KEENELAND NOTEBOOK
APRIL 28, 2005
by Dick Powell
It was billed as the last stop before the Kentucky Derby (G1) and this year’s
Lexington S. (G2) lived up to its billing. But, maybe for the wrong reason.
If there is such a thing as the law of averages, it caught up to John Servis
this spring. Last year, everything went right in his preparation of Smarty Jones
for his Triple Crown campaign. From the time he shipped to Oaklawn Park, Smarty
didn’t miss a beat and went to Kentucky in great shape while being right on
schedule.
This year, Servis was back in Arkansas with the talented Rockport Harbor (Unbridled’s Song), an undefeated juvenile who answered any questions about
gameness with a courageous win in the Remsen S. (G2) at Aqueduct in November. He
was going to take the “Smarty” path, but things went awry immediately after the
Remsen when “Rocky” was found to have cut himself on a rear leg.
Rockport Harbor went to Arkansas as planned but nothing seemed to work out.
He missed the Southwest S. at Oaklawn and then had to be rushed into shape for
the Rebel S. (G3), reducing his schedule to a two-race campaign to get ready
for the Derby. Despite what the chart shows, he was far behind at the start of
the Rebel, rushed up to take a clear lead, and held well before being run down in
deep stretch by Greater Good (Intidab). It was a good effort for his seasonal debut, but
Rockport Harbor came out of the race with a blood clot on his neck and was forced to miss
the Arkansas Derby (G2).
With time running out and Servis calling audibles at the line of scrimmage,
Rockport Harbor showed up last Saturday in the Lexington, which has developed
into a good Derby prep race despite being an unfashionably close two weeks
from the Run for the Roses. A good field of eight was entered and seven went to
the post following the defection of Skye’n Thunder (Thunder Gulch).
Rockport Harbor had done his best running when allowed to gallop along on the
lead, but those plans went wrong on Saturday when he broke slowly and wound up
chasing the pace in the middle of a very wet track. He looked
uncomfortable every step of the way and finished sixth. Unless owner Rick Porter
gets a bad case of Derby fever, the colt needs some time off to regroup, get
healthy and try to regain his form from last year.
Todd Pletcher’s main rider, John Velazquez, was up at Hawthorne on Saturday
for a pair of stakes wins so Javier Castellano deputized for him aboard COIN
SILVER (Aness). The dark bay was sent off at 13-1, the fifth choice in the wagering, based on a maiden win at Gulfstream. Despite having the look of a front runner,
Coin Silver wound up being bumped around at
the start and settled into fifth heading down the backstretch. Going Wild
(Golden Missle) had the lead around the far turn and the field bunched up at the
top of the stretch.
Coin Silver was forced to steady and then go wide as the field straightened
away. Despite a very rough trip, he was able to pull away to a 3 1/2-length
victory. The final time of 1:45.76 was slow but at least Coin Silver showed he
doesn’t have to have the lead, can overcome adversity, run between horses,
handle a wet track, and get two turns. With Rocky running so poorly, you have to
question those behind him, but Pletcher now has three legitimate contenders for
the Derby.
For those who have been trying to answer the question how the Keeneland main
track has been playing, I respond with my own question – was the track dry or
wet. Last week, the first three days of racing were run over a fast track that
was quite slow and cuppy. Outside paths had just as good a chance of winning as
inside ones and horses were able to rally from off the pace.
Heavy rain came on the weekend and we briefly got to see the old Keeneland.
In the 1ST race Saturday, NORTHERN STAG (Deerhound) gunned to the front and
drew off to win by 25 1/2 lengths. Three of the next four races went gate to
wire with the only exception being a 9-10 favorite that came from off the pace.
Midway through Saturday’s card, horses were able to rally from off the pace as
more rain made the track extremely wet.
Sunday’s main track was drying out when the rain stopped and upgraded to
“good” for the 7TH race. Running times were extremely slow and horses racing off
the rail seemed to get the best footing.
Usually the juvenile races here are won at the start where the winner guns to
the front and pours it on from there. On Wednesday, DANCE DAILY (Five Star Day)
broke poorly, was crowded soon afterward, ran in behind horses while taking dirt
in the face and then swung out to the middle of the track to run down the
leaders to win going away by two lengths. Very few horses at this stage of their
careers show the professionalism that Dance Daily showed and good things should
be in store for her.
By first crop sire Five Star Day, she cost $600,000 at the Barrett’s Juvenile
Sale this year. Her sire was blazing fast and when she breezed :35 1/5 from the
starting gate on April 4, it was expected she would gun to the front. When
things went wrong right from the start, she was able to overcome them. Give
Rafael Bejarano a lot of credit for persevering with her after the poor start
and not trying to “school” her like some riders would have done.
Bill Mott is now known for first-out success, especially with juveniles going
4 1/2 furlongs in April. However, on Sunday Mott sent out BEACON SHINE
(Montbrook) to a handy 8 3/4-length win for the Kinsman Stable of George M.
Steinbrenner. Mott doesn’t usually rush his youngsters into stakes company but
the Three Chimney’s Juvenile S. on Derby Day would be an interesting spot for
Bellamy Road’s (Concerto) stablemate.
WILDCAT SHOES (Forest Wildcat) is a multiple stakes-placed four-year-old that
looks like he might finally earn that upper-case black type. On Wednesday,
against a good group of money allowance foes, he crushed a six-furlong
sprint by 12 lengths in the fantastic time of 1:09.99. Considering how slow the
track was playing, he’ll earn a huge speed figure.
BIAS REPORT
If you are going to win here, you have to be flexible. Yes, Keeneland’s main
track has had a inside/speed profile over the years but that has not been the
case this meet. Turf racing, with its historical bias favoring closers, has not
changed.
In one turn races on the main track, eight of the 23 (35 percent) winners
were either first or second after a quarter-mile was run. In two turn races on
the main track, five of the 11 (45 percent) winners were either first or second
after a quarter-mile was run.
On the turf going two turns, only two of the 11 (18 percent) winners were
either first or second after a quarter-mile was run. There was one turf sprint
run last week and it went to a horse coming from behind
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (4/2)
3RD – LUNARGAL (Yes It’s True) was able to make the lead from post 8 but
wound up getting caught on a very tiring track.
5TH – PORTO SEGURO (Honor Grades) dueled for the lead while down on the
inside and weakened late in an improved effort with first time Lasix.
7TH – WILDCAT SHOES (Forest Wildcat) was a monster winner by 12 lengths going
six furlongs in 1:09 4/5 on a track that was extremely slow.
Thursday (4/21)
2ND – CELESTIA (Tactical Cat) returned off a 295-day layoff with a good
effort while dueling down on the inside.
5TH – MORE FOR ME (More Than Ready) was no match for an easy winner but
chased the pace out in the middle of the track and should be watched if dropped
down in distance.
7TH – TIGER HUNT (Kris S.) was a good fourth in his second start off a long
layoff in a very roughly-run race.
Friday (4/22)
5TH – KRISTEN KRISTEN (Storm Boot) lost all chance when she stumbled at the
start and then chased the pace while five wide in a long sprint.
6TH – CHISLEHURST (Cape Town) raced out in the middle of the track on both
turns in a nine-furlong main track race.
7TH – ELIJAH’S SONG (Unbridled’s Song) swung to the outside seven wide while
the winner came up the rail.
Saturday (4/23)
5TH – URBAN SHOCKER (Charismatic), a one-dimensional closer, was at a big
disadvantage over a very sloppy track but easily second best.
7TH – POLISH AFFAIR (Polish Numbers) may have been outclassed in a
turf-sprint stake but ran on determinedly while wide throughout.
10TH – TRICK LANTERN (Confide) made a huge run down the backstretch to get
into contention, was very wide on the far turn, caught the favorite in the deep
stretch, but was nailed at the wire.
Sunday (4/24)
2ND – STONERUN (Skip Away) recovered nicely after a horrible start, was
squeezed back and then was forced to rally extremely wide.