FAIR GROUNDS NOTEBOOK
DECEMBER 23
by Brian P. Turner
Saturday’s Pago Hop S. highlighted the week’s racing action as a field of 14
three-year-old fillies went to the post for the eight-furlong turf event. The
Steve Asmussen-trained Sister Swank (Skip Away) was sent off as the heavy
favorite for the $60,000 event and it appeared that the betting public was on
the right track as the chestnut has been extremely impressive since moving to
the lawn in late August, posting a record of 4-2-0-1 against some very tough
competition. The highlight of her solid run came at Keeneland in October as she
posted and impressive 1 1/4-length score in the Valley View S. (G3).
After laying well off the pace early, Sister Swank began to make her move on
the second turn and looked well on her way to picking up the victory as she
split horses while closing through the stretch. As the field made their run to
the wire though she was out-finished and had to settle for third.
In the end, the day belonged to SHADOW CAST (Smart Strike), who was making
her first start since overcoming a troubled trip to finish 2 3/4 lengths behind
Sister Swank in the aforementioned Valley View. The Neil Howard-trained filly
found no obstacles she couldn’t overcome on Saturday though as she laid well off
the pace early before closing to gain the lead in the stretch drive and holding
on valiantly to the end to hit the wire a neck in front.
CODE OF ETHICS (Honour and Glory), a 50-1 outsider, put in an extremely
impressive performance of her own as she closed with an impressive turn of foot
to pick up the place, a head in front of Sister Swank.
Races on the main track tended to play pretty fair this week whether they
were going short or long. As for the turf, the four sprints were equally divided
between horses running on or near the pace and those closing from off the pace.
As for the routes, runners coming from off the pace dominated.
Tom Amoss has a clear early lead in the trainer standings as his 10 winners
are three better than Steve Asmussen in second. Wayne Catalano is in third with
six winners for the meet. As for the jockeys, Robby Albarado is absolutely
dominating the competition having booted home 27 winners. Corey Lanerie is a
distant second with 18 followed by Lonnie Meche with 13.
HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (12/16)
9TH – JOE’S SON JOEY (Fast Play) returned from a layoff of more than a year
in fine form as he rallied from well off the pace, closing with nice strides at
the end, to pick up the victory in this 5 1/2-furlong sprint on the grass. The
six-year-old horse is a multiple stakes winner on the lawn so a return to that
level of competition would not be a surprise.
ENGINEERED (Langfuhr) was bumped around at the start of this event which left
him near the back of the pack. The four-year-old colt overcame his disadvantage
to close with an impressive turn of foot to finish fourth but beaten by only a
length.
Friday (12/17)
1ST – PESKI BRIDE (Groomstick) made her first career start an impressive one
against this field of claimers as she moved to the lead early and never looked
back, crossing the finish line seven lengths clear of the field. A return
against similar could yield similar results.
6TH – TRIBUTE TO HEROS (Unbridled) attempted to lead the field from gate to
wire over a turf course that has yet to be real kind to front-runners. The
chestnut put in a valiant effort though and fought gamely to the wire to come up
a nose short.
Saturday (12/18)
5TH – RED RASCAL (Out Of Place) was the victim of some bumping at the start
of this maiden claiming affair then briefly had to wait for a hole to open near
the stretch drive before taking and fighting gamely to the wire to claim the
victory by three parts of a length. The chestnut could pose a threat in his next
start as well provided the connections don’t become too ambitious with his
placement.
9TH – Sister Swank may have come up on the short end of the stick in the Pago
Hop but she has been running well against some very solid competition and looms
a threat wherever she shows up next.
Sunday (12/19)
7TH – HEAVENANDEARTH (Stephen Got Even) found the stretch out to a route to
be exactly what he needed to break his maiden in his second career start. The
bay was content to stalk the pace early before taking over in the stretch drive
to hit the finish line two lengths in front.