Thoroughbred Racing Roundup – September 23, 2013

By ROBERT KIECKHEFER
UPI Racing Writer

A pair of $1 million races opened the door for potential year-end championships for the winners, Will Take Charge and Close Hatches.

Those races highlighted a weekend that saw some remarkable comeback efforts, including last year’s 2-year-old champ, Shanghai Bobby, returning to the winner’s circle and, in France, Cirrus Des Aigles returning to the form that made him the world’s top-rated horse at the start of the year.

Speaking of starts, let’s start where the money was.

The late Illinois Sen. Everett McKinley Dirksen has been quoted as saying, “A million here, a million there … pretty soon you’re talking real money.” That was a long time ago, when $1 million was still a lot, even in government circles. Well, it’s still a lot in racing circles and, when Parx Racing put up a pair of $1 million pots for Saturday’s card, the track lured a couple 3-year-olds who suddenly look like potential champions.

Will Take Charge failed to win any of the Triple Crown races, then stepped up to win the Grade I Travers by a nose over Moreno. He repeated that finish, but with considerably more authority, in winning Saturday’s $1 million, Grade III Pennsylvania Derby by 2 1/4 lengths, finding room on the inside and running past Moreno in the stretch drive with apparent ease. Battier also got by Moreno but the latter came back to salvage second by a neck. Will Take Charge, an Unbridled’s Song colt, ran 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.28 under Luis Saez.

Kentucky Derby winner Orb finished third in the Travers and remains in the mix for an Eclipse Award, as does Belmont Stakes and Jim Dandy winner Palace Malice. But Saturday’s win opens the door for Will Take Charge. He has won four of nine starts this year, also including the Grade III Rebel at Oaklawn Park this spring.

“It will come down to head-to-head competition” in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, said winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who is having quite a comeback year of his own. “We’re going to turn the page on this one and look forward to the Breeders’ Cup.”

The companion race, the $1 million, Grade I Cotillion Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, was a waltz for Close Hatches, who broke free of a duel with Sweet Lulu when asked by jockey Mike Smith and won off by 2 lengths over that rival despite drifting in late. Street Girl overcame a stumbling start to get up for third and add value to the trifecta at 25-1 odds. Close Hatches, a First Defence filly, got 1 1/16 miles on the fast track in 1:44.03. Close Hatches now has two straight Grade I wins, following her victory in the Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park and moves right back into contention for 3-year-old filly honors.

Princess of Sylmar, the clear leader in the 3-year-old filly division, skipped the Cotillion and is expected to try her hoof against older distaffers next weekend in the Grade I Beldame at Belmont Park. Princess of Sylmar’s only loss this year was to Close Hatches in the Grade II Gazelle at Aqueduct.

“I felt very comfortable, especially going this distance, she would give Princess of Sylmar a run for her money,” said Garrett O’Rourke, racing manager for Juddmonte Farms, Close Hatches’ owner. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get to have that faceoff today.”

Turning our attention across the water:

France

Cirrus Des Aigles looked back to something like top form Friday in winning the Group 3 Le Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte with ease. The 7-year-old started the year as the world’s top-ranked horse, thanks to the retirement of Frankel, the only horse who beat him in last October’s Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot. But he struggled this year, finishing in the top three only once in four previous tries. It was different Friday. With Christophe Soumillon at the controls, Cirrus Des Aigles went right to the front, turned back a challenge in the final quarter mile and cruised home first by 2 1/2 lengths. He appeared well within himself and in total control. “He’s been getting stronger with each race,” said his patient trainer, Corine Barande-Barbe, “and in the end, he’s won well.” He said she expects her star to move along to the Group 1 Prix Dollar and “probably” another try at the Champion Stakes.

Australia

Atlantic Jewel was starting to spark comparisons with Black Caviar as she lined up to try for her 10th win without a loss in Saturday’s Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield. But it was not to be as It’s A Dundeel shadowed the pacesetting favorite through a slowly run race, then got the best of a long stretch battle, winning by just a short head. Dear Demi was third. It’s A Dundeel, winner of the Australian Derby in April, turned the tables on the favorite, who had beaten him decisively in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield earlier. It’s A Dundeel, a 4-year-old, New Zealand-bred colt by High Chaparral, now has won six of his 11 starts. The Underwood has been used as a stepping stone to the Cox Plate and the Caulfield Cup.

England

Supplicant won Saturday’s Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes for 2-year-olds at Newbury by 3/4 length over Rufford, with Richard Fahey training both. Hot Streak was another 1/2 length back in third at the wire. Supplicant, a Kyllachy colt, scored his third straight win and fourth overall from seven starts. He ran 6 furlongs on soft going in 1:13.59 with Tony Hamilton aboard. Fahey said he will give some thought to supplementing Supplicant to the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on Oct. 12.

Germany

In a rarity, especially in Europe, the first two finishers in Sunday’s Group 1 Preis von Europa at Cologne were disqualified — to third and fourth — for interference. The demotion of Meandre and Empoli left Vif Monsieur the winner and Earl of Tinsdal second. The connections of Meandre, the winner of last year’s Grosser Preis von Berlin, said they plan to appeal the ruling and, in the meantime, will send their 5-year-old son of Slickly for a long shot try at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Back in North America:

Dirt Mile

Continuing the theme of comebacks, last year’s U.S. 2-year-old champ, Shanghai Bobby, won a hard-fought victory Friday in his first start since suffering a stress fracture in his pelvis in March. After tracking the leaders, jockey John Velazquez sent the Harlan’s Holiday colt to the lead well into the stretch drive in Friday’s $100,000 Aljamin Stakes for 3-year-olds at Belmont Park. He got a narrow advantage over the early leader, Dads Caps, then was all out to hold off Slan Abhaile to win by a neck. Dads Caps finished third. The 6 1/2 furlongs went in 1:15.79 on a fast track. Shanghai Bobby won all five of his starts as a 2-year-old, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. But he got home second in the Grade III Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park in January, then fifth in the Grade I Florida Derby before being sidelined.

“He ran really well off the layoff,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “I thought he ran well enough today to put us in the mix for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint or the Dirt Mile. We’ll see how he bounces out of it.”

Sprint

The weekend’s three top races in this division all were within an easy van ride of one another in West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

With speed merchants in town from all over the eastern half of the country for Saturday’s $400,000 Researcher Stakes for 3-year-olds at Charles Town, it was Kentucky-based Take It Like a Man who rallied to the lead on the second turn and got clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Mongolian Saturday led briefly and held second while the favorite, Bond Vigilante, finished third after a wide trip. Take It Like a Man, a Run Away and Hide colt, finished 7 furlongs on a sloppy track in 1:26.27 with Luis Saez in the irons. Heaven’s Runway finished fourth at 70-1 odds, boosting the $2 superfecta payout to $50,392. Take It Like a Man clearly is on the upswing for trainer Kellyn Gorder, winning five of his last six starts and working up from the claiming ranks. He was available — and not taken — for $30,000 in April at Keeneland.

Immortal Eyes set a quick early pace in Saturday’s $350,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park, then kept right on going and drew off at the end to win by 6 3/4 lengths over Saturday’s Charm. Service for Ten finished third and the favorite, Sage Valley, broke slowly and was never a threat, finishing last of seven. Immortal Eyes, an 8-year-old gelding by Greatness, ran 6 furlongs on a sloppy, sealed track in 1:08. 47 with Travis Dunkelberger keeping his silks clean. The steady, if not flashy, stakes performer was third in this race last year and second in 2011. He now has 17 wins from 47 starts and Saturday’s win pushed his career earnings over the $1 million mark.

“Travis and I had made a decision,” said winning trainer Damon Dilodovico. “We would be in front and they would have to come and get us.”

Dunkelberger said he was happy with the off track and the inside post. “I know he loves the mud because he set a record at Charles Town in the mud and I was on him that day,” the rider said.

City of Weston had to alter course in the stretch run in Saturday’s $300,000, Grade III Gallant Bob Stakes for 3-year-olds at Parx Racing. But when the Holy Bull colt found daylight on the inside, he surged to the fore at the right time, winning by 3/4 length over the favorite, Clearly Now, at odds of 30-1. The early leader, Black Hornet, another one overlooked at the mutuels, held on for third, completing a $4,458.60 trifecta return. City of Weston, with Paco Lopez riding, ran 6 furlongs in 1:09.63. City of Weston had been knocking on the door in minor stakes up and down the eastern seaboard but Saturday’s win was only his third in 11 starts so far in a busy year.

Filly & Mare Sprint

Another comebacker, Cluster of Stars, came into Saturday’s $300,000, Grade II Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park undefeated in five starts. But she was making her first start since April. No matter. She led most of the way to a 5-lengths victory over the favorite, Dance to Bristol, while Dance Card finished third. Dance to Bristol had won seven straight races, including the Grade I Ballerina at Saratoga in her last start. Cluster of Stars, a 4-year-old Greeley’s Galaxy filly, ran 6 1/2 furlongs on a good track with Javier Castellano up.

Toby Sheets, assistant to winning trainer Steve Asmussen, said, “That’s great. That’s awesome. She’s never done anything wrong, that’s for sure. She continues to improve, to be right there, against good horses.”

Dance to Bristol’s trainer, Ollie Figgins III, said his filly “ran her race … The winner looked better than us today, that’s for sure.”

So Many Ways had so many choices of where to start on Saturday but eventually opted for the $400,000 Charles Town Oaks in West Virginia after trainer Tom Amoss determined she could handle the tight turns just fine. And so she did. After being pinched back at the start, the Sightseeing filly waited well back of the leaders until the final bend, came four-wide to mount her challenge and got home first by 2 3/4 lengths. R Free Roll got first run to the lead, looked like she was home free, then held on for second after So Many Ways shot past her in the lane. Mr. Hall’s Opus got show money. So Many Ways, with Miguel Mena in the irons, ran 7 furlongs on the sloppy, sealed surface in 1:26.62. It was her first win since Oaks Day at Churchill Downs. In the interim, So Many Ways finished third in the Grade III Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows and then fourth in both the Grade I Prioress and the Grade I Test Stakes at Saratoga.

Saturday’s $100,000, Grade III Dogwood Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs was one of the options So Many Ways passed up. That left the way open for Sky Girl to swoop through an opening on the rail at mid-stretch and pick up the win by 1 1/2 lengths over front-running Irish Lute. Elusive Fate finished third. Sky Girl, a Sky Mesa filly trained by Bill Mott after a recent private sale to her new owners, got 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:23.73. She has won three of her last four starts along with a third in the Grade III Arlington Oaks.

“She’s got a big future, I think,” said winning jockey Corey Lanerie.

My Pal Chrisy rallied to the lead a sixteenth of a mile from home in Saturday’s $100,000 Musical Romance Stakes at Gulfstream Park and edged clear to score a 2-lengths win over Appealing Stella. The favorite, Starship Truffles, faded late to finish third, 4 1/2 lengths farther back. My Pal Chrisy, a 5-year-old daughter of Alex’s Pal, ran 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:16.41 with Jonathan Gonzalez up.

Turf

Tricky Hat came down the stretch in a tightly packed bunch in Saturday’s $100,000 Laurel Turf Cup and proved best late, winning by a neck over Eagle Poise. Mucho Mas Macho was third at long odds. The favorite, Atigun, finished 10th after experiencing traffic issues. Tricky Hat, a 4-year-old, Chilean-bred son of the Japanese-bred stallion Hat Trick, toured 1 1/2 miles of firm turf in 2:30.44 with Rosie Napravnik in the irons. The Shug McGaughey trainee picked up his second straight win in his first stakes try.

“He’d had a good run last time at Saratoga so we decided to give him a chance to step up,” said assistant trainer Jenn Patterson.

Filly & Mare Turf

Lady Strathnaver outfinished the favorite, Abaco, to win Saturday’s $100,000 Lady Baltimore Stakes at Laurel Park by a head. Hunter Forward was only a nose farther back at the wire. Strathnaver, a 4-year-old, British-bred filly by Oasis Dream, ran 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:40.98 with Erik Rodriguez up. She raced last year in England and won her first two U.S. starts, including the Grade III Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland before enduring a summer slump.

“The horse has been off since July,” said trainer Graham Motion. “I took her to Saratoga but the race came off the turf and she didn’t run. This was ‘Plan B’.”

Turf Dash

Owner/trainer King Leatherbury said he scratched Ben’s Cat out of Saturday’s $300,000 De Francis Dash in favor of the $100,000 Laurel Dash because the latter looked like basically free money. His horse backed him up, but just barely, rallying late to win by a neck over Mr. Online. Night Officer got home third. Ben’s Cat, a 7-year-old Parker’s Storm Cat gelding, ran 6 furlongs on firm turf in 1:07.40 with Julien Pimentel in the irons. It was his 23rd win from 35 starts. He has run out of the money only four times in his distinguished career, starting with eight straight victories.

“That was a typical Ben’s Cat race,” Leatherbury said. “He wins a lot but never by much.” He said he’s pointing his star to Maryland Million Day but also has an eye on the Grade II Neartic Stakes at Woodbine, which would be pushing the envelope for Ben’s Cat.

2-year-olds

Yes I’m Lucky was always in charge in Saturday’s $100,000 Laurel Futurity, extending his lead throughout until he hit the wire first by 6 1/2 lengths. Tiger Bourbon was best of the rest with King Racer third. Yes I’m Lucky, a Yes It’s True colt, ran 5 1/2 furlongs of firm turf in 1:01.30 with Christoper De Carlo at the controls. He now has four wins and a second from five career starts. The second came in the Grade III Sapling at Monmouth Park behind Dunkin Bend.

“The horse came back looking like he never ran, ” said Gareem Nicholas, assistant to winning trainer Gary Plesa. “He will go to Florida for the winter. I think you’ll be seeing a lot of him in the future.”

2-year-old fillies

Lapsang was along just in time to snatch victory in Saturday’s $100,000 (Canadian) Deputy Jane West Stakes over the Woodbine all-weather track. Dulcify was second, a neck back of the winner. Enoree and Questera completed the order of finish. Lapsang, an Ontario-bred daughter of Smoke Glacken, ran 6 furlongs in 1:10.84 with Omar Moreno up.

On the grass:

Aibhilin rallied four-wide into the stretch run in Saturday’s $100,000 Selima Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Laurel Park and was just up at the wire to beat pacesetting Hot Squeeze by a head. Pure Lady Like was another 1/2 length back in third. Aibhilin, a Sky Mesa filly, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on firm going in 1:02.25 with Edwin Rivera riding. It was her second win from four starts.

Elsewhere:

Woodbine

Phil’s Dream opened a big lead in the stretch run in Sunday’s $125,000 (Canadian) Overskate Stakes and held on to win by a neck over the favorite, Ultimate Destiny. Pender Harbour finished third. Phil’s Dream, a 5-year-old Philanthropist gelding, ran 7 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:21.31 for jockey Justin Stein.

Leigh Court led from the start in Saturday’s $125,000 (Canadian) La Lorgnette Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and was never challenged, winning by 5 1/4 lengths with Gary Boulanger merely a passenger. Overheard was second and Spring in the Air faded to finish third. Leigh Court, a Kentucky-bred Grand Slam filly, finished 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather course in 1:43.32.

Belmont Park

Those who read the prospectus had the winner in Thursday’s $100,000 Spite the Devil Stakes for New York-breds. Readtheprospectus went to the post as the odds-on favorite and was along in the final yards to win by 1/2 length over Spa City Fever. Night Maneuver led until the final sixteenth before yielding grudgingly. Readtheprospectus, a 4-year-old Read the Footnotes gelding out of the Affirmed mare Near Bethany, ran 1 mile on a fast track in 1:36.63 with Junior Alvarado up.

Another Affirmed mare, Mossflower, produced the winner of Thursday’s $150,000, Grade I Lonesome Glory Handicap at 2 1/2 miles over hurdles. The winner, Gustavian, is a 7-year-old Giant’s Causeway gelding. He won by a nose over All Together, whose stumble at the final jump proved too much to overcome.

On Friday, Ol Donyo got first run to the lead in the stretch in the $100,000 Zaftig Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and the odds-on favorite, Flash Forward, couldn’t overcome a stumbling break in time to catch him. At the end, the margin was a comfortable 2 lengths with Saturday Nthe Park third. Ol Donyo, a Curlin filly, ran 1 mile on a fast track in 1:36.78.

Big Screen won a three-way dash to the wire in Saturday’s $100,000 Who’s To Pay Stakes, scoring by a head over Bad Debt and another head over Paris Vegas. The favorite, Plainview, led the way but settled for fourth. Big Screen, a 4-year-old Speightstown colt, ran 1 mile on good turf in 1:34.93 with Junior Alvarado in the irons.

Fairplex

Blueskiesnrainbows set a pressured pace in Sunday’s $100,000 Ralph M. Hinds Handicap, then kicked clear to win by 4 lengths. Fire With Fire was second and Shadow Runner was third. The favorite, Clubhouse Ride, made a little bit of a late run but finished fourth. Blueskiesnrainbows, a 4-year-old English Channel colt trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:51.59. Martin Pedroza had the mount.

Avare had them all the way in Saturday’s $50,000 Pomona Derby, holding on late to win by 3/4 length over the onrushing favorite, Tree of Life. It was 7 lengths more back to Curly Top in third. Avare, a Johannesburg gelding, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.66. Saul Arias had the mount for trainer Doug O’Neill.

Ruby Pumps got the lead turning for home in Saturday’s $50,000 Las Madrinas Handicap for fillies and mares and held off the seasonally named Toomanytomatoes to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Changethechannel led early and finished third. Ruby Pumps, a 5-year-old, British Columbia-bred mare by Finality, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:45.76 under Pedroza.

Luckaruck outfinished Basmati to win Wednesday’s $75,000 Governor’s Cup Handicap by 1 1/4 lengths over that rival. The favorite, Drill, ran late to take third, 2 1/4 lengths farther back. Luckaruck, a 5-year-old Lucky Pulpit gelding, ran 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:18.72 with Alonso Quinonez up.

Arlington Park

The Pizza Man found running room along the rail late in Saturday’s $65,000 Illinois Owners Stakes and was just up in time to beat Mr. Vegas by a neck. Sweet Luca was 1 length farther back in third. The Pizza Man, a 4-year-old English Channel gelding, ran 1 mile on good turf in 1:37.16 for jockey James Graham. Bucking the weekend trend of successful comebacks, Nate’s Mineshaft faded from the lead and finished last of seven.

Charles Town

Lucy’s Bob Boy had a bit of a rough start in Saturday’s $85,000 Wild and Wonderful Stakes but recovered in plenty of time to get home first by 2 1/4 lengths over Tomorrow’s Tale. Silver Menace finished third. Lucy’s Bob Boy, a 4-year-old Flatter gelding, ran 7 furlongs on the sloppy track in 1:26.23.

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