Thoroughbred Racing Roundup
November 28th, 2011By ROBERT KIECKHEFER
UPI Racing Writer
A sweep for the home team in the Japan Cup and impressive performances by some American 2-year-olds headlined the long weekend in racing.
Buena Vista’s gritty, stretch-running victory in Sunday’s $6.7 million Japan Cup – which has become one of the world’s benchmark races – was a vindication for that nation’s racing and for the 5-year-old mare herself.
Last year, Buena Vista was Japan’s wonder horse and as popular as any athlete. Then, after apparently winning the 2010 Japan Cup under Christophe Soumillon, her number was taken down for stretch interference. She had not won since.
Sunday, with regular ridger Yasunari Iwata up, Buena Vista rallied to the lead past Tosen Jordan with just a few hundred meters to run and hung on gamely to win by a neck. Jaguar Mail finished third. Victoire Pisa, winner of the Dubai World Cup in March, returned to the races for the first time since and finished 13th.
Of the four foreign-based starters, the best finish was by Danedream, winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, who went to the post as the favorite but got home sixth. Shareta, second in the Arc, was seventh. Sarah Lynx finished 12th and U.S. runner Mission Approved got home 14th.
Extending her year of woes, Buena Vista had finished fourth last month in the Autumn Tenno Sho, leading some to think she had lost her edge. Not so said trainer Hiroyoshi Matsuda.
“I knew she was the best. I always believed in her,” the 65-year-old Matsuda said after Sunday’s big race. “She had not been 100 percent in the Tenno Sho and had trouble under way. Then with the fast pace. To have come forth in those conditions just gave me more confidence in her ability.”
After breaking well from the No. 2 post, Iwata kept Buena Vista on the rail in the second flight while Mission Approved dictated at a slow pace. Into the stretch, Iwata brought the 5-year-old mare out through some traffic, then broke through the pack to run alongside Tosen Jordan, before pulling away for the win.
“She had felt fantastic the whole way around,” Iwata said. “I believed she was the strongest to the end and she had enough to pull out ahead.”
Still, he described the Tokyo Race Course stretch as “endless.”
Buena Vista ran the final 3 furlongs in 33.9 seconds and finished the 2,400 meters of firm turf in 2:24.2.
Juveniles to watch after weekend performances include O’Prado Again, winner of the Remsen at Aqueduct; Gemologist, victor in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs; and Maritimer, winner of the Display Stakes at Woodbine. Among the fillies, circle Disposable Pleasure, who won a troubled Demoiselle at Aqueduct; and On Fire Baby, who completed a sweep of the Churchill Downs 2-year-old fillies races by dominating the Golden Rod. Hollywood Park’s juvenile turf races went to Stoney Fleece and More Than Love.
More on those and other events:
Aqueduct
To Honor and Serve made his case for year-end honors with an emphatic win over older horses in Saturday’s $250,000, Grade I Cigar Mile Handicap. With Jose Lezcano up, To Honor and Serve made the early lead, gave up the advantage to Calibrachoa on the backstretch and took over for good in the stretch run. At the wire, the Bernardini Colt was best by 1 3/4 length with Hymn Book coming along late to take second by 2 1/4 lengths over the tiring Calibrachoa. Haynesfield finished fourth. To Honor and Serve ran the one-turn mile on a fast track in 1:33.89. Last year, he won the Remsen and the Nashua at Aqueduct, then finished third in the Fountain of Youth and the Florida Derby and missed the Triple Crown. This yare, he now has three wins from seven starts, including a win in the Pennsylvania Derby and a seventh-place showing in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Winning trainer Bill Mott said he might have stopped on the horse had he won the Classic. However, he said, “He’s been really eating up good and it didn’t look like we hurt his feelings too much in the Classic. I thought he ran well in there and he came back very sound and feeling good. I think this (1 mile) is an ideal distance for him.”
Owner Charlotte Weber said To Honor and Serve will race again next year.
Awesome Feather pressed the pace in Saturday’s $250,000 Gazelle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, surged to challenge for the lead turning for home and drew off nicely to win by 5 1/4 lengths, remaining undefeated in eight starts. Draw It also ran best late, nipping pacesetter Love and Pride for place money. Awesome Feather, a Florida-bred Awesome of Course filly, ran the 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:50.01 with Jeffrey Sanchez up.
“We’ve just been taking it day-by-day with her,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “As long as she’s 100 percent healthy, we’ll probably see her in the (Jan. 28) Sunshine Millions at Gulfstream.”
O’Prado Again caught pacesetting Souper Speedy a furlong out in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade II Remsen Stakes for 2-year-olds and edged clear late to win by 3/4 length. The favorite, El Pradino, rallied late between rivals and got home third, a head farther back and a head in front of Done Talking. O’Prado, a Kentucky-bred El Prado colt out of the Pulpit Colt Leh She Run, ran the 9 furlongs over a fast track in 1:52.07 for jockey Kent Desormeaux.
“I think he’s a special horse,” said winning trainer Dale Romans. “We went for the extra distance. The further he goes, the better he gets … There is a slim chance he could run at Hollywood (in the Grade I CashCall Futurity on Dec. 17) but we will probably wait until next year. We think he is a Kentucky Derby horse so we will treat him like that.”
Disposable Pleasure survived a bad stumble at the start, a tangle entering the turn and then an objection and an inquiry before her victory was made official in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade II Demoiselle Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. After stumbling, jockey Ramon Dominguez gathered the Giacamo filly, dropped to the rail and saved ground through most of the backstretch. Then, Disposable Pleasure moved sharply outward, carrying three others with her. Entering the stretch, she engaged Wildcat’s Smile in a long duel to the wire, winning by a nose. Bourbonstreetgirl finished third. The stewards looked but let it stand. Disposable Pleasure ran the 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:53.10.
“It was a very courageous effort for any horse,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher, “but especially a 2-year-old filly. She’s got a lot of natural ability but she showed she’s got some heart and desire to go along with it.”
Lovely Lil got the jump on favored All Due Respect a half mile through Friday’s $150,000, Grade II Go For Wand Handicap and would not be caught. At the wire, Lovely Lil was still 1 1/4 lengths ahead with C C’s Pal taking third. Lovely Lil, a 4-year-old, New York-bred Tiznow filly, finished the 1 mile on a good track in 1:36.90 with Cornelio Velasquez up.
“She went to the lead easy,” Velasquez said. “The other horse put on a lot of pressure all the way, but at the top of the stretch I had a lot of horse left.”
Lovely Lil was stepping up to open company after earlier in the year winning a New York-bred stakes at Saratoga.
Thursday’s $100,000, Grade III Fall Highweight Handicap was scratched down to just five starters. Of those, Sunrise Smarty was quickly on the lead while toting 130 pounds and held on to the end, winning by 1/2 length over Nathan’s H Q. Flat Bold finished third. Sunrise Smarty, a 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred Smarty Jones colt out of the Seattle Slew mare Sunrise Slew, flew the 6 furlongs on a good main track in 1:09.97 with Ramon Dominguez up.
“Being on the inside, I was committed to go the lead,” Dominguez said. “After a few strides, I wasn’t too happy with the pace scenario we were facing. I let him open up a length or two, and, despite how fast we were going, he was able to relax. At the eighth pole, it looked like they were going to pass him, but he kept on finding.”
Winning trainer Mike Hushion said Sunrise Smarty will stay in New York for the winter.
Churchill Downs
Wise Dan tracked the pace in Friday’s $500,000, Grade I Clark Handicap, quickly drew even with the leaders when turned loose by jockey John Velazquez and drew off smartly to win by 3 3/4 lengths. Mission Impazible was second and Flat Out, beaten favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, failed again to get the job done and settled for third, dimming his chances for Eclipse Award votes. Ruler on Ice and Prayer For Relief, a pair of 3-year-olds also looking for Eclipse support, got home fifth and ninth, respectively. Wise Dan, a 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred Wiseman’s Ferry gelding, ran the 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:48.95.
“It was perfect and I was pretty confident going into the race, other than about whether he could go the 1 1/8 miles on the dirt,” said winning trainer Charlie Lopresti. “But I thought he was going to run one of his best races today. I would have been disappointed if he didn’t do it … He’s a pretty good horse. Just stay out of his way and try to take care of him.”
Gemologist moved squarely into the Kentucky Derby picture with a classic victory in Saturday’s $150,000, Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. After tracking the early pace, jockey Javier Castellano sent Gemologist after pacesetting Ever So Lucky turning for home and the two battled down the stretch toward the twin spires with Gemologist eventually edging away to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Timely Tally rallied from well back to finish third, just a neck behind Ever So Lucky. Gemologist, a Kentucky-bred Tiznow colt out of the Mr. Prospector mare Crystal Shard, ran the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.46. He is unbeaten in three starts and was making the critical jump to the highest class level Saturday. Five winners of the Kentucky Jockey Club have gone on to win the Derby. Among them was Super Saver, trained by Todd Pletcher, who also saddled Gemologist.
“It’s always exciting when you have a good 2-year-old turning 3,” Pletcher said. “It kind of gives you something to look forward to when you head south for the winter. We’re always hoping to be back at Churchill in the spring.” He said he and WinStar exec Elliott Walden will put together Gemologist’s schedule, adding, “I’d say we’d try to follow a similar path (to Super Saver), hopefully two starts before the big race if things go well.”
On Fire Baby was all of that and then some in Saturday’s $150,000, Grade II Golden Rod Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, leading from the start and winning by 6 1/4 lengths. Goldrush Girl was second and Backspin third. On Fire Baby, a Kentucky-bred Smoke Glacken filly out of the Gilded Time mare Ornate, set a very moderate pace and finished the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:45.98 under Joe Johnson. The win backed up On Fire Baby’s victory in the Pocahontas Stakes on Oct. 30 and placed her among the early Kentucky Oaks favorites.
“You saw today how good she is and I think she’s got plenty left in her,” winning trainer Gary Hartlage said. “When she got away with that kind of a half (50.01 seconds), I didn’t think she would get beat if she was the horse I thought she was and she did her thing. They let us walk like a dog and she’s just that good … In my opinion, she’s one of the top three 2-year-old fillies in the country.”
Arena Elvira engaged Afleeting Lady in the stretch drive in Thursday’s $150,000, Grade III Falls City Handicap for fillies and mares and got home first by a neck despite being bumped and carried out in the late going. It’s Tea Time finished third. Arena Elvira, a 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred Ghostzapper filly, finished the 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:50.76 with Junior Alvarado aboard. She now has won four straight and seven of her last nine starts. She scored her first graded stakes victory in her last start, the Turnback the Alarm, a Grade III at Aqueduct on Nov. 4.
“We’ve brought her along very conservatively,” said winning trainer Bill Mott, “never running in graded stakes until the last couple of times. “But it’s gotten her there. She’s got her confidence up and she’s handled every challenge.”
Hollywood Park
Since he added blinkers three races back, Ultimate Eagle has been invincible, rising from the maiden ranks to victory in last month’s Grade II Oak Tree Derby. In Sunday’s $250,000, Grade I, he took the final jump up the class ladder, leading the field throughout and winning off by 3/4 length over Imagining. Western Aristocrat finished third and the favorite, Wilcox Inn, was never in the mix and finished eighth. Ultimate Eagle, a Kentucky-bred Mizzen Mast colt, ran the 1 1/4 miles on firm turf out of the infield chute in 2:01.43 with Martin Pedroza up.
“Ultimately I’d like to get him back on dirt,” said winning trainer Michael Pender. “He trains so much better on dirt and hasn’t really handled synthetic surfaces all that well. We’ll take it a day at a time from here.”
Stoney Fleece rallied by pacesetting Handsome Man in deep stretch to win Sunday’s $100,000, Grade III Generous Stakes for 2-year-olds by 1 1/4 lengths. The favorite, Battle Force, came from far back to take third. Stoney Fleece, a California-bred Decarchy colt out of the Deputed Testamony, ran the 1 mile on firm going in 1:34.77 with Joel Rosario up.
“I’d like to keep him on turf,” said winning trainer John Sadler. “But I won’t rule out some of the California-bred stakes coming up.”
Jeranimo raced well back of the lead in Saturday’s $250,000, Grade II Citation Handicap, came five-wide around the pacesetters and got home first, 2 3/4 lengths ahead of War Element. Calimonco finished third. Jeranimo, a 5-year-old, Florida-bred son of Congaree, ran the 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:40.87 with Garrett Gomez up, bouncing back from his seventh-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
“I promised him win, lose or draw after the Breeders’ Cup I was going to give him at least 60 days,” said winning trainer Mike Pender. “But there I am going back in 21. About a week after he got back here he was bouncing and prancing on the way to the track … It was almost like the Breeders’ Cup gave him that extra foundation that he needed.”
Pacific Ocean went quickly to the lead in Saturday’s $100,000, Grade III Vernon O. Underwood Stakes and played bellwether all the way, winning by 2 1/2 lengths. Irrefutable came from well back to be second, M One Rifle was third and the favorite, Euroears, continued his slump by finishing fourth. Pacific Ocean, a 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred Ghostzapper gelding, ran the 6 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:08.48 with Joel Rosario handling the reins.
Mike Mitchell expressed unusual candor for a winning trainer, saying: “It’s a good thing I didn’t talk to Joel because I would have said just sit there and let everybody go. And here he’s on the lead. That’s why if you don’t know anything, you don’t say anything.”
Shortly after the race, Irrefutable collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack.
Star Billing moved to the lead along the inside in the stretch run of Friday’s $250,000, Grade I Matriarch Stakes, took a short lead and prevailed by1/2 length over early leader Summer Soiree. The odds-on favorite, Never Retreat, was third with a late move. Star Billing, a 3-year-old, Kentucky-bred Dynaformer filly, ran the 1 mile on firm turf in 1:35.45 with Victor Espinoza up. She came into the race off a sixth-place finish in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Oct. 15 at Keeneland. Winning trainer John Shirreffs said Star Billing likes the Hollywood grass better than what she found in Kentucky.
“The track was a little soft, a little loose for her at Keeneland,” he said. “She didn’t handle it very well. She hasn’t had things go her way a few times, but she’s obviously a really nice filly.”
More Than Love put her nose in front of pacesetting longshot Starship Flare as the duo crossed the wire in Friday’s $100,000, Grade III Miesque Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Island Paradise finished third. More Than Love, a Kentucky-bred More Than Ready filly out of the Zafonic mare I’m In Love, ran the 1 mile on firm turf in 1:36.32 for jockey Ramon Dominguez. More Than Love shipped in from New York for trainer John Terranova.
“I knew today’s race was a step up,” Dominguez said. “But at the same time, that was the case for everybody else. She looked just as good as anybody in there, for sure.”
So Brilliant battled for the lead through most of Thursdays’ $100,000 Hollywood Prevue for 2-year-olds, turned back repeated challenges and held off Brother Francis at the end to win by 1/2 length. Hodge was third. So Brilliant, a Kentucky-bred Medaglia d’Oro colt out of the Wekiva Springs mare Merry Me in Spring, got the 7 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:22.96. Martin Garcia had the ride. It was the second straight win for the Bob Baffert trainee, following a maiden score at Santa Anita.
“Let me tell you, he’s a good horse,” Garcia said. “He was doing everything on his own, I didn’t even have to ask him. I got into him in the stretch because I could feel the others were gaining. But when he feels another horse coming up to him, he just takes off. He’s such a nice horse.”
Calder Race Course
Musketier got through along the hedge early in the stretch run in Saturday’s $150,000, Grade II W.L. McKnight Handicap and was all out to prevail by 1/2 length over Simmard. The favorite, Winchester, made a game late try on the outside and finished third, another 3/4 length back. Musketier, an entire 9-year-old, German-bred son of Acatenango, got the 1 1/2 miles on firm going in 2:28.25 with Luis Saez in the irons. Musketier is a multiple graded-stakes winner but had not found the winner’s circle in his last three races, all at Woodbine. In his last effort, he got home sixth in the Pattison Canadian International, a result trainer Roger Attfield blamed on deep going. “He’s just been a lovely horse to have,” Attfield said. I’ve had some perform at this level up to maybe 8 years old, but not at this age. I’ve talked it over with the owners and they’ve said, ‘If he’s happy with what he’s doing, go on and race him next year at 10.'” Attfield said he might try Musketier once at Gulfstream, “and then go back to Keeneland in the spring and try to win the Elkhorn for a third year in a row.” Musketier also finished second in the Elkhorn in 2008, behind Spice Route – at 27-1 odds.
Jimanator dueled favorite Mambo Meister into submission in the stretch run of Saturdays $100,000, Grade III Fred W. Hooper Handicap, winning by 3/4 length. Stimulus Plan was well back in third. Jimanator, a 5-year-old, Kentucky-bred gelding, ran the 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:53.56 with Joe Bravo riding. It was his first stakes win and followed an easy win in a Parx Racing allowance event last time out. Owner Kirk Wycoff said he claimed Jimanator for $20,000 at Saratoga “for a couple of reasons. He’s by Broken Vow and we’ve had success with horses by him before. And my son, Jordon, is a student of the figures and he liked him based on that. So, I was there that day and dropped the slip.” As Daily Racing Form’s Marty McGee says, “It’s an easy game.”
Oregon Lady stalked the pace in Thursday’s $100,000, Grade III My Charmer Handicap for fillies and mares, then was just up in the final strides to win by a neck over Trip for A.J. Snow Top Mountain finished third and the favorite, Denomination, faded from the lead to finish fourth. Oregon Lady, a 4-year-old, Irish-bred Shamardal filly, got the 9 furlongs on good turf in 1:52.82 under Paco Lopez. Winning trainer Roger Attfield and he was not concerned about the give in the turf because Oregon Lady has handled it before.
“She was a very slow-maturing 2-year-old,” he added, “but is just now coming around to be a nice filly. I believe she’ll go longer distances when we ask her. We’ll look for something at Gulfstream for her next.”
Penn National
Ravalo and Immortal Eyes hooked up rounding into the stretch in Wednesday’s $200,000 Six Bits Handicap, bumped and dueled to the wire with Ravala prevailing by a neck. Ben’s Cat, whose Breeders’ Cup plans were derailed with owner/trainer King Leatherbury couldn’t find investors to supplement him, finished a nose farther back with a late push. An objection against Ravalo resulting from the bumping was not allowed. Ravalo, a 7-year-old, Kentucky-bred Mutakddim gelding, ran the 6 furlongs on a good track in 1:10.38 with Jeffrey Sanchez in the irons.
Fair Grounds
Daisy Devine stalked the pace in Saturday’s $75,000 Pago Hop Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, got by the leaders heading for home and drew off quickly to a big lead, finally winning by 2 1/4 lengths over Ruthenia. Poof Too was third. Daisy Devine, a Kentucky-bred Kafwain filly, ranthe about 1 mile on good turf in 1:39.11 with James Graham riding.
Suntracer rallied from last of eight to win Friday’s $75,000 Woodchopper Stakes for 3-year-olds by 2 3/4 lengths over the favorite, Adirondack Summer. Cactus Son was up for third at a big price. Suntracer, an Illinois-bred Kitten’s Joy colt in from Hawthorne, ran the about 1 mile on good turf in 1:38.72 with Rosie Napravnik in the irons for trainer Neil Pessin.
