UPI Horse Racing Roundup – July 14, 2014

By ROBERT KIECKHEFER
UPI Racing Writer

Some major upsets spiced weekend Thoroughbred racing as The Grey Gatsby floundered in France, Grandeur was a nose short of grand in New York and Princess of Sylmar had a decidedly common trip in Delaware.

There were, of course, some popular winners as well. A bunch of turf racing featured prep races for the upcoming Arlington Million card. And there were some preliminary heats in the 2-year-old campaigns that will get going for real at Saratoga and Del Mar.

Let’s get going for real with this report.

Turf

Hangover Kid prevailed in a head bob over the heavy favorite, Grandeur, in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade II Bowling Green Handicap at Belmont Park. Both came from behind the early leaders and Grandeur got to the front in the stretch before the tough-luck loss. Sky Blazer came from well back to take third, 1/2 length farther in arrears. Hangover Kid, a 6-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid, finished 1 1/2 miles on firm turf in 2:28.18 with Jose Lezcano up. Hangover Kid had finished second in three of his last four starts. The Bowling Green was his first graded stakes triumph. Grandeur had finished third in the Grade I Man o’ War and fourth in the Grade I Manhattan before Saturday’s run.

“We’d like to go to the Breeders’ Cup with him,” winning trainer John Servis said of Hangover Kid. “This race, being a graded stakes, got him points. I don’t know where he’ll go next, but the Breeders’ Cup is the ultimate goal.”

Divine Oath found room along the rail in the final yards of Saturday’s $200,000, Grade III American Derby at Arlington Park and went through to pass English raider Our Channel, winning by 1/2 length over that one. Highball, after an awkward start, advanced steadily to finish third. Divine Oath, a Broken Vow colt trained by Todd Pletcher, ran 1 3/16 miles on firm turf in 1:56.60 with Florent Geroux in the irons. Divine Oath was coming off a fourth-place finish in the Penn Mile and earlier finished second to Mr Speaker in the Grade III Lexington at Keeneland on the all-weather course.

“There was plenty of pace in the race,” Graham said. “It worked out good and we were able to get through.”

Our Channel won the Investec Derby Trial at Epsom in April but faded from the lead in the Derby itself and finished 13th. James Graham rode Saturday for trainer William Haggas. The American Derby is the local prep for the Grade I Secretariat Stakes on Million Day.

Haggas assistant Archie Watson said Our Channel “ran a huge race. It’s gutting to be beaten but the winner obviously is a good horse.”

Finnegans Wake got the lead in the final yards in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade III Arlington Handicap and won by a head bob over the late-closing Admiral Kitten. War Dancer was third and the pacesetter, Avanzare, finished a close fourth. Finnegans Wake, a 5-year-old son of Powerscourt, ran 1 1/4 miles on firm turf in 2:05.42 under Victor Espinoza. He is owned by Donegal Racing and trained by Dale Romans. It was only his third win from 21 starts but he did finish second to Bayrir in the Grade I Secretariat Stakes over the Arlington course two summers ago.

“This is tremendous,” said Jerry Crawford of Donegal Racing. “He was still eligible for (conditions races) but had been right there in Grade I and Grade II races.”

Julien Leparoux, who rode Admiral Kitten, noted, “There was no pace. It happens sometimes in a six-horse field.”

Avanzare led through 1 mile in 1:42.28.

The Pizza Man led them a merry, if slow, chase in Saturday’s $150,000, Grade III Stars and Stripes and held on to win by 1/2 length over O’Prado Ole. Suntracer was flying on the outside in the final furlong and finished third. The Pizza Man, a 5-year-old English Channel gelding, crawled through the first mile, then picked up the pace and finished 1 1/2 miles in 2:33.67.

“When you look at the race on paper,” said winning rider Florent Geroux, “there wasn’t much speed. I had the best horse in the race so I took the lead and went with it.”

Channing Hill, who rode O’Prado Ole, claimed foul because The Pizza Man, shying from a camera placed under the rail, came out into his path the first time past the stands, with a mile to run.

“I think his horse had plenty of time to recover,” Geroux said.

“I guess you have to fall off to get put up here,” Hill complained.

Julien Leparoux, up on Suntracer, said he had to wait too long to get his mount into gear.

“Tough racing luck,” he summarized.

The race leads to the $400,000 American St. Leger on Million Day.

Filly & Mare Turf

I’m Already Sexy shadowed the pace in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade III Modesty Handicap at Arlington Park, got the lead turning for home and just lasted, beating Gulsary by a neck. A pair of longshots, Street of Gold and Every Way, finished third and fourth in a blanket finish. I’m Already Sexy, a 4-year-old daughter of Ready’s Image, finished 1 3/8 miles on firm turf from the No. 13 gate in 1:57.56 with Florent Geroux scoring a stakes triple on the day.

“I thought she had the controlling speed and would be wherever she wanted to be,” said winning trainer Wayne Catalano. “The 13-hole didn’t bother me. I thought she’d have enough speed to get over. She didn’t break exactly perfect, but it was good enough.”

I’m Already Sexy came into the race off a narrow loss in the Grade III Mint Julep at Churchill Downs but now is 4-for-four over the Arlington Park grass. The race is the local prep for the Grade I Beverly D on Arlington Million Day and Catalano sounded ready for that challenge.

“We tried the big ones before and we did all right, so we’ll see how it all plays out,” he said.

Distaff

Belle Gallantey led from the start in Saturday’s $750,000, Grade I Delaware Handicap and won by 2 3/4 lengths over the heavy favorite, Princess of Sylmar. Flashy American finished third. Belle Gallantey, a 5-year-old After Market mare, ran 1 1/4 miles on a fast track in 2:01.15 with Jose Ortiz up. Princess of Sylmar, last year’s Kentucky Oaks winner, raced in traffic from the first turn through most of the backstretch run and was shuffled back turning into the stretch. Belle Gallantey, who has climbed up from the claiming ranks, was making just her second stakes start. She finished fifth in the Grade I Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park last time out. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez said the key was getting the mare to relax and giving her more distance.

“We started her going long and she just kept getting better and better,” he said. “Last time, in the Ogden Phipps, she showed she belonged with this kind and that made it easy for us run in the Delaware Handicap.”

Princess of Sylmar’s trainer, Todd Pletcher, said, “We have no excuses.”

Unspurned led all the way to a mild upset victory in Sunday’s $250,000 (Canadian), restricted Bison City Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Woodbine, winning by 2 1/4 lengths over Hot and Spicy. Paladin Bay was along for third and the favorite, Wild Catomine, faded to finish fourth. Unspurned, a daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, ran 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:45.47 with Justin Stein riding. Unspurned finished fifth in the Woodbine Oaks last time out but last fall finished second in the Grade II Natalma Stakes.

“She’s a very competitive filly and we talked about how the race might come up and it virtually went the way we worked it out,” said winning trainer Roger Attfield. “We just let her run her race because that’s what she likes to do and when that gray filly (Hot and Spicy) came to her, she just dug back in again. She’s a tough little filly.”

Flipcup hooked up with pacesetting Alwaysinstilettos in the stretch run of Saturday’s $75,000 New York Oaks at Finger Lakes and finally prevailed by a neck over that rival. Storied Lady, closing late, finished third, just another nose behind. Flipcup, a Milwaukee Brew filly, got 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:46.55 with John Davila Jr. aboard for trainer Bill Mott.

Turf Sprint

Eight-year-old Ben’s Cat put the youngsters in their place in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade III Parx Dash, outfinishing Tightend Touchdown to win by a nose with Marchman another nose in arrears in third. Ben’s Cat, a Parker’s Storm Cat gelding, ran 5 furlongs on firm turf in 56.62 seconds with Julian Pimentel up. Tightend Touchdown went to the post as a slight favorite over the winner despite Ben’s Cat’s sterling record over Pennsylvania and Maryland tracks. The old gent had won four of his last five before making a rare detour to New York in his last start, finishing fourth in the Grade III Jaipur Invitational. Tightend Touchdown is a 5-year-old; Marchman, 4. Owner-trainer King Leatherbury has tried in the past to raise money to supplement Ben’s Cat to the Breeders’ Cup and might have a case to give that another go.

Ju Ju Eyeballs came from off the pace in Sunday’s $65,000 Klassy Briefcase Stakes for fillies and mares at Monmouth Park, caught pacesetting Indian Splendor and went on to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Indian Splendor salvaged second by a neck over Aquinnah. Ju Ju Eyeballs, a 4-year-old Gators and Bears filly, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on a firm turf course in 1:01.20 with Paco Lopez up.

Filly & Mare Sprint

Doinghardtimeagain rallied to the lead a furlong out in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade II Great Lady M Stakes at Los Alamitos and held sway, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over Amaranth. Sagebrush Queen finished third and the favorite, Heir Kitty, finished fifth with a dull effort. Doinghardtimeagain, a 4-year-old daughter of Ministers Wild Cat, covered 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:15.59 with Mike Smith in the irons. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer blamed himself for Doinghardtimeagain’s fifth-place finish in her last race, the Desert Stormer Handicap, off a 10-months layoff.

“I think I didn’t have her ready last time and that’s as honest as I can be,” he said. “She can do everything pretty well on any surface. It’s nice to have a horse like that.”

Galiana caught pacesetting favorite Winning Image in the final sixteenth to upset Saturday’s $100,000 Sweet and Sassy Stakes for fillies and mares at Delaware Park by 1 3/4 lengths. Winning Image held second, 1 1/4 lengths better than She’s Ordained. Galiana, a 4-year-old Stonesider filly, ran 6 furlongs over a fast track in 1:08.92 with Abel Lezcano up.

2-year-olds

Story to Tell rallied around the leaders into the stretch in Sunday’s $100,000 W.L. Proctor Memorial at Los Alamitos, kicked clear and won by 1 1/4 lengths over the favorite, Bad Read Sanchez. Peradventure and Litigation Road completed the order of finish. Story to Tell, a Bluegrass Cat colt out of the Silver Deputy mare Haddie Be Good, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.28 with Joe Talamo aboard. Story to Tell won at first asking at Santa Anita on May 23, then finished second in the Santa Anita Juvenile last month.

“He’s a nice colt and he looks even better when he runs,” said winning trainer Dan Hendricks. “It’s special to win this race. Willard Proctor gave me my first job at the track. I started galloping horses for him at Hollywood Park in 1976.”

He said Story to Tell is nominated to the $300,000, Grade I Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 3 but he also is considering the $200,000, Grade II Best Pal in three weeks.

Seffeara got the lead in Saturday’s $150,000 (Canadian) Clarendon Stakes at Woodbine, gave it up to Conquest Typhoon but then came again to win by 1 1/2 lengths over that rival. R U Watchingbud finished third, 4 lengths farther back. Seffeara, an Ontario-bred Old Forester gelding, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on the all-weather course in 1:04.67 with Gary Boulanger in the irons. He won at first asking last month over the same track — by 11 3/4 lengths in a 4 1/2-furlongs race, ridden out.

“He’s a pretty special horse,” said Boulanger. “He was a little bad in the gate, but still got away clean. He didn’t know what to do out there by himself. He kind of got lost and he was looking around. We had worked him behind horses before so I wasn’t too concerned.”

Sing Praises, a 21-1 long shot, led from the start in Saturday’s $75,000 Birdonthewire Stakes at Gulfstream Park and kicked clear in the lane, winning by 5 1/2 lengths. Kulak was second, I’m Venezuelan third and the odds-on favorite, Dekabrist, could do no better than fifth. Sing Praises, a Hear No Evil colt out of the Awesome of Course mare Sacred Psalm, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:04.12 under Ramsey Zimmerman. Sing Praises finished second in his career debut on June 29.

2-year-old fillies

La Grange bided her time behind the leaders in Sunday’s $100,000 Cinderella Stakes at Los Alamitos, circled wide into the stretch and won off by 2 3/4 lengths over the heavy favorite, Heart of Paradise. Slew’s Charm finished third. La Grange, a Curlin filly out of the Awesome Again mare Jennie R., ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.92 with Kent Desormeaux riding. It was her second start following a second-place finish at Arlington Park in early June.

“We thought she put in a good effort first time out and we thought she might like the dirt better than the Polytrack,” said Julie Clark, assistant to winning trainer Keith Desormeaux. She proved us right.”

Starless Night was quickly on the lead in Sunday’s $150,000 (Canadian) Shady Well Stakes at Woodbine, maintained a clear advantage and went on to win by 2 1/2 lengths, ridden out. Dixie Twist was second in her first start. Brooklynsway, another first-timer, finished third. Starless Night, a Grand Slam filly, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:04.67 with Eurico Da Silva handling the reins. She now is 2-for-2 with both wins coming at Woodbine.

Coco’s Wildcat led the way in Saturday’s $75,000 Cassidy Stakes at Gulfstream Park and shook free in the stretch run to score a 5 3/4-lengths victory. Naval Command was best of the rest with Miss Amalita a nose behind that one. The favorite, Curlin’s Princess, checked in fifth. Coco’s Wildcat, a Wildcat Heir filly, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:04.90 with Eduardo Nunez in the irons. She now is 2-for-2 with both victories coming at Gulfstream.

International

England

Slade Power had no trouble backing up his Royal Ascot win, taking Saturday’s Group 1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket by 1 1/2 lengths over Tropics. Gregorian finished third in the 6-furlongs sprint. Sole Power, the other Group 1 sprint victor from last month’s Royal meeting was a late scratch due to soft going. American raider Undrafted finished a good fourth in the 13-horse field. Slade Power, a 5-year-old, Irish-bred son of Dutch Art, was coming off a victory in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes. The Group 1 double moves him right to the top of the division standings. He won a Group 3 race in Ireland as his seasonal debut after winding up 2013 with a 10th-place finish in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint.

Arabian Queen showed the way in Friday’s Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes for 2-year-olds at Newmarket, turned back a challenge in the final furlong and went on to win by 1 1/4 lengths over High Celebrity. Tongue Twists was third and Parsley weakened late to finish fourth. Arabian Queen, a Dubawi filly, finished sixth in the Queen Mary Stakes at Ascot and now is 2-for-4 for trainer David Elsworth.

France

Gallante pulled a major upset in Sunday’s Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris for 3-year-olds at Longchamp, slogging over a rain-soaked course to win by a neck over Prince Gibraltar. Teletext finished third at long odds while The Grey Gatsby, winner of the Group 2 Dante Stakes and Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club, struggled home sixth. Gallante, a Montjeu colt, won his first start last September, then finished third twice earlier this year before winning a conditions race last month. Pierre-Charles Boudot rode the colt over 1 1/2 miles of officially very soft turf Sunday in 2:41.76. Andre Fabre trains Gallante for the Coolmore principals. A few British bookmakers listed Gallante, albeit at longish odds, for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe — presumably in the event Longchamp endures another downpour before that race.

The Grey Gatsby’s trainer, Kevin Ryan, commented, “We won’t be running on this soft ground again.”

Elsewhere:

Woodbine

Executive Allure led from the start in Saturday’s $125,000 (Canadian) Passing Mood Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and extended the advantage late to win by 3 3/4 lengths. Virreina was best of the rest with And I Did coming from well back to take third. Executive Allure, a Bold Executive filly, ran 7 furlongs on firm turf in 1:21.28 with Eurico Da Silva up. She now has won three straight, all at Woodbine, dating back to last October.

Canterbury Park

Awesome Flower came with a rush on the outside in the stretch run of Saturday’s $100,000 Lady Canterbury Stakes for fillies and mares and got by Gold Medal Dancer in the final yards to score by 3/4 length. Eden Prairie was well back in third. Awesome Flower, a 5-year-old Flower Alley mare, ran 1 mile on a sloppy track in 1:38.54 with Francisco Torres up. The race was moved from the turf.

Saturday’s $100,000 Mystic Lake Mile also came off the turf and only four met the starter. Az Ridge dueled with Stachys through the early going, drew away and won by 2 1/2 lengths. Stachys held second, 7 1/2 lengths in front of Jimmy Simms and Churchill Downs invader Coalport brought up the rear. As Ridge, a 5-year-old Toccet gelding, finished in 1:37.32 under Ry Eikleberry.

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