MEADOWLANDS
NOTEBOOK
October 20
by Gary Granade
Trainer Bob Durso confirmed that STORMY RAY (Storm Creek) is
in fine shape after being scratched from Friday night’s Cliff
Hanger H. (G3) when he was caught underneath the gate just
seconds prior to the start of that $200,000 event.
“He’s a little tender in a few spots, but other than that
he’s fine,” Durso said from his Monmouth Park base. “He
might have hurt his back a little, but nothing at all serious,
luckily. He was prancing around the barn this morning and I was
real glad to see that. The vet came and looked at him and
everything’s fine.
“It’s real scary when something like this happens,”
Durso added. “I know the gate crew did a great job. Eddie (jockey
King) told me he reared up in the gate and when he did his back
legs slipped out from under him and he caught under there. He
didn’t actually flip in the gate, he just slipped. It happens,
but luckily nothing serious happened. Eddie hit his shoulder, but
he was okay and rode the next race.”
DR. KASHNIKOW (El Gran Senor) rallied from last to win the
Cliff Hanger, ending a long victory drought.
Trained by John R. Fisher, the seven-year-old gray gelding
scored his first victory since 2002’s River City H. (G3) at
Churchill Downs.
“It’s been two years since he won a race, but he’s always
been there,” Fisher said. “He ran a great race.”
Jockey Richard Migliore let Dr. Kashnikow, who carried 116
pounds, settle early before asking for a run entering the final
turn. The gray really kicked in and got up to win by a half-length
over TAM’S TERMS (Private Terms), who split horses in the stretch
and held a brief lead.
HOST (Chi) (Hussonet), the 9-5 favorite and highweight at 117
pounds, was steadied and boxed in on the final turn before
angling outside to close for third.
Jockey Joe Bravo, rider of the fourth-place finisher
HOTSTUFANTHENSOME (Awesome Again), claimed foul against the
winner because Dr. Kashnikow drifted into his path in the stretch.
The stewards dismissed the objection.
Dr. Kashnikow gave back $33.80 for the win and ran the 1 1/16
miles over the good turf in 1:42.41 on a showery night at the
Jersey shore.
In Friday night’s other stakes action, SCHEDULE (GB) (Brian’s
Time) took control out of the gate and never looked back to take
the $60,000 Miss Liberty S., which was transferred to a mile and
70 yards on the main track, in 1:37.90, a new track record.
Ridden by Bravo, the mud-loving Alan Goldberg-trained filly
returned $5 as the 3-2 favorite. She topped a $21.60 exacta with
IRISH MELODY (Unbridled’s Song), who finished 7 1/2 lengths
behind the winner. TIGI (Dixieland Band) was another four lengths
back in third.
The previous record for a mile and 70 yards of 1:38 2/5 on the
main track was set by Conveyor on December 9, 1994.
ALL HAIL STORMY (Stormy Atlantic) battled for early control
and held on to a half-length victory in the $55,000 Bergen County
S. on Saturday night. Trained by H. Allen Jerkens, All Hail
Stormy covered the five furlongs over “good” turf in :57.55
and returned $5 as the 3-2 choice. ANAF (Artax) rallied to
complete a $49.60 exacta while EXPLOIT LAD (Exploit) was another
three-quarters of a length behind.
“The only question was the turf and he handled it fine,”
winning rider Eibar Coa said. “He broke sharp like he always
does. In the stretch he just put it all together and held on
nicely.”
The main track was biased in favor of speed on Friday night
but played fair the rest of the week. The turf course moderately
favored closers.
Bravo is once again in familiar territory, back on top of the
rider standings at the Meadowlands. With 13 of the 33 days of
racing in the books for the 2004 Big M meet, Bravo owns 14
victories, two better than Coa and Stewart Elliott. Apprentice
Rajiv Maragh is fourth with 11.
A native of Long Branch, New Jersey, Bravo is looking for his
ninth title at the East Rutherford racetrack, and his first since
2000.
In the trainer’s race, Patricia Farro and Todd Pletcher are
tied for the lead with five victories each. Bill Mott and Steve
Klesaris are next with four apiece. Farro is looking to become
the first female in Meadowlands history to win the training title
HORSES TO WATCH
Monday (10/11)
4TH – WILD BUDDY (Line in the Sand) found himself on the early
lead, something to which he is not accustomed. Racing on a course
that has favored closers, he put away all of the other early
runners and held off the closers for the win. He is even more
effective rating just off a faster pace.
Tuesday (10/12)
7TH – HOOK CALL (Exile King) is a nine-year-old professional
in the best form of his career. He has won a third of his starts
and won this race in a manner that suggests he can succeed again
at a higher level.
Wednesday (10/13)
7TH – MR. MESO (Mesopotamia) had raced well with tougher in
Boston and was a dominating winner over $16K claimers. Haltered
by the Michael Gill outfit, he can win again right back.
9TH – WIZARD OF GOLD (Seeking the Gold) was making his second
career start for Mott and drew away under a hand ride to beat
maidens, posting a strong Late Pace rating. The $800,000 Frank
Stronach purchase appears to have a bright future.
Thursday (10/14)
7TH – FUNK (Unbridled’s Song) disappointed in his second
start, after winning his debut impressively, but looked strong
beating an entry level allowance field here at a mile. He is much
more comfortable over a route of ground and is worth following.
Friday (10/15)
3RD – GLAMDRING (Marquetry) was reclaimed by his previous
owner last out and continues to look better every time out. He
closed from far back over a speed favoring track and came up only
a head short.
8TH – Host suffered a brutal trip and was clearly best. The
Chilean-bred colt in the Pletcher barn is sitting on a win next
out on any surface.
Saturday (10/16)
3RD – DIAMOND CLIP (Wardrobe Test) rebounded from two sub-par
races and was never threatened in an easy win. He galloped out
well after the race and will be hard to beat in an entry-level
allowance for Jersey breds.