FILLY & MARE TURF DIARY
JULY 7, 2005
by Jennifer Caldwell
A slew of major turf races took place over the Independence Day weekend, but
I’m going to start out with one of the best turf distaffers in the country —
MEGAHERTZ (Pivotal [GB]). The Bobby Frankel trainee kept her 2005 record perfect
while making her third start of the year on June 25 at Hollywood Park. Taking up
her usual back-of-the-pack position, the veteran mare once again unleashed her
explosive run down the stretch to win the Beverly Hills H. (G2) by three parts
of a length. Despite the sensational run, she only earned a 97 BRIS Speed
rating, but was carrying 124 pounds, the highest weight she’s been assigned
since making her U.S. debut in January of 2002. The six-year-old chestnut is a
threat to finally dispel the Breeders’ Cup jinx that seems to have dogged her hoofsteps for the past two years.
CESARIO (Jpn) (Special Week) was the talk of the weekend and returned to her
native Japan a scintillating winner of the American Oaks (G1), which took place
on Sunday at Hollywood Park. The nearly black filly looks a lot like her grandfather on her sire’s side, Sunday Silence,
and the sophomore miss took over going into the far turn and drew away with ease under
Yuichi Fukunaga, recording a four-length win. She earned a 108 Speed rating and
became the first Japanese-bred horse to win a Grade 1 race in the United States.
I only hope Cesario returns sometime in the future to the United States to give us Sunday Silence
fans another thrill.
MELHOR AINDA (Pulpit) didn’t succeed in keeping her unbeaten record perfect,
but she had a rough trip in the American Oaks and was still able to come with a late
run at the end for runner-up honors. Sent off the favorite in the 10-furlong test, she reputed
herself well and is definitely one of the best in her division on the turf.
Also on Sunday at Hollywood, INTERCONTINENTAL (GB) (Danehill) proved her
naysayers wrong once more with a 1 1/4-length score in the Royal Heroine S.
(G3). She failed to defend her title in the Just a Game Breeders’ Cup H. (G2)
prior to this one, but was back to her winning ways here under Jerry Bailey. The
five-year-old mare, who is best at the eight-furlong distance, has never competed in the Breeders’ Cup, but
she mustn’t be overlooked this
year. TICKER TAPE (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]), winner of last year’s American
Oaks, showed marked improvement while runner-up off her second start off a five-month
layoff in the Royal Heroine and should continue to get better as the season
progresses and she stretches out in distance.
WEND (Pulpit) moved her record to five wins from six career starts when
taking the New York H. (G2) on Saturday at Belmont Park over defending champion
WONDER AGAIN (Silver Hawk). The Bill Mott-trained four-year-old had to buckle
down to accomplish the task, as her rival put in a furious rally on the outside
in deep stretch.
Nonetheless, Wend was the one with her neck in front at the wire and earned
her
first graded victory in the process. She also garnered a 100 Speed figure for
her shortest win margin yet, and could face-off with Wonder Again in the July 30
Diana S. (G1) at Saratoga. Wonder Again, who was making her second start off a
layoff in the New York, is expected to go for another title defense in the Diana
after taking last year’s edition by an easy 5 3/4 lengths.
The Locust Grove H. (G3) at Churchill Downs on Saturday proved no problem for
DELTA PRINCESS (A.P. Indy), though she had to run five wide for part of the
nine-furlong test. The six-year-old mare was a half-length clear at the wire and
now owns a 3-2-0 mark from her five starts in 2005. She beat out Shaconage (El
Prado [Ire]), who won last year’s Locust Grove, and recorded a nice 100 Speed
rating for the effort.