DISTAFF DIARY
APRIL 5, 2007
by Jennifer Caldwell
I was one of the first on the ROUND POND (Awesome Again) bandwagon last year
when the bay miss posted a nose victory in the Azeri Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) after
an exciting battle with Happy Ticket (Anet). However, I was also one of the
first to get fed up with all the shenanigans from trainer John Servis and,
despite Round Pond’s talent, didn’t give her much credit toward the end. She
came back to bite me when easily taking the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) by 5 1/2
lengths in November, so I was a bit more open-minded when she made her seasonal
debut in the March 11 Rampart H. (G2).
Sent off the favorite on that day, Round Pond bobbled at the start and tired
at the end. Now, all of that can be attributed to the four-month
break, but immediately afterward, trainer Michael Matz, to whom she was switched
last summer, announced that the five-year-old bay had tied up the week before.
Was there ever any mention of this before the race? Nope, nada, nilch.
Round Pond is a game mare who deservers more consideration than what
she’s been given. However, it’s very hard to get excited about her. Hoof
problems, knee chips — and let’s not forget cuts on her tongue — all add up.
It’s become more of a wait and see what happened to her this time. She’ll be
making her second start of the year on Saturday in the Apple Blossom H. (G1) at
Oaklawn, the track over which she’s had the most success. In 2005, Round Pond
broke her maiden by eight lengths at the Hot Springs, Arkansas, track before
taking the Honeybee S. and Fantasy S. (G2) by easy margins in her next two. In
fact, five of her seven lifetime wins have come at Oaklawn, so let’s hope a
return to her favorite track will result in the Round Pond we all love showing
up.
MISS SHOP (Deputy Minister) was the easy 6 3/4-length victress of the Rampart
for trainer Allen Jerkens. However, what made the win so much more impressive
was the fact that she had raced just seven days before in the grassy Honey Fox
H. (G3). Hooking turf star and champion Wait a While (Maria’s Mon) in that
event, Miss Shop still managed to make up some ground to be fifth after running
in last early. Jerkens’ decision to enter his charge one week later in the
Rampart paid out big time, but
she’ll be getting a nice rest now, as her conditioner said she won’t be seen in
competition again until Belmont Park opens.
BALANCE (Thunder Gulch), one of my favorite three-year-old fillies from last
year, returned as a four-year-old and has added two wins to her already
impressive resume. The California-based runner took a road trip to Kentucky last
year for the Kentucky Oaks (G1), but first tried the Ashland S. (G1) at
Keeneland before her Churchill debut. She ran third in the Ashland and was never
in the mix for the Oaks. However, she exited that 1 1/8-mile test with an injury
and was shelved until December, when she made her final sophomore start a third
in the La Brea S. (G1).
Returning a little more than a month later, Balance proved she still has the
right stuff, racing wide in the La Canada S. (G2) before pulling off the 4
1/4-length score. Next up in the Santa Margarita Invitational H. (G1), the David
Hofmans trainee stalked the pace in fourth, was blocked entering the stretch and
battled with ERMINE (Exchange Rate) once reaching the straightaway. She got up
for the half-length win and in the process earned her fifth stakes victory.
Balance won’t get many opportunities this season to add to her record,
according to Hofmans, who indicated the bay four-year-old will stay in
California for as long as possible before going for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff
(G1) at Monmouth Park on October 27. While fans won’t get to see her all that
much — next up could be the Vanity Invitational H. (G1) on July 7 at Hollywood
Park — the lass proved last year she can take long layoffs and come back
running. She only ran four times as a juvenile and five last year. If that’s
what it takes to keep her winning like she’s been doing lately, so be it. At
least we’ll be more appreciative of the bay when we do get to see her.
Ermine is another talented runner returning for a four-year-old campaign. The
Ronny Werner-trained chestnut miss, second in last year’s Kentucky Oaks, posted
the only off-the-board stakes placings of her career when fifth in the Acorn S. (G1)
and sixth in the Indiana Breeders’ Cup Oaks (G3). She really rebounded when
returning to Churchill in November, taking an allowance by seven lengths before
finishing out her sophomore season with a head score in the Falls City H. (G2).
So far this year, Ermine has run second in the Santa Maria H. (G1) and Santa
Margarita. She’s scheduled to make her next start in the Apple Blossom, leaving
fans with the possibility that a rivalry will emerge between her and Round
Pond. Both fillies love Oaklawn — Ermine broke her maiden there last year
before taking the Honeybee, just like Round Pond — and though that track will
be closing soon, the two have numerous other opportunities this year to meet up.
Having a filly or mare, such as Azeri or Ashado, completely dominating the
distaff ranks is nice, but a great rivalry is what’s really needed to draw some
attention to this sport. Happy Ticket and Round Pond looked to provide that last
year, but their humans intervened before anything could come from it. Let’s hope
this year the people involved stand back and let these great animals do what
comes naturally.
To conclude this week, I’d like to mention the winner of last Saturday’s Next
Move H. (G3). INDIAN VALE (A.P. Indy) developed into a filly to watch in 2005,
winning by huge margins in such events as the Falls City H. (G2). However, she
made just one start last year, that a well-beaten fifth in the Shuvee H. (G2),
and I didn’t give her much credit off the layoff and loss. Boy was I wrong!
The Todd Pletcher trainee grabbed the advantage soon after the start of the
Next Move and led
all the way home, recording a 5 1/2-length victory. She gave notice to her
rivals that the old Indian Vale had returned, so ignore her at your own peril. This
five-year-old mare is just getting started.