Three-Year-Olds & Up

THREE-YEAR-OLDS & UP DIARY

JUNE 20, 2007

by James Scully

The February 3 Donn H. (G1) was the first major event for older horses this

season, and Horse of the Year INVASOR (Arg) (Candy Stripes) returned in

excellent form, overcoming a stumble at the top of the stretch to post a

two-length victory, his fifth consecutive triumph in North America. Invasor is

clearly the class of his division, taking the March 31 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1)

by 1 3/4 lengths last time out, and he'll look for back-to-back wins in his

first race back stateside, the June 30 Suburban H. (G1). The five-year-old horse

has recorded three works this month for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, including a

smoking five-furlong move in :59 2/5 at Belmont Park on Saturday, and Invasor

may not face a serious challenge until he takes on three-year-olds in the fall.

Multiple Grade 1 hero Premium Tap (Pleasant Tap) had developed into a

formidable foe, finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) prior to

wrapping up 2006 a smashing 7 1/4-length triumph in the Clark H. (G1), and he

put Invasor to the test before finishing second in the Dubai World Cup. However,

his new connections have decided to keep him in the Middle East this year.

CORINTHIAN (Pulpit) demonstrated his versatility in the 1 3/16-mile

Gulfstream Park H. (G2), winning the March 3 race by a neck, and turned in a

stellar performance when cutting back to a more favorable distance in the

Metropolitan Mile H. (G1) most recently, winning by three parts of a length

while posting a 107 Speed rating. The James Jerkens-trained four-year-old is

expected to stretch out to a 10 furlongs for a match-up with the champ in the

Suburban.

LAWYER RON (Langfuhr) also deserves mention. The Todd Pletcher charge opened

his four-year-old season with a sharp allowance/optional claiming score at

Gulfstream and returned to Oaklawn Park -- site of last year's victories in the

Arkansas Derby (G2), Rebel S. (G3) and Southwest S. -- to dominate the April 7

Oaklawn H. (G2) by four lengths. Lawyer Ron exits a respectable third in the Met

Mile, and he's proven effective at distances up to nine furlongs.

On the West Coast, LAVA MAN (Slew City Slew) remains the king of the

mountain, winning the March 3 Santa Anita H. (G1) in his lone start on the main

track this year, but BUZZARDS BAY (Marco Bay) is definitely one to keep an eye

upon. A stylish 6 1/2-length winner of the 2006 Oaklawn H., the Grade 1-winning

Buzzards Bay made only one more start last year before heading to the sidelines

with an ankle injury. After returning with a decent third in the May 5 Mervyn

LeRoy H. (G2), five-year-old displayed much more last time, rallying boldly to

win the Californian S. (G2) at Hollywood Park.

Buzzards Bay and Lava Man, who had his nine-race winning skein in Southern

California snapped with a runner-up finish in the grassy Charles Whittingham

Memorial S. (G1) last out, were scheduled to meet in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1)

on June 30, but Buzzards Bay is out of the 1 1/4-mile event due to a sore back.

Trainer Ron Ellis hopes to have him back by Del Mar.

MOLENGAO (Brz) (Royal Academy) is another performer of note in California,

opening the year with a victory in the San Antonio H. (G2) before recording a

fast-closing second in the Big 'Cap. The six-year-old Paulo Lobo runner exits a

superb score in the Mervyn LeRoy, equaling a career-best Speed rating (103) for

the 4 1/2-length decision.

BOB AND JOHN (Seeking the Gold) is making some noise for Bob Baffert,

shipping to Texas to compete twice so far in 2007. Winner of last year's Wood

Memorial (G1), the dark bay colt returned from a lengthy layoff to finish a

close second in the Texas Mile S. (G3) two starts back, and Bob and John

recorded a convincing tally in the Lone Star Park H. (G3) most recently.

SURF CAT (Sir Cat) looms as a very exciting player in the older horse

division. Unbeaten in three starts last year (all Grade 2s), the five-year-old

hasn't been seen under silks since taking the Mervyn LeRoy by 3 1/2 lengths 13

months ago. Surf Cat has been working steadily for Bruce Headley since March,

and he's got the talent to be a major player in upcoming Grade 1 events if he

makes it back to the races successfully.