CHURCHILL DOWNS NOTEBOOK
MAY 7, 2008
by John Mucciolo
More than 157,000 were in attendance on Saturday, the second-largest crowd
ever to witness the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs,
and the stars were out both on and off the track in Louisville over the weekend.
The biggest question surrounding the Run for the Roses was if favorite BIG BROWN
(Boundary) would be able to overcome a lack of seasoning and the wicked 20 post
position, in hopes of delivering an historic win and cement himself as a
more-than-viable Triple Crown contender. All we could come up with is, Wow!
Kentucky Derby (G1): IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa’s Big Brown put in a
sublime performance in here as the clear favorite for Richard Dutrow, driving
home an effortless winner under Kent Desormeaux. The unbeaten, and untested,
colt traveled widest of all for the majority of this storied race and never left
doubt when he made his move approaching the final turn, eventually reaching the
line in 2:01 4/5 for 10 furlongs. The Preakness S. (G1) awaits the superstar.
Kentucky Oaks (G1): Brereton Jones’ homebred PROUD SPELL (Proud
Citizen) broke alertly, rated patiently under a confident Gabriel Saez, and
rolled to an impressive score in here as the lukewarm 3-1 favorite. The
ultra-consistent filly five lengths clear at the wire for conditioner Larry
Jones, finishing off the nine-furlong feature in 1:50 over the sloppy, sealed
oval.
Woodford Reserve Turf Classic S. (G1): Midnight Cry Stable’s EINSTEIN
(Brz) (Spend A Buck) made up for his disappointing finish a year ago with a game
score in this edition for trainer Helen Pitts. The three-time Grade 1 winner
went nine grassy panels over good turf in 1:50 1/5 under Robby Albarado.
Humana Distaff S. (G1): Grether Farms’ INTANGAROO (Orientate) was the
beneficiary of a four-horse duel on the early lead, rallying from well back to
upset this group at 14-1 in her dirt debut. The Gary Sherlock charge was next to
last after the opening half-mile before putting in her run widest of all,
reaching the line in 1:22 for seven-eighths beneath Alonso Quinonez.
Churchill Downs S. (G2): Tom Walters’ ELITE SQUADRON (Officer) got his
much deserved graded stakes win for conditioner James Baker, dueling through
sharp slits prior to drawing off by 4 1/2 lengths under John Velazquez. The
four-year-old speedster negotiated seven-eighths in a brisk 1:21 2/5.
Louisville S. (G2): Stronach’s homebred champion GINGER PUNCH (Awesome
Again) returned to her winning ways with a facile, 3 3/4-length score in here
for Bobby Frankel. The phenomenal five-year-old left little doubt in here while
leading at virtually every call, getting 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 as the 1-2 choice.
La Troienne S. (G3): Zabeel Racing’s GAME FACE (Menifee) made a
determined run along the rail to get up by a neck in this contest for Todd
Pletcher. The talented sophomore filly, who was piloted by Velazquez, drilled 7
1/2 panels in 1:28 2/5 to add a second black-type score to her resume.
Turf Distaff Mile S. (G3): Jacks or Better Farms’ homebred BAYOU’S
LASSIE (Outflanker) gained an early advantage over 7-5 choice Dreaming of Anna (Rahy),
and would never let that one by in posting a front-running upset for Dale
Romans. The sharp five-year-old, who carried six pounds fewer than the
runner-up, went one mile on the good lawn in 1:37 3/5 under the guidance of
Edgar Prado.
Aegon Turf Sprint S. (G3): MR. NIGHTLINER (Indian Charlie) proved that
his win in the Shakertown S. (G3) was no fluke with a strong front-running tally
in here beneath Jamie Theriot. The rapidly-improving four-year-old drilled
five-eighths on the firm sod in a sharp :56, bagging his second consecutive
graded win for Bret Calhoun.
Edgewood S. (G3): Zayat Stable’s ZEE ZEE (Exchange Rate) was
especially impressive in here for trainer Bill Mott, bounding to the front early
and never looking back in a 1 3/4-length score under Kent Desormeaux. The
three-year-old miss stopped the teletimer in 1:44 3/5 for the 1 1/16-mile
affair.
Alysheba S. (G3): Stronach Stables’ homebred GIANT GIZMO (Giant’s
Causeway) made a smooth transition from synthetic racing to the slop, with a
closing, 3 3/4-length romp beneath Rafael Bejarano. The Bobby Frankel pupil got
1 1/16 miles in 1:43 4/5 to record his initial graded win.
Track Stats
A total of 53 races were held last week at the Louisville venue, with
favorites winning at a 47 rate and the top two betting choices combining for 62
percent of the wins. From 43 races on the famed main oval, six animals won in
wire-to-wire fashion (14 percent), while five of the 10 grassy tests were won in
front-running fashion (50 percent).
The top two betting choices combined for nine of the 10 wins on Tuesday’s
card. Wednesday yielded nine winners from 10 races breaking from the inside
three post positions, but that was not due to a bias as many winners came on the
outside for their scores.
The turf course is heavily biased, as we mentioned previously, and it is more
so when there is moisture on the lawn. Over the weekend, four of the five races
on the green were won in wire-to-wire fashion, with a pair at big prices. We
find that to be a telling sign, and any horse making up ground from off the pace
bears watching in their subsequent efforts.
Meet Totals
RACES: 74
DIRT: 60
TURF: 14
FAVORITES: 32 (43 percent)
2ND CHOICES: 11 (15 percent)
TURF WIRE: 7 (50 percent)
DIRT WIRE: 7 (12 percent)
Post Positions (wins):
RAIL: 9 (12 percent)
1-3: 30 (40 percent)
4-6: 33 (45 percent)
7-out: 11 (15 percent)
HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (5/1)
8TH — DREAM OF KAYLEE (Cactus Ridge) put in a monster debut effort for
Robert Hess Jr., finishing a solid third in the Grade 3 race under Desormeaux.
The juvenile colt should be a daylight maiden winner with anything resembling
this showing.
10TH — BALOOBAS (Kafwain) was nearly seven lengths clear in second behind a
front-running winner and appears to be sitting on a tally for David Carroll. The
sophomore miss displayed a nice rating ability and good closing kick en route to
her runner-up placing.
Friday (5/2)
4TH — ROYAL PRADO (El Prado [Ire]) was a most impressive, first-time winner
for Cecil Borel, showing speed early and plenty of kick late in drilling a deep
field in 1:09 3/5 for three-quarters of a mile. The gelding is bred to run
longer and to hand le the grass, so he could be any kind with improvement.
8TH — Giant Gizmo had the breakout performance many were waiting for in here
and is destined for big things for Frankel. The four-year-old drew off with
relative ease in here and established himself as a triple-surface threat against
top company.
Saturday (5/3)
1ST — BIKER BOY (Came Home) ran off his second consecutive impressive score
for Nick Zito, rolling home under Bejarano to defeat his older counterparts. The
three-year-old, who was privately acquired following his strong maiden romp, is
surely graded-stakes bound after this one.
8TH — BARONESS THATCHER (Johannesburg) has been agonizingly close to a pair
of Grade 1 wins, and it would seem right for her to break through soon for
trainer Bill Mott. The four-year-old enjoyed a dream trip turning for home and
missed by the smallest of margins in here: we’re rooting for her this campaign.
9TH — ARTISTE ROYAL (Ire) (Danehill) tried to close on a surface that is
very kind to front runners, and the Neil Drysdale charge finished very well to
be a clear third. The seven-year-old has run a trio of good races against top
competition this year and will surely get a win before long.
10TH — We hated the fact that DENIS OF CORK (Harlan’s Holiday) was taken
back to last early in the Derby, but the talented sophomore ran admirably to
finish a clear third in here for Carroll. With any improvement and a more
aggressive early ride, the Kentucky-bred will likely be a big factor in the
Belmont S. (G1) next month.