SPOTLIGHT PERFORMANCES
JULY 7, 2005
by James Scully
STONESIDER (Giant’s Causeway), the second foal to start from the 1998 Black-Eyed
Susan S. (G2) winner, Added Gold (Gilded Time), raced greenly along the rail in
the early stages of his career debut last Thursday at Belmont Park and appeared
to have no chance of winning when swinging extremely wide for the stretch run.
The Todd Pletcher-trained juvenile colt displayed an excellent late stride to
overcome the troubled trip and gamely prevailed by a head at the finish, earning
a 98 BRIS Speed rating. He appears to own a bright future.
BAUR AU LAC (Tiznow) also raced greenly when making his career bow in a
grassy maiden special weight event at Belmont on Saturday, racing on the wrong
lead through the stretch, but he proved much the best in late stretch, drawing clear
for a 2 3/4-length decision. The second overall winner and first grass victor
for his freshman sire, Baur Au Lac is a big colt and owns plenty of room for
improvement off this encouraging effort. The Pletcher trainee is out of the
stakes-winning Number’s Game (Soy Numero Uno).
DWANGO (Royal Academy) returned to the winner’s circle following a pair of
close runner-up allowance finishes, tracking the pace for a half-mile before
assuming control and drawing off to a 6 1/4-length score in a one-mile allowance
Saturday at Belmont. Trained by Nick Zito, the four-year-old colt has earned
Speed ratings of 105, 105, 103 and 107 from his last four starts. He’s headed to
stakes company.
DISTURBING (Dynaformer) made her career bow over a speed-favoring track at
Churchill Downs on Sunday and dropped back to last for the opening half-mile
after a rough start in the seven-furlong maiden special weight affair. She began
to pick off rivals on the far turn and sped into the stretch under Pat Day,
closing strongly to be up in time by a half-length. The Anthony Reinstedler-conditioned
three-year-old filly handled the dirt well and is bred on both sides for grass,
being closely related to last year’s Garden City Breeders’ Cup H. (G1) heroine
Lucifer’s Stone (Horse Chestnut [SAf]).
QUOTE ME LATER (Bold Anthony) proved extremely game later on Sunday’s card
under the Twin Spires, capturing an allowance/optional claiming event for Joe
Woodard, who continues to excel at Churchill Downs. Quote Me Later appears to be
rounding into career-best form, earning a 103 Speed rating for Sunday’s stellar
win, for his record-setting trainer.
CALAMITY JUNE (Cape Canaveral) struck last Wednesday at Hollywood Park,
easily defeating seven juvenile filly rivals in wire-to-wire fashion. The Mike
Harrington charge earned a solid 96 Speed figure and will likely make her next
appearance in stakes.