UPI Horse Racing Roundup – May 26, 2014
May 26th, 2014By ROBERT KIECKHEFER
UPI Racing Writer
California Chrome is training “like a monster” in preparation for his upcoming Triple Crown bid while, in England, Kingman won the Irish 2,000 Guineas but looks to skip the Epsom Derby.
Those were the 3-year-old highlights of the first two days of the Memorial Day weekend. Also sandwiched in were potentially important results in many of the U.S. divisions.
In England, the ageless Cirrus Des Aigles wrote a new chapter in his sparkling story. In Argentina, a light gray steed scored a 12-lengths victory that earned him a trip to the Breeders’ Cup Turf. In Japan, there was a minor upset in the 3-year-old filly ranks. And Hong Kong’s star runners continued to mix things up — with mixed results.
Let’s jump right into the Mixmaster.
The Triple Crown
In two weeks’ time, California Chrome will bid to become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to complete the U.S. Triple Crown by adding the 1 1/2-miles Belmont Stakes to his victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Since Affirmed, 12 others have won the first two legs and either failed in the Belmont or not even made it to that race. Perhaps it’s wishful thinking on the part of a sport hungry for a positive story and a hero, but California Chrome looks like he could be the real deal.
The colt “trained like a monster” Sunday morning, said Alan Sherman, son and assistant to trainer Art Sherman. “He keeps getting stronger. He seems to like this track,” Sherman added. “He’s actually put on some weight since the Preakness. This morning, with the way the sun was hitting him, he was shining like a new penny. He looks so good right now.”
Potential Belmont rival Tonalist worked 5 furlongs Sunday morning in 1:01.63, breezing.
“Nice work,” said trainer Christophe Clement.
Wood Memorial winner Wicked Strong, another looking to block the Triple Crown bid, breezed 1 mile in 1:39.59.
“A nice, good, stamina work,” said trainer Jimmy Jerkens.
Samraat, who finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby, continued to work toward the Belmont with a 1:41.28 mile, breezing.
“It was terrific. Exactly what we wanted,” said trainer Rick Violette.
Commissioner and Intense Holiday both breezed 5 furlongs but latter pulled up with an injury that will require surgery and force him to miss the Belmont, said trainer Todd Pletcher. He said colt is likely to return to racing after recuperating.
And in the preparations for Canada’s Triple Crown, Asserting Bear finished first in Sunday’s $125,000 (Canadian) Marine Stakes at Woodbine but was set down to third for stretch interference. That promoted Conquest Top Gun to the victory and Ami’s Holiday, the victim of the stretch interference, to third. However, Conquest Top Gun, a Kentucky-bred, is not eligible for the Queen’s Plate. Asserting Bear and Ami’s Holiday are both eligible as Ontario-breds.
Across the waters:
France
How good IS Cirrus Des Aigles, anyway? Last time out, he defeated the previously unbeaten Arc winner, Treve, in a thrilling stretch run in the Group 1 Prix Ganay. Sunday, he ran Lockinge Stakes winner Olympic Glory off his shoes in winning the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp. Olympic Glory, in fact, faded to finish fourth in the 9-furlongs event. Cirrus Des Aigles broke sharply, led throughout while being shadowed by Olympic Glory. Frankie Dettori asked Olympic Glory to go with Cirrus Des Aigles when the running started but he couldn’t do it. Anodin got by to finish second, 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner, with Pollyana another 1 1/4 lengths in arrears in third. The 8-year-old winner finished in 1:57.98 over soft turf.
“I keep expecting to wake up and find it isn’t true,” winning trainer Corine Barande-Barbe told Racing Post. “But it isn’t a dream. There aren’t many horses like him. He adores races like that. It was an exercise gallop for him.”
Cirrus Des Aigles is expected to resurface in the Coronation Stakes, where he already is a short-priced favorite.
Olympic Glory’s trainer, Richard Hannon, said the fade job wasn’t the result of short rest after last week’s Lockinge win but, rather, a matter of distance. “He didn’t say,” Hannon said.
And … there were eight winning tickets on Saturday’s “Scoop6” wager, each worth 1.3 million pounds sterling. The wager, intended to be difficult, had rolled over 12 times before an influx of players helped take down the prize pool. Also helping were two winning tickets that included a late scratch. Under the pool’s rules, those tickets inherited the favorite — who won. As Daily Racing Form’s Marty McGee is fond of saying on his way to the windows, “It’s an easy game.”
Ireland
Kingman kicked into gear when asked by jockey James Doyle in Saturday’s Group 1 Irish 2,000 Guineas and cruised home first by 5 lengths. Shifting Power was the best of the rest with Mustajeeb third. Kingman was drawn No. 1 in the field, which might have led to traffic issues. But Jockey James Doyle had the son of Invincible Spirit in the clear after the field shifted to the stands side of the soggy Curragh course. When Doyle prompted him, Kingman quickly opened a clear advantage and won without much added urging. He now has four wins and a second from five starts. Trainer John Gosden did not decide to run Kingman until he had walked the course shortly before the race and warned Doyle not to push him if he struggled on the ground, officially listed as “soft to heavy.” Kingman reported is being pointed to the St. James’s Palace Stakes next month at Royal Ascot, rather than the June 7 Epsom Derby.
Marvelous ran by Palace in the final furlong to take Sunday’s Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas and move up the list of contenders for the Epsom Oaks. The Galileo filly reported home 3 lengths to the good of Lightning Thunder with Vote Often third. Palace faded to finish fifth under Joseph O’Brien, who reportedly had his choice of her or Marvelous and opted wrong. His father, Aidan O’Brien, trains the pair. Marvelous won her only start last year but finished up the track in her 2014 debut at Leopardstown on March 30.
Japan
Nuovo Record, twice narrowly beaten by Harp Attack in earlier races, held off her old foe in deep stretch to win Sunday’s Group 1 Yushun Himba, or Japanese Oaks, by a neck. Bounce Shasse finished third. Nuovo Record, with Yasunata Iwata up, raced in mid-pack, eased out turning for home to make her run and hit the lead with a furlong to go. Harp Star unleashed a furious charge in the final furlong, passing more than half the field, but could not catch the winner. Nuovo Record, a Heart’s Cry filly, ran 2,400 meters in 2:25.8.
“With the 2,400-meters distance and the horse’s aptitude to the left-handed course in mind, I think we ran our race today,” Iwata said. “She was well in hand and relaxed up to the straight, which was why we were able to win. I heard Harp Starcatching up and just desperately drove her to the line.”
The Yushun Himba was the second leg of the Japanese filly Triple Crown. Harp Attack was victorious in the first, with Nuovo Record a close third.
Hong Kong
Blazing Speed got the perfect trip in Sunday’s HK Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup and got home first. Dibayani was second, 2 1/2 lengths back, and California Memory continued his recovery from injury with a third-place finish. The favorite, Designs on Rome, winner of the international Group 1 Audemars Piguet QE II Cup in his last outing, finished a dull fifth. Blazing Speed captured the HK Group 1 Stewards Cup in January but then disappointed in the Hong Kong Gold Cup and the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free at Meydan in March. He finished Sunday’s 2,400 meters in 2:28.11.
“Neil Callan rode a perfect race today,” said winning trainer Tony Cruz. “The horse won it quite easy and I’m very happy with that performance. In the Gold Cup he made contact with other horses and he got too keen too early. He started pulling and that’s always a bad sign. That’s why he didn’t finish his race properly. Today it was a totally different story.”
Aerovelocity won Sunday’s HK Group 3 Sha Tin Vase by a short head over Divine Ten but then had to wait out an objection as a result of some traffic issues in the final 100 meters before the victory was made official. Aerovelocity got home in 1:09.10 under Zac Purton, winning for the fifth straight time. Purton won four races on the day and has a comfortable lead in the Hong Kong jockeys’ standings.
Back in … well … the Americas:
Distaff
La Tia, the reigning Illinois older female champion, ran to her notices in Saturday’s $150,000, Grade III Arlington Matron, leading all the way, then kicking loose in the stretch to win by 6 1/4 lengths. Frivolous was second and Awesome Flower finished third. La Tia, a 5-year-old City Place mare, ran 9 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:48.66 with E.T. Baird aboard. La Tia won the Arlington Park Oaks two years ago and performed creditably in graded stakes last summer. The victory was her first of the year.
“I had her well in hand,” Baird said. He added trainer Armando De La Cerda “told me she was a kind filly and that she would pretty much do what I wanted her to. He was exactly right.”
De La Cerda said he will try to give La Tia a breather in an Illinois-bred stakes before taking on the Grade III Ontario Matron on July 26 — then perhaps the Grade I Beverly D. back at Arlington on Million Day, Aug. 16.
Turf
In Argentina, Sir Winsalot won by a lot — 12 lengths — in Saturday’s Group 1 Gran Premio Internacional 25 de Mayo at San Isidro, earning an automatic entry into this fall’s Breeders’ Cup Turf. Sir Winsalot, a silvery-gray, Argentine-bred by Lasting Approval, took over in the stretch run after tracking the early pace and finished in 2:32.36 over a soft, tiring course. Soy Carambolo beat the others and Damaskino finished third. Owner Herman Stambuk told Turf Diario,
“We preferred to not even talk about the possibility of traveling to the United States before the race. But now, yes. It will be time to do it.”
War Dancer, the odds-on favorite, had all he could handle in Suntracer through the stretch run of Saturday’s $100,000, Grade III Louisville Handicap at Churchill Downs. War Dancer, a 4-year-old War Front colt, got a head in front just a jump from the wire to secure the victory. Suntracer, who led briefly, settled for second and it was 3 lengths back to Moro Tap in third. War Dancer, with Alan Garcia in the irons, ran 1 1/2 miles on firm turf in 2:28.23. He was coming off a second-place finish in the Grade II Elkhorn at Keeneland behind Unitarian. Suntracer finished fourth in that heat.
“Turning for home, I thought we were clear and then was surprised when I saw the other horse gaining on our outside,” Garcia said after Saturday’s rematch. “I got nervous for a second but when my horse spotted him on the outside, I felt him dig in and that’s when I knew I had more horse and we got the win.”
Robby Albarado, Suntracer’s jockey, blamed himself for the loss — sort of.
“I’ve got to find a way to win those kind,” Albarado said. “I know I can do it and I should have done it there. I don’t know what I could have done, but I’ll have to evaluate and see what I could have done differently.”
Fire With Fire came firing three-wide down the lane to win Saturday’s $200,000, Grade II Charles Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita by a neck over Segway. The favorite, Quick Casablanca, came from last to take third, just a neck farther back. Fire With Fire, a 6-year-old Distorted Humor gelding, ran 1 1/4 miles on firm turf in 2:00.92 under Tyler Baze. He now has won three of his last four starts and three of those four were graded stakes.
“Obviously, we discovered that he doesn’t need to be on the lead,” said winning trainer Neil Drysdale, a former assistant to legendary trainer Charlie Whittingham. “His last two races, he’s kicked on very well … I’m delighted to win a race with Whittingham’s name attached to it.”
Filly & Mare Turf
Riposte blasted to the lead from the inside gate in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade II Sheepshead Bay Stakes for fillies and mares, led all the way and won by 1 3/4 lengths over Abaco. Irish Mission finished third, trailed by the favorite, Fitful Skies. Riposte, a 4-year-old, British-bred daughter of Dansili, ran 1 3/8 miles on yielding turf in 2:18.86 with Joel Rosario piloting. Riposte started her career in England, winning last year’s Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. In two previous U.S. efforts the Juddmonte Farms homebred had two seconds and a third for trainer Bill Mott, victimized by some traffic issues while running from off the pace.
Mott said Saturday’s front-running performance was not so much tactics as “just the way the race came up. I thought (Irish Mission) would show more speed, but the pace didn’t really develop … We’ve got a shot for some of the longer races,” he added.
Normally the $150,000, Grade III Arlington Classic for 3-year-olds would be listed under the “Turf” category. But not after Istanford, a Florida-bred filly, led the boys a merry chase and went on to win Saturday’s rendition by 1 length. Long on Value finished second and Afortable rolled late to get show money as the favorite. Istanford, a daughter of Istan, ran 1 1/16 miles on turf rated good in 1:43.60 with James Graham in the irons. Earlier this year, she had finished second in the Grade III Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs and second in the Edgewood at Churchill Downs. Trainer Michael Stidham said Sunday the filly returned in good order from her victory in the first leg of Arlington’s “Mid-America Triple” and will be nominated to the middle leg, the $200,000, Grade III American Derby on July 12. She benefitted from a relaxed lead in the Classic and Stidham said he will keep options open.
“What we try to do with our stakes horses is nominate all over the country and then go where the suitable race is,” he said. “If it fits, we usually go. We’ll nominate for the American Derby and see how it comes up.”
Sea Queen shadowed the pace in Sunday’s $200,000 Wonder Again Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park, went by the early leader and outfinished Minorette to win by 1/2 length at 18-1 odds. Recepta finished third and the odds-on favorite, Daring Dancer, struggled home fifth in a flat effort. Sea Queen, a Lemon Drop Kid filly, ran 9 furlongs on the good inner turf course in 1:49.89 with Irad Ortiz Jr. up. The Christophe Clement trainee was making just her fifth career start and first in a stakes race.
“Nice filly,” Clement said. “I’m a bit surprised she won at 18-1 but it doesn’t matter. She can’t read the board. Great ride from Irad and we’ll go for the Belmont Oaks.”
Solid Appeal rallied from well back in Sunday’s $200,000 (Canadian), Grade II Nassau Stakes at Woodbine and outfinished Why Katherine to win by 1/2 length. The favorite, Deceptive Vision, faded in the final yards and finished third after leading briefly. Solid Appeal, a 5-year-old Successful Appeal mare, ran 1 mile on firm turf in 1:33.04 under Jesse Campbell.
Sprint
Alsvid found an opening between horses in the stretch run in Saturday’s $75,000 Prairie Express Stakes and went through to score a 1/2-length win. Apprehender closed smartly from the back of the field to finish second, 3 1/4 lengths better than Bobcat Jim. Alsvid, a 5-year-old Officer gelding, finished 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.55 with Ken Tohill at the controls. Alsvid was coming off three straight runner-up finishes at Oaklawn Park, the last of them the Grade III Count Fleet Sprint Handicap.
Filly & Mare Sprint
Spring in the Air took the long way around in Saturday’s $150,000 (Canadian), Grade III Hendrie Stakes for fillies and mares but got the job done, winning by 1 length over late-running Mekong Delta. Aunt Els finished third. Spring in the Air, a 4-year-old Spring At Last filly, got 6 1/2 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:16.79 with Patrick Husbands up. It was her first win in more than a year, though she has run consistently well in tough company, including a second-place finish last time out in the Grade II Whimsical Stakes over the same layout. She finished fourth in last year’s Queen’s Plate and fifth in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies after taking the Grade I Alcibiades at Keeneland.
“Today she ran a decent race,” said Husbands. “When I reached the five-eighths pole, I saw four horses going head and head so the most important thing I was interested in was not to get caught behind them when they start to stop. I took her out at the five-eighths pole and watched them and she just ran them down.”
Bridgehampton led from the start in Saturday’s $75,000 My Juliet Stakes for fillies and mares at Parx Racing, kicked clear late and won by 5 1/2 lengths. Ms. Cruisen dropped back early but put in a late bid to take second, 3/4 lengths ahead of the favorite, Miss d’Oro. Bridgehampton, a 4-year-old Bernardini filly, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.00 with Frankie Pennington in the irons. She now has three wins from six starts, along with a second-place finish in last year’s Grade III Victory Ride Stakes at Belmont Park.
Dirt Mile
Nikki’s Sandcastle was along late to win Saturday’s $150,000, Grade III Hanshin Cup at Arlington Park by a diminishing 1/2 length over Mister Marti Gras. Pass the Dice rolled a three while the favorite, Hogy, finished next-last of 13 after suffering terrible traffic problems. Nikki’s Sandcastle, a 7-year-old Castledale gelding, ran 1 mile on the all-weather course in 1:35.57 with Leandro Goncalves up. Mister Marti Gras’s second-place finish was the second tough beat of the day for trainer Chris Block, who earlier saw Suntracer nosed out as a longshot at Churchill Downs (see above).
Goncalves, riding Nikki’s Sandcastle for the third time, said his goal was to keep the horse close “and not take him far back where’s he’s been and always gets in trouble. I just wanted to make sure he got a good trip.”
Trainer David Kassen said he has lots of options for the 7-year-old, including the $200,000, Grade II Arlington Handicap on July 12 — that at 1 1/4 miles on the grass.
“It might be too much distance for him. But he’s doing really well,” Kassen said.
Csaba led through the early furlongs in Saturday’s $75,000 Memorial Handicap at Calder Race Course, was headed by Decisive Moment but came back to win by a head over that rival. Joshua’s Comprise finished third. Csaba, a 5-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:47.17 with Manoel Cruz aboard. Flatter This finished fifth and Sr. Quisqueyano faded to get home seventh. Csaba, a multiple graded stakes winner, was coming off a third-place showing in the Grade III Miami Mile at Calder last month.
Itsmyluckyday stalked the pace in Saturday’s $75,000 Majestic Light Stakes at Monmouth Park, took a clear lead a sixteenth of a mile out and coasted home first by 1 1/4 lengths over Code West. Spa City Fever finished third. Itsmyluckyday, a 4-year-old Lawyer Ron colt, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:41.66 for jockey Paco Lopez. Itsmyluckyday, second in last year’s Preakness Stakes, was pulled up in last June’s Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth, vanned off and idled until March, when he returned to run fourth in the Grade II Gulfsream Park Handicap. He then won a minor stakes event at Gulfstream before Saturday’s win.
“This was a tough race with tough competition and he came through it just fine,” said winning trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. “I believe the best is still in front of him.”
He said Itsmyluckyday could run back in two weeks in the Grade I Met Mile in New York or wait for the Grade III Salvator Mile on July 6 at Monmouth. “We’ll let him tell us what to do,” the trainer said.
Classic
Almost Famous, fourth in this winter’s Grade III Holy Bull — a key race — easily won an allowance event Saturday at Churchill Downs and trainer Pat Byrne said the Unbridled’s Song colt now is headed to the Grade III Matt Winn on June 14 under the Twin Spires. After disappointing finishes in the Fountain of Youth and the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park, Byrne gave Almost Famous time off to recuperate and regenerate.
“We’ve got three weeks to the Matt Winn and we’ll just blow ’em out,” he said.
Elsewhere:
Monmouth Park
Natalie Victoria led from the early jumps in Sunday’s $75,000 Monmouth Beach Stakes for fillies and mares and went on to win by 3 1/2 lengths over Zucchini Flower. Lady Cohiba, the favorite, finished third. Natalie Victoria, a 6-year-old Indian Ocean mare, ran 1 mile and 70 yards on a fast track in 1:41.41 with Jose Ortiz at the controls.
Santa Anita
Sky High Gal rallied by the early leader, Biorythm, in the stretch run of Sunday’s $75,000 Mizdirection Stakes for fillies and mares and went on to win by 1 1/4 lengths over that rival. Qiaona finished third. Sky High Gal, a 4-year-old daughter of Leroidesanimaux, finished 6 1/2 furlongs down the hillside turf course in 1:13.17 with Mike Smith riding.
