TURF DIARY
MAY 23, 2006
by Kellie Reilly
As thrilling as it was to see Irish classic winner GREY SWALLOW
(Ire) (Daylami [Ire]) make mincemeat of his rivals at Hollywood Park, and BETTER
TALK NOW (Talkin Man) get up in the last strides at Pimlico, another riveting spectacle is in store on Memorial Day, with an all-star
cast in the wings for the Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile S. (G1).
In the Jim Murray Memorial H. (G2), it was a thing of beauty
to see Grey Swallow translate his theoretical superiority on paper into
actual dominance on the track. The Dermot Weld charge had to ship halfway around
the globe to make his 2006 debut, but that made no difference to him. He
appeared to be on cruise control for much of the race, settled just off the
flank of the leader through soft fractions, then left the field for dead in the
stretch to cross the wire five lengths in front. Grey Swallow finished his last
quarter of the 12-furlong contest in :23, displaying his lovely, fluent action
in full flight. I’ve been a fan of this horse since he was a two-year-old. When
he lined up for his intended career debut in Ireland in 2003, he had a traumatic
experience in the starting gate, with a rival trying to climb on
him, and as Weld said, he was “lucky not to be killed…as he was left hanging
between stalls.” He had to be scratched that day, but Grey Swallow did not let
that terrifying introduction to the racecourse affect him mentally. He simply turned up
again at Galway and won by 10 lengths. You’ve got to admire a horse with such
poise. He’ll remain stateside and aim for the June 10 Manhattan H.
(G1), where he will meet a tougher test in the shape of ENGLISH CHANNEL
(Smart Strike).
Also making his seasonal reappearance, Better Talk Now
impressed in a different way in the 1 1/8-mile Dixie S. (G2). The former Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) hero
is at his best at 1 3/8 miles and beyond, and he was squaring off against
reigning Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) king ARTIE SCHILLER (El Prado [Ire])
over a trip that should have favored the latter. Moreover, his rabbit of an
entrymate flubbed the break and set a slow first quarter in :25 before getting
on with his job. In the stretch, the solid DREADNAUGHT (Lac Ouimet),
carrying six fewer pounds with 118 on his back, got first run on him to the
outside, and Better Talk Now was briefly pocketed by Artie up front, a closing
Dreadnaught to his right and a fading rabbit to his left. A sliver of daylight
opened between Artie and Dreadnaught, and Better Talk Now barged right through
to get his head in front as they neared the wire. The Graham Motion veteran
earned a stratospheric 120 BRIS Late Pace rating to go along with his 108 Speed
rating. It will take a really gifted performer to outduel him in upcoming
marathons.
How are we to grade Artie, who was dropping his second
narrow decision in a row after opening up a clear lead in midstretch? I find it
hard to believe that the ninth furlong exposed any alleged distance limitations.
He came home his final eighth in a shade more than :11 2/5 (which is typical for
Artie), garnering a 109 Late Pace rating himself, so he wasn’t exactly stopping.
Moreover, he’s scored a few excellent victories at the distance, including a
romp in the 2004 Jamaica H. (G2) while setting a new Belmont inner course record
of 1:45 2/5. In the Dixie, it’s arguable that he may have run too hard, too soon
while overhauling the rabbit, but in any event, Artie was just plain caught by a
high-class closer in Better Talk Now and a pretty useful Dreadnaught, to whom he
was giving six pounds. I’d rather give the top two the extra credit they deserve
for a wickedly fast charge, not criticize Artie for another strong effort in
defeat.
The Shoemaker promises to be a tantalizing clash on
Hollywood Park’s Memorial Day card. Six of the top seven finishers from the deep
Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) are likely to renew rivalry — winner MILK IT
MICK (GB) (Millkom [GB]), exiting a nightmare third in the Woodford Reserve
Turf Classic S. (G1) in which he lacked room in deep stretch; runner-up
ARAGORN (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway); third CHINESE DRAGON (Stravinsky);
fifth TERROPLANE (Fr) (Verglas [Ire]); sixth CHARMO (Fr) (Charnwood
Forest [Ire]), who came back to win the San Francisco Breeders’ Cup Mile S. (G2)
in grand style over Aragorn; and seventh WILLOW O WISP (Misnomer), who
returned to post a smart wire-to-wire victory in the Inglewood H. (G3). Adding
further spice to the mix is SILENT NAME (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), coming
off a decisive score in the Arcadia H. (G2) at the expense of Chinese Dragon and
Milk It Mick. Considering how strong the Kilroe was, the way Silent Name
disposed of the winner and third placer from that race marks him as a very serious
horse. One challenger without any Kilroe company lines is the Bobby
Frankel-trained DIAMOND GREEN (Fr) (Green Desert), who made a successful
reappearance in a Santa Anita allowance/optional claimer. Up to this point in
his career, he’s been frustrating. He’s obviously got talent as a French Group 3
winner and multiple Group 1-placed performer, but he’s found a way to lose
several big prizes. We’ll see if he can finally break through at the elite
level, or if he reverts to his “second is good enough” attitude.