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KEENELAND DAILY NOTEBOOK APRIL 13, 2006 by Brian P. Turner A field of 10 went to the post for Thursday's featured Beaumont S. (G2) for three-year-old fillies going the about seven-furlong distance on the main track. DIPLOMAT LADY (Forestry) shipped in from Southern California to be named the morning-line favorite, but the betting public didn't see things that way and made the Todd Pletcher-trained India (Hennessy) the 6-5 favorite. It was a bit understandable why the betting public wasn't ready to jump on the Diplomat Lady bandwagon as her form this year had been anything but impressive. After finishing off last year with a win in the Hollywood Starlet S. (G1), the dark bay turned in two disappointing efforts in a row, including a fourth in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) previously. Diplomat Lady was definitely able to turn things around here, though. The filly was bumped around a bit at the start but quickly moved up to vie for the lead, guiding the field through early fractions of :21 4/5 and :44 4/5. Once she hit the stretch, Diplomat Lady continued on determinedly to the finish, crossing the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front while stopping the clock in 1:27 4/5. Longshot Lake Alice (Mt. Livermore), who was coming off a dismal showing on the lawn in the Herecomesthebride S. (G3) at Gulfstream, stalked the pace early and finished well through the stretch to cross the wire second, 4 1/4 lengths in front of Wildcat Bettie B (Meadowlake) in third. There were a total of six sprints contested on the main track today, and horses on or near the pace won four of them. The lone dirt route was won in front-running fashion. As for the two turf routes, one was won from just off the pace and the other by a stalker. In the trainer standings, Nick Zito still leads the way with six winners for the meet, but Dale Romans saddled a winner Thursday to pull within one of the leader. Dallas Stewart and Todd Pletcher each picked up a win on the day and are in a tie for third with three winners each. As for the jockeys, Julien Leparoux booted home two winners on the day to regain the lead in the standings with seven for the meet. Shaun Bridgmohan is holding down the second spot with six winners, followed by Rene Douglas with five. Mark Guidry guided two winners Thursday and is tied with John Velazquez, Rafael Bejarano, and Javier Castellano with four apiece. Horses to Watch 3RD - BEAUTIFUL VENUE (Came Home) decided she was ready to run early in this two-year-old maiden special event as she unseated rider Mark Guidry before the race began and had to be run down by the outriders. Once the gates sprang open, the dark bay still had plenty left in the tank as she stalked the pace early before taking over at the top of the stretch. She hit the wire three lengths clear of the field. 6TH - MINISTER'S BID (Deputy Minister) had an amazing career debut for trainer John Ward as he broke dead last in this maiden special event before gradually making his way through the field on the backstretch and taking over the lead coming off the turn. The three-year-old colt then widened that lead through the stretch to hit the finish line 8 3/4 lengths clear of the field, making mincemeat of the Keeneland speed bias. Tomorrow's Outlook - Friday, April 14 A pair of graded stakes races is on tap for Friday's card, highlighted by the Maker's Mark Mile S. (G2). A disappointingly short field of six has entered the eight-furlong turf event with last year's winner ARTIE SCHILLER (El Prado [Ire]) being named the appropriate 4-5 morning line favorite. The bay will be making his first start since winning the Breeders' Cup Mile S. (G1) last October, but he has been working steadily for his return to racing. The five-year-old horse should have things his own way on or near the pace early with plenty left in the tank for the drive to the wire. While it appears that Artie Schiller should dominate this field, it is still a horse race and should the top choice falter, it is a crap shoot as to who will pick up the victory. GULCH APPROVAL (Gulch) started the year with a solid gate to wire score in the Appleton H. (G3) at Gulfstream Park and has run well here on the Keeneland grass in the past. However, it doesn't appear that the gelding will get the soft pace needed early to get to the wire in front. HONOR IN WAR (Lord At War [Arg]) has finished worse than second only once in six tries over the turf here at Keeneland and he has a solid 10-3-3-2 record at the eight-furlong distance. The chestnut has the ability to lay close to the pace early and still finish with a nice turn of foot in the stretch, which should serve him well here. GOOD REWARD (Storm Cat) is a multiple Grade 1 winner who has two wins to show from three starts at Keeneland. The five-year-old horse appears to prefer more ground, but he did finish third behind the top choice in last year's Maker's Mark. DRUM MAJOR (Dynaformer) has five wins from eight tries at the distance and is coming off a victory in the Lure S., also contested at eight furlongs. The Shakertown S. (G3), contested at 5 1/2 furlongs on the lawn, appears to be a much more competitive event. A field of 13, including one also-eligible, has been entered and the Shakertown winner the past two years, SOARING FREE (Smart Strike), has been installed as the morning line 2-1 favorite. The dark bay has been idle since last August, but there is little doubt that trainer Mark Frostad will have him geared up as he attempts to defend his title. MIGHTY BEAU (Rainbow Prospect), who will be making his first start for red-hot trainer Dale Romans, has twice finished second in this event and is capable of picking up the victory with a top effort. Those looking for a price might consider MAN OF ILLUSION (Aus) (Encosta De Lago), who will be making his first North American start for trainer Patrick Biancone. The bay has five wins to show for eight tries on the lawn and has put in a couple of solid works around the "dogs" at Keeneland. Friday's forecast calls for a slight chance of thunderstorms and a high near 80 degrees. Friday's Best Plays 3RD - VOTECATCHER (Indian Charlie) stands above this maiden field by nearly nine points in the BRIS Prime Power category and his Last Race BRIS Speed Rating absolutely towers over any Speed rating achieved by any member of this field who has started. The bay's last race Early BRIS Pace Ratings indicate that the filly will have things her own way on or near the lead which will make her hard to run down given the current speed bias in play. 9TH - Artie Schiller will be tough to beat but will pay a short price in the Maker's Mark Mile. Still, he will be a solid key for those playing the Pick 4, allowing horse players to go deep in what could prove to be a wide-open Shakertown.
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