Notes on the Saturday Program
May 29th, 2009By Jude T. Feld
George Woolf Award-winner Jon Court rides live longshot Perfect for You in the Dogwood (G3) at Churchill Downs on Saturday afternoon.Benoit Photo
Great springtime racing this afternoon gives us just a glimpse of what the summer will hold for horseplayers. Enjoy it and cash lots of tickets in the process.
The Dogwood (G3), CHURCHILL DOWNS’ 8TH RACE, is a one-turn mile event laden with sophomore fillies who seem to do their best running on the lead. PERFECT FOR YOU may not have the fancy credentials owned by some of her competitors, but she has improved her finishing numbers in every race she has been entered in in this year. That may spell success at a nice price with longshot jockey Jon Court in the saddle.
Multiple Grade 3 winner SEMAPHORE MAN definitely has a class advantage in the Aristides (G3), CHURCHILL DOWNS’ 10TH RACE, and he should get a nifty trip right behind the speed. His biggest fear might be GRAND SENSATION, who possesses a fantastic finishing kick and encountered a ton of trouble when the pair faced off in an Oaklawn allowance race last spring.
RUTHERIENNE ran her best race in some time when second to Eclipse Award-winner Together Forever in Keeneland’s Jenny Wiley (G2) during the spring meeting. Although she hasn’t won in a while, the daughter of Pulpit seems set for a big effort in the Nassau (G2), WOODBINE’s 8TH RACE. Jockey Alan Garcia making the trip from New York to ride her only adds to her appeal.
On paper, the Sands Point (G2), BELMONT PARK’s 9TH RACE, shapes up as a two-filly race. MAGICAL AFFAIR, a $1.5 million Keeneland September Sale yearling has run five times and has never been worse than second. She should adore the mile and an eighth distance and has the great turf jockey Julien Leparoux to guide her. GOZZIP GIRL just missed taking the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland on the Polytrack, but won the Herecomesthebride (G3) at Gulfstream Park on the turf prior to that event. Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, who rode her to victory in the grassy Coconut Grove Stakes in Hallandale, will be reunited with her this afternoon.
Seven-year-old SPRING HOUSE is just a few greenbacks shy of banking a million bucks. The ol’ boy has been running pretty well lately and will be heavily bet in the Turf Stakes (G3), GOLDEN GATE FIELDS’ 8TH RACE, especially with the world’s winningest jockey Russell Baze in the irons. If you are looking to beat the chalk, consider SIR DAVE, a recent private purchase by La Canada Stables. The four-year-old seems to be getting good right now and might improve some more for hot trainer Jack Carava.
Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel and jockey Victor Espinoza both got acquainted with TOQUE DE QUEDA in Santa Anita’s Santa Barbara (G2), where she was beaten three-quarters of a length after encountering trouble on the turn for home. There should be no mistakes in today’s Gamely (G1), HOLLYWOOD PARK’s 9TH RACE.
