Thoroughbred Racing Roundup
October 17th, 2011By ROBERT KIECKHEFER
UPI Racing Writer
Now that Frankel has destroyed everything lined up against him in England, it appears he is done for the year.
With nine wins from nine starts after his dominating victory in Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, the 3-year-old Galileo colt certainly deserves the rest. And racing fans can only applaud the intent of his owner, Prince Khalid Abdulla, and trainer, Sir Henry Cecil, to race Frankel next year.
Still, something is left on the table: A potential showdown in the Breeders’ Cup Mile with the only European miler Frankel hasn’t beaten – Goldikova.
That would have been a race for the ages, comparable to last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic showdown between Zenyatta and Blame, minus the “girl power” hoopla.
Goldikova, the 6-year-old, French-trained mare, has won the last three runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Mile, itself an almost impossible feat, and is slated to try for an unprecedented fourth on Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs.
And it appears she won’t have Frankel standing in her way.
“It’s been a long year and I’m looking forward to the winter,” Sir Henry said after the QE II. “I’m very happy. He did everything that we asked. We weren’t trying to catch pigeons or anything. We just wanted to win nicely. He has had a long year and won’t run again this season.”
Prince Khalid added, “He’s the best horse I have ever owned. Many people think he is the best horse they have ever seen. I just hope he does the same thing next year.” The Prince has owned many great ones and has been a regular participant in Breeders’ Cup events.
Other events on British Champions Day:
Cirrus Des Aigles powered home the final 100 yards to win the Group 1 Champion Stakes by 3/4 of a length over So You Think. Snow Fairy, blocked at a key point in mid-stretch, re-rallied late to claim third. So You Think had claimed the lead midway down the stretch and appeared ready to claim victory before Christophe Soumillon got to work on Cirrus Des Aigles – an effort which after the race ran him afoul of the new British whipping rules. The race could prove to be a preview of the Hong Kong International races. Snow Fairy won last year’s Cup and appears ready to try again and winning trainer Corine Barande-Barbe said of Cirrus Des Aigles,
“Last year we went to Japan and Hong Kong. He’s had quite a hard season so probably we will just go to Hong Kong.”
Soumillon, meanwhile, was stripped of his share of the earnings from the race and assessed a five-day ban for exceeding the strict new British rules limiting the number of times a horse may be struck by a whip to seven during the race and five in the final furlong. The rule has the nation’s – and now some of the continent’s – jockeys up in arms.
Deacon Blues posted his fifth straight win in the Group 2 Sprint Stakes, opening up a lead on the field with a furlong to run and holding off French raider Wizz Kid to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Libranno finished third. John Murtagh rode the winner in 1:12.55 over good turf. Deacon Blues, a 4-year-old Compton Place gelding, started his run in the Wokingham during the Royal meeting at Ascot in June.
“I think he ran eight times as a 3-year-old and won once,” said winning trainer James Fanshawe. “This season, he’s run six times and won five. It’s unbelievable.”
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Fame and Glory wiped out the memory of two bad efforts since his Gold Cup win with a resounding victory in the Long Distance Cup. With Jamie Spencer up, Fame and Glory was on the lead from the early stages, opened a good advantage in the lane and the closest the opposition could get was Opinion Poll’s final margin of 1 1/4 lengths. Colour Vision was another nose back in third. Fame and Glory, a 5-year-old Aidan O’Brien charge, finished the 2 miles on good turf in 3:26.50. The son of Montjeu had finsihed fourth in the Irish Field St. Leger at the Curragh in his last start.
“I don’t want to sound patronizing,” said Spencer. “But how could Aidan O’Brien get him to turn his form around so much? I was so gutted at the Curragh because I was expecting him to win … He was electric today.”
John Magnier of the owning Coolmore Stud agreed, saying, “To get him back to that level was something special.”
Dancing Rain, with Murtagh up, led all the way to win the Fillies’ and Mares’ Stakes and easily held on to win by 2 lengths over Bible Belt in 2:27.29. Gertrude Bell finished third.
“The aim was an even gallop all the way and use her momentum,” Murtagh said. “She’s got a high cruising gear and she quickened up. We went a good pace all the way. She stayed well and I knew they were going to have to stay to catch me.” Trainer William Haggas said, “If she keeps winning like that, she’ll get the recognition.”
Dancing Rain came into the race off a fifth-place finish behind Blue Bunting in the Irison Oaks. Haggas said he plans to take Dancing Rain to Japan next month and to keep her in training next year.
Woodbine
Canada’s richest day of racing turned out to be a fitting sequal to British Champions Day. Soumillon jetted in from France, fresh off his victory in the Champion Stakes at Ascot, to boot home Sarah Lynx to an upset win in Sunday’s $1.5 million (Canadian), Grade I Pattison Canadian International. After tracking the leaders, Soumillon found an inside seam for the 4-year-old, Irish-bred Montjeu filly as the field turned for home. She sprinted to the lead and spurted clear, winning off by 4 lengths at odds of better than 22-1, picking up her first Grade I win. Joshua Tree was second and the favorite, Treasure Beach, settled for third. Sarah Lynx, trained by John Hammond and raced previously in France and Germany, got the 1 1/2 miles on yielding turf in 2:34.90.
“She likes to be inside of horses,” Soumillon said. “The great thing is that she has a good turn of foot. This is the third time she’s had blinkers on because before she was a bit lazy. So with those on, I saw she was not pulling at all in the race. She was really relaxed. I was quite confident.”
The race was a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Turf but Sarah Lynx’s connections gave no indication of her plans.
Miss Keller rallied from far back to win Sunday’s $1 million (Canadian), Grade I E.P. Taylor Stakes for fillies and mares. At the line, the 5-year-old, Irish-bred Montjeu mare was a head better than I’m A Dreamer and another nose in front of the favorite, Dream Peace, in third. Miss Keller, with John Velazquez up for trainer Roger Attfield, ran the 10 furlongs on yielding turf in 2:06.98. “It’s great,” said Attfield, with the caveat that the free pass to the Breeders’ Cup won’t be used.
“This is the last race that I trained this filly to run in, actually, because she is going to the sale in England. She’s been a little bit of a project this year.” Speaking of his efforts in the E.P. Taylor, he added, “I just haven’t been able to win this damn thing. I am so proud of her. It’s a great thrill.”
Regally Ready went quickly to the front in Sunday’s $500,000 (Canadian), Grade I Neartic Stakes, set a good pace and held off the favorite, Bated Breath, at the end to win by a neck. Gypsy Ring was another head back in third. Regally Ready, a 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred More Than Ready gelding, ran the 6 furlongs over yielding turf in 1:11.35 for jockey Corey Nakatani. This race, too, was a “Win and You’re In,” for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
Other races that could impact the Breeders’ Cup World Championships Nov. 4-5 at Churchill Downs or other year-end events:
Classic
Redeemed raced in mid-pack through much of Sunday’s $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park, advanced through a competitive stretch run and put his nose in front on the wire. Alternation held the lead briefly before the final jump and the favorite, Prayer for Relief, finished 3/4 length farther back in third. Redeemed, a Virgina-bred Include colt, ran the 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:49.20 with Edgar Prado riding for trainer Tony Dutrow.
Turf
Willcox Inn ran to his notices in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade III Hawthorne Derby. After saving ground into the stretch turn, jockey Robby Albarado got the Harlan’s Holiday colt closer, then between horses and into the clear. He responded with a stout kick and won off by 4 1/2 lengths. Suntracer was second and Friendly Banter finished third. Willcox Inn ran the 9 furlongs on firm going over the nice Hawthorne course in 1:48.97. He came into the race off a fourth-place finish in the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park after winning the American Derby there.
Trainer Michael Stidham said, “We’re looking at the Hollywood Derby.” That prompted some vocal objection from the ownership group, urging a Breeders’ Cup effort. “He’s just a solid little horse that puts his effort into every race.”
Ultimate Eagle posted a kind of ultimate upset in Saturday’s $150,000, Grade II Oak Tree Derby at Santa Anita, leading all the way and holding on at the end to win by 1/2 length over French import Venomous. Cozy Kitten, another Ken and Sarah Ramsey Kitten’s Joy offspring, sprung an upset of his own by finishing third. The favorite, Bob Baffert-trained Midnight Interlude, finished fourth. Ultimate Eagle, a Kentucky-bred Mizzen Mast colt, ran the 9 furlongs on firm turf in 1:47.03 with Martin Pedroza aboard. It was his third straight win in a quick climb up the class ladder since being moved to the grass, following a maiden victory and an optional claimer at Del Mar.
“This was our Kentucky Derby horse before he got colic as a 2-year-old,” said winning trainer Michael Pender. “It’s a miracle he’s even here. It would make a great story.”
Owner B.J. Wright added, “He came within a breath of dying last June. We’re very proud that he’s alive.”
Filly & Mare Turf
Together, racing on only one week’s rest, easily handled a tough field in Saturday’s $400,000, Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup for 3-year-old fillies at Keeneland, circling the leaders into the stretch and drawing clear to a 1 1/4-length victory. Marketing Mix was second with an even effort and Nerid finished third. The expected matchup between Winter Memories and Summer Soiree never materialized as Summer Soiree faded from the lead to finish fifth and Winter Memories’ late rally could boost her only to fourth. Together finished second Oct. 8 in her first U.S. start since last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, where she was fifth. In the QE II, the Galileo filly, under regular rider Colm O’Donoghue, finished the 9 furlongs over firm going in 1:48.83. Kieran Murphy, assistant to winning trainer Aidan O’Brien, seemed unconcerned about the quick turnaround for Together.
“We expected her to run well. She was good all week,” he said. Asked whether Together will stay for the Breeders’ Cup, he said, “We’ll have to see how she comes out of this race. Then we’ll make a decision in a day or two.”
Tourmaline closed sharply in deep stretch to post a 25-1 upset win in Sunday’s $250,000 Remington Park Oaks, beating the favorite, Savvy Supreme, by 1/2 length. May Day Rose finished third. Tourmaline, a Florida-bred Kafwain filly, finished 1 1/16 miles of firm turf in 1:42.76 under Dean Butler.
Turf Sprint
California Flag, winner of the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, may have sprinted back into the picture for this year’s renewal with a pace-stalking, 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Morvich Stakes on Columbus Day at Santa Anita. The victory, clocked in 1:11.91 down the hillside turf course, snapped a four-race losing streak by the 7-year-old. Trainer Brian Koriner said he will consider the Breeders’ Cup but indicated it’s not a firm commitment. California Flag was eighth in last year’s event but Koriner commented, “It’s hard not to run for $1 million.”
Juvenile Fillies
Awesome Belle blew the doors off the competition in Saturday’s $300,000 My Dear Girl Division of the Florida Stallion Stakes, leading all the way and taking off at the end to win by 7 1/2 lengths. Macanuda was the best of the rest, with Redbud Road third and the favorite, Queen Drama, facing to finish sixth. Awesome Belle, a daughter of Awesome of Course, finished the 1 1/16 mile on a fast track in 1:47.46 under Luis Jurado. Stanley Gold, who also trains Fort Loudon, who swept the colts and geldings FSS series, said the double victory “puts the icing on the cake.” He said Awesome Belle is likely to go on to the Breeders’ Cup and Redbud Road might try the new Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint.
Juvenile Fillies Turf
Somali Lemonade rallied from last of 12 to win Thursday’s $150,000, Grade III J.P. Morgan Chase Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland, finishing first by 1 3/4 lengths over Sweet Cat. Emerald Gold was third. Somali Lemonade, a Kentucky-bred Lemon Drop Kid filly out of the Nureyev mare Chic Corine, ran the 1 1/16 miles on yielding turf in 1:45.39 under Alex Solis.
Asked about the Breeders’ Cup prospects for Somali Lemondae, trainer Michael Matz said she “is a very talented filly, that’s for sure. She showed her class. I would think we’d like to try.”
Hard Not To Like stalked the pace in Saturday’s $250,000 (Canadian) Sup and Saucer Stakes for Canadian-breds at Woodbine, came by the frontrunners with ease and drew off quickly in the lane to win by 4 3/4 length over Hampstead Heath. Jomelo finished third. Hard Not To Like, a Hard Spun filly, ran the 1 1/16 miles on soft turf in 1:48.00 with Patrick Husbands up. She became the first filly to win the race since Atlantic Fury in 2001.
Juvenile
Fort Loudon completed a sweep of the Florida Stallion Stakes colts and geldings series by drawing off in the final sixteenth to win Saturday’s $300,000 In Reality Division by 2 1/2 lengths. Twin was the best of the rest and Sarava’s Dancer finished third. Fort Loudon, an Awesome of Course colt, ran the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:48.29 with Luis Jurado in the irons. Winning owner/breeder Fred Brei said Fort Loudon “will probably go” to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Juvenile Sprint
Luke of York broke slowly in Saturday’s $125,000 Keeneland 75 Anniversary Stakes, settled into stride turning for home under Rajiv Maragh and outfinished Voodoo Daddy and Larry Zip, the trio separated by a pair of noses. Luke of York, a Florida-bred Put It Back colt out of the Meadow Monster mare Gion, ran the 6 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:09.56.
“He broke terrible so I was concerned,” said winning trainer Jimmy DeVito. “But he’s a big horse, strong horse, got a big stride and he got up there in a hurry.” About the Breeders’ Cup, he added, “I hope so. We’ll talk it over and see.” He is not nominated to the Breeders’ Cup.
Secret Circle drew off smartly in the stretch to win the $70,000 Jack Goodman Stakes at Santa Anita on Columbus Day and stamp his ticket for Louisville. After stalking the pace, the Kentucky-bred Eddington colt out of the Dixieland Band mare Ragtime Hope got clear and finished 5 1/4 ahead of Galex. Panettone was third. Trained by Bob Baffert for an ownership group including Mike Pegram, Secret Circle ran the 6 furlongs in 1:08.27.
“I just let him settle and put him behind, waiting for the stretch,” said winning jockey Rafael Bejarano. “I had a perfect position after that. When I came to the stretch, I was clear and he just took off. It was unbelievable.”
