CHURCHILL DOWNS NOTEBOOK
JUNE 10, 2005
by Dick Powell
Trainer Joe Woodard’s record streak of consecutive wins at Churchill Downs ended on
Thursday when Peace and Joy (Hunting Hard) missed by a scant nose in the 6TH
race. On a sloppy track that favored closers all day in sprints, he dueled for
the lead after hopping at the start and lost the photo at the wire to VACANCY
(Skywalker). Earlier on the card, Woodard sent out BUBA’S CAPER (Discover) to a
win in the 4TH race, bringing his winning streak to 10.
With his streak ended, Woodard was right back in the winner’s circle on
Friday when ACCESS APPROVED (With Approval) won the opener by going gate to wire
with his fiancé, Angela Owens, in the irons.
Unfortunately, Woodard is going to have to start all over since six of his 11
recent winners were claimed from him. Two of his winners in the streak were not
eligible to be claimed, so two out of every three winners since the streak began
were claimed from him. This makes sense since many of his winners were huge
class dropdowns and many buyers were interested in the discounted prices.
Even though there were only 40 races run here last week, 18 different jockeys
won a race. Rafael Bejarano won five races for the week while Eddie Martin, Mark
Guidry and Robby Albarado won four each.
Albarado won the only stakes event of the week when he guided DELTA PRINCESS
(A.P. Indy) to a come-from-behind victory in the Mint Julep H. (G3) Saturday. On
a turf course rated good from the rain on Thursday and Friday, Shaconage (El
Prado [Ire]) looked like a winner turning for home but couldn’t hold off
Albarado’s well-timed move.
FLY ME NOW (Flying Chevron) showed some speed before tiring on a sloppy track
in his career debut here three weeks ago. On Saturday, he was back for another
crack at high-class juvenile maidens in the 10TH race and was dismissed at
14.7-1 odds. This was despite the fact that his dam has produced five winners
from her other five foals to race and Bernie Flint has strong numbers second
time out.
The bay colt broke well with Justin Vitek over the drying out track listed as
fast and pressed early front runner Federer (Grand Slam). Fly Me Now
put that one away and held off Elusive Star (Elusive Quality) to win
by a half-length, paying $31.40. Elusive Star was purchased for $750,000
this year at Fasig-Tipton Calder by Bob and Beverly Lewis and has now run second
in both career starts. Out of a Dayjur mare, he’s bred for speed top and bottom
and you have to wonder why they paid so much for him.
On Sunday, juvenile fillies were in action in the 10TH race and if you
believed in nature over nurture you were rewarded with a handsome mutuel payoff.
SHE SAYS IT BEST (Stormy Atlantic) was a first-time starter from Vickie Foley
that went off at 9.9-1 odds. Foley only shows one win with her last 32 first
timers (3 percent) and She Says it Best attracted little attention in the
wagering.
However, her sire, Stormy Atlantic (Storm Cat), produces 12 percent first-out
winners and her broodmare sire, Marsayas (Damascus), does even better with 14 percent
first-out winners. Her dam has produced five winners from six other foals to
race including two stakes winners. She Says it Best recently sold for $130,000
at the OBS two-year-old in training sale, the fourth highest price
of 19 juveniles sired by Stormy Atlantic this year.
So you have a tough choice to make. A filly with a pedigree with lots to like
but from a barn that is not known for producing first out winners. My advice is
when confronted with this choice, go with nature over nurture. A first-time
starter going 4 1/2 furlongs with a speedy pedigree can overcome its trainer
more often than a noted first-out trainer can overcome a horse with no
precociousness in its pedigree.
She Says it Best gunned to the front right out of the gate for Eddie Martin
and never looked back. She cruised to an easy 3 3/4-length win in the fast time
of :52.09 and could have a stakes future for Foley, who is now two for 33 with
first-time starters and a hefty flat-bet profit.
BIAS REPORT
In one-turn races on the main track, 11 of the 29 winners (38 percent) were
either first or second after a quarter-mile. In two-turn races on the
main track, four of the five winners (80 percent) were either first or second
after the opening quarter-mile.
On Thursday’s sloppy track, only one of eight winners (12 percent) going
one turn raced in either first or second after the first quarter-mile. On Sunday,
five of the seven winners (71 percent) on the main track were either first or
second after a quarter-mile was run.
On the turf going two turns, one of the four winners (25 percent) were either
first or second after the quarter mile. In two turf sprints, both winners
came from off the pace.
| For the first 27 days of racing: |
| In one-turn races on the main track, 63 of the 179
winners (35 percent) were either first or second after a quarter-mile was run. |
| In two-turn races on the main track, 16 of the 49
winners (32 percent) were either first or second after a quarter-mile was run. |
| In two-turn races on the turf, 13 of the 43 winners (30
percent) were either first or second after a quarter-mile was run. |
| In turf sprints, two of the seven winners (28 percent)
were either first or second after a quarter-mile was run. |
HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (6/2)
3RD – SMART LOVIN’ (Fit to Fight) wound up setting a very fast pace down on
the inside on a very slow, sloppy track.
6TH – GILDERSLEEVES (Gilded Time) dueled for the lead while between horses
before weakening late in his second start off a layoff.
9TH – CECELIA ROSE (Patton) was a good second behind a runaway winner while
racing out in the middle of the track.
Friday (6/3)
1ST – THOMPSON GEE (Lite the Fuse) usually comes from off the pace but wound
up chasing the pace after being bumped around at the start and never settling
down.
3RD – RAISE THE STAKES (American Chance) is winless in 16 starts here but had
some valid excuses here after a very rough trip.
6TH – MISS LAABITY (Laabity) was a good second at long odds and might improve
enough with a more experienced rider.
8TH – RUNAWAY SREVA (Runaway Groom) was used hard on the lead going a mile on
a very tiring track.
Saturday (6/4)
2ND – HUNTIN GENE (Langfuhr) chased the leaders out in the middle of the
track going two turns.
5TH – BARDSTOWN (Menifee) ran well in his first start in 204 days despite a
very rough start.
6TH – ROUGH DRAFT (Notebook) held on gamely for second after dueling for the
lead going a mile in fast time.
Sunday (6/5)
4TH – ESTRELLA DE ORO (GB) (Belong to Me) was a good second in fast time
going seven furlongs in only her second lifetime start.
6TH – TRICKY DEVIL (Coronado’s Quest) ran his first quarter in :20.94 despite
stumbling at the start and held on for second in blazing-fast time.
9TH – MI LUNA NUEVA (El Prado [Ire]) rallied for second after circling the
field and getting bumped around in the stretch.