THREE-YEAR-OLDS & UP DIARY
JULY 24, 2008
by James Scully
The Whitney H. (G1) is the main event on Saratoga’s star-studded opening
Saturday that also features the Diana S. (G1), Go for Wand H. (G1) and Alfred G.
Vanderbilt H. (G2), and the 1 1/8-mile event unfortunately lost a major contender this
week when GIANT GIZMO (Giant’s Causeway) was injured during a Monday morning
workout. An easy winner of the Lone Star Park H. (G3) and Alysheba S. (G3) in
his last two outings, the four-year-old colt was just starting to hit his best
stride for Bobby Frankel and loomed as one to watch in terms of the Breeders’
Cup Classic (G1) picture. He’ll now be sidelined for the rest of the year.
His absence leaves STUDENT COUNCIL (Kingmambo) as the one to beat in the
Whitney. Third in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) most recently, the Steve
Asmussen-trained bay captured the Pimlico Special H. (G1) two starts back and
has earned more than $1.3 million. Following Saturday’s test, the six-year-old
is scheduled to defend his title in the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) at Del
Mar on August 24.
COMMENTATOR (Distorted Humor), a game neck winner of the 2005 Whitney over
eventual Horse of the Year Saint Liam, is the 120-pound highweight this
Saturday. A 13 3/4-length winner of the seven-furlong Richter Scale Sprint H. (G2) two
starts back, the seven-year-old gelding exits a runner-up effort in the Metropolitan
H. (G1). The Nick Zito runner will be making his first start around two
turns since winning the Whitney three years ago, and the front-running
specialist is a threat to lead wire-to-wire if he gets the right pace scenario.
Last-out Salvator Mile H. (G3) victor NOTIONAL (In Excess [Ire]) and Suburban H.
(G1) runner-up SOLAR FLARE (Arg) (Salt Lake) also merit consideration for top
honors.
Marathon Old Timer: In its zeal to add as many races as possible, the
Breeders’ Cup will offer several “championship” races in 2008 that didn’t have
legitimate prep races in place last season. That created the incentive for
tracks to change the distance or surface of established stakes, or even add
brand-new events to fill the niche. Saturday’s Greenwood Cup S. at Philadelphia
Park is a prime example. Disbanded after last being held over the turf at 1 1/2
miles in 2004, the event was brought back and switched to the main track in
order to serve as a prep for this year’s Breeders’ Cup Marathon.
EVENING ATTIRE (Black Tie Affair [Ire]) was arguably in the best form of his
career six years back, winning five-of-nine starts, including the Jockey Club
Gold Cup (G1), during his 2002 campaign, but the 10-year-old proved that he
still has something to offer when capturing the Greenwood Cup by 8 1/4 lengths.
The old timer rated in last during the opening half-mile and blew past his
rivals on the far turn en route to the convincing score. Give credit to trainer
Pat Kelly for spotting him properly here, and Evening Attire’s connections must
now give the Marathon serious consideration. An earner of nearly $3 million, the
gray gelding likely will be one the classiest members of what
figures to be a Grade 3 level affair at Santa Anita this fall.
Evening Attire entered the Greenwood off a runner-up finish to DELOSVIENTOS
(Siphon [Brz]) in the Brooklyn H. (G2), which was extended to 12 furlongs this
year. He finished second to the same rival in the 1 1/2-mile Fit to Fight S. two
starts previously. Delosvientos, who earned his first graded victory in the
Brooklyn, is three-for-three at the Marathon distance. The big question for
him and Evening Attire will be whether they can handle the Pro Ride surface at
Santa Anita. There isn’t a Pro-Ride surface in play presently (Santa Anita is
putting the artificial fibers in place right now), and there will only be four
weeks of racing over it before the Breeders’ Cup. With three different
main-track surfaces in Southern California (Cushion Track at Hollywood and
Polytrack at Del Mar), it’s all very confusing.
Armed and Dangerous: Unraced since finishing third to Curlin (Smart
Strike) in the lucrative Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) on March 29, WELL ARMED
(Tiznow) returned to the races with a strong showing in Saturday’s San Diego H.
(G2) at Del Mar. The WinStar homebred went right to the lead under Aaron Gryder
and was never seriously threatened in recording the 1 1/4-length decision. Well
Armed entered the Dubai World Cup off a game victory in the February 9 San
Antonio H. (G2), defeating eventual Santa Anita H. (G1) and Californian S. (G2)
winner Heatseeker (Ire) in the process. With Heatseeker’s recent retirement, the
Eoin Harty trainee must be considered one of the top older horses in California.
GO BETWEEN (Point Given) is a very legitimate horse on synthetic tracks who
must be recognized as a major contender for this year’s Classic, and multiple
Grade 1 winner TIAGO (Pleasant Tap) can’t be overlooked, even though I contend
that Tiago is better on dirt tracks. However, Well Armed is at the top of my
list. The judiciously handled gelding hasn’t raced much over the past three
seasons, and he’s found his best form at five. He earned a 103 BRIS Speed rating
in the San Antonio and a 102 in the San Diego, and don’t be surprised to see his
numbers keep increasing.
The Pacific Classic is likely next for Well Armed.
Another Cat placing: SURF CAT (Sir Cat) used to be the definition of a
horse who likes to win, capturing seven-of-11 starts, including three straight
Grade 2 events by decisive margins, before being sidelined in 2006. When he
returned to the races last summer off a 14-month hiatus, Southern California had
switched to synthetic tracks and the Bruce Headley pupil dropped his first three
attempts over the artificial surfaces. He finally returned to the winner’s
circle with a victory in the seven-furlong San Carlos H. (G2) at Santa Anita
this February, and posted a half-length decision in the 8 1/2-furlong Mervyn
LeRoy H. (G2) at Hollywood in late April.
Surf Cat recorded a commendable runner-up finish in the 8 1/2-furlong San
Diego, his sixth placing from nine starts since returning from injury, but don’t
look for him to proceed to the Pacific Classic. The 1 1/4-mile distance is a
little too far for the classy six-year-old, who will be pointed toward this
year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. He’s become acclimated to the synthetic tracks
out west, and Surf Cat looks like the horse to beat in late October. It’s too
bad there aren’t any graded events at a mile in Southern California for Surf
Cat. He’s forced to prepare for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in sprints or 8
1/2-furlong races.
Three Drunks: TRES BORRACHOS (Ecton Park) sprung the upset in the July
12 Swaps S. (G2), edging 7-5 second choice TWO STEP SALSA (Petionville) by 1 1/4
lengths, with 4-5 favorite COLONEL JOHN (Tiznow) another head back in third.
With only a maiden victory to his credit, the three-year-old was dismissed at
11-1 in the four-horse field. He earned a career-best 97 BRIS Speed rating for
the win.
The bay gelding, whose name means “Three Drunks” in Spanish, finished third
in the Arkansas Derby (G2) but was forced to skip the Kentucky Derby (G1) due to
limited graded earnings. He figured to be a pace factor in the Preakness (G1),
but Tres Borrachos stumbled badly at the start, hitting his head on the track at
Pimlico, and lost all chance for a respectable finish. The $7,000 yearling
purchase rebounded with a second to Two Step Salsa in the Affirmed H. (G3) next
time out, and put it all together in the Swaps. He’s on the upswing for trainer
Beau Greely, and it will be interesting to see whether Tres Borrachos can carry
his improving form forward.
Two Step Salsa, who entered the Swaps off smart wins in the Affirmed and
Lazaro Barrera Memorial S. (G3), turned in a respectable effort while stretching
out to 1 1/8 miles for the first time. He broke his maiden earlier this year at
Santa Anita and didn’t make his third lifetime start until late April. Now
6-4-2-0 overall for Julio Canani, Two Step Salsa still holds plenty of promise
for the future.
Colonel John proved to be a bitter disappointment as the odds-on choice, and
perhaps rust had something to do with it. He hasn’t raced much this season,
making his 2008 debut in March and receiving only two preps before the Kentucky
Derby, and Harty had given him more than two months off following his troubled
sixth-place finish at Churchill as the 9-2 second choice in the wagering to Big
Brown (Boundary). The WinStar homebred is reportedly heading to the August 23
Travers S. (G1), which will be his second dirt attempt if he makes it off only a
six-week rest.
Next time: We’ll recap the Whitney and take a look ahead at the
Pacific Classic and Travers in our next installment.