GULFSTREAM PARK NOTEBOOK
JANUARY 21
by Dick Powell
The bad-luck streak that this year’s Gulfstream meet has had continued on
Friday when heavy rains and the threat of severe thunderstorms forced the
cancellation of the last four races. On Saturday, we got a chance to see how the
apparently-deep main track would play if wet and the running times were
dramatically slower than what we saw the first week.
Once again, the best racing took place in the maiden and first-level
allowance ranks. On Thursday, Mark Hennig sent out PLEASANT CHIMES (Pleasant
Tap) to a sharp one-length victory in a maiden race going seven furlongs despite
breaking from post 12. Considering that the Mark Hennig/Pleasant Tap combination
is not known for its first out prowess, this filly must have tons of natural
ability.
On Saturday’s sloppy track, Hennig came right back with second-time starter
GIANT WRECKER (Giant’s Causeway). After showing little in his career debut at
Aqueduct, the Gulfstream bettors let him off at nearly 10-1 with the Pat Byrne
trainee Wild About Jon (Wild Again) at 2-1 and looking like the controlling
speed.
Hennig added blinkers for the first time and Joe Bravo was able to get Giant
Wrecker away from the gate in good order chasing the pace while down on the
inside. When Wild About Jon began to tire turning for home, Giant Wrecker
rallied on the inside and drew away to a handy 2 3/4-length win while covering
the nine furlongs in 1:52.62.
Later on Saturday in the 8TH race, Todd Pletcher sent out HARLINGTON
(Unbridled), a colt out of the great racemare Serena’s Song (Rahy). He won his
career debut back at Aqueduct going a one-turn mile on a sloppy track then
caught slop again on Saturday when he was able to settle off the pace and draw
off to an easy three-length win covering the nine furlongs in 1:51.13. The $2.8
million yearling purchase has shown in both career starts that he finishes his
races with authority and with his stout pedigree he should be showing up in a
stakes race going two turns real soon.
On Sunday, Pletcher continued on with a trio of winners; all ridden by John
Velazquez. In the 2ND race, Pletcher sent out first time starter PASSING STAR
(Cape Canaveral) to a game neck win over Song of the Saints (Saint Ballado)
going six furlongs in 1:12.41. A $160,000 yearling purchase by Overbrook Farm,
he broke a bit slow but showed terrific acceleration when Velazquez put the
pedal down and whether he was out of gas or not, he showed gameness in holding
on.
In the 6TH race, MONARCH LANE (Maria’s Mon) drew in from the also-eligible
list and dominated a good group of maidens going seven furlongs in 1:25.11. Like
the others, this one came into the race off a series of five-furlong works up at
Palm Meadows and went off as the 5-2 favorite. He stalked the early pace set by
Spanish Mission (Coronado’s Quest) and swooped by the field four wide on the far
turn en route to an easy win. It was the second impressive three-year-old performance
from a Maria’s Mon foal at the meet.
In the nightcap on Sunday, Pletcher sent out MADDALENA (Good and Tough) to an
easy 6 3/4-length win over first-level allowance foes going six furlongs in a
quick 1:10.57. A romping winner in her career debut last April at Churchill, the
$425,000 two-year-old in training purchase from last February will have trouble
finding another allowance race to fill and stakes company going short should be
on her immediate agenda.
Pletcher looks loaded again for 2005 – male or female, short or long. What
else is new.
The other highlight on Sunday’s card was the return to the races of the
enigmatic EDDINGTON (Unbridled). A winner of the Calder Derby (G3) in his turf
debut last October, he’s always been highly-regarded but a bit of a
disappointment with a string of solid but unsuccessful races against top horses.
On Sunday, Eibar Coa got him to relax early and chased a very slow pace of
48.57 and 1:13.04 for six furlongs. When he asked him the question the answer
was sudden as Eddington exploded to a nearly nine-length win going the nine
furlongs in 1:49.93, culminating a good week of racing for Hennig.
On Monday, Pletcher showed he wasn’t through with his parade of winners when
he sent out second time starter YES YES YES (Yes It’s True) to a nearly
10-length maiden win going six furlongs in 1:11.34. The starting gate up at Palm
Meadows must be sizzling since all the Pletcher trainees have come from there
and smoked their opposition right from the start.
One thing to note is that Bobby Frankel has scratched many horses the first
two weeks and looks like he must have some sort of sickness going through his
barn. Until they show they can overcome the training and racing interruptions,
it might make sense to avoid the Frankel barn until proven otherwise.
Horses to Watch
Thursday (1/13)
Race 1 — MY SWEET SAINT (Sweetsouthernsaint) was a game second in her career
debut despite a bad start and a rough stretch trip that resulted in her
disqualification. Dave Braddy only wins 11 percent first time out so expect
improvement next time.
Race 2 — CALLSEVEN (Family Calling) may have been too sharp with blinkers
added and he went too fast too early. Don’t ignore if they turn back in class and
distance.
Race 6 — PASSIONATE DANCER (Cat Thief) improved some when Lasix was added
for the first time and we would like to see him go two turns.
Race 8 — ONLY IN PHILLY (Polish Numbers) returned off a brief freshening
with a good effort despite being stuck behind horses for much of the run down
the backstretch.
Friday (1/14)
Race 4 — MULLIGAN (Worldly Manner) lost all chance when he broke a step slow
from post 1 and then wound up chasing the early pace.
Saturday (1/15)
Race 5 — SHY HARBOR (Boston Harbor) hit the gate at the start then raced
wide on the first turn in his two-turn debut on a sloppy track.
Race 7 — PENNANT CONTENDER (Unbridled) couldn’t overcome a bad post and a
stumbling start going nine furlongs on a sloppy track.
Sunday (1/16)
Race 2 — SONG OF THE SAINTS (Saint Ballado) was a good second in her career
debut for Rusty Arnold, who only wins 5 percent first time out, so improvement
should come next time.
Race 4 — ROYAL SANCTION (Royal Academy) rallied from dead last to get third
in her course debut. She’s bred for turf top and bottom but how often will they
write a race for maiden claimers on the turf?
Race 6 — SILVER WHISTLE (Alphabet Soup) was a rallying fourth in her career
debut for Bill Mott who rarely has them cranked up first time out despite the
fast gate workouts.
Race 10 — FLYING GLITTER (Glitterman) lost all chance to set the pace when
she had early traffic problems but still ran well to the wire.
Monday (1/17)
Race 5 — LADY IN PINSTRIPES (Yankee Victor) showed good speed in her first
start in two months when Frank Brothers added Lasix and blinkers. She’ll be
tough next out if she draws outside.
Race 7 — WAR PLAN (Fusaichi Pegasus) was out-sprinted for the lead from post
1 but still held on well. Look for Kiaran McLaughlin to stretch him out next
time.