JUVENILE DIARY
OCTOBER 21, 2008
by Tim Holland
JUVENILE
STREET HERO (Street Cry [Ire]) and MIDSHIPMAN (Unbridled’s Song) hold a
significant home court advantage, having finished first and second in the
Norfolk S. (G1) over this distance and Pro-Ride surface. Both should be
considered, but Street Hero is confidently expected to confirm those placings.
Caught on the inside when full of run, the improving colt was forced to steady
briefly turning for home but galloped home strongly to a victory that was easier
than the three-quarter length margin may suggest.
English import SQUARE EDDIE (Smart Strike) was impressive in his Breeders’
Futurity (G1) romp at Keeneland albeit over a suspect field, and MUNNINGS (Speightstown)
is the only hope of the winner coming from New York’s Champagne S. (G1) and
Hopeful S. (G1).
The best chance of upsetting the California runners may come from the
Coolmore entrant BUSHRANGER (Ire) (Danetime). A winner of three of his six
starts, his victories include the Middle Park S. (Eng-G1) where, although
assisted by a tail-wind, he broke Newmarket’s six-furlong course record. In his
prior start, his 13 defeated rivals in the Prix Morny (Fr-G1) include
third-place finisher Lord Shanakill (Speightstown), who returned to win the Mill
Reef S. (Eng-G2) before complimenting the form further with a fine second-place
finish, defeated by a nose, in Europe’s premier juvenile test, the Dewhurst S.
(Eng-G1) last Saturday.
1st — Street Hero
2nd — Midshipman
Chance — Bushranger (Ire)
JUVENILE FILLIES
In the most contentious of the four Breeders’ Cup events for two-year-olds,
C. S. SILK (Medaglia d’Oro) rates the narrow choice through her smashing
wire-to-wire, six-length Arlington-Washington Lassie (G3) victory over a solid
field. Although that win was over a different type of artificial surface, the
experience will benefit her over the Pro-Ride and, while she will not have raced
for a comparatively long 48 days, she has been working impressively at Churchill
Downs. With the speedy PALACIO DE AMOR (Dixieland Band) expected to set the
early fractions, C. S. Silk may not be on the front end early but, having shown
the ability to rate just off the leaders when breaking her maiden, she should be
positioned perfectly.
STARDOM BOUND (Tapit) displayed her devastating late kick most recently in
her Oak Leaf S. (G1) victory over this trip when passing the whole field to win
going away. Provided she can negotiate a trouble-free trip from the back of the
pack, she will be involved in the finish. New York is well represented through
the Frizette S. (G1) winner SKY DIVA (Sky Mesa) and DOREMIFASOLLATIDO
(Bernstein), who won the Matron S. (G2), as well as the closing runner-up in
both these events, PERSISTENTLY (Smoke Glacken). However, this trio will be
tested by their first attempts on the surface and a better option may be DREAM
EMPRESS (Bernstein), who took to Keeneland’s artificial surface when winning the
Alcibiades S. (G1).
1st — C. S. Silk
2nd — Stardom Bound
Chance — Dream Empress
JUVENILE TURF
Through a hugely impressive come-from-behind win in Keeneland’s Bourbon S.
(G3), BITTEL ROAD (Stormy Atlantic) is likely to start as the legitimate
favorite. Unbeaten in three starts, including his debut over six furlongs when
he showed enough speed to lead all the way, Bittel Road will be tough despite
cutting back slightly in distance if he can avoid traffic trouble.
Bittel Road’s strongest test may come from ELUSIVE BLUFF (Elusive Quality)
who won the Pilgrim S. (G3) at Belmont over testing ground but may be better
over firm footing. The two European entrants, DONATIVUM (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux)
and WESTPHALIA (Ire) (Danehill Dancer), should both be given strong
consideration. The former, trained by John Gosden, defeated 23 rivals to win the
lucrative Timeform Million S. at Newmarket, while Westphalia won the usually
formful Champagne S. (Eng-G2) at Doncaster and comes from the powerful Aidan
O’Brien stable.
1st — Bittel Road
2nd — Elusive Bluff
Chance — Donativum (GB)/Westphalia (Ire)
JUVENILE FILLIES TURF
The key to this event may be Belmont’s Miss Grillo S. (G3), with three of the
first four involved in a blanket finish holding entries here. The first two
home, off-the-pace winner MARAM (Sahm) and maiden FREEDOM RINGS (Proud Citizen),
who closed strongly on the inside, both deserve consideration. However,
fourth-place finisher CONSEQUENCE (El Prado [Ire]) is taken to reverse the
tables on those two having suffered a poor trip being shuffled back early while
a little rank behind tepid fractions. The anticipated faster early pace, and
firmer ground, will be to her advantage.
Wire-to-wire winner of Keeneland’s Jessamine S., LARAGH (Tapit) could try to
repeat those tactics and may be more than a pace factor. California Cup Juvenile
Fillies winner SAUCEY EVENING (More Than Ready), who broke her maiden on the
turf at Colonial Downs, will be running late, if she draws in from the also-eligibles
list.
1st — Consequence
2nd — Laragh
Chance — Saucey Evening