LONE
STAR NOTEBOOK
NOVEMBER 4
by Bernard T. Moore
Breeders’ Cup week got off to a flying start at Lone Star Park
on Thursday as the Grand Prairie racetrack staged its annual
International Jockey Championship to the delight of 15,128
onlookers.
Jockeys Jerry Bailey and Kieren Fallon dead-heated for first
place in the competition, a three-race series, but Bailey was
awarded sole possession of first place as he finished in front of
Fallon in the final race of the contest. It was Bailey’s second
victory in the International Jockey Championship, and it was a
homecoming of sorts well, as Bailey was born in Dallas. Well-known
European jockey Frankie Dettori managed to finish third in the
contest that is usually held in the spring.
The $50,000 Lone Star Park Juvenile Fillies S. was also a
drawing card for Thursday’s races, and True Tails (Yes It’s True)
glided over the glib Lone Star Park surface en route to a 7 1/4-length
victory. She sped the first four furlongs in a mercurial :44 1/5
while on cruise control, and drew away in the stretch to win by
daylight.
Ketchmewhereyoucan (Distorted Humor) chased the winner the
entire way, and held well in the stretch for second, a half-length
ahead of Dressed For Succes (Tricky Mister), who closed for third.
Pollard’s Vision (Carson City) got trainer Todd Pletcher’s
Breeders’ Cup weekend started off on the right foot Friday by
annexing the $250,000 Lone Star Derby (G3) by a half-length over
a fast closing Cryptograph (Cryptoclearance). Flamethrowintexan (Way
West [Fr]) the front-runner in the Lone Star Derby, maintained
the lead until deep stretch before weakening slightly to finish
third.
The winner raced a bit farther off the pace than usual, but
began picking up the pace on the far turn when called upon by
jockey John Velazquez. He was then maneuvered to the outside of
horses in the stretch before overtaking the early pacesetter and
edging away.
This victory took on added significance when Tricky Taboo (Mazel
Trick), whose stall was immediately next to Pollard’s Vision’s (Carson
City) in the starting gate, flipped prior to the start, causing
the race to be delayed. On occasion, such an unsettling event can
have a negative impact on a horse’s performance, but the Pletcher-trained
Pollard’s Vision handled it like a seasoned pro. The betting
favorite in the race, Brass Hat (Prized), never really got going
after racing in cramped quarters entering the first turn and
merely galloped along toward the back of the pack.
The Bob Baffert trained Yearly Report (General Meeting)
eclipsed the track record at seven furlongs in the second
Thoroughbred stakes event on the Friday card, beating an
overmatched field in the $150,000 Stonerside S. She covered the
seven furlongs of the Stonerside, a race for three-year-old
fillies, in a sparkling 1:20 3/5, emerging victorious in a race
where the outcome was never really in serious doubt.
Longshot Homemaker (Afternoon Deelites) completed the exacta,
as Angelica Slew (Saint Ballado) finished a distant third.
With excitement for the Breeders’ Cup beginning to reach a
fever pitch on Saturday morning, Wishingitwas (Sandpit [Brz]) got
the festivities off to a rip-roaring start, outrunning his 38-1
post-time odds to blow by Spanish Empire (Pleasant Colony) in the
stretch to win the Metroplex Mile in a bit of a roughly run race.
Spanish Empire managed to hold on to second over Seek Gold (Touch
Gold), but was subsequently disqualified for interference in the
stretch with fourth-place finisher During (Cherokee Run), who was
elevated to third by the stewards because of the infraction.
Spanish Empire was placed fourth as Seek Gold was moved up to
second as a result of the disqualification.
I am not going to recap any of the Breeders’ Cup races, as the
Brisnet staff has done an exemplary job in detailing the outcome
of the eight championship events. It was a spectacular day of
racing to say the least. Once again, the Breeders’ Cup
continually instills in us to expect the unexpected on this
glorious day of championship racing.
Still feeling the exhilaration of Ghostzapper’s (Awesome Again)
Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) victory, owner Frank Stronach strolled
down to the winner’s circle once more as his Royal Regalia (Cozzene)
won the $100,000 Texas Turf S. Rating nicely over the yielding
turf, Royal Regalia seized the lead on the far turn and would not
relinquish that advantage to win decisively by 2 1/4 lengths. It
was a bittersweet win for his connections as their intent had
been to run Royal Regalia in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) but did
not get the necessary withdrawals from that race which was needed
to participate.
Storm Surge (Storm Cat) defeated 3-5 favorite Spanish Chestnut
(Horse Chestnut [SAf]) to emerge victorious in Lone Star Park
Juvenile S., the final stakes race of the day. Storm Surge, who
had not been seen since a dismal effort in the Hopeful S. (G1) at
the Spa this past summer, attended the early pace throughout
after breaking from the rail under Robby Albarado, and then
proceeded to assert himself in the stretch to win by 2 3/4
lengths.
The runner-up, Spanish Chestnut, was making only his second
start after winning at first asking in a well-bet unveiling at
Keeneland for trainer Patrick Biancone. He was far from disgraced
in defeat and appears to have a bright future.
The Lone Star Park Fall Breeders’ Cup Meeting concluded on
Sunday as My Misty Princess (Acceptable) closed determinedly in
deep stretch to win the $100,000 Bluebonnet S. by a scant nose.
This was the final day of live racing until next fall at Lone
Star, and only slightly more than 5,000 fans witnessed this
exciting turf contest. Both runners ran extremely well in a race
that did not deserve a loser, as Queena Corrina (Here We Come)
came up on the short end of a tight photo after stalking the
early pace. The Bluebonnet S. was a fitting climax to a fabulous
weekend of racing.
As expected, Steve Asmussen was leading trainer at the meet.
Danny Pish, who made a run at Asmussen for top honors, finished
second, just seven winners behind while sending 67 fewer runners.
Roman Chapa was leading jockey, riding nine more winners than
Monte Berry, Casey Lambert and Larry Taylor, who were all tied
for second-place honors with 15 wins apiece. Don Meche completed
the top five, booting home 14 winners.
Speed dominated to begin the week over the main track on both
Thursday and Friday. After the rains came on Friday, the track
seemed to even out and play fairly for the Breeders’ Cup card.
Stalkers and Closers seemed to hold an edge on Sunday, closing
day. The turf course favored closers the entire week. As far as
paths were concerned, the inside seemed to be live on Thursday,
before evening out as the week progressed, with no perceivable
bias on Breeders’ Cup day.
Thursday (10/28)
7TH — FIRSTSTATEDEPOSIT (Deposit Ticket) reared badly at the
start and raced way out in the middle of the course while
extremely, extremely wide. He continued to race wide on the turn
but did well to finish with interest over a course favoring speed
and inside paths.
8TH — KETCHMEWHEREYOUCAN had not sprinted in some time, but
showed a good turn of early foot chasing a superior early speed.
Showed some fight late to hold grimly for second while fending
off a New York invader. Clearly better suited to a sprint.
Friday (10/29)
4TH — BREEZY CAT (Magic Cat) raced far back early while
extremely wide down the backstretch. Continued racing wide on the
turn and into stretch but closed with good energy over a course
playing favorably to speed. Fits well at the $12,500 level and is
eligible for Texas-bred maiden events.
8TH — VERDICT’S PEAK (Peaks and Valleys) bumped shortly after
the break and was forced to lose ground throughout the race while
parked wide. He had nothing when called upon in the stretch and
may be a tad better on grass. Look for a change in surfaces and a
rider switch as well.
Saturday (10/30)
7TH — AFLEET ALEX (Northern Afleet) stumbled breaking from
the gate and also had to check and got shuffled back early. He
raced toward the back of the pack while wide, where he definitely
does not want to be, and made strong move to engage the leaders
on the turn only to weaken slightly in the stretch. Probably best.
12TH — CRITICAL BATTLE (Vicksburg) put together a much
improved third-place finish, losing the place in deep stretch. A
bit rank dictating the pace over a course favoring closers with
much ‘give’ to it. Dangerous speed if he can relax on the lead,
especially if running over much more forgiving footing.
Sunday (10/31)
5TH — BANDERA COUNTY (Lacotte [Ire]) has suffered brutal
trips since switching to grass. In another terrible trip, he
bumped while wide on the first turn and sustained a wide run to
dispute the pace. He continued to lose valuable ground into the
stretch but finished with good energy while appearing to wander
to the inside under an inexperienced five-pound apprentice rider.