UPI Horse Racing Roundup – May 18, 2015
May 18th, 2015By ROBERT KIECKHEFER
UPI Racing Writer
American Pharoah heads for New York with his once-in-a-lifetime chance to win the Triple Crown after backing up his hard-fought Kentucky Derby victory with a romp in Saturday’s rain-drenched Preakness.
For jockey Victor Espinoza, it will be a third chance to win the Triple Crown; for trainer Bob Baffert, the fourth. The crown hasn’t been claimed since Affirmed turned the trick in 1978.
The Preakness was only the cherry on top of the sundae that was weekend racing.
There was an upset in the Black-Eyed Susan. Commissioner joined the growing crowd elbowing for position in the handicap ranks after a nice win in Baltimore. Bodemeister’s 2-year-old half-brother was an exceptionally impressive winner at Pimlico — look out! And Wesley Ward may have been showcasing a couple more Royal Ascot prospects during the weekend’s festivities.
Internationally, Sunday was Singapore’s big day in the international spotlight — but it was dominated, for the third straight year, by Hong Kong runners. In England, the Derby picture remains muddled.
Let’s muddle along to this …
The Triple Crown
A raging storm hit Pimlico just as the horses were assembling for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, with thunder booming and torrential rain turning the track into a sea of mud. Jockey Victor Espinoza, preparing to ride Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah in the second leg of the Triple Crown, decided he was left with no choice.
“After the rain, I changed my mind. I didn’t want to get wet,” said the jockey, who last year rode California Chrome to win the Derby and Preakness. The gate opened and after the first couple jumps, the Preakness was no contest. American Pharoah gunned out to the lead, disposed of a pesky Mr. Z on the turn for home and cruised to the wire first by 7 lengths over long shot Tale of Verve. Divining Rod was third and Dortmund finished fourth. American Pharoah, who appeared all out to win the Kentucky Derby with a wide trip, looked like a winner all the way in Baltimore, setting a brisk pace on a sloppy track and finishing in 1:58.46. Neither Espinoza nor his colt showed a speck of mud as they headed to the victory celebration.
“Well, I’ve never won this race as easily and handily,” said trainer Bob Baffert, who now has won it six times and goes to the Belmont Stakes on June 6 with his fourth chance to win the Triple Crown. Silver Charm finished second to Touch Gold in 1997 and Real Quiet was second behind Victory Gallop the following year. War Emblem lost his chance when he stumbled badly at the start in 2002. “Silver Charm, it was a dog fight,” Baffert said. “War Emblem was a tough race and Real Quiet, him and Victor, he galloped.”
Baffert said before the Preakness that he regards the second jewel of the Triple Crown as the easiest for a Derby winner. “I really don’t think about the third leg yet,” he said after the race. “I’ll see how he comes back. It’s going to be tough … The next race is going to be … I know everybody right now is sharpening their knives getting ready.” To which winning owner Ahmed Zayat replied, laughing, “Bring it on.”
On Sunday morning, Baffert said American Pharoah seemed fine.
“He’s hard to gauge because he’s so quiet. He’s not going to come out here jumping around. He’s very mellow. He’s a very intelligent horse.”
Baffert planned to ship the Pioneerof the Nile colt back to Churchill Downs on Monday.
The Triple Crown has not been won since Affirmed in 1978. Thirteen horses have won the first two legs, only to fail in New York. Espinoza was on two of those — Real Quiet and California Chrome.
International
Singapore
For the third straight year, Hong Kong horses won both of Singapore’s International Group 1 races on Sunday as Dan Excel repeated in the Singapore Airlines International Cup and Aerovelocity won the KrisFlyer Sprint. Military Attack, who won the Cup two years ago, was a narrow second this time around the Kranji turf, and Lucky Nine, winner of the 2013 and 2014 Sprint, finished third in this years’ edition, putting an exclamation point to the Hong Kong domination.
Dan Excel, a 7-year-old Shamardal gelding, went right to the front in the Cup with Meiner Frost, a Japanese raider, tracking the pace and Military Attack running smoothly in third. Meiner Frost made his bid outside the leader on the turn for home, with local hope Quechua third. The Japanese gray, however, faded in the late going while Military Attack kept coming and was narrowing the gap as Dan Excel hit the wire 1/2 length in front. Quechua finished third with Meiner Frost fourth.
“It’s a dream come true,” said winning trainer John Moore. “I said before the race that he was in better form than last year.”
Winning jockey Tommy Berry bought that assessment and rode with confidence throughout. He finished the 2,000 meters in 2:01.52 over good turf. Big thunderheads circled the track throughout the day but thunder and lightning never translated to rain.
Hong Kong-based Aerovelocity had no trouble defending Hong Kong dominance in the KrisFlyer Sprint. With Zac Purton up, Aerovelocity dueled Singapore’s star filly sprinter, Kiwi Karma, into submission with 200 meters to go and won by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:09.05. Singapore runner Emperor Max was up for second and Lucky Nine finished third after lacking room early in the stretch run. Aerovelocity won the Group 1 Takamatsunomia Kinen earlier this year. The Japanese race and Sunday’s race are both legs of the Global Sprint Challenge. Should Aerovelocity win once more in a different jurisdiction, he would qualify for a US$1 million bonus. The Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint in December — which he won last year — would be a likely venue.
“We didn’t know what to expect from these local horses,” said winning trainer Paul O’Sullivan said of Aerovelocity’s quick push to the fore. “Zac Purton is really good at making it up on the run.”
On Friday night, last year’s 2-year-old Singapore champion, Affleck, bounced back from a pair of second-place finishes to win the Singapore Guineas with a flourish. After stalking the pace set by Spanish Bay, Affleck came roaring to the lead and drew off to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Jimmy Rea was up for second while the early leader, Spanish Bay, had to survive an inquiry into an erratic move in deep stretch in order to salvage third.
Affleck, a New Zealand-bred gelding by Battle Paint, ran 1,600 meters over the Kranji short course in 1:34.98. Michael Rodd had the mount.
Trainer Laurie Laxon, asked about the strategy for the race, said, “It wouldn’t have mattered how it was run. I think he was always going to win the race.”
England
This week’s Group 1 Betfred Dante Stakes at York, normally a clarifier for the June 6 Investec Derby at Epsom, wasn’t so much so this time around. Neither of the top two — Golden Horn and Jack Hobbs, both trained by John Gosden — is a cinch for the Classic. And the third-place finisher Elm Park, is not at the top of the list with the official wagering partner for the race, Coral. Complicating matters, Golden Horn is not entered for the Derby and his owner and breeder, Anthony Oppenheimer, would have to put up 75,000 pounds to get him in the race. Gosden, meanwhile, has maintained the colt is better at the 1 1/4 miles of the Dante than the 1 1/2 miles of the Derby, adding however, “He would handle Epsom. I would have no qualms about running at Epsom.”
Oppenheimer chimed in, “One must never make a rash decision.â€
He has the French Derby as an option.
“We would hope that the first three home in the Dante will go to Epsom Downs,” said Coral’s David Stevens. “But the Investec Derby picture looks more complicated than the Labour Party leadership contest at the moment!”
Labour took a drubbing in the recent British election and is a bit adrift at the top. At week’s end, Coral’s was offering 2-1 on Golden Horn despite his uncertainty, 5-1 on Jack Hobbs, 6-1 on the unbeaten Zawraq and 8-1 on Elm Park.
Saturday was Ryan Moore day — unofficially — at Newbury. He finished fourth aboard Integral in the day’s biggest race, the Group 1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, but won five races on the day. Night of Thunder won the feature, holding off Toormore in the late going to win by a neck after taking the lead with a quarter mile to run.
“I think both horses will improve,” said Richard Hannon, who trains the top two. He said they might go to the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot but then take their separate ways. “They don’t have to go for the same races and it would be better for me personally if they didn’t,” the trainer said. “But I am not the owners of these horses.” Godolphin, the owner of Night of Thunder, won the Lockinge for the sixth time.
Japan
Straight Girl made up a huge difference in the straight to win Sunday’s Group 1 Victoria Mile at Tokyo Racecourse by a head. Turning for home, Minaret had surged away to lead by open lengths but was tiring. First Keiai Elegant caught the pacesetter, then Straight Girl, under Keita Tosaki came calling outside those two, just getting up in time. Straight Girl, a 6-year-old mare by Fuji Kiseki, got home in 1:31.9.
“She broke really well today,” Tosaki said. “I thought that the pace would be somewhat fast and that she will stretch well if I can save her energy until the right moment. The frontrunners were holding off well in the straight but the mare showed a magnificent turn of foot.”
Back in North America:
The Preakness undercard
In Saturday’s first race, Finnegan, a Coolmore-owned half-brother to Bodemeister, dominated a half-dozen rivals, leading all the way to a 5-lengths victory. The Unbridled’s Song colt, out of the Storm Cat mare Untouched Talent, ran 5 furlongs on firm turf in 56.78 second, ridden out by Joel Rosario. In his only previous start, going 4 1/2 furlongs on the dirt at Keeneland, he finished second after being caught in traffic early. Trainer Wesley Ward did not announce plans for the colt but Ward is experienced at moving young horses back and forth across the Atlantic if they show the kind of promise demonstrated by Finnegan. Ward also saddled a 3-year-old filly named Hooligan, who won the sixth race after breaking last of 12. The Exchange Rate filly, owned by Ward, ran 5 furlongs on the grass in 56.65 while winning for the second time in just her third start.
Ironicus raced well back through most of the $300,000, Grade II Longines Dixie Stakes on the turf, found room to advance along the rail on the stretch turn ran on to win by 2 3/4 lengths, outfinishing Cage Fighter. Up With the Birds, making his first start since finishing up the track in the Group 1 Japan Cup in Tokyo last November, was third and the favorite, Long On Value, finished fourth. Ironicus, a 4-year-old Distorted Humor colt making his first stakes appearance, ran 1 1/16 miles on firm going in 1:40.53 under Javier Castellano.
“He’s been very unlucky and should have already won at Aqueduct and Keeneland,” said Robbie Medina, assistant to winning trainer Shug McGaughey. “He just trains and looks like a good horse, and I don’t think this is his optimal distance. He wants more. I think a mile and an eighth or a mile and a quarter is right for him.”
Sandbar prompted the pace in the $150,000, Grade III Maryland Sprint Handicap, then outfinished Service for Ten, winning by 3/4 length. Happy My Way, who led the way, finished third. Sandbar, a 4-year-old War Pass gelding, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.81 for jockey Joel Rosario. He was claimed by trainer Joe Sharp for Ken and Sarah Ramsey last September at Churchill Downs for $30,000.
“They can get good and progress steadily and he has,” Sharp said. “We’ve believed in him all along.”
Watsdachances rallied wide around the leaders entering the stretch in the $150,000, Grade III Gallorette Handicap for fillies and mares and went on to win by 1 length from Emotional Kitten. Sistas Stroll finished third. Watsdachances, a 5-year-old, Irish-bred mare by Diamond Green, ran 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:40.79. She finished second in this race last year, 1/2 length shy of Somali Lemonade, but had not won since November of 2013 and was coming off a long layoff.
“She put me in a good spot in the race,” said winning rider Javier Castellano. “I didn’t want to be too far back or too close to the pace. I think I put her in a good spot in the middle to give me a good run and she did.”
Woodwin W was along late to win the $100,000 James W. Murphy Stakes for 3-year-olds, scoring by 3/4 length over the favorite, Force the Pass, with All I Karabout third. Woodwin W, a More Than Ready gelding, ran 1 mile on firm turf in 1:34.32 with Jevian Toledo up and remains undefeated in four starts. Winning trainer Jamie Ness said he told Toldeo “to keep him close up and if he didn’t do well it would be my fault. This is the first horse for these owners and they came up from Florida to see today’s race. We haven’t decided where to go with him next.”
Fame and Power led from the early jumps in the $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes for 3-year-olds and was never challenged, winning by 3 lengths over Bold Conquest and another nose from the favorite, Donworth. Fame and Power, a Bob Baffert-trained, Juddmonte Farms-owned colt by First Defence, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:41.67 with Martin Garcia up. He came into the race off a third-place showing in the Grade III Lexington at Keeneland, behind Divining Rod, who finished third in the Preakness, and Donworth.
“This is basically a speed horse that really should be going one turn,” said Baffert, the winning trainer. “Going into today we had to plan a little differently. I told the jock to get out there and make them catch him.”
Holy Boss was the boss of the 3-year-old sprinters in the $100,000 Chick Lang Stakes. After shadowing the pace, the Street Boss colt worked to the lead in the lane and scored by 2 lengths over pacesetting Victory Is Sweet. The favorite, Gimme Da Lute, broke a step behind and rallied to finish third. Holy Boss, with Ricardo Santana Jr. in the irons, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.61. He also won his two previous starts at Oaklawn Park.
“This is another step up in competition for him to run so fast, and I think there will be some nice races in his future,” said winning trainer Steve Asmussen.
Ageless rallied from well back in the field to win the $100,000 The Very One Stakes for fillies and mares, establishing a new course record of 55.66 seconds for 5 furlongs on firm turf. Joya Real rallied to take second, 3/4 length behind the winner, and Shrinking Violet was third. Ageless is, in fact, 6 years old and a daughter of Successful Appeal. She finished fourth in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, beaten only 3/4 length by Bobby’s Kitten, No Nay Never and Undrafted.
Black-Eyed Susan Day
Keen Pauline dropped over to the rail and took the lead from the outside post position right from the start of Friday’s $250,000, Grade II Black-Eyed Susan for 3-year-old fillies and wasn’t caught. At odds of 15-1 and with only a maiden win to her credit, she cruised home first by 2 3/4 lengths. Include Betty rallied from last to finish second, lightly raced Ahh Chocolate was third and the favorite, Luminance, tailed off late to finish fifth. Keen Pauline, a Pulpit filly trained by Dale Romans, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:50.46 under Javier Castellano.
“You have to take advantage when anything happens in a race,” Castellano said. “I didn’t expect to be on the lead. I saw a lot of speed in the race … My horse broke so well out of the gate, I dictated the pace and I enjoyed the ride.”
Include Betty was the only Kentucky Oaks runner who continued on to Baltimore. She finished eighth in Louisville with traffic problems.
Commissioner dueled for the lead in the $300,000, Grade III Pimlico Special, got a daylight advantage in the lane and coasted home clear by 2 1/2 lengths over Page McKenney. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to Cat Burgler in third. Commissioner, a 4-year-old A.P. Indy colt, ran 1 3/16 miles on a fast track in 1:56.09 with Castellano at the controls. It was his second straight win, following the Grade III Skip Away at Gulfstream Park.
“Once he gets into that rhythm, you can keep on cruising,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “Right after the Skip Away, we talked about it and decided to go to the Pimlico Special. We’ll see how he comes out of it. It’s 22 days to the Brooklyn Handicap, so that’s possible.”
That would be the $400,000, Grade II Brooklyn Invitational at 1 1/2 miles on Belmont Stakes day on Long Island. Commissioner was narrowly defeated by Tonalist in last year’s Belmont Stakes.
Stopchargingmaria got off to a slow start in the $150,000, Grade III Alaire DuPont Distaff Stakes, then had to circle four-wide turning for home to reach contention. From that point on, the odds-on favorite was in control, winning by 4 lengths from Yahilwa with Joint Return returning third. Stopchargingmaria, a 4-year-old Tale of the Cat filly, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:50.39.
“I wasn’t exactly where I wanted to be,” said winning rider John Velazquez of the stumbling start. “Once we cleared everyone, it was pretty easy.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher said he also was worried after the start, “but when I saw the fast fractions, I figured we’d be okay.”
Stopchargingmaria won last year’s Black-Eyed Susan and since then had two wins and two seconds, all in Grade I races. Pletcher said he hasn’t yet scoped out her next race. A Korean-bred filly, Queen’s Blade, a daughter of Menifee who won last year’s Korean Oaks, broke sharply to take the early lead but quickly faded to finish last in her second U.S. start while racing for the first time on Lasix.
Irish Jasper surged by inside the leaders in the final sixteenth to win the $150,000, Grade III Adena Springs Miss Preakness Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by 1 1/4 lengths over Huasca. Coco’s Wildcat finished third. Irish Jasper, a daughter of First Defence, ran 6 furlongs in 1:10.78 and also won a season to Adena Springs’ star stallion, Ghostzapper. She now has five wins from eight starts. The Miss Peakness was her first graded stakes effort.
“Once I got my position, I just sat on her,” said winning rider Kendrick Carmouche. “Once we got to the eighth pole, we had to find a hole. Once I found the hole, she just exploded.”
Galiana stalked the pacesetting favorite, Lady Sabilia, through most of the $100,000 Skipat Stakes for filly and mare sprinters, got by late and won by 2 3/4 lengths over that rival. She’s Ordained was third all the way and finished in that spot. Galiana, a 4-year-old Stoneside mare, ran 6 furlongs in 1:11.08 with Abel Lezcano in the irons. She now has won two straight stakes at Pimlico after a disappointing winter in Florida. Lady Sabilia lost for the second time in as many starts this year after winding up 2014 with four straight victories.
“You look at the program and you see the speed in here today,” Lezcano said. “At the start, she wanted to go early. She relaxed on the backstretch. At the three-eighths she moved out and started going. She really ran well.”
Added trainer Rodolfo Romero, “She’s getting very good.”
Ben’s Cat turned the tables on the horse who beat him last time out, Bold Thunder, in Friday’s $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint. Bold Thunder crashed out to an early lead, opened a comfortable margin and then just did fail to hold off the onrushing favorite, who won by a neck, getting through on the inside when his rival drifted out. Amelia’s Wild Ride was well back in third. Ben’s Cat, a 9-year-old gelding by Parker’s Storm Cat, finished 5 furlongs on firm turf in 56.04 seconds under Julian Pimentel. Owned and trained by King Leatherbury, Ben’s Cat now is 29-7-4 from 46 career starts with earnings of more than $2.4 million.
“It’s always tougher to get through on the inside,” Leatherbury said. “But we got there just in time. Just like a Hollywood script would write it.”
Miss Temple City stalked the pace in the $100,000 Hilltop Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, drove by when asked and got clear to win by 2 3/4 lengths over All in Fun. The early leader, Lady Zuzu, settled for third. Miss Temple City, a daughter of Temple City, ran 1 1/16 miles on the grass in 1:41.94 with Velazquez up. The promising Graham Motion trainee now has three wins, a second and a third from six career starts.
Elsewhere:
Belmont Park
La Verdad showed the way in Saturday’s $150,000, Grade III Vagrancy Handicap, then held on late despite drifting out and won by 1/2 length. Room For Me and Mamdooha filled out the trifecta. La Verdad, a 5-year-old Yes It’s True mare, ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.17 under Jose Ortiz.
Celestine was along in the final sixteenth to take Saturday’s $100,000 Wait a While Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, defeating Sunset Glow by 1 1/2 lengths. The early leader, Lady Shipman, faded to get home third. Celestine, a Scat Daddy filly, scampered 7 furlongs on firm turf in 1:21.06 with Rajiv Maragh riding.
Churchill Downs
Courtesan shadowed First Romance in the first division of Saturday’s $65,000 Keertana Stakes, got by late and won by a neck over that one with Maria Maria third. Courtesan, a 4-year-old Street Sense filly, ran 1 3/8 miles on firm turf in 2:17.11 with Corey Lanerie up. In the second division, Ceisteach ceased the lead and didn’t relinquish it, winning by 1/2 length from Eastern Belle. Walk Close was only a nose farther back in third. Ceisteach, a 4-year-old, Irish-bred filly by New Approach, was clocked in 2:16.96 with Channing Hill aboard.
Canterbury Park
Welcome back to the Minnesota track.
In Friday’s $60,000 10,000 Lakes stakes opener, Bourbon County distanced the field in the stretch, winning by 7 1/2 lengths under Dean Butler. Speed Is Life beat the other five with Lil’ Apollo a head farther back in third. Bourbon County, a 5-yeaer-old Dehere gelding, finished 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:11.13 in the race restricted to Minnesota-breds.
Polar Plunge won a three-way duel to the wire in Saturday’s $60,000 Lady Slipper Stakes for state-bred fillies and mares. Somerset Swinger was a head behind in second and a neck in front of the pacesetter, Sky and Sea. Polar Plunge, a 7-year-old daughter of Successful Appeal, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:12.39 with Denny Velazquez in the irons.
Gulfstream Park
Little Michelle started last of eight in Saturday’s $60,000 Gracie Handicap and finished first after slipping through along the rail on the turn. Fascinante was second, a nose back, and Joann’s Wildcat finished third. Little Michelle, a 4-year-old Tiz Wonderful filly, got 5 furlongs on firm turf in 55.55 seconds with Tyler Gaffalione riding.
Monmouth Park
Winning Cause closed steadily through the lane in Saturday’s $100,000 Red Bank Stakes and was just along in time to win by 1/2 length from Heart to Heart. Azetc Brave was another 1/2 length back in third. Winning Cause, a 5-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway, ran 1 mile on firm turf in 1:32.27 with Abel Castellano Jr. up.
Woodbine
Shaman Ghost had to work through traffic to get a clean run in Saturday’s $150,000 (Canadian), Grade III Marine Stakes for 3-year-olds but, once in the open, the Ghostzappeer colt closed smartly to win by 1/2 length over Seventhfleethumor. Danish Dynaformer finished third and the odds-on favorite, Ami’s Flatter, was seventh with a dull effort. Shaman Ghost, with Rafael Hernandez up, ran 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:43.35.
Santa Anita
Fantastic Style led from the start in Saturday’s $100,000 Angels Flight Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and got clear in the late going to win by 3 1/4 lengths over odds-on favorite Tara’s Tango. Ben’s Duchess ran evenly to finish third. Fantastic Style, a daughter of Harlan’s Holiday, ran 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:20.38.
Albuquerque
Dirt Monster kicked away from a quartet of rivals at the end of Saturday’s $55,000 Duke City Sprint for 3-year-olds, winning by 5 1/4 lengths over Gold Flight. Passed Due finished third. Dirt Monster, a Line of David colt out of the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Coqui, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:05.61 with Ry Eikleberry up.
Northlands Park
Rock and Glory raced out to a huge advantage early in Saturday’s $60,000 (Canadian) Wild Rose Handicap for fillies and mares, then coasted home first by 3 1/2 lengths. Canavaral Leader was best of the rest, 3 lengths ahead of Holiday Babe. Rock and Glory, a 7-year-old mare by Rock Hard Ten, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.10 under Rico Walcott.
Thistledown
Jac’s Fact rallied from last of 10 to take Saturday’s $75,000 Michael F. Rowland Memorial Handicap for Ohio-breds by 2 3/4 lengths over Startin Something. Culpepper Creek flowed in third. Jac’s Fact, a 4-year-old colt by Kentucky Dane, completed 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:13.08 with Megan Fadlovich riding.
