SPOTLIGHT PERFORMANCES
APRIL 28, 2005
by James Scully
PERFECT DRIFT (Dynaformer) made his six-year-old bow a winning
one last Thursday, powering his way to a three-length allowance victory in a
mile turf event over the Keeneland Haggin course. The gelding’s only decent showings on the grass have
come against allowance rivals in Lexington, Kentucky, but he has been unplaced in three
turf
stakes attempts. Still, the $3.2 million earner returned with a sharp
performance Thursday, earning a 101 BRIS Speed rating and finishing his final
quarter-mile in :23 2/5, and he’s a threat to carry that form forward to the
Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) on May 7. The June 18 Stephen Foster H. (G1), which he captured over Horse of the Year
Mineshaft in 2003, should be a target if he fails again on the grass.
ADIEU (El Corredor), the first offspring to race from her Grade
1-winning freshman sire, turned in a magnificent debut on Friday at Keeneland,
easily drawing off through the stretch for a 4 1/4-length decision. Trained by
Todd Pletcher, the bay juvenile filly looked very special and recorded the
second fastest time (:52 1/5) for 4 1/2 furlongs this meet.
DANCE DAILY (Five Star Day) was another good-looking
two-year-old filly winner, capturing her first career start for trainer D. Wayne
Lukas last Wednesday. The $600,000 two-year-old in training purchase walked out
of the gate and was then rushed up to reach contention before settling under
Rafael Bejarano. Dance Daily found a new gear when straightening into the
stretch, flying past her rivals on the outside to win going away by two lengths.
The chestnut is from the first crop of her freshman sire and is one to watch for
upcoming juvenile stakes.
NORTHERN STAG (Deerhound), who was unraced since a close second
in a November maiden special weight at Churchill Downs, returned to competition
in spectacular fashion, winning a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight by 25 1/2
lengths at Keeneland on Saturday. The Walter Bindner Jr.-trained four-year-old
relished the sloppy conditions and improved his overall mark to 6-1-2-2.
STOLEN PRAYER (Songandaprayer) made the first start for her
freshman sire on Tuesday at Calder and rolled to a 15-length, wire-to-wire score
in the 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight test. Trained by Ed Plesa Jr., the
Florida-bred juvenile is a half-sister to Miz United States (Valid Wager),
winner of the My Dear Girl division of the Florida Stallion series, and Stolen
Prayer is an early contender for this year’s Florida Stallion events.
AMERICAN LIBERTY (Storm Cat) earned his first win this year on
Friday at Hollywood Park, taking a seven-furlong allowance by 2 1/2 lengths, and
appears headed in the right direction for conditioner Neil Drysdale. The
five-year-old didn’t break his maiden until last May at Hollywood and then
captured an entry level allowance by 9 1/4 lengths. His form began to tail off
in the summer, earning him a freshening, and the dark bay returned this winter
at Santa Anita. A full brother to Grade 2 hero Sea of Secrets and a half to
Grade 3 queen Love That Jazz (Dixieland Band), who is the dam of multiple Grade
1 winner Society Selection, American Liberty earned a career best 101 Speed
rating on Friday. He loves Hollywood Park and could be one to watch this meet.