Notes on the Saturday Program
December 19th, 2008By Jude T. Feld
Duct Tape Prom Attendees Adrienne Beiler and Zach Cupler would be a welcome addition to the Laurel winners’ circle if Prom Time wins the Maryland Juvenile Fillies (Wheat Carr Photo)
The spotlight is on two-year-olds this afternoon as Oaks and Derby hopefuls jockey for national prominence and in the case of the CashCall Futurity (G1), those all-important graded stakes earnings. With inclement weather all over the country, take track conditions into consideration before heading to the windows.
The Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship is LAUREL PARK’s 8TH RACE. With two solid sprints under her belt, PROM TIME looks poised for pictures this afternoon. By Tale of the Cat out of a Pleasant Colony mare, the mile and a sixteenth should be well within her range and her solid finishing kick will be a big help in this speed-laden field.
Horses who win their last start by two lengths or more, with a better speed figure than any other entrant earned in their last start, win more than their fair share of races. KARACUDA posted a four-length allowance victory over the track, earning a 91 Brisnet speed figure, four points better than STEP OUT SMARTLY, her closest competitor. She looks like the filly to beat in the Gowell Stakes, TURFWAY PARK’s 11TH RACE.
The CashCall Futurity (G1) is HOLLYWOOD PARK’s 8TH RACE. My heart (and a few bucks) will be with HYPE, who was bred and raised at Chestnut Farm in Versailles, just seven minutes from Keeneland. He has a powerful turn of foot and need only take to the cushion track to be a major contender. PIONEEROF THE NILE is now in the Bob Baffert barn. He must be a top Kentucky Derby hopeful for the powerful Zayat Stable or they would not have transferred him from Hall of Fame trainer Billy Mott. Hype’s stablemate BITTEL ROAD ran a bang-up second in the Generous (G3), he too needs to make the turf-to-cushion transition for trainer Todd Pletcher.
MERSUS MIAMI had a horrid trip in his debut, yet was able to garner the win. The Kentucky-bred son of Friends Lake from a Copelan mare should be able to get the mile. His trainer, O.J. Jauregui, who is adept at stretching horses out, put two solid seven-eighths works into his charge, indicating he will be fit. Look for a big effort at a bonus price in the Gold Rush Stakes, GOLDEN GATE’s 8TH RACE.
