Turf Diary

TURF DIARY

APRIL 10, 2007

by Kellie Reilly

Given the unmitigated failure of our American turf brigade at Nad al Sheba on

Dubai World Cup night, the brightest spot in the division was the successful

reappearance of ASHKAL WAY (Ire) (Ashkalani) in the April 1 Lure S. at

Gulfstream Park.

The Godolphin colorbearer galloped in fourth in a five-horse field for much

of the 1 1/16-mile contest, and just when the leading pair tried to make a break

for it on the far turn, Ashkal Way produced a fine burst of speed to challenge.

The chestnut gelding lost a bit of momentum when careering wide on the turn, but

once straightening in the stretch drive, he comfortably reeled in a super-game

CLASSIC CAMPAIGN (Rahy). As usual, Ashkal Way managed to do just enough

to win, and rider Jose Velez Jr. did not look unduly concerned as he scored by a

measured head at the wire. He may at times create an illusion of being

life-and-death in midstretch, but Ashkal Way has plenty up his sleeve.

Ashkal Way has now won seven of eight outings in the United States. The Lure

marked his fourth victory in a row, following the Bernard Baruch H. (G2), Kelso

Breeders' Cup H. (G2) and Citation H. (G1) in his 2006 finale. His lone setback

was a commendable second to a loose-on-the-lead REMARKABLE NEWS (Ven) (Chayim)

in the Fourstardave H. (G2) at Saratoga last August. Assistant trainer Rick

Mettee mentioned that the May 28 Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile S. (G1) at

Hollywood Park is on his itinerary, but Ashkal Way could appear before then. By

October, he may well be the best American-based horse in the Breeders' Cup Mile

(G1) at Monmouth Park.

It may be worth remembering, however, that if the Godolphin brain trust

thought him capable of racing at the highest level in Europe, he would probably

be there, or aiming for the big prizes in the Far East. Of course, there could

be other reasons to campaign him in America -- reliably firm turf and

permissible use of race-day Lasix, for instance. Still, the evidence of the

recent Dubai races is fairly convincing. In a clear dichotomy, American-based

older horses ratified their supremacy on the dirt in the Dubai World Cup

(UAE-G1), Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) and Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2), while on the

turf, the internationals shellacked our Americans in the Dubai Duty Free

(UAE-G1) and Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1). That's not to say that all of our

American turf horses ran up to their best, or didn't have any valid excuses, but

it's hard to ignore the pattern when they all finished in the bottom five in

their respective races.

The poor American showing in the 1 1/2-mile Sheema was the more

understandable of the two debacles. HONEY RYDER (Lasting Approval) was taking on

males, HOST (Chi) (Hussonet) was stepping up dramatically in distance,

and OBRIGADO (Fr) (Enrique) hadn't really distinguished himself among a

suspect group in California. Moreover, Host's forward position in the early

stages may not have helped matters. They were going farcically slowly, to be

sure, but I was a little surprised that he wasn't using his tried-and-true

rating tactics. Honey Ryder finished 11th, Host ultimately retreated to 12th,

while Obrigado checked in 13th of 14.

The three American candidates in the nearly 1 1/8-mile Duty Free had solid

credentials, yet their results were just as dreadful. LAVA MAN (Slew City

Slew) and ENGLISH CHANNEL (Smart Strike) both raced prominently early

before throwing in the towel, with English Channel crossing the wire in 12th and

Lava Man last of 16. Reigning turf champion and Breeders' Cup Mile hero

MIESQUE'S APPROVAL (Miesque's Son) was always far out of it and wound up

15th. At least Miesque's Approval looked to be off form going into the race and

has now been retired, but the same can't be said for the other two.

Unfortunately, Lava Man is a one-state wonder after all, and we can only hope

that he's still around whenever the Breeders' Cup returns to California. English

Channel must be better than his showing, but given the performances of the

winning ADMIRE MOON (End Sweep) and runner-up LINNGARI (Indian Ridge), I doubt

he would have troubled either of them even at his best.

I'll recap the Duty

Free and Sheema more fully in the next International Diary later this month.

Back stateside, winners of three Saturday stakes flattered both English

Channel and Lava Man. English Channel's erstwhile pacemaker ICY ATLANTIC

(Stormy Atlantic), who finished second to Lava Man in the Sunshine Millions

Turf, displayed a smart turn of foot to get up by a head in the Arcadia H. (G2)

at Santa Anita. Icy Atlantic has had a very productive winter in California, and

it will be interesting to see if he can duplicate that form now that he's

heading to Kentucky. MENDING FENCES (Forestry), who chased English

Channel in his course record-setting allowance race at Gulfstream, posted a

front-running victory in the John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf H. (G3) at Sam

Houston. According to Carla Wolfson, trainer Marty Wolfson's wife-cum-assistant,

Mending Fences is very well regarded, and his connections have high hopes that

he'll pick up the mantle of Miesque's Approval. GO BETWEEN (Point Given),

who finished third to Lava Man and Icy Atlantic in the Sunshine Millions Turf

two starts back, captured the Cherokee River Stables Turf Classic S. at Tampa

Bay Downs.

In his previous start, Go Between finished fourth in the February 24

Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Turf S. (G1) to JAMBALAYA (Langfuhr), who

came right back to score in the March 31 Pan American H. (G3) at 1 1/2 miles.

Once again, the Canadian-bred gelding enjoyed an ideal rail-skimming trip, with

Javier Castellano executing a perfectly timed move on the far turn to set the

stage for his rousing stretch run. The Catherine Day Phillips charge will now

head north of the border.

As smart as Jambalaya looked in the Pan American, I was even more taken with

the effort of runner-up HOTSTUFANTHENSOME (Awesome Again). The classy

veteran was shuffled back a bit on the clubhouse turn, moved forward abruptly to

re-establish a better position on the backstretch, and just when he finally got

a breather, Jambalaya commenced his rally on the far turn, and "Hotstuf" had to

pick up again to chase after him. After traveling wide into the stretch, Hotstuf

lengthened beautifully inside the final furlong and failed to catch Jambalaya by

a half-length. Had their trips been reversed, I'm not so sure Jambalaya would

have beaten Hotstuf. Note that last year, Hotstuf finished a battling second to

both Ashkal Way and Miesque's Approval.

Marathoners were also in action at Santa Anita in the March 24 San Luis Rey

H. (G2). FOURTY NINERS SON (Distorted Humor), who had a forgettable

three-race campaign last year, returned to his stellar form of 2005. Early in

the 1 1/2-mile affair, the Neil Drysdale charge showed that he had his game face

on, as he traveled strongly in second, very much on the bridle without being too

aggressive, and telegraphing that he was ready and willing to deliver at any

given moment. He was given his cue on the far turn, and as the race turned into

an all-out sprint, Fourty Niners Son finished energetically to take the honors

by one length.

NOTABLE GUEST (Kingmambo) closed from far back like the proverbial

freight train for second, just nosing out PROSPECT PARK (GB) (Sadler's

Wells), who ran a much better race than it may at first appear. After a bobble

at the break, Prospect Park was rank early while near the back of the pack,

passed rivals going by the stands for the first time to reach third, moved in

tandem with Fourty Niners Son on the far turn, but could not match his

acceleration and tired a bit late to just lose second. Prospect Park has plenty

of back class, having missed by a head in the 2004 Prix du Jockey Club (French

Derby) (Fr-G1), and the San Luis Rey was his second start after a 16-month

layoff. With this race under his belt, a clean break, and a more settled trip,

the Richard Mandella trainee could rebound next time.

Looking forward, Friday's Maker's Mark Mile S. (G2) at Keeneland could be a

blockbuster, if Secretariat S. (G1) and Hollywood Derby (G1) hero SHOWING UP

(Strategic Mission) makes his eagerly awaited seasonal reappearance in that

spot. Others expected to line up include the aforementioned Remarkable News

and River City H. (G3) winner BAYEUX (Red Ransom), who's exiting a

near-miss in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1).