Thoroughbred Racing Roundup – July 29, 2013
July 30th, 2013By ROBERT KIECKHEFER
UPI Racing Writer
Sparkling performances by Verrazano in New Jersey and Novellist in England highlighted an important midsummer weekend of racing.
Verrazano’s victory in the $1 million Haskell at Monmouth Park, coupled with Palace Malice’s win in the $600,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga set up a likely showdown for division leadership in the Travers Stakes — the “Midsummer Derby” highlight of the Saratoga meeting.
Novellist’s victory in the King George at Ascot puts the German trainee on course for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe this fall in Paris.
There were some breakthroughs by older horses, too, as Richard’s Kid and Kettle Corn posted rare victories on the West Coast.
And scattered throughout the weekend were pointers toward monumental clashes to come as the season winds down to its autumnal climaxes.
Peruse, as the epic continues.
3-year-olds
The only race Verrazano has ever lost was the Kentucky Derby — a 14th place debacle that casts new doubt on the ability of the Run for the Roses to actually turn up the best of the 3-year-olds. The More Than Ready colt abandoned the Triple Crown trail after the Derby and made his comeback June 16 in the Grade III Pegasus, winning by 9 1/4 lengths. In Saturday’s $1 million, Grade I William Hill Haskell Invitational, against a field that included Preakness winner and Belmont runner-up Oxbow, Verrazano did it again. Attending the pace into the stretch turn, he responded immediately when called upon by jockey John Velazquez, quickly shot to the lead and vanished off the radar screens of the competition. Trainer Todd Pletcher was cheerleading as his star crossed the wire 9 3/4 lengths in front with Power Broker second and Micromanage third. Oxbow finished fourth and Kentucky Derby runner-up Golden Soul was never better than last of seven. Verrazano finished the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:50.68.
“He made a huge statement today,” Pletcher said. “This was one of the most impressive, if not the most impressive, races by any 3-year-old this year. I would say this was his most impressive race for a horse that’s near perfect minus the sloppy race in the Kentucky Derby.” Still, he said, the race was a bit of a test. “The plan all along was to run in the Haskell and, if he showed he could handle the distances of a mile and an eighth plus, the Travers would be a logical next spot.”
The Grade I Travers is Aug. 24 at Saratoga.
Speaking of Saratoga, Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice attended the pace in Saturday’s $600,000, Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes, worked hard to get the lead at mid-stretch and rolled home first by 1 length. Will Take Charge, running well late, looked like he needed a little more ground and settled for second. Moreno did all the early work and held on for third. Palace Malice, a Curlin colt, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:47.37 with Mike Smith up.
“Everything went absolutely as we talked about it this morning when Mike and I went over the race,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “He relaxed nicely and finished up pretty well in a very, very good time. We got the race over the track. The horse keeps getting better and better and today was arguably his best performance yet. Hopefully, on to the Travers.”
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said to watch out for Will Take Charge for the remainder of the year.
“He’s a little bit light, and he’s just getting his growth,” Lukas said. “The next 30 days should make a difference. I can see him being very effective in the Travers. I think he’ll even get better late in the fall.”
Speaking of the Travers, trainer Shug McGaughey has his Kentucky Derby winner, Orb, back in training for that race, adding to the potential drama. Orb finished fourth in the Preakness and has not raced since getting home third in the Belmont Stakes.
A bit down the class ladder, Darley Stable runners finished 1-2 in Friday’s $100,000 Curlin Stakes at Saratoga, a conditioned event for 3-year-olds. But the first finisher, Transparent, was set down to fifth for coming out in the stretch run and causing trouble. That left the 1A, Romansh, to take home the winner’s share despite finishing 2 lengths in arrears to his entrymate. Bad Hombre was awarded second and Edge of Reality was promoted to third. Proud Strike, the victim, settled for fourth-place money. The 9 furlongs on a fast track went in 1:49.56. Romansh is a Bernardini colt trained by Tom Albertrani and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.
Asked whether Romansh could jump all the way to the Grade I Travers for his next outing, Albertrani said, “I think we could entertain that a little bit.
Jimmy Bell, president of Darley, said for a fourth career start, Romansh’s effort was a “big step forward and shows he belongs with these upper division 3-year-olds. That was a promising effort for sure.”
At Thistledown, Title Contender shadowed the pace in Saturday’s $100,000, Grade III Ohio
Derby, advanced determinedly through the stretch to take the lead and then held off the late run of Braveman to win by 1 length. Handsome Tiger finished well to get show money. Title Contender, a Pulpit gelding trained by Wayne Catalano, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.80. It was the second win of his career, although he always has been ambitiously placed, running in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the Grade I Cash Call Futurity and the Grade II Rebel Stakes previously, all without much success.
England
German-trained Novellist stormed to a 5-lengths thrashing of seven rivals in Saturday’s Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. Among the vanquished were Irish Derby winner Trading Leather, who finished second, and French-based Cirrus des Aigles, who couldn’t quicken when needed and settled for fourth, behind Hillstar. With Johnny Murtagh up, Novellist was never in danger after taking the lead 2 furlongs out and traveled 1 1/2 miles on good to firm going in a sparkling, course-record 1:24.60. Novellist is Irish-bred but by the German-bred sire Monsun and out of a German-bred mare, Night Lagoon. Trained by Andreas Wohler, Novellist now has four straight wins in four different countries. He finished his 3-year-old campaign with a victory in the Group 1 Gran Premio Del Jockey Club Italiano. This year he has reeled off wins in the Group II Grosser Preis von Badischen Unternehmer, the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Saturday’s star-studded affair.
Wohler, looking squarely at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, noted the King George is “the first big comparison between the best older horses and 3-year-olds and he’s beaten the best 3-year-olds … His main target now is the Arc and he will have one race beforehand. The two options are the Prix Foy and Grosser Preis von Baden and it’s more likely we’d go for the Grosser Preis.”
Jim Bolger, trainer of Trading Leather, said he will aim for the Juddmonte International at York and then the Irish Champion Stakes. Corine Barande-Barbe, trainer of Cirrus des Aigles, said her horse needed the work and ran well despite suffering his second straight loss.
“But I am not disappointed,” she said. “Competition always improves him. Even if we do work at home, it is not the same and he knows a lot as well.”
France
Elusive Kate was near the front throughout in Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville, then went clear with 2 furlongs to run and showed her heels to the rest, winning by 2 1/2 lengths over Duntle. Kenhope was third and Giofra, among the favorites, was eased at the end and finished last. Elusive Kate, a 4-year-old, American-bred daughter of Elusive Quality, also won this race last year. She was coming off a win in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket — a win still under appeal as a result of her drifting out through the straight, impeding Sky Lantern’s late run. Trainer John Gosden said Elusive Kate is ticketed for the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown but did not rule out a return to Deauville for the Prix Jacques le Marois. She has four wins and one third at the Normandy course.
Germany
Neatico won a deep-stretch battle with the favorite, Opposite, to capture Sunday’s Group 1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen by 1 1/4 lengths. The duo swapped leads in the final furlong before Neatico, trained by Peter Schiergen and ridden by Andreas Wohler, got clear of the French runner by 1 1/4 lengths at the finish. Hunter’s Light was third while making his first start since finishing sixth at Kranji in the Singapore Airlines International Cup. Neatico, a 6-year-old son of Medicean, ran the 1 1/4 miles on good turf in 2:04.07, picking up his third straight win.
Back in the States:
Classic
Kettle Corn popped up at the right time Saturday — in the final yards of Saturday’s $200,000, Grade II San Diego Handicap at Del Mar, nipping Paynter by 1/2 length for the win. Batti Man, the pacesetter, held on for third. Kettle Corn, with Victor Espinoza up, ran 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather course in 1:41.83. Although he has been competitive at the highest level for 2 1/2 years, the 6-year-old Candy Ride horse posted a rare win — only his second since December of 2011.
“He always runs well in the big races,” said winning trainer John Sadler. “He’s been a very good, honest, blue-collar horse. We’re really happy. He deserves to win a big one.”
Sadler said he will bring Kettle Corn back for another try in the Grade I Pacific Classic next month.
Paynter, meanwhile, was not disgraced as he continued his comeback from near-fatal illnesses that struck after he won last year’s Grade I Haskell.
“He never seemed comfortable out there,” said jockey Rafael Bejarano. “I felt like I had plenty of horse, but he just wasn’t liking what he was doing.”
Saturday’s $100,000 Prairie Meadows Handicap was easy pickins’ for Golden Ticket and trainer Kenny McPeek. Coming off a second-place finish behind Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Fort Larned in his last race, Golden Ticket was the prohibitive favorite in Saturday’s run and performed up to his notices. With Terry Thompson up, the 4-year-old Speightstown colt loped along comfortably until called upon, then opened up and won by 8 lengths. Kentucky-based Worldly, whose last win came in this race two years ago, was the best of the rest with Red Lead another 8 lengths back in third.
Ladies Classic
Joyful Victory posted an easy victory Sunday in the $200,000, Grade II Molly Pitcher Stakes at Monmouth Park. With Rosie Napravnik up, the 5-year-old Tapit mare was out in front early and rolled home down the stretch to win by 7 lengths, well in hand. Wine Princess was second in a strung-out finish, with Lady Samuri third. Joyful Victory ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:46.09, winning for the third time in her last four starts.
“I told Rosie that we didn’t need the lead,” said trainer Larry Jones, “but just not to take her out of her game. This horse has such an amazing cruising speed that she forces the other horses to run harder to keep up.”
Filly & Mare Sprint
Lighthouse Bay scored a 21-1 upset win in Saturday’s $300,000, Grade I Prioress Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga, tracking the pace, surging to the lead at the sixteenth pole and edging clear for a 1/2-length victory. Early leader Wildcat Lily held second and Irish Lute finished third. The odds-on favorite, Kauai Katie, was bumped at the start, raced wide around the turn and finished last of six. Lighthouse Bay, a Speightstown filly, finished 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.29 with Joe Rocco Jr. aboard.
“I thought she’d be capable of maybe doing this at some point, and when this race came up with a short field, we decided with the owner to go ahead and go in this race,” said winning trainer George Weaver, who picked up his first Grade I victory in North America.
Kauai Katie “just didn’t really fire today,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. He said jockey John Velazquez reported “she warmed up beautiful, left there a little flat and never really picked it up.”
Geeky Gorgeous upset Sunday’s $100,000 Regret Stakes for fillies and mares at Monmouth Park, rallying from well back, then getting clear in the stretch to win by 2 1/2 lengths over She’s Ordained. Same Cross was third and the favorite, Glamour Puss, crossed the line fifth. Geeky Gorgeous, a 4-year-old Devil His Due filly, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:11.04 under Joe Bravo.
Filly & Mare Turf
Laughing dueled Centre Court into submission in Saturday’s $600,000, Grade I Diana Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga, then held off the late run of Dream Peace to win by a head. Stephanie’s Kitten also ran well late to finish third, just another 1/2 length back. Samitar and Centre Court completed the order of finish. Laughing, an Irish-bred filly by Dansili, ran 9 furlongs on the firm inner turf in 1:47.24 with Jose Lezcano in the irons. It was her first Grade I win but followed a triumph last month in the Grade III Eatontown Handicap at Monmouth Park.
“She had the winter off and she came back well,” said trainer Alan Goldberg. “She ran a pretty good race last time, first time out of the box. She came out of the race just great, so (owner Richard Santulli) said, ‘Let’s take a shot.'”
Goldberg suggested the Grade II Balston Spa on Aug. 24 or the Grade I Flower Bowl at Belmont Park on Sept. 28 might be on Laughing’s dance card.
Starstruck joined the battle for the lead turning for home in Sunday’s $150,000, Grade III Matchmaker Stakes at Monmouth Park, edged clear late and won by 1 1/4 lengths over late-running Naples Bay. Minakshi finished third and the favorite, Channel Lady, faded late to finish next-last of seven. Laughing was scratched to run at Saratoga. Starstruck, a 4-year-old, Irish-bred daughter of Galileo, ran 9 furlongs on firm going in 1:49.27 with Rosie Napravnik up. It was her first graded stakes try but since arriving from Ireland in the spring, Starstruck has posted two wins, a second and a third from four starts.
“She’s finally putting it all together both physically and mentally,” said winning trainer Larry Jones. “I’m looking forward to finding other stakes for her.”
Turf
Silver Max is back on the grass and back in form after a short detour to the main track. The 4-year-old Badge of Silver colt, almost invincible last summer, showed his old spark in a front-running victory in Sunday’s $150,000, Grade III Oceanport Stakes at Monmouth Park. With Robby Albarado up, Silver Max set a torrid pace, shadowed by Howe Great into the stretch run. At that point, he continued, Howe Great did not and no one else came along to challenge. At the wire, it was Silver Max by 5 3/4 lengths, followed by Howe Great and Hudson Steele. The 1 1/16 miles on firm turf went in 1:40.02. Last summer, Silver Max won six straight, including stakes races at four different tracks. Then he won an off-the-turf stakes at Churchill Downs in early June and trainer Dale Romans decided to give him a chance in the Grade III Prairie Meadows Cornhusker last month, only to collect show money.
Five Iron went right to the front in Saturday’s $125,000 (Canadian) Toronto Cup Stakes for 3-year-olds, cutting in front of some of his rivals, then wasn’t challenged, winning by 1 3/4 lengths. Are You Kidding Me finished second and Comes the Dream was third. Five Iron, a Sharp Humor colt, finished 9 furlongs on firm turf in 1:47.41 with Luis Contreras in the irons. The stewards dismissed objections by two rival jockeys involving the start. Five Iron also won the Victoria Park Stakes over the Woodbine all-weather course last month, giving his connections some options.
Nate’s Mineshaft, one of the saltier horses around early in 2012, seems on a comeback after winning a tough allowance event Saturday over the Arlington Park green. The 6-year-old Mineshaft ridgling led all the way and won by a head over Trend, running 1 mile on yielding going in 1:39.93. His new trainer, Anne Smith, said the owners hope to get Nate’s Mineshaft to the Grade I Arlington Million on Aug. 17 or, failing that, to the Washington Park Handicap on the main track two weeks later.
Turf Mile
Winning Cause came from near the back of the field to win Sunday’s $100,000 Sir Cat Stakes for 3-year-olds at Saratoga by 3/4 length over pacesetter Joha. One More Cat finished third. Winning Cause, a Giant’s Causeway colt, ran 1 mile on the firm inner turf course in 1:35.18 under Joel Rosario. Winning Cause, trained by Todd Pletcher, won the Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland this spring, then detoured to Woodbine, where he finished second in a pair of 3-year-old stakes. It was only his third start on the turf, following two unsuccessful heats at the Spa last summer in his career debut.
Sprint
Points Offthebench got to the lead four-wide early in the stretch run in Sunday’s $300,000, Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar and held off Goldencents in the final yards to win by a head. Jimmy Creed was well back in third. Points Offthebench, a 4-year-old Benchmark gelding, ran 6 furlongs on the all-weather course in 1:09.04 under Mike Smith and earned an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint through the “Win and You’re In” program. He was stepping up in class after winning two straight allowance events at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park. He now has five wins from seven starts for trainer Tim Yakteen, who picked up his first Grade I victory.
“He was training great, we drew a great post and he was ready for the task, so I felt confident going into the race,” Yakteen said. “He ran huge and Mike gave him a great ride.”
Forty Tales took advantage of a fast early clip in Sunday’s $200,000, Grade II Amsterdam Stakes for 3-year-olds at Saratoga, swept by in deep stretch and won by 3/4 length over Mico Margarita. Salutos Amigos added some pesos to the trifecta by getting up for third. Forty Tales, a Tale of the Cat colt, ran 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:15.64 with Joel Rosario in the irons.
“He likes this distance,” said Tristan Barry, assistant to winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “He does his thing. He comes from off the pace and runs them down. He seems comfortable doing that, and we’re happy he likes it.”
Immortal Eyes took a daylight lead in the stretch run in Sunday’s $100,000 Teddy Drone Stakes at Monmouth Park and held on to win by a neck over Javerre. He Can Run finished third. Immortal Eyes, an 8-year-old Greatness gelding, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.82 under Paco Lopez. He had never run at Monmouth until this spring and now has won all three of his starts at the Jersey Shore track.
Turf Sprint
Central Banker, making his first start since finishing fifth in the Grade III Delta Downs Jackpot last November, swept by the early leaders in the stretch run of Thursday’s $100,000 Smirnoff Sorbet Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga and went on to win by 3 3/4 lengths. No Distinction was second and The Brothers War finished third. The favorite, Weekend Hideaway, faded to finish seventh. Central Banker is a Speightstown colt out of the Go For Gin mare Rhum. He ran 5 1/2 furlongs on firm turf in 1:02.56 with Joel Rosario riding for trainer Al Stall Jr. The race was restricted to 3-year-olds.
Nikkis Smartypants pressed the pace in Sunday’s $150,000 (Canadian), Grade III Royal North Stakes for fillies and mares at Woodbine, drove clear in deep stretch and won by 1 1/2 lengths over fellow long shot Why Katherine. The early leader, Early River, held on for third and the favorite, Sensible Lady, checked in last of seven. Nikkis Smartypants, a 4-year-old, Ontario-bred daughter of Smarty Jones, ran 6 furlongs on a good turf course in 1:09.49 with Eurico Da Silva steering.
Marathon
Richard’s Kid was winless in 10 starts since last year’s Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar. Obviously, this was the race he needed as 8-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid gamely battled the favorite, Sky Kingdom, into submission in the late going of Friday’s $100,000 renewal. The early leader, Blueskiesnrainbows, held third. Richard’s Kid, with Joe Talamo up, ran 1 1/2 miles on the all-weather track in 2:30.93. Although he has struggled since an extended tour in Dubai, the old warrior has been competitive in the past year, posting five thirds from the 10 races, all graded stakes.
Dirt Mile
Pants On Fire rallied through the stretch to win Sunday’s $200,000, Grade II Monmouth Cup by 1 3/4 lengths over Hymn Book as the favorite, Take Charge Indy, was pulled up, vanned off and headed for surgery. Pants On Fire, a 5-year-old son of Jump Start, ran 1 1/16 miles on the fast Monmouth Park main track in 1:45.86. Rosie Napravnik, who rode Pants On Fire to a ninth-place finish in the 2011 Kentucky Derby, finished third aboard Ponzi Scheme. Pants On Fire now has two wins and three thirds from his last five starts.
“I just tried to keep him on the outside because he doesn’t like dirt in his face,” said Lopez. “I had to go inside Gary (Stevens, aboard Take Charge Indy) a bit when he pulled up. But my horse just kept doing and tried hard to the wire.”
2-year-olds
Among the first-time starters, Corfu led from the start in a Thurdsay maiden event at Saratoga and won by 1/2 length. John Velazquez was up for Todd Pletcher aboard the Coolmore-owned Malibu Moon colt.
Station House, a Rock Hard Ten colt trained by Richard Mandella, won at first asking going 1 mile on the turf at Del Mar on Wednesday.
2-year-old fillies
Watch out for Our Amazing Rose, a Yes It’s True filly owned by Repole Stables and conditioned by Todd Pletcher. The filly won at first asking Thursday at Saratoga, easily kicking clear at the end to score by 7 3/4 lengths with John Velazquez hand-riding her to the wire, finishing 5 furlongs in 57.68 seconds.
Cadron, a Broken Vow filly, was a first-out winner Thursday at Del Mar for trainer Bob Baffert, winning by a neck as at the favorite over a late-closing long shot.
News and notes
Unbridled’s Song, winner of the 1995 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and a rousing success as a stallion, has died in Kentucky. Officials at Taylor Made said Unbridled’s Song had an invasive mass in his sinus cavities that had produced acute neurological symptoms. He was euthanized Thursday. The son of 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled won the Florida Derby but, running on a sore foot, could do no better than fifth in his own Run for the Roses. He suffered a career-ending injury while training for the 1997 Donn Handicap. At stud, he has a remarkable 730 winners from slightly more than 1,000 starters, including Unrivaled Belle, Unrivaled Elaine, Midshipman and Embur’s Song.
