Turf Diary

TURF DIARY

JUNE 12, 2007

by Kellie Reilly

In recent weeks, elder statesmen have put the young whippersnappers firmly in

their place in three notable contests. THE TIN MAN (Affirmed) scored a

popular victory in the Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile S. (G1) on Memorial Day,

BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin Man) got up in time in the Manhattan H. (G1) on

Belmont Day, and HOST (Chi) (Hussonet) outclassed his opponents in the

May 26 Elkwood S., an event that could be more significant than its meager

$60,000 purse implies. There is one significant exception to this overarching

theme. A royally-bred "young turk," AFTER MARKET (Storm Cat), continued

his ascent through the ranks in no uncertain terms by blasting past LAVA MAN

(Slew City Slew) in Saturday's Charles Whittingham Memorial H. (G1).

Each of the old warhorses overcame obstacles of one sort or another to

triumph. The Tin Man, now nine years old, had not raced in eight months and was

facing a solid group of specialist milers at a distance much shorter than his

best. None of that mattered to the supremely classy gelding, who continues to

advertise the training skills of Richard Mandella. The Tin Man enjoyed a perfect

stalking trip on the outside, in close touch with a tepid pace, and overpowered

the forwardly placed GET FUNKY (Straight Man) in the Hollywood Park

stretch, reeling off his final furlong in :11 1/5. The early leader WILLOW O

WISP (Misnomer) stayed on gamely to finish a close third.

While the runner-up and third-place finisher held every advantage because of

the pace scenario, the closers really couldn't land a blow. BECRUX (Ity)

(Glen Jordan) finished well for fourth, but RIGHT SPECIAL (Brz) (Special

Nash [Ire]) was even more eye-catching when rattling home from farther back for

fifth. The Paulo Lobo charge was a multiple Group 3 winner in his native Brazil,

and he is worth following closely in his next outing. KIP DEVILLE

(Kipling), who entered the Shoemaker as the nation's leading miler, didn't run

up to his best and checked in sixth. He had an ideal rail-skimming passage,

tucked just behind the leader, but he looked a bit rank early, perhaps relapsing

to bad old habits. In any event, he faded tamely. His connections opted to pitch

him into the Californian S. (G2) on the Cushion Track just five days later,

where he wound up eighth after arguing the early pace. Time will tell if he can

regroup and reclaim his divisional ranking.

The Tin Man has now won six of seven starts since returning from an ankle

injury, a setback that had sidelined him from October 2004 until December 2005.

Since then, his only reverse has come in the 2006 Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1), when

he was a magnificent runner-up to David Junior. His Dubai exploits are worth

remembering, considering how poorly our Americans performed without him on the

team this past March. It's fantastic to see The Tin Man pick up in 2007 right

where he left off last season. He's already emulated the great John Henry by

claiming a Grade 1 prize at the age of nine, and he could match another of John

Henry's feats if he can win the Arlington Million S. (G1) for the second time.

The eight-year-old Better Talk Now faced a different challenge in the 1

1/4-mile Manhattan at Belmont Park. The Graham Motion charge already had a race

under his belt, a luckless fourth in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic S. (G1)

in his seasonal reappearance. The real disadvantage he faced was a dawdling

early pace, after Motion interestingly did not enter his designated rabbit. As a

result, the tempo resembled a stately waltz as Better Talk Now cantered along

near the rear. Remarkably, the dark bay gelding was not inconvenienced. In a

thrilling stretch run, he sliced through along the inside to get up by a head,

roaring through a final quarter in a shade less than :23. Judging by the way the

race unfolded, and the substantial head start he was spotting accomplished

rivals, he was actually entitled to lose. The fact that he won, despite these

circumstances, vindicates Motion's oft-repeated judgment that Better Talk Now is

better than ever.

In contrast, Manhattan runner-up ENGLISH CHANNEL (Smart Strike) didn't

have an excuse, other than the fact that he was simply outfinished. Indeed, the

Todd Pletcher trainee appeared to be in the ideal spot throughout, drafting just

behind the pacesetter along the hedge. He may have been a trifle headstrong

early, but not as noticeably as he has been in the past, and he seemed to settle

well enough, by his standards. Pletcher's other Dubai also-rans have been firing

on all cylinders, so the fact that this was his first run since finishing 12th

in the Dubai Duty Free isn't meaningful either. Indeed, English Channel ran his

race, but just came up a head short against a top-class opponent.

SHAKIS (Ire) (Machiavellian), who had been positioned behind English

Channel early but not nearly as far back as Better Talk Now, also finished

strongly for third, just missing second by a nose. I confess that I don't know

what to make of this seven-year-old, who was nowhere near Group 1 level in

either Europe or Dubai, with a smattering of Group 3 placings the best previous

results on his resume. Shakis is an entirely different animal now since shipping

stateside and joining Kiaran McLaughlin. COSMONAUT (Lemon Drop Kid) ran a

brilliant race for 1 3/16 miles, attending the pace and cruising to take command

in the stretch, only to be swamped late and relegated to fourth. Perhaps if he'd

waited a bit longer to make his move he could have held on better.

Better Talk Now will aim for a second title in the July 7 United Nations S.

(G1), which he won in 2005. That 1 3/8-mile contest at Monmouth Park could have

special import this time around, with the Oceanport, New Jersey, track hosting

the Breeders' Cup on October 26-27.

For that same reason, Host's last-to-first score in the one-mile Elkwood at

Monmouth could prove informative for the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). The Pletcher-trained

seven-year-old broke through the gate before the start, and when the gate opened

in earnest, he broke awkwardly and raced in last position through the opening

half-mile. Host launched his bid widest of all coming into the stretch and drove

to a three-quarters of a length decision, completing the firm-turf event in a

sharp 1:33 4/5.

A Horse of the Year in his native Chile and winner of the 2005 Shadwell Turf

Mile S. (G1) at Keeneland, Host had a considerable class edge over his Elkwood

opponents. The chestnut was a very troubled seventh in the 2005 Breeders' Cup

Mile, beaten a total of three lengths, and had an abbreviated 2006 campaign.

Host returned to action with a vengeance, just missing by a head in the February

3 Canadian Turf H. (G3). He failed to cope with 1 1/2 miles in the Dubai Sheema

Classic (UAE-G1), retreating to 12th, but back at a more suitable trip in the

Elkwood, he signaled that he'll be a major force at a mile for the rest of the

season.

After Market promises to be a major force over longer distances. Making only

his 10th career start in the Whittingham, and his first at 1 1/4 miles, the John

Shirreffs-trained four-year-old comprehensively defeated defending champion Lava

Man. As a pair of pacesetters tore off by themselves, Lava Man settled in third,

with After Market tracking him. Lava Man surged to the front on the turn,

unleashing his patented move that has earned him six Grade 1 titles, but it

wasn't enough on this occasion. Once After Market gathered his momentum in the

stretch, he summarily dismissed Lava Man with smooth, raking strides and drew 1

1/2 lengths clear. After Market stopped the teletimer in a blazing 1:58 3/5 for

10 furlongs on Hollywood's firm turf, posting the fastest time in this event

since Bien Bien set the course record in 1993.

For the record, Lava Man was carrying 124 pounds to After Market's 118. In

theory, the weight differential is important, but in this particular situation,

I don't think it had much of a bearing. Lava Man ran as well as he is capable of

running, and with After Market built like a tank, it's doubtful he would have

noticed another six pounds on his back. To his credit, Lava Man's trainer Doug

O'Neill himself said that the weight was not a factor, and that Lava Man ran "a

winning race."

After Market is living up to his glorious pedigree, as a son of Grade

1-winning millionaire Tranquility Lake (Rahy). He is bred on the same cross as

multiple Group 1 hero and hot young sire Giant's Causeway, who is also by Storm

Cat out of a Rahy mare.

It will be fascinating to see where After Market turns up next. I'm hoping

that he stays at Hollywood for the June 30 American Invitational H. (G2). The

Tin Man will bid for his third trophy in that event, and if After Market opposes

him, we'll be treated to a terrific clash of the generations, pitting the

established star against the lightly raced colt with vast reserves of potential.

Our next edition will recap the American Invitational and the United Nations,

and I'll also turn the spotlight on the emerging three-year-olds in the

division.