SPRINT DIARY
APRIL 21, 2006
by Jordan Strickler
SUN KING (Charismatic) exhibited on Saturday what has almost been impossible. The four-year-old closed determinedly over Keeneland’s famous
speed-biased track to capture the Commonwealth Breeders’ Cup H. (G2). He was making his
first start in a sprint since running fourth in his career debut (the winner in
that race was future Breeders’ Cup Sprint [G1] hero Silver Train [Old Trieste])
at 6 1/2 furlongs. The Nick Zito-trained dark bay broke last and traveled near
the back of the pack through the first two opening fractions of :21 4/5 and :44
1/5 set by Kazoo (Tabasco Cat).
Although rallying from well back is normally a kiss of death at the Lexington, Kentucky track, Sun
King managed to split rivals in the stretch and make a tremendous move to fly up
and pass the leaders, capturing the seven-furlong event by 2 3/4 lengths. Sun
King was largely ignored at odds of 7-1, but rewarded his backers well for his
dominating performance. Zito said that the winning colt came out of the race in
good shape and will be heading toward the Metropolitan Mile (G1) at Belmont Park on
Memorial Day.
Let’s hope that the Tracy Farmer-owned colt becomes the next former Kentucky
Derby (G1) contender to try his luck at sprints in his four-year-old season.
BORDONARO (Memo [Chi]) surprised no one on April 13 when coming
home a 1 1/4-length winner in the Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3) at Oaklawn Park as
the heavy 2-5 favorite. Breaking to the early lead, the five-year-old Bill Spawr-trained
gelding battled with Friendly Island (Crafty Friend) through splits of :21 3/5,
:44 1/5 and :58 1/5 before pulling away in the stretch to complete the
six-furlong affair in 1:08 3/5 beneath jockey Patrick Valenzuela.
On Thursday, Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Silver Train (Old
Trieste) finished second in a field of three in the 3RD race a Aqueduct.
Originally ticketed as a six-horse affair, the size was cut in half after the
defections of Redskin Warrior (Indian Charlie), Run Thruthe Sun (Memo [Chi]) and
The Student (Arg) (Mutakddim). SPOOKY MULDER (Brunswick) jumped to the early
lead with Primary Suspect (Hennessy) closely in tow and Silver Train another
half-length back in third. The four-year-old colt made a run in the latter part
of the stretch, but to no avail, as Spooky Mulder was able to take the race wire
to wire.
My next horse to keep an eye on is MY LITTLE DEVIL (Devil’s
Bag). Earlier this month, the three-year-old broke his maiden on April 4 at
Tampa Bay Downs in his first start of the season. This was the dark bay’s second
career start, running second against maiden company in September at Delaware
Park. Now here’s where it gets slightly interesting. My Little Devil is out of
Cloud Break (Dr. Carter), who most of you know is the dam of LOST IN THE FOG
(Lost Soldier), making him an intriguing watch due to both performance and
pedigree.
“He wants to run,” said trainer Sam Cronk, who said that My
Little Devil came out of his last race “good, fine, super.”
The colt was given a break after bucking his shins last year,
but the layoff seemed to do him some good as he comes off a sharp workout on
Tuesday, drilling three furlongs at Delaware Park in a bullet :35 2/5.
Cronk said that My Little Devil gives every indication that
he could run long and will possibly be tested from seven furlongs to a mile.
Look for the colt to be making his next start this Saturday in
the 6TH race at Delaware over 5 1/2 furlongs where he will be the co-highweight
of 122 pounds. He will be facing Sapling S. (G3) runner-up Diabolical (Artax),
who comes off a close second in the Spectacular Bid S. to Exclusive Quality
(Elusive Quality).
Speaking of Lost in the Fog, the Greg Gilchrist-conditioned dark
bay will be making his four-year-old seasonal debut on Saturday in the Golden
Gate Fields Sprint S. where he will face a short field of four other rivals as he
totes nine pounds more than any other entrant, carrying 125 pounds including
jockey Russell Baze.