Hot Time At the Old Downs
June 17th, 2007It was 95 and sunny at Churchill Downs Saturday. I never thought I would see a cactus garden in the middle of the Churchill paddock but lo and behold, there it was. For a minute I thought I was at Turf Paradise. Can palm trees be next? Kudos to the landscape crew. The place looks marvelous. If global warming continues, the Derby might be renamed “the run for the hibiscus.”
Duveen had more problems than Britney Spears in the Jefferson Cup (G3). After stumbling at the start, he was hard for jockey Mark Guidry to handle, steadying repeatedly. Tough beat at 4/5.
One of the benefits of the heat was the profusion of sun dresses the beautiful Kentucky girls were sporting. The guys on the balcony spent all afternoon with their tongues hanging out despite drinking copious amount of beer.
Nobody rides professional hanger Zanjero better than Shaun Bridgmohan. It looked like he had Chelokee’s number in the stretch but Ramon Domiguez kept riding the Michael Matz trainee hard and the son of Cherokee Run rerallied to garner the Northern Dancer (G3) victory. Zanjero reminds me of Gate Dancer – tons of ability but kind of a screwball.
Trainer Steve Asmussen won four races at Churchill Saturday and nine total around the country. Talk about hot.
Jockey Garret Gomez had a tough day at the starting gate. Trimaran stumbled badly at the start of the Jefferson Cup (G3) and never really recovered and then Danzon did the same thing in the Early Times Mint Julep (G3) sending many a Pick Four ticket down the tubes.
The day wasn’t much better for top international trainer Patrick Biancone. After taking the gas with Danzon, Asi Siempre finished second in the Fleur de Lis (G2) at a short price. As usual, Biancone took the losses in stride. As I said on the Horse Racing Radio Network broadcast, “Biancone can talk about wine, but he never whines.” The affable Frenchman salvaged the day with a victory in the Regret (G3). That’s leaving the racetrack in a “Good Mood.”
No surprise to see the Barbados blue and gold silks of Eugene Melnyk in the winners’ circle after the Fleur de Lis (G2). His Indian Vale is now 6-for-6 in races going a mile and one-eighth.
Flashy Bull looked great in the paddock and then backed it up getting the chrome in the Stephen Foster (G1). Keep an eye on Diamond Stripe though. He was extra game down the lane and might have needed the race.
