Turf Diary

TURF DIARY

FEBRUARY 24, 2005

by Jennifer Caldwell

In this weekly feature, top turf horses, as well as up-and-comers who
could make a splash later in the year, will be highlighted. Since it’s so early
in the season, both males and females will be combined here, but as the year
marches on each division will receive a Diary of their own. Some foreign runners who
could possibly come over to compete in the more popular North American turf
matches — Arlington Million (G1), Canadian International (Can-G1), etc… — will also
be brought to light.

One recent event, the San Luis Obispo H. (G3) at Santa
Anita on Saturday, was scheduled for the turf but moved to the dirt as the area
was once again deluged with rain. Nonetheless, that didn’t stop LICENSE TO RUN
(Brz) (Exile King) from running away with a five-length score. The talented
Bobby Frankel charge has already proven himself on the grass, taking a Group 1 in
his native country and finishing third by only a neck when making his U.S. debut
in the Hollywood Turf Cup (G1) in December. He’s primed for a big year and will
be one to watch.

On a side note, CONTINENTAL RED (Flying Continental) is one that this author
is eagerly awaiting. The veteran nine-year-old finished last in the San Luis
Obispo, but has proven in the past he does not like off dirt tracks. The
gelding has been tough his entire career, and while he may not be on the
Breeders’ Cup level, the chestnut has taken on Breeders’ Cup hopefuls in the
past and held his own. I’ll be keeping my eye on him this year.

MR. LIGHT (Arg) (Numerous) finally broke through with a first stakes win
stateside when taking the Appleton H. (G3) at Gulfstream Park on February 12. The
six-year-old hadn’t been close in two previous tries, but he seemed to put it all
together to take that mile test over another good turf runner in HOST (Chi)
(Hussonet). The latter has yet to finish off the board while running on the
green and scored in the Knickerbocker H. (G2) last year. Both are competitive at
their current level and could improve enough later in the season to take on the
big guns at Belmont Park.

WRZESZCZ (Langfuhr) also raced on the 12th, capturing the Taylor’s
Special H. at Fair Grounds. The dark bay gelding has raced five
times on the grass and scored in four of them. One of those wins came when he
broke his maiden and all were at the about five-furlong distance. Wrzeszcz
earned a 106 BRIS Speed rating for the Taylor’s Special and the four-year-old
could move on to bigger and better things soon. Another who deserves watching is
MUSTANFAR (Unbridled), who made his four-year-old bow a 2 3/4-length victory.
That came in an optional claimer at Gulfstream Park on February 10 after the
chestnut ran fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). He’s finished on the board in
five of his eight turf races and is likely to be a factor on the graded level
once again.

WEND (Pulpit) will start off the Filly and Mare section of this Diary. The
bay miss broke her maiden in early January in easy fashion, taking the about 1
1/16-mile test by two lengths, then returned last Friday to school her rivals by 8 1/4 lengths while stretching out to nine furlongs. Though she didn’t earn a
very high Speed rating (92), the four-year-old miss is just getting started and
should show up against stakes company soon. One who has already proven herself
against black-type competition, SNOWDROPS (GB) (Gulch), made her last start a
win as well. The gray mare stalked a reasonable pace throughout the Suwannee
River H. (G3) at Gulfstream Park before surging to the front and taking the 1
1/8-mile event by three parts of a length. Snowdrops really came on last year
and could move beyond the Grade 3 level if she continues to improve.

Grade 2 winner SHADOW CAST (Smart Strike) has competed on the dirt for most of her career,
but she has shone the brightest when taking on other turf runners. The Neil
Howard trainee lit up the tote board once again on Saturday when adding the
Bayou Breeders’ Cup H. (G3) at Fair Grounds to her resume. She pulled clear for
a two-length victory in that about 1 1/8-mile test and earned a 99 Speed figure
for her troubles. The four-year-old filly could be a force to be reckoned with
this season on the green.

The above horses are just the ones who happened to catch this author’s eye in
the past few weeks. There are many more out there who are just now coming on or
starting their preparations. We must not forget about Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1)
hero SINGLETARY (Sultry Song), who has been working bullets at Hollywood Park to
prepare for his seasonal bow in the March 5 Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1).
Another to anticipate is turf champion KITTEN’S JOY (El Prado [Ire]), who is
recovering from surgery to remove bone chips. OUIJA BOARD (GB) (Cape Cross
[Ire]), named champion turf mare, is also expected to return later in the year
to defend her Breeders’ Cup title.