehill) early. With GEORGE WASHINGTON (Ire) (Danehill) having

fertility problems, Coolmore apparently made the move because they were deeply

concerned about breeders who had committed mares to the European champion. I

feel bad for George Washington, but Coolmore made matters worse by retiring a multiple

Group 1-winning sophomore in order to find a quick alternative. Holy Roman

Emperor deserved the opportunity to perform this year. Bred to win classic races,

the very young colt was denied the opportunity by his owners. Health wasn't an

issue. Aidan O'Brien labeled Holy Roman Emperor the best horse in his stable,

and we've lost a great budding rivalry between

him and TEOFILO (Galileo [Ire]). The latter is unbeaten, narrowly defeating Holy

Roman Emperor on two occasions while sprinting last season, but many expected to

see Holy Roman Emperor turn the tables on his adversary this spring. It's a

shame he won't get the chance.

No Derby -- D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time Kentucky Derby (G1) winner,

would never bypass the Run for the Roses with a filly who had a serious chance

at winning, but his pupil, Todd Pletcher (0-for-13 in the Derby), doesn't have

the same discretion to seize every opportunity. As a result, it's foolish to even consider RAGS TO RICHES (A.P. Indy) as a possibility for the

Derby. She's headed to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) the day before. Since breaking her

maiden at seven furlongs in early January, Rags to Riches has reeled off

consecutive Grade 1 victories, getting up in deep stretch to capture the

one-mile Las Virgenes S. (G1) following an extremely wide trip and taking the 1

1/16-mile Santa Anita Oaks (G1) in dominant fashion. With only four lifetime

starts, the chestnut lass will keep improving. Bred to relish a classic distance

of ground, Rags to Riches has all the physical tools to beat her counterparts,

quickly accelerating away from her rivals with an explosive turn of foot on the

far turn in the Santa Anita Oaks, and it makes sense to run her in the Derby if

she continues to progress. But her owners don't see it that way, and it's no surprise to see Coolmore involved in the decision-making.

They're in it strictly for the breeding side of the industry and have no interest

in winning the Derby with a filly. Rags to Riches is owned by Michael Tabor and

Derrick Smith, who are part of the Coolmore operation, and they couldn't be more

predictable. "She'll probably stick with the girls," Tabor said after the Santa

Anita Oaks. We can expect Coolmore to take the fun out of every situation.

Highs and lows -- BALANCE (Thunder Gulch) captured the 2006 runnings

of the Las Virgenes (G1) and Santa Anita Oaks (G1), but everything went awry

when she shipped to Kentucky in the spring. The David Hofmans charge was first

upset at 1-2 odds in the Ashland S. (G1), and she exited an 11th in the Kentucky

Oaks (G1) with an ankle chip that required surgery. After finishing third in her

first start back in late December, Balance finally returned to the winner's

circle with a victory in the February 11 La Canada S. (G2), and she took another

step forward in Saturday's Santa Margarita Invitational H. (G1). Runner-up

Ermine (Exchange Rate) was able to pin down Balance behind other horses when

getting first run on her rival approaching the stretch, but Balance gallantly

overcame adversity, swinging out to nail a game Ermine in deep stretch for the

half-length victory. Balance is back and better than ever. On the other hand,

ROUND POND (Awesome Again), who was making her first start since capturing the

Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) by 5 1/2 lengths, came up completely flat in Sunday's

Rampart H. (G2), finishing fourth at 2-5. Her 90 BRIS Speed rating was the

lowest figure she's earned since her career bow, and the remarkably consistent

five-year-old mare finished off the board for the first time in her 12-race

career. Round Pond will attempt to rebound in the April 7 Apple Blossom H. (G1),

and she loves the strip in Hot Springs, Arkansas, winning her last five starts

at Oaklawn Park.

Impressive maiden winners -- Bobby Frankel tied the late, great

Charlie Whittingham for wins at Santa Anita when sending out IN THE WOODS

(Forest Wildcat) to a smart 5 1/4-length maiden special weight score on

Saturday. Runner-up by a nose in his career bow, the gray colt was bred by Mrs.

Richard C. Dupont in Maryland and is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner

Shine Again (Wild Again) and Grade 2 winner Shiny Band (Dixieland Band). In the

Woods easily defeated the well-regarded Captivating Cat (Storm Cat) while making

his second career start, and the three-year-old is likely headed to stakes

company next time. Bruce Headley unveiled the sophomore filly MAGNIFICIENCE

(Stormy Atlantic) on Sunday at Santa Anita, and she created quite a buzz with

her amazing 6 1/2-length victory. Walking out of the gate in the 6 1/2-furlong

event, the chestnut still trailed by 10 lengths after the opening quarter-mile.

She offered a stirring rally while wide on the far turn to catch the front

runners, and blew past them with a full head of steam into the stretch.

Magnificience had turned in five bullets in her last eight works. She could prove to be something

special.

Champ is back -- Saturday's Tampa Bay Derby (G3) will mark the return

of juvenile champion STREET SENSE (Street Cry [Ire]), who has been training

forwardly in South Florida for Carl Nafzger. A 10-length winner of the Breeders'

Cup Juvenile (G1), Street Sense will face a worthy adversary in ANY GIVEN

SATURDAY (Distorted Humor), who has risen up the Kentucky Derby (G1) lists this

year for Todd Pletcher. Bred to run all day, Any Given Saturday captured his

first two career starts and finished a good second when making his stakes debut

in his juvenile finale, the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2). The promising colt

opened 2007 with a 2 3/4-length win in the Sam F. Davis S., and we'll get a

better indication of his quality, as well as where Street Sense is seven weeks

out from the Kentucky Derby (G1), on Saturday.