UPI Thoroughbred Racing Round Up – March 17, 2014
March 17th, 2014By ROBERT KELLEY KIECKHEFER
UPI Racing Writer
A colt named Hoppertunity hopped right into the Kentucky Derby picture this weekend while, elsewhere, some fillies flashed fine form, the fields for Dubai World Cup night came into focus and a pair of embattled Hong Kong runners showed international promise.
And a happy St. Patrick’s Day to all.
Hoppertunity, the latest of trainer Bob Baffert’s Derby hopefuls, battled tenaciously down the stretch to win a roughly run Rebel Stakes in Arkansas.
Close Hatches and Faith Will Arise were impressive winners in the Distaff ranks while Golden Lad — as tipped here on Thursday — showed he might be a budding star in the handicap ranks for trainer Todd Pletcher.
A couple exciting races at Sha Tin in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong Derby, showed the way to the final international Group 1 race of the season in that jurisdiction.
You don’t need the luck o’ the Irish. You just need to read on.
Dubai
Group 1 winners from around the world litter the prospective fields for the seven Thoroughbred races on the March 29 World Cup card at Meydan.
The headline event, the $10 million, Group 1 Dubai World Cup at 2,000 meters on the Tapeta all-weather course, promises to be a real free-for-all, with some established stars like Red Cadeaux, The Fugue, Hunter’s Light and Prince Bishop and many others looking for a breakthrough at the top level. Hong Kong will celebrate a good performance by Military Attack and/or Akeed Mofeed. Japan has Belshazzar and Hokko Tarumae. And even the home team has African Story and Vancouverite hoping to hit the home run.
There are interesting stories up and down the card.
The Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic at 2,400 meters on the grass has a who’s who of international stayers, including the 1-2 finishers in last fall’s Japan Cup — Gentildonna and Denim and Ruby. Cirrus Des Aigles is in this race, along with Dunaden, Magician, Meandre and Twilight Eclipse, one of only three American horses on the entire card, all of whom seem overmatched.
Sir Michael Stoute has Dank, winner of the Beverly D. at Arlington Park and the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita, for the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free at 1,800 meters on the grass but will face, among others, South African trainer Mike De Kock’s Vercingetorix, Hong Kong’s Blazing Speed, three from Japan and two locals.
The two sprints offer enticing head-to-head rivalries: Krypton Factor vs. Renaldothewizard in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen going 1,200 meters on the Tapeta and Shea Shea vs. Sole Power in the Grouip 2 Al Quoz Sprint at 1,000 metres down the grassy straight. Reynaldothewizard won the Golden Shaheen last year while Krypton Factor was victorious in 2012. Shea Shea is the defending champion in the Al Quoz. Sole Power was second in 2012 and fourth last year.
Also on the card are the marathon Dubai Gold Cup, the UAE Derby, the Godolphin Mile and the Dubai Kahayla Classic for Purebred Arabians.
The fields are, of course, tentative at this point. We’ll have more as the next two weeks’ events unfold.
Kentucky Derby preps
Hoppertunity got the best of a rough stretch run in Saturday’s $600,000, Grade II Rebel at Oaklawn Park, winning by 1/2 length over the favorite, Tapiture, after the two exchanged bumps. Ride On Curlin, who may have caused the trouble by drifting out, tired in the final sixteenth and finished third. Strong Mandate was fourth. Kobe’s Back was never comfortable over the wet-fast Arkansas track and finished next-last of seven. Hoppertunity, by Any Given Saturday, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.90 under Mike Smith and earned 50 points toward a Kentucky Derby starting berth. The colt, who did not race as a 2-year-old, won his second start at Santa Anita in January but then finished fourth in the Grade II Risen Star at Fair Grounds last month after a slow start under jockey Martin Garcia. Smith kept the colt much closer to the pace in the Rebel and said in the stretch run he was just trying to hold position while Tapiture was trying to force his way out for running room. The stewards agreed after conducting an inquiry.
Jim Barnes, assistant to winning trainer Bob Baffert, said Smith reported Hoppertunity “had just started running when he got bumped. That just made him run faster. He’s tough.”
Owner Mike Pegram said scheduling Hoppertunity’s next race will be up to Baffert. But, he added, “He looks like he’ll go a mile and a quarter (the Kentucky Derby distance). I wouldn’t trade places with anyone.”
Baffert added Sunday Hoppertunity will be slotted for either the Arkansas Derby or the Santa Anita Derby. Both are $1 million races. He said since Hoppertunity already has shipped twice from California, he will have to evaluate the wisdom of shipping yet again before the Run for the Roses. Baffert also has potential jockey conflicts with Hoppertunity and his other Derby hopefuls. Tapiture, Ride On Curlin and Strong Mandate all are expected to try again in the Arkansas Derby.
Kentucky Oaks preps
Steady N Love came from off the pace to win Saturday’s $100,000 Caesar’s Wish Stakes at Laurel Park by 1 3/4 lengths. Aviddiva, at 43-1 odds, opened up a big early lead and held on for second after the winner blew by. New Zone finished third. Steady N Love, a Not For Love filly, got the 1 mile over a fast track in 1:41.18. It was her ninth straight in-the-money finish.
“She is just a gutsy filly,” said winning trainer Gary Capuano. “She tries and gives it everything she’s got. She’s still a little green. The mile is not her best distance but she dug in.”
Detouring back overseas:
Hong Kong
Designs On Rome just got the better of stablemate Able Friend in a nip-and-tuck stretch drive climaxing Sunday’s BMW Hong Kong Derby. Both 4-year-olds are trained by John Moore and both are ticketed for stardom, first in Hong Kong and eventually, according to the trainer, on the world stage. With Tommy Berry up, Designs on Rome dawdled near the back of the field until the stretch turn loomed. He quickly picked up the pace, circled into the stretch on the outside and accelerated to the lead as he straightened for home. At the same time, Able Friend found a seam through the middle of the pack and the two were set down for the final 200 yards of battle. Designs On Rome, however, wasn’t to be denied and Able Friend could never quite get to him. At the end, the margin was 1/2 length, with Dibayani a courageous third. The rest of the field was well back. Designs on Rome, a Holy Roman Emperor gelding, got the 2,000 meters over good turf in 2:02.04.
The race also was the rubber match of Hong Kong’s 4-year-old series. Able Friend won the first leg, the Hong Kong Classic Mile. Designs On Rome too the second race, the 1,800-meters Hong Kong Classic Cup.
“Designs On Rome looks to have a serious future,” Moore said. “As I’ve said before, he has international Group 1 written all over him and the way he did it today, he proved he can make quite a few runs and he can keep kicking. And he’s got the desire to really kick hard. When Able Friend came up on his inside, he fought back gamely and that’s a good horse.”
Moore said Able Friend will run back in the Champions Mile and Designs on Rome in the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup — the international Group 1 races that cap Hong Kong’s spring season and attract international competition.
“My two fellas are world class and they’ll go on the world stage eventually,” Moore added.
Nearly 60,000 fans showed up at Sha Tin on Sunday to watch the Derby and the co-featured HK Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup at 1,400 meters. That race produced another exciting finish as Gold-Fun scored by 1/2 length over 2013 Champions Mile winner Dan Excel.
“He’s improved mentally and physically. He’s a proper Group 1 horse now,” said winning jockey Douglas Whyte.
Trainer Richard Gibson said he will point Gold-Fun to the Champions Mile.
“He had a great beginning to the season and we’ve targeted this race with him,” said Gibson. “It was a great run. I thought he won very convincingly. He’s the most consistent Group 1 horse in Hong Kong, he’s a candidate for Horse of the Year and I’m very lucky to have him in my stable.”
Classic
Golden Lad had a very doable task in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade III Razorback at Oaklawn Park. The Todd Pletcher trainee, stepping up in class off three straight wins in Florida, shadowed the early pace under Jose Lezcano, shot out to a big lead in the stretch and won off by 6 3/4 lengths. The 4-year-old Medaglia d’Oro colt ran 1 1/16 miles on a wet-fast track in 1:43.72 and is one to watch as the season rolls along. Majestic City was along for second in the Razorback. Taptowne was third, followed by early leader Right to Vote and the favorite, Govenor Charlie.
“It was definitely a step up for him from allowance company,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “But anytime you’ve won three straight races, you obviously have talent. I felt like he deserved this opportunity and he proved he did.”
Pletcher said Golden Lad might return for the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap on April 12, where he will find a deeper level of competition.
Distaff
Close Hatches broke a step slowly in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade II Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park, quickly got to the lead along the rail into the first turn and led them the rest of the way to the wire. Magic Union was second at big odds and Don’t Tell Sophia settled for third. Close Hatches, a 4-year-old filly by First Defence, finished 1 1/16 miles on a wet-fast track in 1:44.34 with Joel Rosario up for trainer Bill Mott. It was her first start since finishing second to Beholder in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. She has never run a bad race, save a seventh-place finish in last year’s Kentucky Oaks, with six wins and two seconds from eight other starts.
“It was a very good race for her first start of the year,” Mott said. “You always wonder, no matter how much training you do, if you had her ready.”
He said it is “a possibility” Close Hatches will return for the Grade I Apple Blossom next month.
Let Faith Arise was on the lead but under pressure throughout Saturday’s $350,000, Grade I Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita, then finally edged clear late to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Iotapa, the favorite, was always in the mix and had every chance at the top of the lane but settled for second. Stanwyck was up for third. Let Faith Arise, a 4-year-old Kafwain filly, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:48.70 with Corey Nakatani riding. It was a rematch for the top three. In the Feb. 15 Santa Maria stakes, it was Iotapa on top with Let Faith Arise 1 3/4 lengths back in second and Stanwyck third.
Filly & Mare Turf
Centre Court had to circle most of the field to come to the lead in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade II Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream Park, then just did hold off the late run of Kitten’s Point, winning by a nose. Effie Trinket showed the way and held on for third. The favorite, Tapicat, finished fifth. Centre Court, a 5-year-old Smart Strike mare, was making her first start since finishing eighth in the Grade II Balston Spa at Saratoga last summer — her third straight disappointment after a long run of sparkling successes. Trainer Rusty Arnold she Centre Court was diagnosed with a pulled muscle and has recovered.
“That was a big run,” Arnold said. “She had to come wide. I know she got a little tired. She hadn’t run since August so she had a reason to get tired. I’m very happy with her.”
Stormy Lucy rallied from well back to post an upset win in Sunday’s $200,000, Grade II Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita. With Rafael Bejarano up for trainer Frank Lucarelli, Stormy Lucy got by a pace duel involving favorite Emollient with a furlong to run and edged clear late, winning by 1 1/2 lengths. Emotional Kitten also came from off the pace to finish second and Miss Serendipity was third, a head in front of Emollient. Stormy Lucy, a 5-year-old Stormy Atlantic mare, ran 9 furlongs on firm going in 1:47.11. It was her first graded stakes win. Emollient was making her 2014 debut after a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf to wind up 2013.
Lucarelli said he told Bejarano, “‘You do the riding but she’ll go anywhere’ She’ll go inside, between ’em, around ’em, over ’em. She’s an easy horse to get around there. You just have to find the right spot.”
Filly & Mare Sprint
Mamdooha settled well back of the early leaders in Saturday’s $100,000 Cicada Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct, launched a bid around the turn and got by them all to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Sustainable ran evenly to finish second and Alpaca Fina was third. Mamdooha, a Shadwell Farms homebred by Daaher out of the Rahy mare Marraasi, got 6 furlongs on the fast inner track in 1:12.13 under Eddie Castro. She finished second in her career debut at Monmouth Park in September but since then has won four straight for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.
“She trains herself pretty much,” said McLaughlin assistant Art Magnuson. “She’s a light, slight little filly. We’re always looking for a little further than six (furlongs), but it’s worked out well.
Other racing:
Fair Grounds
Gantry rallied three-wide down the stretch to win Saturday’s $60,000 Colonel Power Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths over Positive Side. Marchman was third and the favorite, Sum of the Parts, faded from the lead to finish fourth. Gantry, a 7-year-old Pulpit gelding, ran about 5 1/2 furlongs on firm turf in 1:03.99 with Richard Eramia up.
Delta Downs
Grand Contender was all of that in Saturday’s $75,000 Borgata Stakes, leading all the way to a 6 3/4 lengths win over Runaway Stephen. Awesome Intime finished third. Grand Contender, a 6-year-old Strong Contender gelding, finished 1 mile on a fast track in 1:38.63 with Gerard Melancon up. Tom Amoss trains for owner Maggi Moss.
Guadalupe High led from the start in Friday night’s $75,000 Gold Coast Stakes for fillies and mares and won by 2 3/4 lengths over Special Guest. Flashy Campaign was third and the favorite, Little Ms Protocol, finished fourth and last as the favorite. Guadalupe High, a 4-year-old Cuvee filly, ran 1 mile on a fast track in 1:38.34 with Mark Guidry in the irons.
