UPI Horse Racing Roundup – December 1, 2014
December 1st, 2014By ROBERT KIECKHEFER
UPI Racing Writer
Japanese runners dominated the Japan Cup and California Chrome won in his first try on the turf while the first big round of 2-year-old route races coincided with the first Kentucky Derby futures pool in a wild weekend in Thoroughbred racing.
Let’s get right to it.
Japan Cup
The Japanese contingent looked especially strong before Sunday’s Group 1 Japan Cup, boasting the world’s top-ranked horse in Just a Way and two-time Japan Cup winner Gentildonna among others. And, in the end, the home team dominated the race but it was Epiphaneia who overcame his own eagerness to shoot free in the stretch run to win by 4 lengths. Just a Way finished second and Speilberg was third. Gentildonna finished fourth and Harp Star was fifth in a total sweep for the home team. The best of three foreign-horse finishes was the German dual Group 1 winner Ivanhowe, who got home sixth. Canada’s Up With the Birds checked in 16th and Ireland’s Trading Leather, winner of the 2013 Irish Derby, was pulled up by jockey Kevin Manning after suffering a fatal fracture. Christophe Soumillon, who rode Epiphaneia, said even he was surprised the 4-year-old colt by Symboli Kris S was able to sustain his run after pulling his way near the leaders from the start of the race.
“The horse was very keen and I can’t say I was very confident when I saw how he started because I saw I wouldn’t be able to ride him the way the trainer asked — in sixth or seventh position,” Soumillon said. “Usually when a horse pulls so much and never really relaxes, normally you pay when you come into the straight,” he added.
Trainer Katsuhiko Sumii agreed Epiphaneia is a handful, adding that’s why he and the owners at U. Carrot Farm asked for Soumillon when Fukunaga opted to ride Just a Way.
“The horse is a difficult ride,” he said. Epiphaneia won the Group 1 Kikuka Sho, or Japanese St Leger, in his last start as a 3-year-old but had not made much of an impression earlier this season, finishing third, fourth and six in his previous three starts.
Soumillon said the colt has the talent to win overseas under the right conditions. Sumii said he would have to consult with the owners before any such decision is made.
Just a Way and Harp Star both ran well enough to atone in part for poor performances in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in their last outings. Gentildonna had every chance in the stretch run but couldn’t make any impact once Epiphaneia unleased his final burst of speed. Ivanhowe, another Arc also-ran, showed he, too, has international promise.
Turf
California Chrome hardly turned a hair in winning Saturday’s $300,000, Grade I Hollywood Derby at Del Mar. After taking back the first time under the wire, jockey Victor Espinoza tracked Sawyer’s Hill down the backstretch and into the turn, then took complete control and went on to win by 2 lengths. Queen’s Plate winner Lexie Lou gave valiant chase but could make no inroads, finishing second. Talco was up for third with Sawyer’s Hill, Cabral and Flamboyent completing the order of finish. The 9 furlongs on firm going took 1:47.88.
“That kick at the end, that acceleration. It was just like when he won the (Kentucky) Derby,” Espinoza said. “It all went well today. The horse inside (Sawyer’s Hill) didn’t break as fast as I thought he would and my horse went right to the front. I thought the other horse would go, but I was ready for most anything happening there at the beginning. I let the other horse go by going into the first turn and I was happy right where I was.”
Trainer Art Sherman said he had a happy day. “There was never any point where I was really anxious. I was confident,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of options. Royal Ascot wants us to come over to England. They said ‘We’ll treat you royally.’ And we’ve got Dubai in March. That’s another option. We’re going to definitely run him another year.”
The victory in his first try on the grass puts another plus in the Horse of the Year case built by California Chrome with earlier victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Whether it’s enough to overcome his defeats in the Belmont Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Classic remains to be seen. Still in the picture are Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern and Main Sequence, who won all four of his starts this year — all Grade I events on the turf, culminating in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Kaigun rallied from last of eight to take Friday’s $250,000, Grade II Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar, outfinishing Za Approval by 3/4 length. Tom’s Tribute led late and held third. Kaigun, a 4-year-old Northern Afleet gelding, circled the field turning into the stretch run and finished 1 1/16 miles on firm going in 1:41.38 with Corey Nakatani riding. It was the second graded stakes win of the year for Kaigun, along with the Grade II Play the King Stakes at Woodbine. He also finished second in the Grade I Makers 46 Mile at Keeneland, the Grade I Knob Creek Manhattan at Belmont and the Grade I Ricoh Woodbine Mile. In his last previous outing, he finished 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
As noted here Thursday, last year’s Kentucky Derby runner-up, Golden Soul, seems to be on the improve on the turf. The Perfect Soul colt scored his second straight win in a Friday allowance event at Churchill Downs, getting through late from the back of the pack to win by 2 1/2 lengths, going away. He was let go at 5-1 odds and finished 9 furlongs on good turf in 1:51.85 with Joel Rosario up. He had 15 losing starts, including the Derby second, before winning at 1 3/8 miles on the turf on Nov. 1 under the twin spires.
Filly & Mare Turf
La Tia set a comfortable pace in Sunday’s $300,000, Grade I Matriarch at Del Mar and held gamely to win by 1 1/4 lengths over late-running Queen of The Sand. The favorite, Discreet Marq, finished third, lacking the needed stretch punch to reel in the leader. La Tia, a 5-year-old City Place mare, ran 1 mile on firm going in 1:35.37 with Joel Rosario up for trainer Armando de la Cerda. The victory puts some spice back into the Illinois Horse of the Year contest, which just weeks ago seemed a lock for Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Work All Week. La Tia’s 2014 campaign also includes victories in the Grade III Arlington Matron, the Grade III Ontario Matron and the Grade III Athenia Stakes at Belmont Park.
Classic
Hoppertunity continued his comeback with a gritty, 1/2-length victory in Friday’s $500,000, Grade I Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs, getting the better of pacesetting Constitution after a long stretch drive, then holding off the late run of Protonico. Constitution held third. Hoppertunity, a 3-year-old Any Given Saturday colt, covered 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:49.88 with Martin Garcia up. Hoppertunity jumped into Kentucky Derby attention this spring with a victory in the Grade II Rebel at Oaklawn Park, then finished second behind California Chrome in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby. He was scratched from the Run for the Roses just days before the race with a foot injury, finally returning with a late-running, second-place finish in an allowance race on Breeders’ Cup week at Santa Anita.
Reflecting on Hoppertunity’s inopportune injury, trainer Bob Baffert said by phone from California, “In this game, you have to take the wins and losses, bad trips and everything in stride. When it happens, it happens. You deal with it and go on. We’ve been on both ends and you learn to deal with it and just go on.”
Baffert also trains Bayern, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
“He’ll get better with age, so we’re happy,” Baffert said of Hoppertunity. “We’ve got him and Bayern.”
Todd Pletcher, who trains both Protonico and Constitution, said both ran well and have bright futures.
Red Rifle made all the going in Saturday’s $250,000, Grade II Hawthorne Gold Cup and had no trouble coping with the late run of local favorite Mr. Marti Gras, winning by 2 1/4 lengths over that rival. Call Me George finished third and the lukewarm favorite, Cary Street, chugged home ninth, never involved. Red Rifle, a 4-year-old Giant’s Causeway gelding, ran 1 1/4 miles on a fast track in 2:03.24 with Florent Geroux up for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Geroux, who won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last month with Work All Week, said, “On paper, it looked like there were a few horses that were going to go for the lead. Todd told me to just break sharp and if he made the lead, fine. If not, just sit off the pace. I wasn’t going to use him hard to make the lead and have him get tired in the stretch.”
Tim Thornton, who rode Mr. Marti Gras, lamented the lack of a hotter early pace.
Big Cazanova showed the way in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade III Native Diver at Del Mar and was an easy winner at the end, unchallenged down the lane. Blue Tone was the best of the rest with Avanzare edging Fleet Eagle for third. Big Cazanova, a 5-year-old, Argentine-bred ridgling by Giant’s Causeway, ran 9 furlongs on the all-weather course in 1:49.28 with Elvis Trujillo up. It was his fourth win since shipping to North America this spring but first in a stakes race.
Stormin Monarcho stormed by Adirondack King in deep stretch to win Saturday’s $100,000 Swatara Stakes at Penn National by 1 length. Yougotthatgoinforu finished third. Stormin Monarcho, a 4-year-old gelding by Monarchos, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.40 with Jevian Toledo up.
Pepper Crown rallied from near last in a tightly bunched field to win Sunday’s $100,000, Grade III Berkeley Handicap on the all-weather at Golden Gate Fields by 1 1/4 lengths over G G Ryder. The favorite, Stryker Phd, finished third. Pepper Crown, a 4-year-old colt by Peppered Cat, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.74 with Juan Hernandez at the controls.
Mile
Private Zone led from the start at a good clip in Saturday’s $500,000, Grade I Cigar Mile at Aqueduct and frustrated rival Secret Circle could only chase him home, 5 lengths behind at the wire. Bourbon Courage was up for third. Vyjack finished fifth and Itsmyluckyday was last of nine. Secret Circle, Private Zone and Bourbon Courage had finished second, third and fourth, in that order, behind Work All Week in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in their last start. In Saturday’s heat, Private Zone, a 5-year-old Macho Uno gelding, got 1/2 mile in 44.18 seconds and 6 furlongs in 1:08.34 with Martin Pedroza up and finished in 1:34.39.
“Unbelievable performance,” Pedroza said. “I was expecting him to run good but not that good. I was able to get all the speed at once at the break.”
Joel Rosario, who rode Secret Circle, commented, “I can’t believe the horse on the lead just kept on going. I was trying to track him and stay with him, but he was in command the whole way.”
Before the Breeders’ Cup, Private Zone had won the Grade I Vosburgh at Belmont Park.
Distaff
Classic Point stalked the pace in Friday’s $300,000, Grade III Go For Wand Handicap at Aqueduct, hit the lead in the lane and held off the favorite, Princess Violet, to win by a nose. Moment in Dixie finished third with a late run and the early leader, Sweet Whiskey, faded to get home fourth. Classic Point, a 5-year-old Flatter mare, ran 1 mile on a good track in 1:37.79 with Angel Arroyo in the irons. She rose from the claiming ranks in South Florida to win the Punkin Pie Stakes at Belmont Park both this year and last. But the Go For Wand was her first graded stakes win. She was making her third start for trainer Jimmy Jerkens, who took over from his father, Allen Jerkens, and added blinkers two starts back.
“I don’t know if it was just the blinkers,” the younger Jerkens said. “I think it’s usually a combination of things that makes them win. She’s just gotten bigger and stronger since Saratoga. Her last race was great and she got some confidence back.”
Snowbell led throughout Saturday’s $400,000, Grade III Comely for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct, turned back a challenge from Dame Dorothy and went on to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Shayjolie rolled on late to take second at long odds with Dame Dorothy third. Snowbell, a Darley-bred and Godolphin-owned Tapit filly, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:52.59 with Luis Saez up.
“Just judging from the track it seemed like a good place to be, on the front end,” said Godolphin racing manager Jimmy Bell. “She’s a filly that has obviously shown that she has that front-running speed, which is always dangerous. The fractions were kind and every step was a good step.”
Sprint
The venerable Ben’s Cat won the $200,000 Fabulous Strike Handicap at Penn National for the third time, taking Saturday’s edition by 3 1/4 lengths over Bern Identity. Barracuda Wayne was up for third at a big price and the favorite, River Rocks, faded from a hot pace battle to finish fifth. Ben’s Cat, an 8-year-old gelding by Parker’s Storm Cat, ran 6 furlongs in 1:09.46 with Julian Pimentel in the irons and was never in danger of losing despite being floated to the middle of the track turning for home. The victory broke an unusual string of three straight defeats for Ben’s Cat. Only once in his previous 45 starts had he experienced such a drought.
2-year-olds
Leave the Light On set a pressured pace in Saturday’s $400,000, Grade II Remsen at Aqueduct, edged clear in the stretch and then held gamely to win by 1/2 length over the favorite, Frosted. Keen Ice was 8 lengths farther back in third. Leave the Light On, a Horse Greeley colt out of the Mineshaft mare Lantern Glow, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:51.06 with Jose Ortiz in the irons. The winner was making only his second career start, following an undistinguished effort in September at Belmont Park.
“Watching the card earlier, speed was very good, especially from the inside,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “This horse has speed, and on the stretch out, two turns, he’s going to put himself on or near the lead … We bought him with the two-turn dirt races in mind. If he’s good enough, he’ll get better as the distances go on. His owners have been looking for a Derby horse and they’ve been knocking on the door with a couple. I think they have a legitimate contender here. He’s a very long-winded horse.”
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Frosted had a tough trip from an outside post on a day when the inside was golden.
“We’re happy with his race, other than not winning,” he said. “He’s a fun horse to have and hopefully he’ll have a bright future.”
El Kabeir led from the early jumps in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs, then just held on to win by a head over Imperia. Eagle finished third, 3/4 length farther back and the favorite, Lord Nelson, finished fifth after a troubled start. El Kabeir, a Scat Daddy colt, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.82 with Calvin Borel typically skimming the rail. El Kabeir broke his maiden on the second try at Saratoga in August, then finished fourth in the Grade I Champagne Stakes at Belmont and second in the Grade II Nashua at Aqueduct in his last previous start. Winning trainer John Terranova II said he picked the KJC over the Remsen at his home track to test El Kabeir at the site and on the track of the Kentucky Derby. The surface experiment, he said, “was great and he handled himself well in the paddock. He shipped in great and wanted to get over this surface and we wanted to get the two turns.”
Decision Day prompted the pace in Saturday’s restricted $250,000 (Canadian) Coronation Futurity at Woodbine, went to the lead and got clear at the top of the stretch and held on to win by a head over Nipigon. Shez a Masterpiece finished third as the favorite. Decision Day, a Macho Uno colt out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Cry of the Wild, ran 9 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:52.50 with Jesse Campbell up. The race is a key early prep for the 2015 Queen’s Plate but trainer Josie Carroll said Decision Day has a way to go before he could be ready for that test.
“He still has a lot of growing up to do,” said Carroll. “If you look at him, he’s still kind of leggy and gangly and mentally he hasn’t really figured things out, but he’s on his way.”
On the turf near the surf at Del Mar, Conquest Typhoon rolled in from last to win Sunday’s $150,000, Grade III Cecil B. DeMille Stakes by 1/2 length over Stormy Liberal. Rock Shandy finished third. Conquest Typhoon, a Stormy Atlantic colt, ran 1 mile on firm turf in 1:36.93 with Mike Smith up for Mark Casse.
Mr. Jordan dueled for the lead all the way into the stretch in Saturday’s $100,000 Smooth Air Stakes at Gulfstream Park West, then took over and won in hand, besting Juan and Bina by 4 1/2 lengths. It was 6 1/2 more lengths back to Hubba Shake in third. Mr. Jordan, the odds-on favorite as a last-out winner, got 1 mile on a fast track in 1:39.54 with Gabriel Saez riding.
“This bodes well for the future,” trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. said of his colt, who is a nearly white shade of gray.
It was, in fact, It’s Not Me hanging on to win Saturday’s $100,000 Buffalo Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park West. The D’wildcat gelding had opened a daylight lead in the lane but just survived the late rush of long shots Brother Bobo and Bluegrass Singer by a neck and another head. The favorite, Richard the Great, finished sixth. It’s Not Me, with Arny Fontinez in the irons, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:11.88. It was his second straight win after three earlier losses.
Here’s another of those Kitten’s Joys. Chief Kitten rallied from near the back of the field to take Saturday’s $100,000 Pulpit Stakes on the Gulfstream Park West grass by a last-jump nose over Croninthebarbarian. Night Prowler was another head back in third. Chief Kitten, with Edgard Zayas up, ran 1 mile on firm going in 1:37.35. Chief Kitten was coming off a seventh-place finish against a tough field in the Grade III Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland.
2-year-old fillies
Condo Commando easily dispatched six rivals in Saturday’s $400,000, Grade II Demoiselle at Aqueduct, clearing in the stretch to get home first by 11 1/2 lengths, geared down at the end. Calamity Kate was second, 3/4 length ahead of Angela Renee. Condo Commando, a Tiz Wonderful filly out of the General Meeting mare Yearly Report, ran 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:50.40 with Joel Rosario up — more than 2 seconds faster than Snowbell in the Grade III Comely earlier on the card. She won her first two starts at Saratoga, including the Grade I Spinaway, then finished fourth in the Grade I Frizette before Saturday’s triumph.
“That was good, thank goodness,” said winning trainer Rudy Rodriguez. “She likes to be a free-running horse. If you take hold of her, she will fight you. To see her galloping along on the lead like that, I was very confident.”
He said the filly now will get a bit of a break.
West Coast Belle tracked the pace in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade II Golden Rod at Churchill Downs, rallied wide around the leaders and kicked clear, winning by 1 1/2 lengths over No Fault of Mine. It was another 6 1/4 lengths back to Heart’s Song in third. West Coast Belle, a Tapit filly out of an Unbridled’s Song mare, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:45.52 with Shaun Bridgmohan up. The Gary and Mary West homebred now is 3-for-3. She won at first asking at Monmouth Park, then took the Rags to Riches Stakes at Churchill Downs by 6 3/4 lengths.
Ol’ Fashion Gal skimmed the rail in Saturday’s $150,000, Grade III Jimmy Durante on the turf at Del Mar, gained a short lead in the stretch run and held off the favorite, Rainha Da Bateria to win by a neck. Don’t Blame Me finished third. Ol’ Fashion Gal, a Sky Mesa filly, ran 1 mile on firm turf in 1:37.27 with Joe Talamo up. Trainer Mark Casse ran her back on two weeks’ rest after she broke her maiden over the same ground in her second start.
“She loves the turf,” Talamo said. “You can see that. Since they switched her over, she’s 2-for-2. She’s getting better with each race. I had a perfect trip today.”
Money’soncharlotte set a pressured pace under Edgar Prado in Saturday’s $100,000 Hut Hut Stakes at Gulfstream Park West, then finally shook loose to win by 2 3/4 lengths over Moment of Delight. Holywell ran evenly to finish third. Money’soncharlotte, a Mizzen Mast filly, got 1 mile on a fast track in 1:41.60. It was her first win in her second start.
Leap Year Luck leapt from last of 10 to win Saturday’s $100,000 House Party Stakes at Gulfstream Park West, edging clear late to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Ekati’s Phaeton. Concealedwithakiss led much of the way and salvaged show money. Leap Year Luck, a Hear No Evil filly, finished 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:12.27 under Jesus Rios.
Consumer Credit stalked the pace in Saturday’s $100,000 Wait a While Stakes on the grass at Gulfstream Park West, came to the lead three-wide and went on to win by 3 3/4 lengths. Lismore was best of the rest with Nicky’s Brown Miss third and the favorite, Fila Primera finishing fourth. Consumer Credit, a More Than Ready filly with South African bloodlines on her dam side, ran 1 mile on firm turf in 1:36.64 with Edgard Zayas in the irons.
London Tower led from the start in Sunday’s $150,000 (Canadian) Ontario Lassie for Canadian-breds and extended the margin to win by 6 1/2 lengths. Galina Point was second, another 7 1/2 lengths clear of Wanna Win. London Tower, a daughter of Head Chopper, ran 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:44.73 with Emma-Jayne Wilson riding.
Seduire led from the opening jumps in Saturday’s $50,000 Golden Gate Debutante and drew off late to win by 5 1/2 lengths. Wedding Blush was the best of the rest with Lutine Belle third. Seduire, an Elusive Quality filly out of the Holy Bull mare Holy Éclair, got 6 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:09.90 with Ricardo Gonzalez up.
Elsewhere:
England
Khatiba held on to win Friday’s All-Weather Championships qualifier at Wolverhampton by a head over the favorite, Majeyda, earning a spot in 7-furlongs Fillies & Mares Championship on Good Friday at Lingfield Park. Trained by Roger Varian and ridden by Graham Lee, the 3-year-old filly finished 7 furlongs on the Tapeta surface in 1:26.62.
“She has been consistent all year,” Varian said, “but I was getting a bit frustrated with her on the turf because I felt she threw a couple of races away. However, on the all-weather, she has been very good and was probably a little bit unlucky last time at Kempton. She needs a good gallop to run at and the fast pace tonight suited her.”
He said she will get a rest and return for the finals at Lingfield.
Woodbine
San Nicola Thunder dueled with Freitag through the deep stretch run in Sunday’s restricted $125,000 Sir Barton Stakes, prevailing by a head. Pacesetter Spadina Road finished third, 1/2 length farther back. San Nicola Thunder, a 4-year-old Silent Name gelding, ran 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:45.99 with Jesse Campbell up.
Mahoning Valley
Star Harbour led from the start in Saturday’s $50,000 Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Sprint, found another gear at mid-stretch and edged away to win by 2 1/4 lengths over Jasizzle. Sir Lowry’s Pass dueled for the early lead and finished third. Star Harbour, a 6-year-old, Florida-bred son of Indian Charlie, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:12.89 under Deshawn Parker.
