SPRINT DIARY
SEPTEMBER 8, 2006
by Jordan Strickler
Can anyone stop HENNY HUGHES (Hennessy)? That is a question that might be
answered in the $400,000 Vosburgh S. (G1) on October 7 when the three-year-old
chestnut is scheduled to face defending Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner SILVER
TRAIN (Old Trieste), who has already scored victories in both the Metropolitan
H. (G1) and Tom Fool H. (G2) this year.
Henny Hughes exits a solid 5 1/4-length score in the King’s Bishop S. (G1) on
August 26 against a talented field of runners which included Amsterdam S. (G2)
hero Court Folly (Royal Academy), Woody Stephens Breeders’ Cup S. (G2) and
Hirsch Jacobs S. (G3) victor Songster (Songandaprayer), as well as Carry Back S.
(G2) runner-up Mach Ride (Pentelicus).
Trainer Marty Wolfson has announced that 2004 King’s Bishop winner POMEROY
(Boundary) will train up to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Churchill Downs on
November 4 after a 2 1/4-length triumph in the Forego S. (G1) at Saratoga last
Saturday. In the process of capturing that seven-furlong affair, the
five-year-old veteran defeated Alfred G. Vanderbilt Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) winner
War Front (Danzig), who ran second in the Tom Fool to Silver Train.
Since Wolfson took over training duties after Pomeroy was sold and underwent
surgery to remove a chip from his ankle, the bay has raced twice — finishing
second in the Smile Sprint H. (G2) and taking the Forego. In both he earned 105
BRIS Speed figures. The secret? Blinkers, says Wolfson. According to the
Daily Racing Form, the difference in Pomeroy was like “night and day,” but
it is my opinion that even this won’t make up for two months away from the races
and that even if the Vosburgh is not an option, perhaps another prep might be in
order.
Will the break work for Pomeroy? Will Henny Hughes give the Dubai gang
another Breeders’ Cup win? Can Silver Train repeat? These are questions that
will be answered on the first Saturday in November, so stay tuned racing fans as
we work our way to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
For those interested in the condition of champion LOST IN THE FOG (Lost
Soldier), I will try to go into detail about his state next time.