Thoroughbred Racing Roundup
June 27th, 2011ROBERT KIECKHEFER
UPI Racing Writer
Inglorious, a well-bred filly, beat the boys rather handily in Sunday’s $1 million Queen’s Plate at Woodbine, near Toronto – the 152nd running of the Classic.
With Luis Contreras up, Inglorious got started well back in the field of 17 Ontario-bred 3-year-olds, closed the gap four-wide as the field turned into the stretch and quickly challenged front-running longshot Hippolytus. With a final kick, Inglorious sprinted clear to win by 2 1/2 lengths. Pender Harbour was third, 2 lengths farther back, and the favorite, Check Your Soul, faded in the lane and got home seventh.
Inglorious, a Hennessy filly out of the Smart Strike mare Noble Strike, finished 1 1/4 miles on the all-weather track in 2:02.63.
The only filly in Sunday’s race, Inglorious became just the fifth filly to win both the Woodbine Oaks and the Plate.
“I wasn’t in a hurry off the start,” Contreras said. “I was watching the film before the race. I followed the favorite (Check Your Soul) and it worked out. She gave me everything. That’s the main thing about her. She likes to win.”
The Queen’s Plate is the first leg in the Canadian Triple Crown. The second leg is the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, at 1 3/16 miles on July 17 at Fort Erie. The series returns to Woodbine on Aug. 7 for the $500,000 Breeders’ Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on the grass.
Other weekend racing with potential implications for this fall’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs:
Classic
Headache proved just that to favorite Awesome Gem in Saturday’s $300,000, Grade III Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Stakes, surging clear in the late going to win by 2 1/2 lengths. Awesome Gem was second, a neck better then Victory Pete. Headache, a 5-year-old, Kentucky-bred Tapit gelding, ran the 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:47.83 with Miguel Mena up for trainer Michael Maker.
In the companion $250,000, Grade III Iowa Derby, Prayer for Relief posted a minor upset, first pressing the pace, then driving clear in the lane to win by 2 lengths over Sheriff Cogburn. Dreaminofthewin is still dreamin’ but finished third, 5 1/2 lengths farther back. The odds-on favorite, Astrology, struggled home sixth, never a factor. Caleb’s Posse finished fourth. Prayer for Relief, a Kentucky-bred Jump Start colt, ran the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:41.73 with Rafael Bejarano handling the reins. Bob Baffert trains the colt for Zayat Stables.
Ladies Classic
Zazu saved ground all the way, then outfinished odds-on favorite Plum Pretty to win Saturday’s $150,000, Grade II Hollywood Starlet for 3-year-old fillies by 1 1/2 lengths. Love Theway Youare finished third and Wallstreeter completed the order of finish. Zazu, a Kentucky-bred Tapit filly, finished third in the Kentucky Oaks, won by Plum Pretty. Zazu ran Saturday’s 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:43.36 with Joel Rosario in the irons for trainer John Sadler.
“I was able to keep my eye on Plum Pretty the whole race because I knew she was the one to beat,” Rosario said. “I waited on the inside until the last possible moment. I saw the hole open and took it from there.”
It was the second straight year a Sadler trainee has beaten a Kentucky Oaks winner in the Starlet. Last year, he sent out Switch to defeat Blind Luck in the event.
Buster’s Ready stuck close to the pace in Saturday’s $250,000, Grade I Mother Goose Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park, then quickly surged to the lead and pulled away in the stretch, winning off by 4 1/4 lengths. Joyful Victory, the odds-on favorite, was second and R Gypsy Gold completed the trifecta. Buster’s Ready, a Virginia-bred More Than Ready filly, finished 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:42.44 with John Velazquez at the controls. She entered the Mother Goose off a runner-up effort in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico on May 20.
“She’s been steadily improving all winter and spring and she’s a filly we always felt wanted more distance,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “Her last race was sort of a breakthrough race for her and she’s kind of finding her rhythm now. She’s putting it all together and being able to steadily get some route races (helped).” He said Buster’s Ready is ready now for Saratoga.
Turf
Malibu Pier stalked the pace in Sunday’s $100,000, Grade III Beverly Hills Handicap at Hollywood Park, got by pacesetting Restless Soul a sixteenth out and won by 1 3/4 lengths over Cozi Rosie. Restless Soul held third and Timezone, well back, completed the order of finish. Malibu Pier, a 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred Malibu Moon filly, ran the 1 1/4 miles on firm turf in 2:01.01 with Brice Blanc up for trainer Carla Gaines. It was the sixth win from 11 starts for Malibu Pier and followed a poor showing in the Gamely Stakes on May 30.
“It was a beautiful trip,” Blanc said. “It turned out the way I planned it on paper.”
Musketier kicked into gear in the stretch run of Sunday’s $150,000 (Canadian) Singspiel Stakes at Woodbine, then outfinished Grassy to win by a neck. Windward Islands finished third and the favorite, Rahy’s Attorney, got home fifth after showing the way through the early furlongs. Musketier, a 9-year-old, German-bred son of Acatenango, finished 1 1/2 miles of firm turf in 2:29.54 with John Velazquez riding, winning the event for the second straight year. Velazquez said he knows the horse likes to ease himself when he makes the lead, adding, “I had to keep after him” to the wire.
Turf Mile
Court of the Realm stayed close to the lead in Saturday’s $250,000 (Canadian) King Edward Stakes at Woodbine, swung three-wide for the stretch run and got by pacesetting Fifty Proof to win by 1/2 length. The favorite, Society’s Chairman, rallied from far back to take third. Workin for Hops finished next-last of 11 with a wide trip from an outside gate. Court of the Realm, a 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred Powerscourt colt, ran the 1 mile on “good” turf in 1:35.86 with Eurico Da Silva riding.
Filly & Mare Turf
Giant’s Play led from from the start, setting a tedious pace in Saturday’s $150,000, Grade II New York Stakes for distaffers at Belmont Park, then hanging on late to win by 1/2 length over Zagora. The favorite, Hibaayeb, finished third. Giant’s Play, a 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred Giant’s Causeway filly, ran the 10 furlongs on the firm inner turf course in 2:04.76. Rajiv Maragh rode for trainer Christophe Clement. The New York was Giants Play’s first start since a runner-up effort in the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay on May 28, in which she was rank early. “She was a lot more relaxed today and it helped me do my job better,” Maragh said. “I felt like we were going slow, but my main thing was to try to get her to settle. It was the key to getting the best out of her, so that’s what I did. I wasn’t worried about the fractions at all.” Giant’s Play “ran” 1/2 mile in 52.99 and 6 furlongs in 1:17.65.
Summer Soiree, making her first start on turf, convincing, 8 1/2-lengths victory in Saturday’s $155,000, Grade III Boiling Springs Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Monmouth Park. With Gabriel Saez in the irons, the Kentucky-bred War Front miss battled to the lead and dominated eight rivals. My Sunshine Gal was best of the rest with Hessonite third. Summer Soiree finished 1 1/16 miles on “good” turf in 1:42.89. “She’s a real handful around the barn in the morning,” said winning trainer H. Graham Motion. “When I saw her move to the lead early, I was a little worried, but I guess for no reason. I was happy to see her relax. Having sat off horses early on is going to help her a lot down the road.”
Juvenile Fillies
Flashy Lassie rallied from well back in Saturday’s $100,000, Grade III Debutante at Churchill Downs, using a move into the stretch to rally by the leaders and post an upset win. Five Star Momma led much of the way and finished second, 1 length back. Then it was 8 3/4 lengths farther back to Queen Teuta in third. My Due Process was along in her own due time, finished fourth. Flashy Lassie, a Kentucky-bred Flashy Bull filly out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Lemon Pop Lassie, ran the 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.89 under Kent Desormeaux. Despite being the longest shot on the board, Flashy Lassie picked up her second straight win under the twin spires.
“For a second-time starter, she was very mature and very professional,” Desormeaux said. “She was very well trained and I think that’s why she won today.”
The historic race has been won in the past by such later-career luminaries as Bewitch, Alcibiades and Silverbulletday. Trainer Gary Simms said Sunday Flashy Lassie “came out of the race fine and licked up her feed tub. We’re doing good and ready to roll … The ultimate goal is the Breeders’ Cup. I haven’t even thought about where she will run next, but we’ll look for something in about 30 or 40 days.
Tu Endie Wei, making her first start in Saturday’s $150,000 (Candaian) My Dear Stakes at Woodbine, dropped well back, then closed with a rush and drew off easily, winning by 4 3/4 lengths over Runfor Ro. Samsal finished third. Eu Endie Wei, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Johar out of the Indian Charlie mare Ms. Cornstalk, ran 5 furlongs on the all-weather track in 56.93 seconds with James McAleney. The winner is a Brereton Jones homebred, trained by Reade Baker.
Elsewhere:
Ireland
Misty for Me shook off favorite Midday late in Saturday’s Group 1 Pretty Poly Stakes at the Curragh and drew clear to win by a convincing 6 lengths over that rival. Chrysanthemum was third and Obama Rule finished sixth. The long-awaited seasonal debut of international Group 1 winner Snow Fairy was further delayed when she was withdrawn because of unsuitable going, rated soft to yielding. Misty for Me, a 3-year-old Galileo filly, finished the 1 1/4 miles in 2:13.37 with Seamie Heffeman aboard for trainer Aidan O’Brien. Misty for Me came into the Pretty Polly with a mixed record – 11th in the English 1000 Guineas on May 1, victory in the Irish 1000 Guineas three weeks later and fifth in the English Oaks on a short turnaround June 3.
“We learned a lot from Epsom and that was her first time over a mile and a half, which we really weren’t sure about,” O’Brien said. “It’s very possible that she could go for the Irish Oaks. But now we also have Wonder of Wonders for that … We’ll have to go home and talk about it.”
Misty for Me is owned not by Clint Eastwood but rather Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier and Derrick Smith. Midday won the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and finished second in that event last year.
Treasure Beach rallied to a 3/4-lengths victory in Sunday’s Group 1 Irish Derby at the Curragh, leading a parade of O’Brien trainees to a sweep of the top three placings. It was the fourth time the dominant Irish conditioner had accomplished that feat and his sixth win in the Irish Derby. Seville and Memphis Tennessee completed the sweep, with Her Majesty the Queen’s Carlton House finishing fourth. Treasure Beach, a son of Galileo, now has four victories from eight career starts. O’Brien said he is considering the colt for the Grand Prix de Paris on Bastille Day. “Treasure Beach has progressed with every run and he has a few options now,” he said. “He could go for the Grand Prix De Paris, the King George or else he could have a break before coming back for the second half of the season.”
France
Sarafina rallied from last of five to win Sunday’s Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and earn an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf was part of the “Win and You’re In” program. The 4-year-old daughter of Refuse to Bend, however, is considered a likely candidate for the Prix Vermeille and the Prix de l’Arc d’Triomphe later in the year. Cirrus des Aigles set a slow pace in Sunday’s race and jockey Christophe Lemaire had his hands full keeping Sarafina under control. When asked to run in the stretch, she responded to win by a neck. Cirrus des Aigles held second with Silver Pond third.
Japan
Earnestly raced close to the pace in Sunday’s Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse, then finished best of all to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Buena Vista, the two-time Japanese Horse of the Year. Eishin Flash finished third. Earnestly, third in the same race last year, ran the “about” 1 3/8 miles on firm going in course-record time of 2:10.10. He scored his first Group 1 victory and earned a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf through the “Win and You’re In” program. He is a 6-year-old son of Grass Wonder.
