SPOTLIGHT PERFORMANCES
by Hunter T. Houlihan
The following are some spotlight performances from the last week that may not
have received much attention.
DON’T GET MAD (Stephen Got Even) remained undefeated when taking a Friday
allowance at Churchill Downs with a huge six-wide move on the turn for home,
making it two wins in a row for the juvenile colt. The bay earned a BRIS Speed rating
of 97, pretty impressive for a two-year-old. A last-to-first performance like
that deserves recognition, and we’ll be watching out for the Paul McGee trainee.
Closing Day (Saturday) at the 130-year-old track brought the return of
SARATOGA COUNTY (Valid Expectations), who had slipped a little from his top form
in March when the bay took the Gotham S. (G3). Entered in a Churchill allowance
race, the three-year-old was disrespected at 5-1 but woke up noticeably in this
spot, recording a 106 Speed rating while taking the seven-furlong contest by 5
1/4 lengths. Watch for his return to stakes action after this top-notch
performance.
On Sunday at Aqueduct, the much-anticipated HARLINGTON (Unbridled) made his
career debut for trainer Todd Pletcher in excellent order, taking a one-mile
maiden special weight event from nearly last to first. He won by a neck,
recording a Speed rating of 87, an excellent result for the juvenile’s
first race. Out of champion and $3.2 million earner Serena’s Song (Rahy),
Harlington’s sire was named champion three-year-old colt and had three Grade 1
wins to his credit, including the 1990 Kentucky Derby (G1). With his impeccable
pedigree and a fine showing in his career bow, we can’t wait to see where
Harlington surfaces again.
SUMMERLAND (Western Expression) has still failed to miss the board in his
career and the bay two-year-old ran a big race Sunday at the Big A when leading
an allowance field gate to wire. He drew clear impressively to win by 6 1/2-lengths and recorded a Speed rating of 96. Now 3-2-1-0 in his career, the
New York-bred could be any kind for conditioner Richard Violette Jr.
At Hollywood Park, GREG’S GOLD (Lake George) has found his form for trainer
David Hofmans and recorded his second straight commendable victory on Sunday.
Following a breakthrough maiden performance in which he earned a 102 Speed
figure, the gray faced allowance company for the first time and turned back
those rivals as well, offering a three-bid move for the lead on the far turn and
finishing his final eighth in :12 3/5 while under moderate urging. Watch for the
improving sophomore in stakes action soon.
The Mike Harrington-trained I’MAGAMBLER (Slewdledo) improved nicely in his
second career start on Sunday, defeating maiden special weight rivals by an
easy two lengths while getting a 95 Speed figure. The juvenile gelding was
coming off a nose loss in his career debut and continued to look very promising
in this effort.