KEENELAND DAILY NOTEBOOK
SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2006
by Brian P. Turner
Saturday was the featured day of the meet at Keeneland and highlighted by
the nine-furlong Blue Grass S. (G1). A field of nine three-year-olds went to the
post, many of whom were trying to get those valued graded stakes dollars needed
to earn their way into the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 6.
First Samurai (Giant’s Causeway) was named the morning-line favorite, but it was Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat) who was sent to the post as the
favorite.
In the end, neither of those Derby contenders would make
it into the winner’s circle. Instead, the Bob Baffert-trained SINISTER
MINISTER (Old Trieste) pulled off the upset. The bay desperately needed a strong showing here to make it into the starting gate for the Derby and did
exactly what was asked of him.
Sinister Minister bounded out of the gate and onto the lead, guiding the
field through blistering early fractions of :22 4/5 and :45 4/5 while opening up
a seven-length lead. Those watching had to be waiting for the field to begin to
close in on him, but it never happened as the colt continued on determinedly to
the wire, leaving his nearest pursuer 12 3/4 lengths behind.
This has to be one of the finest displays of training in Baffert’s
legendary career. It was only back in January that the colt broke his maiden
for a tag and then he moved into the three-time Derby winner’s barn. Sinister
Minister showed marked improvement in each of his two starts since and
looked absolutely dazzling in winning the Blue Grass.
The Steve Asmussen-trained Storm Treasure (Storm Boot), who went off at odds
of more than 65-1, rallied from off the pace to pick up the place, 4 1/2 lengths
clear of Strong Contender (Maria’s Mon) in third.
Also on Saturday, a field of 12 contested the seven-furlong Commonwealth
Breeders’ Cup S. (G2). SUN KING (Charismatic) was named the 3-1 morning-line
favorite despite the fact that this was his first attempt sprinting since his
career debut at Saratoga in August, 2004, when he finished a well-beaten fourth.
The betting public sided with the Eddie Kenneally-trained Kelly’s Landing
(Patton), who was sent to the
gate as a lukewarm favorite, but horse players should have gone with the morning-line choice. Sun King rallied from dead last, with a
spectacular turn of foot through the stretch, to hit the finish line 2 3/4
lengths in front and paid $16.40 at 7-1.
Kazoo (Tabasco Cat), recent winner of the Toboggan H. (G3) at Aqueduct, took
the lead out of the gate and guided the field through opening fractions of :21
4/5 and :44 1/5. The chestnut pulled clear in the stretch but could not hold off
the late rush of Sun King, settling for second, a nose in front
of a very game Spanish Chestnut (Horse Chestnut [SAf]) in third.
A field of eight fillies and mares, four-years-old and upward,
contested the 1 1/16-mile Jenny Wiley S. (G2) over the Keeneland turf course.
The Bill Mott-trained WEND (Pulpit) was sent to the gate as the post time
favorite. One had to wonder about the bay early though as she didn’t show her
expected speed, instead rating in fifth, some three lengths off the early
leaders, through early fractions of
:24 and :48.
As the field approached the second turn though, Wend began to close in on the
leaders and came four wide to gain the lead at the top of the stretch. From
there, the five-year-old mare gradually edged away and hit the finish line 1 1/2
lengths in front.
Asi Siempre (El Prado [Ire]), who had won each of her last two starts last
year here at Keeneland, rallied from last to pick up the place, a length in
front of the Bobby Frankel-trained Mirabilis (Lear Fan) in third.
There were five sprints contested on the main track today and horses on or
near the pace won three of them. The lone route on the day, the Blue Grass,
was easily won in wire-to-wire fashion. As for the four turf routes, horses on or near
the pace won two of them while runners coming from off the pace accounted for
the others.
Nick Zito saddled a winner on the day, Sun King in the Commonwealth
Breeders’ Cup, and remains in the top spot in the trainer standings with nine
for the meet. Todd Pletcher picked up a victory as well to take sole
possession of the second spot with seven winners thus far. Dale Romans is
currently in third with six.
As for the jockeys, John Velazquez booted home two winners on the day to
Julien Leparoux’s one, leaving the pair in a tie for the top spot with nine
winners each. Javier Castellano picked up two winners on the day and Rafael
Bejarano picked up one, creating a four way log jam for the third spot in the
jockey standings with Rene Douglas and Shaun Bridgmohan. They have six apiece.
Horses to Watch
2ND – HIGH FINANCE (Talk Is Money) looked extremely impressive in this maiden
special weight event. The three-year-old colt stalked the early pace through
opening fractions of :21 4/5 and :44 4/5 before taking the lead and widening his
advantage to hit the finish line 9 1/4 lengths clear of the field.
3RD – WHEN THE SAINTS (Saint Ballado) was making a nice move through the
stretch of this turf allowance event when he was forced out by Kelly G’s Cat
(Catienus), causing the dark bay to completely lose all momentum. Kelly G’s Cat
was disqualified from third for the interference. When The Saints would probably
have been a factor at the end and definitely deserves consideration in his next
start.
Tomorrow’s Outlook
Keeneland will be closed tomorrow in observance of Easter Sunday. Be sure to
check back Monday for a preview of Wednesday’s card, which will be highlighted by
the Doubledogdare S. for fillies and mares, four-years-old and upward, going 1
1/16 miles on the main track.