Turf Diary

TURF DIARY

APRIL 24, 2007

by Kellie Reilly

The April 13 Maker's Mark Mile S. (G2) lived up to its blockbuster billing.

The Keeneland fixture provided trouble at the break, an early plot twist and a

riveting stretch duel between KIP DEVILLE (Kipling), now the pro tem

leader of the milers' division, and SHOWING UP (Strategic Mission), a

champion in waiting who was making his first start of the year at a distance

short of his best.    

Although the chart emphasizes that Showing Up stumbled at the break and

bumped Kip Deville to his immediate outside, I thought that their scrimmaging

was minor compared to the poor start of REMARKABLE NEWS (Ven) (Chayim),

who was the most severely compromised by his break. Remarkable News hesitated

when the gate opened, then strode out with an awkward hop. For a horse who has

performed best either on or pressing the pace, it was the proverbial death knell

as he raced near the back of the pack early.

Meanwhile, Showing Up was full of zeal in his return from a 4 1/2-month

holiday and dragged Cornelio Velasquez straight to the lead. The Barclay Tagg

pupil can be rather enthusiastic even when he's not coming off a layoff, but his

first sight of competition in a while probably didn't help matters. Showing Up

floated wide on the first turn, forcing Kip Deville to travel wide as well, and

ceded his leading position to the rail-hugging FREE THINKING (Unbridled).

Straightening up on the backstretch, Showing Up quickly reasserted himself to

hound the pacesetter. Kip Deville didn't take long to engage the pair, looming

up on the outside to form a line of three. Showing Up reclaimed a narrow lead

turning for home, but Kip Deville shadowed his every move into the stretch.

While the chestnut dug in resolutely and gave all he had to try to maintain his

slim advantage, the rangy gray appeared to have his measure, and so it proved.

Kip Deville thrust his head in front, but to Showing Up's everlasting credit, he

did not concede the issue, making his rival earn the victory to the last stride.

The official margin at the wire was a neck.

Kip Deville is a far different animal from last year, when Showing Up

thrashed him in the 1 3/16-mile Colonial Turf Cup S. and the 1 1/4-mile

Hollywood Derby (G1). Trainer Richard Dutrow's decision to keep the gray at a

mile is part of the equation, but as mentioned in our last Turf Diary, the other

key has been his ability to relax more kindly in the early going.

Dutrow has indicated that Kip Deville may return to the West Coast for the

Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile S. (G1) on Memorial Day at Hollywood Park. That

could have offered a fascinating clash with Godolphin's ASHKAL WAY (Ire)

(Ashkalani), whom I had hailed as potentially the best American-based miler.

Unfortunately, the Godolphin website announced that Ashkal Way suffered a right

front tendon injury. There's no telling when, or if, we'll ever see him back to

his best.

Successful in both the Maker's Mark and the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) this

season, Kip Deville has thrown down the gauntlet as a serious Breeders' Cup Mile

(G1) candidate. The past two winners of the Maker's Mark have gone on to claim

the Breeders' Cup Mile (Artie Schiller in 2005 and Miesque's Approval in 2006),

and the Kilroe has also had an impact in recent years. In 2004, Singletary was

runner-up in the Kilroe, but earned glory in the Mile. The following year,

Leroidesanimaux (Brz) captured the Kilroe, then finished second in the Mile en

route to Eclipse Award honors. Last season, Aragorn (Ire), a close second in the

Kilroe, signed off with a gritty runner-up effort in the Mile.

The omens for Showing Up are at least as favorable. Despite spotting a

significant edge to Kip Deville, in terms of both race fitness and the one-mile

trip, Showing Up came up just short. Let's not forget that Tagg could have

chosen an easier spot for his return -- e.g., the April 29 Fort Marcy H. (G3) at

Aqueduct -- in which case the outcome would likely have been different.

Tagg flirted with the May 5 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic S. (G1) on Kentucky

Derby Day, but according to Daily Racing Form, he has opted to send

Showing Up straight to the June 9 Manhattan H. (G1) on Belmont Day. I was glad

to see that, since the Manhattan was reportedly his original target all along.

With his high cruising speed, and formidable late kick, Showing Up can gallop

his rivals into the ground this season.

Sunday's San Juan Capistrano Invitational H. (G2) probably won't have the

same long-term resonance in the division, but the about 1 3/4-mile marathon at

Santa Anita was notable for two reasons. ON THE ACORN (GB) (Inchinor

[GB]) continued his remarkable transformation from claimer to graded stakes

performer with a commanding 1 1/2-length victory, and for the first time, the

San Juan hero was promptly guaranteed a spot in the November 6 Melbourne Cup

(Aus-G1).

In principle, I love the idea of linking North America's longest turf stakes

with the prestigious Melbourne Cup. On the other hand, it's hard to fathom our

stayers having a ghost of a chance in the two-mile "race that stops a nation,"

considering how many first-rate European horses have failed there. Moreover, if

On the Acorn accepts his invitation, which other Melbourne Cup hopeful would be

excluded from the field? Of course, the Melbourne Cup would be a

once-in-a-lifetime experience for On the Acorn's owners, one that I would be

hard pressed to turn down if he were my horse.

Trainer Mike Mitchell is responsible for On the Acorn's renaissance, having

claimed him for $40,000 last November. The dark bay gelding has now won three of

four outings this year. His lone loss came in the San Luis Obispo H. (G2), where

he was elevated to second after suffering interference. On the Acorn could line

up next in the May 12 Jim Murray Memorial H. (G2) at Hollywood.

The San Juan runner-up, SWEET RETURN (GB) (Elmaamul), reminded us that

he's one of the gamest horses around. After setting a slow pace, the chestnut

was swamped inside the final furlong and looked bound to wind up off the board.

He fought back along the rail, and although the winner was beyond recall, Sweet

Return managed to save second in a blanket finish. This was reminiscent of his

fourth-place effort in last September's Woodbine Mile S. (Can-G1), in which he

appeared dead in the water, but kept finding more. The Ron McAnally charge isn't

the Grade 1 force he once was, but he's a real trier.

On Friday, Belmont S. (G1) hero JAZIL (Seeking the Gold) is expected

to make his turf debut in the Elkhorn S. (G3), the closing-day feature at

Keeneland. We already know that he handles the 12-furlong distance, and given

his pedigree, Jazil should relish the surface switch as well.