THOROUGHBRED BEAT
NOVEMBER 16, 2006
by James Scully
Turf Festival — The Cushion Track has been the center of attention
during the
current Hollywood Park meet, but I’m looking forward to the upcoming Turf
Festival, which will return following a one-year hiatus. The Citation H. (G1)
will kick off the three-day festivities on Thanksgiving, and Grade 1 heroes THE TIN MAN (Affirmed) and BECRUX (Ity) (Glen Jordan)
are expected to square off against East Coast invader ASHKAL WAY (Ire) (Ashkalani), winner of the Kelso Breeders’
Cup H. (G2) and Bernard Baruch H. (G2) in his last two outings. Talented
distaffers BEAUTYANDTHEBEAST (GB) (Machiavellian) and CLINET (Ire) (Docksider)
will renew their rivalry in the Matriarch S. (G1) after treating us to a great
battle in the Las Palmas H. (G2) last month, and the Hollywood Derby
(G1) is shaping up to be a dandy with SHOWING UP (Strategic Mission) heading
West to challenge a strong contingent of turf sophomores that includes DARK
ISLANDER (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]), OBRIGADO (Fr) (Enrique) and PORTO SANTO (Fr) (Kingsalsa).
Small fields — Field sizes at Hollywood Park remain disappointing. The worktabs are packed each day at Hollywood and Santa Anita, but horses
tend to work a lot and race sparingly in Southern California. Oak Tree officials blamed smaller field sizes at
the end of their meet upon trainers waiting to run over the
Cushion Track, but the synthetic track hasn’t made much difference. Last Sunday
was a good day, with only two five-horse fields on
Hollywood’s program, but too many cards are like November 9, when seven of the
eight races contained less than eight starters. It’s more common to see only
five or six horses in a race than nine or 10.
Bo-Rail — He earned his first Breeders’ Cup victory this year and
rides the early Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite, STREET SENSE (Street Cry [Ire]).
Calvin Borel has opened a commanding lead at the Churchill Downs fall meet with
21 wins (through Sunday), eight more than Shaun Bridgmohan in second, and
Churchill kingpins Rafael Bejarano (8-for-86) and Julien Leparoux (6-for-55)
have often found themselves staring at his backside. With a 24 percent win rate
at one of the country’s most competitive meets, the 40-year-old native of
Louisiana has rejuvenated his career. Borel also loves to hug the rail.
Returnees — It remains bittersweet that Bernardini has been retired
with only eight career starts after failing to win the biggest race in his
career, but some exciting older horses will be back next year. LAVA MAN (Slew
City Slew), a soon-to-be six-year-old gelding, could be a dominant force again
in California next season, but perhaps SURF CAT (Sir Cat), who went
three-for-three in 2006 with wins in the Mervyn LeRoy H. (G2), San Carlos H.
(G2) and Potrero Grande Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) before heading to the sidelines,
can stay healthy and challenge the Doug O’Neill-trained gelding. STEVIE
WONDERBOY (Stephen Got Even) and BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark) will add further
depth to the handicap division in California. INVASOR (Arg) (Candy Stripes) and
DISCREET CAT (Forestry) are both expected back in the United States following
the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) in late March, and I’m anxious to see how PREMIUM
TAP (Pleasant Tap) develops. The John Kimmel trainee didn’t make his stakes
debut until the Albert the Great S. in July, defeating Sun King (Charismatic) in
the 8 1/2-furlong event, and captured the Woodward S. (G1) two starts later at
31-1. Premium Tap nearly fell when clipping heels on the far turn in the
Kentucky Cup Classic (G2) next out and reportedly exited the race with a sore
shoulder. The bay colt rebounded with a top-class showing in the Breeders’ Cup
Classic (G1), finishing 3 1/2 lengths back in third while earning a career-best
112 BRIS Speed rating, and he’ll be better next year.
Turf to main track — Grade 2 winner SILENT NAME (Jpn) (Sunday Silence),
sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), won’t be heading to stud next year as
originally planned. Trainer Gary Mandella told the Daily Racing Form that
he is looking forward to racing Silent Name over a synthetic track in 2007.
“He
really moved across the Polytrack much different than he would a conventional
track like Santa Anita,” Mandella said.
Silent Name would never race on dirt,
but an all-weather track is different. We can all look forward to the day that
the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) is run over a synthetic surface because it will
open the door for the world’s best turf horses to make a seamless transition and
win.