SPOTLIGHT PERFORMANCES
FEBRUARY 10, 2005
by James Scully
The spotlight shines in this column on recent performances that didn’t
receive much attention.
At Gulfstream Park Sunday, SILVER WAGON (Wagon Limit) recorded his first
victory since taking the 2003 Hopeful S. (G1) when drawing off to a 1 3/4-length
score. Trained by Ralph Ziadie, the gray colt displayed a quick turn of foot to
collar eventual runner-up Value Plus (Unbridled’s Song) in upper stretch and
earned a terrific 108 BRIS Speed rating in the 6 1/2-furlong allowance event.
Silver Wagon was sidelined following a third-place finish in the Fountain of
Youth S. (G3) last February and returned to the races with a fifth in the Kenny
Noe Jr. H. in mid-December. He showed much more on Saturday.
SIR SHACKLETON (Miswaki) made his seasonal bow last Thursday at Gulfstream
and proceeded to crush a strong optional claiming field by 4 1/2 lengths. Winner
of last year’s West Virginia Derby (G3) and Derby Trial (G3), the chestnut
hadn’t raced since early October for trainer Nick Zito and registered a 110
Speed figure in his return. Sir Shackleton looks ready to make much more of an
impact at four.
MASTER WILLIAM (King of Kings [Ire]) got away slowly in a turf allowance
Monday but recovered to rally boldly for a one-length victory. The four-year-old
colt displayed spotty form while lightly raced in 2004, but he appeared much
more professional here and came home quickly to notch his second career win. He
could be much improved this season.
PLEASANT CHIMES (Pleasant Tap) is now two-for-two after easily beating entry
allowance foes last Thursday at Gulfstream and probably has her connections
entertaining thoughts of the Kentucky Oaks (G1). The Mark Hennig charge went
wide into the first turn of this 1 1/8-mile event from post 9 and drew off
nicely through the stretch.
ULTIMATE (Double Honor) was a superb maiden winner for Zito on Monday, taking
a 7 1/2-furlong test by eight lengths on the front end. The sophomore colt was
making his second career start following a third in a January 6 debut, and he
earned a commendable 99 Speed rating. The $675,000 two-year-old purchase looks
like a promising individual.
POMMES FRITES (Dynaformer) broke her maiden sharply over the grass last
Wednesday at Gulfstream, winning a one-mile affair going away by 3 1/2 lengths.
Conditioned by Bill Mott, the three-year-old filly hails from a very classy
South American female family and ran to her bloodlines in her career debut here.
At Santa Anita, D’ESTE (Old Trieste) remained perfect from two career starts
while competing in a nine-furlong turf allowance on Saturday. The John Shirreffs
trainee won her career debut by two lengths in a Hollywood turf event in
mid-November, and the four-year-old filly closed from last to first to win here
by 2 1/2. Out of Slide, who is a half-sister to champion Safely Kept and Grade 2
winner Partner’s Hero, D’Este will likely be tested for class against stakes
rivals in the near future.
CHINESE DRAGON (Stravinsky), who broke his maiden in his second career outing
last August for Aidan O’Brien in Ireland, reappeared under silks on Saturday in
a one-mile turf allowance and rallied gamely through the stretch to defeat a
couple of well-regarded rivals. Now trained by Bob Hess Jr., the three-year-old
colt should have no trouble stretching out in distance and could even try the
main track off this encouraging performance.
A Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed in her native New Zealand, KATANA (NZ) (Volksraad)
finished a close second in her U.S. bow last October and broke through with her
first victory stateside last Wednesday at Santa Anita. The Bobby Frankel-trained
five-year-old mare had little trouble taking this about 6 1/2-furlong turf
allowance and is likely headed back to stakes company.
Frankel debuted an impressive first-time starter Sunday in INDIAN FLARE
(Cherokee Run), who rallied from just off the pace to easily draw clear by five
lengths under the wire for jockey Alex Solis. The three-year-old miss earned a
very respectable 96 Speed rating for the seven-furlong score in Southern
California and could become another very classy performer for Juddmonte Farms.
SHINING ENERGY (Rahy) ran big in her U.S. bow Saturday, drawing off to a 2
1/2-length maiden win on the downhill course at Santa Anita. The sophomore filly
was coming off a close second against stakes rivals in France last November and
simply overmatched this group. She looked like one to follow.
At Aqueduct last Thursday, CONTRITION (Pulpit) ran to her pedigree in her
first career outing, drawing off to a facile seven-length triumph for trainer
Alan Goldberg. The three-year-old miss is out of Grade 1 winner Easy Now (Danzig),
herself a daughter of Broodmare of the Year Relaxing making her a half-sibling
to Easy Goer and Grade 1 queen Cadillacing, and Contrition showed good speed all
the way in the six-furlong maiden special weight event.
SLAM BAMMY (Grand Slam) is now two for two after winning a six-furlong
allowance on Friday at the Big A for trainer Joe Orseno. The four-year-old
gelding captured his first career start on New Year’s Day over the inner track
and led wire to wire here, earning a 101 Speed rating for the half-length
decision.