SARATOGA DAILY NOTEBOOK
MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 2005
by Dick Powell
How good are international horses — Part Two. On Arlington Million Day,
the European-bred contingent flashed their superiority winning, the Arlington Million
(G1) and
the Beverly D (G1).
Today was Australia’s turn.
ALINGHI (Aus) (Encosta de Lago) won 10 of 16 races in Australia for leading
trainer Lee Freedman. She’s won from six furlongs to a mile and has earned over
$2.62 million in U.S. funds. But, she’s a bleeder and Australia, like most of the
racing world outside of North America, does not allow raceday medications like
Lasix and her owners shipped her to Bobby Frankel for a campaign over here.
Facing a field of 10 rivals that included six graded stakes winners in the
Ballston Spa Breeders’ Cup H. (G3), she went off as the 9-10 favorite with
the next choice at 67-10. The Ballston Spa was run over a Mellon Turf Course
that was listed as “Good” but was probably closer to “Firm.”
Right from the start, leading rider Edgar Prado was able to keep her out of
as much traffic as possible early in the race. A very demanding pace of 22.78
and 45.88 spread the bulky field out and Prado was able to get over to the hedge
on the clubhouse turn. The Frankel trainee saved ground behind the fast
pace and midway around the far turn, Prado decided it was time to go.
She was about eight lengths behind with three furlongs to go but suddenly was picking up horses four wide heading to the top of the stretch full of run. Prado had room as the leaders were backing up and Alinghi
cruised to the front with a shake of the reins and a tap on her left flank. The
race was over at the eighth pole and Prado had his 38th winner of the meet.
“She’s push-button and she’s very
exciting,” said Prado after the race. “She’s got a lot of class. The only
question was whether she could get a mile and a sixteenth. Her turn of foot
reminds me of Kitten’s Joy (El Prado [Ire]).”
Privately purchased by John Messar, John Leaver and Alan Jones, she earned only
$69,260 since she is not nominated for the Breeders’ Cup supplement in the race.
She showed that she can use her natural speed to gain position, relax for her
rider, and then accelerate like a top turf horse. As good as she is, can you
imagine how much Makybe Diva (Desert King), the best Australian mare in recent times, would
win by if she ever came over here?
Rain hit again overnight and the main track was listed as “Muddy” for the
first two races, “Good” for the 3RD and 4TH races and “Fast” for the last main
track race in the 7TH. The turf was listed as “Good” but was probably firm in
reality. The 2ND race was switched from the turf to the main track. Short fields ruled as only four
ran in the 3RD race when Dance’n Romance (Mr. Greeley) was scratched at the
starting gate. The 7TH race only had three starters when two horses were program
scratches.
Wayne Lukas had an impressive juvenile winner in FAST DEAL (Grand Slam), who
won a maiden special weight for juvenile fillies in the 4TH race. The third-time
starter showed new-found speed, gunned to the front, and drew off to win by six
lengths. Cintarosa (Grand Slam) was a good second in her career debut for Steve
Asmussen.
Eibar Coa, Javier Castellano and Jerry Bailey each won two races. Prado
won the feature and Johnny Velazquez was shut out and now trails 34 to 38. Steve
Asmussen had two winners, both ridden by Bailey, and is now tied with Rick Dutrow
with 12 winners, eight less than Todd Pletcher.
Lost in the Travers S. (G1) shuffle on Saturday was an eye-opening performance by
DISCREET CAT (Forestry) in the 6TH race. Probably the most competitive juvenile
sprint of the meet, it attracted a stellar field of nine with the big stables
and world-class pedigrees represented.
I constantly preach how pedigree can be the key factor in juvenile races and
it was never more true than with Discreet Cat. By King’s Bishop (G1) winner
Forestry and out of Alabama (G1) winner Pretty Discreet (Private Account), he had a great
Saratoga pedigree. Stanley Hough is good first time out but because the field
was so tough he went off at 5-1 odds.
Like most of the main track juvenile races in Week Five, the early leader was
the winner as Castellano broke Pretty Discreet on top and never looked
back. He was chased hard by Superfly (Fusaichi Pegasus) but would open up every
time he got close to him. After covering the first half in a rather slow 45.85,
he threw in a fantastic 23.91 last quarter and stopped the teletimer in 1:09.76.
On a day that Lost in the Fog (Lost Soldier) took 13.47 to run his last
furlong in the King’s Bishop and First Samurai (Giant’s Causeway) took 14.00 to run his last
furlong in the Hopeful (G1), his final quarter was sensational. He’s by a speedy
sire but with a dam that won going 10 furlongs in Grade 1 company, who knows
how good he’ll be when the races get longer?
Horses To Watch
4TH – WAIT A WHILE (Maria’s Mon) had trouble at the start and then tried
to pass horses down on the inside before tiring.
3RD – SWAP FLIPAROO (Exchange Rate) made up a lot of ground after
breaking out at the start and had to be snatched by her rider.
Wednesday Preview
3RD – EXPEDITIOUS (Forestry) ran evenly in his U. S. debut
while breaking from the inside going six furlongs in good time. He draws better
Wednesday and has trained well in the interim.
8TH – LONE TREE (Exploit) tries turf for the first time off a layoff.
Mike Hushion’s stable has been hot lately and she should be tough on either
surface.