Thoroughbred Racing Roundup – June 3, 2013
June 3rd, 2013By ROBERT KIECKHEFER
UPI Racing Writer
Weekend racing ran the gamut from an upset in the venerable Epsom Derby to a successful new fixture in Pennsylvania.
In addition, there was an upset in the Epsom Oaks, Clubhouse Ride finally got a win in California, a German-bred won a Group 1 in France and Japan’s super sprinter, Lord Kanaloa, successfully stretched out to win a 1 mile.
From the history of Epsom Downs to the innovation of Penn National, here’s what happened:
Epsom
Ruler of the World swept by the leaders in the final furlong to win Saturday’s Epsom Derby by 1 1/2 lengths. Libertarian closed with a rush to snatch second by a short head over Galileo Rock and easily could have won if he had a faster pace to close into. Battle of Marengo finished fourth.
The shocker of the race was previously undefeated favorite Dawn Approach. He was unruly through the early stages of the race, leaving jockey Kevin Manning with little choice but to let him make the lead halfway through. When the real running started, Dawn Approach was at the end of his day. He quickly faded from contention, finishing last of the 12 starters.
“Kevin said he jumped out all right and was okay for about 10 strides,” said Dawn Approach’s trainer, Jim Bolger. “But then there wasn’t much pace on, he grabbed his bridle and from there on he was more or less out of control.”
Simon Crisford, racing manager for the owners, Godolphin Racing, said Dawn Approach will bypass Royal Ascot. “He’ll need some time now,” Crisford said Sunday at Chantilly.
Ruler of the World, a Galileo colt making just his third career start, came into the race off a win in the Group 3 Chester Vase. He headed a group of five Derby starters trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien. He finished in 2:39.06 under jockey Ryan Moore.
“It was a very tactical race,” Moore said. “I had a handyish spot and he quickened up impressively. He got there very quickly and easily.”
Also on Saturday’s card, St Nicholas Abbey, another O’Brien charge, won the Group 1 Investec Coronation Cup for the third time, beating Dunaden by a commanding 3 3/4 lengths. Joshua Tree was third, followed by Chapter Seven and Chamonix in a short field. St Nicholas Abbey, with Joseph O’Brien aboard, ran 1 1/2 miles on good to soft going in 2:37.76. The world traveler picked up his sixth career Group 1 victory — a list that also includes the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs and this year’s Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan.
On Friday, Talent sprung the surprise in the Group 1 Investec Oaks, exploding through the final furlong to get home first by 3 1/4 lengths over Secret Gesture, a fellow denizen of the Ralph Beckett barn and the better fancied of the pair. The Lark finished third while Moth was fourth and Liber Nauticus fifth. Talent, a daughter of New Approach, won for the third straight time but was making her first appearance in a Group race. She finished 1 1/2 miles over good to soft going in 2:42.00 under Richard Hughes. The win was a surprise even for Hughes.
“I rode her in work during the week,” the rider said, “and, to be honest, I wasn’t impressed. I said that she was skinnier than me!”
Gregorian came to the lead in the final furlong in Friday’s Group 3 Investec Diomed Stakes at Ascot and was home first by 1 1/2 lengths over Penitenent. Gregorian, a 4-year-old, Irish-bred colt by Clodovil, has been a consistent money-maker for his owner, Princess Haya of Jordan, with four wins, three seconds and a third from 13 starts.
Elsewhere across the various waters:
Japan
Lord Kanaloa again showed he is a world-class performer, stretching out from his normal sprint trip to a mile and besting a big field in Sunday’s Group 1 Yasuda Kinen, albeit by only a neck over Shonan Mighty. Danon Shark was third. A pair of quality Hong Kong-based milers, Glorious Days and Helene Spirit, could do no better than 11th and 16th, respectively, in a race that in the past has been fertile fields for invaders. Glorious Days missed the break, then was trapped in traffic down the straight and never got to run. Lord Kanaloa, a 5-year-old son of King Kamehameha, got home in 1:31.5 over turf rated firm. He now has five straight wins, including a victory in the Group1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint last December, and seven wins, two seconds and a third from 10 career starts. Lord Kanaloa had won previously at 7 furlongs but Sunday’s race was his first try going that far.
“The victory gives us a wide option in planning his future races,” said trainer Yasuda Takayuki, listing the 1,200-meters Sprinters Stakes and the Mile Championship at potential domestic targets. “As for his possible starts in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Mile is beginning to sound quite attractive to me as well as the Hong Kong Sprint. I’ll have to discuss this with the owners. I don’t plan to stretch his distances any further than the mile.”
Lord Kanaloa earlier this year won the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, the second leg of the Global Sprint Challenge. That series offers a $1 million bonus to a horse than wins three legs in three different countries. The Sprinters Stakes and the Longines Hong Kong Sprint also are GSC races but Lord Kanaloa would need a win in a third country — either England this summer or Australia this fall — to collect.
France
Intello, with Olivier Peslier up for trainer Andre Fabre, dominated Sunday’s Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club, or French Derby at Chantilly, winning by 2 lengths with a quick turn of foot in the final few hundred meters. Odds for the German-bred Galileo colt in this fall’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe immediately dropped like a rock. An unlucky third in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, or French 2,000 Guineas, Intello made his own luck on Sunday and he won for the fourth time in five starts. He was never far back and once he made the lead, he was unchallenged. Morandi nipped Sky Hunter at the wire to take second. The 1 mile, 2 1/2 furlongs took 2:07.89. Winning co-owner Gerard Wertheimer said decisions about the rest of Intello’s campaign will be left up to Fabre.
Penn National
Saturday night’s rich stakes card, headed by the $500,000 Penn Mile on the grass, attracted some top runners and produced some exciting and controversial finishes. The ambitious program also shattered wagering records for Penn National, with all-sources handle of $3,658,996 obliterating the old mark of $2,173,921. “On every possible level, tonight was a huge success,” said Dan Silver, director of racing operations.
In the feature, the favorite, Rydilluc, stalked the pace, went to the lead on the stretch turn and held off a late rush by Charming Kitten to win by 3/4 length. Jack Milton also was in the mix in the final yards but settled for third, a nose farther back. Rydilluc, a Kentucky-bred Medaglia d’Oro colt, finished in 1:33.99 over firm going with Edgar Prado up for trainer Gary Contessa.
“I’m thrilled,” Contess said. “It’s the horse. It’s the race. Penn National is going to be on the map because of this race. This is a great race, and the timing is great. Next year it will be graded for the next guy.”
He said the $500,000, Grade II Virginia Derby on July 13 might be the next stop for Rydilluc, whom he called “arguably the best 3-year-old turf horse right now.”
Easter Gift rolled to a minor upset in the $250,000 Mountainview Handicap at 9 furlongs on the main track. The 4-year-old Hard Spun colt tracked the pace into the final turn, came out for room and quickly got clear to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Norman Asbjornson trailed the winner to finish second with Pants On Fire fading from the lead to finish third. Easter Gift got home in 1:49.96 over a fast track under Kendrick Carmouche.
Tightend Touchdown ran his route perfectly in the $150,000 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup, jetting right to the lead and crossing the goal line first, 5 1/2 lengths to the good of Bridgetown. The favorite and local hero Ben’s Cat, came from far back to salvage third, 1 3/4 lengths farther in arrears. Chamberlain Bridge was forced to check on the turn, lost momentum and finished next-last of 10. Tightend Touchdown, a 4-year-old Pure Precision gelding, ran 5 furlongs on firm turf in 54.62 seconds with Javier Castellano up — missing the course record by 0.01 second.
Hollywood Park
Clubhouse Ride, out from under the shadow of Game On Dude, finally broke a long string of second-place finishes by taking down Saturday’s $150,000, Grade II Californian Stakes. The 5-year-old son of Candy Ride, saved ground behind the leaders into the second turn, came out for room and took charge. At the wire, he was 2 3/4 lengths ahead of the favorite, Liaison, who was spinning his wheels over the all-weather surface. Oilisblackgold added a spot of value to the trifecta. Clubhouse Ride got 9 furlongs in 1:51.02. He had finished second five straight times before Saturday’s race — the last three times behind Game On Dude.
“I was real happy on the first turn,” said winning rider Garrett Gomez. “The track’s a little dead, but he did everything perfect. He’s been running against a real quality horse so it was nice to get a win with him. This might even help his confidence level a bit and make him a better horse.” Liaison’s rider, Martin Garcia, said Liaison “wasn’t handling the track at all. This horse is way better than that.”
In Sunday’s $100,000, Grade III Affirmed Handicap for 3-year-olds, Tiz a Minister came from the clouds, found room along the inside of Den’s Legacy and went on to win by 1 length over that rival. The favorite, Manando, led much of the way but found himself between the top two late in the stretch run and faded to get home third. Dice Flavor was fourth. Tiz a Minister, a Ministers Wild Cat colt, ran 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather course in 1:45.79.
“As good as he was moving, I had them in my sights and all they had to do was come back to him a little bit,” said winning jockey Corey Nakatani. “I knew he was going to put in a tremendous run like he’s been doing in the morning.”
Trainer Paul Aguirre said, “If they give him an opportunity, he’ll take it.” And Mike Marlow, assistant to Den’s Legacy’s trainer, Bob Baffert, said his rider, Garrett Gomez, should not have left room inside for the winner to make that move.
“It’s easy to ride them in the grandstand,” Marlow said. “But if he had been on the rail where he should have been, that horse wouldn’t have come through. You don’t do that when you’re riding for $100,000.”
Churchill Downs
Scatman tracked the pace in Saturday’s $100,000, Grade III Aristides Stakes, then outfinished Jasizzle to win by a neck over that rival. It was 2 1/4 lengths farther back to the favorite and early leader, Rothko, in third. Scatman, a 4-year-old Scat Daddy colt, ran 6 furlongs on a sloppy, sealed track in 1:10.56 with Shaun Bridgmohan riding.
“I had a pretty good trip and things set up,” Bridgmohan said. “I was able to get him in the clear and he came running.” It was the fifth win from 16 starts for the Bill Mott trainee but he is 2-for-3 under the Twin Spires.
Woodbine
Laugh Track stalked the pace in Sunday’s $150,000 (Canadian), Grade III Vigil Stakes, got by the leaders late and won by 1/2 length over pacesetter Essence Hit Man. Bumum and City Wolf completed the order of finish. Laugh Track, a 4-year-old Distorted Humor colt, ran 7 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:21.85 under Luis Contreras.
“I just wanted to stay where the horse wants to be and be patient,” said Contreras, adding that Essence Hit Man “moved a little early at the quarter pole and that gave me the opportunity to close at the end.”
Delightful Mary trailed most of the field early in Saturday’s $150,000 (Canadian), Grade III Hendrie Stakes for fillies and mares, responded gamely when called upon by Contreras and ran by her rivals to win by 1 length. Heavenly Pride led early in the stretch run and settled for second. Starship Universe was third. Delightful Mary, a 5-year-old Limehouse mare out of the French Deputy mare Deputy’s Delight, ran 6 1/2 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:15.54. It was her first graded stakes win.
“I was behind the pace and I was waiting until the quarter pole to make my move on the outside,” Contreras said. “She gave me everything at the end.”
Pimlico
Cerro made the early going in Saturday’s $75,000 Canonero II Stakes for 3-year-olds, was engaged on the turn by Dynamic Strike and finally prevailed by a head after a stretch-long battle. It was 12 3/4 lengths back to Dreaming of Jazz in third. Cerro, an Irish-bred colt by Mr. Greeley, trained by Rick Mettee, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:51.81 with Alan Garcia riding.
