GULFSTREAM PARK NOTEBOOK
MARCH 18, 2005
by Dick Powell
As if Nick Zito didn’t have enough three-year-old colts on the Triple Crown
trail, he added a fifth on Saturday when he sent out George Steinbrenner’s
BELLAMY ROAD (Concerto) in the 6TH race, a mile allowance on the dirt. Formerly
trained by Michael Dickinson, Bellamy Road burst on the scene last September
when he upset Scipion (A.P. Indy) in the Cradle S. (G3) at River Downs in his
first start going two turns.
The Kinsman Stable-owned dark bay then went to Keeneland for the Breeders’
Futurity (G1) and, despite drawing an inside post and making the lead, he faded
badly to seventh as the 2-1 favorite. Unseen since then, he showed up this
winter at Palm Meadows in Nick Zito’s barn as Dickinson joins Billy Martin, Dick
Howser, etc., as executives that Kinsman Stable owner George Steinbrenner has
fired.
With only four workouts at Palm Meadows and the presence of the classy
Dearest Mon (Maria’s Mon) in the field, Bellamy Road was not even the favorite
and went off as the 6-5 second choice. When the gate opened, Javier Castellano
sent Bellamy Road to the front and he was immediately pressed by Edgar Prado
aboard Dearest Mon. They covered the first quarter in :23.58 then threw in an
amazing :22.19 second quarter and the duel was on.
Neither rider was about to give an inch and you would think that Bellamy Road
would be at the disadvantage since he hadn’t raced in 154 days, but Castellano
just kept him on cruise control and around the far turn he began to shake loose
from Dearest Mon. He hit the top of the stretch with a three-length lead and,
with no competition from anyone in the field, Bellamy Road drew off to an
amazing 15 3/4-length win while covering the mile in 1:35.90.
With $120,000 in graded stakes earnings, Bellamy Road is already qualified
for the Kentucky Derby if the race has more than 20 entries. But with only one
start this year, where does Zito take him for his next start? He just looks to
me like the kind of horse that would be perfect for the Preakness S. (G1) if he
skipped the Derby. As we said last week, with more time between the major prep
races this year, it makes it especially difficult for any trainer, let alone
Nick Zito with five on the trail, to get to the first Saturday of May.
Zito also was busy later on Saturday with SIR SHACKLETON (Miswaki), the
second choice in the wagering in the Richter Scale Breeders’ Cup Sprint
Championship H. (G2), a seven-furlong, main track event. A huge winner of his
last start, an optional-claiming event going a mile here in blazing-fast time
that earned him a BRIS Speed figure of 110, Sir Shackleton drew post 3 with
Javier Castellano.
When the gate opened, Sir Oscar (Halo’s Image) gunned to the front with Sir Shackleton in hot pursuit. After a quarter in
:22.64, the one-dimensional closer Clock Stopper (Gilded Time) made an uncharacteristically early move going into
the turn and it was now three across the track through a half mile in :44.59.
Clock Stopper had the lead turning for home down on the rail and Sir Shackleton
was chasing on the outside.
Just when Sir Oscar gave up the fight, Lion Tamer (Will’s Way) joined the
fray on the far outside and it was a three-horse race to the wire. With the
camera angle at Gulfstream in the stretch being very deceptive, it was hard to
tell who had the advantage but as they neared the wire Sir Shackleton put away
Clock Stopper and held off the late charge of Lion Tamer to win by 1 1/2
lengths. His final time of 1:21.64 is a new track record for the new Gulfstream
Park main track.
Lion Tamer ran extremely well to be second and should be well on his way to a
big year in the handicap division in long sprints.
Bill Mott is the second leading trainer here with 16 wins in 70 starts.
Always a force on the turf, Mott has taken advantage of the new course that
has enabled the race office to card more turf races than ever. In Sunday’s
Canadian Turf H., a $100,000 turf event going 1 1/16 miles on the turf, Mott
sent out OLD FORESTER (Forestry), an improving four-year-old who has found a
home on the turf.
After finishing second in his last start here, a grassy allowance at Sunday’s distance,
and earning a career-best Speed figure of 102, Old Forester drew post 3 for the
Canadian and
looked like the type of horse that could be real dangerous as long as he didn’t
encounter traffic down on the inside. Amazingly, Old Forester was sent off at
11-1, generous odds considering it was a Mott turfer.
Keep Cool (Frosty the Snowman) gunned to the front and was chased by Gulch
Approval (Gulch) through a half in :45.88. With a fast pace, the field was strung
out more than normal and didn’t bunch up as many slow-paced turf races do here.
They blazed through three quarters in 1:08.72 and Eibar Coa began to get Old
Forester involved. He swung him to the outside at the top of the stretch and he
exploded in the lane. Keep Cool faded in the stretch but Gulch Approval, trained
by — who else — Zito, was hanging tough and still had the lead in the deep
stretch. Old Forester had the momentum going for him and pulled away to a 1
1/4-length win.
Wednesday (3/9)
3RD – LEGS BENEDICT (Silver Charm) improved in her second career start and
should be much better when stretched out to two turns by Dale Romans.
6TH – ARRANGEMENT (Clever Trick) showed good speed to the deep stretch in an
off-the-turf event here and should be tough when she returns to the turf.
7TH – MISSISSIPPI CHARM (Silver Charm) was used hard from post 1 in a sprint
while making her second career start and should be able to stretch out.
Thursday (3/10)
5TH – MORNING SKY (Mt. Livermore) just missed after making a four-wide move
to challenge for the lead.
6TH – SKY LASS (Stack) made her main track debut off two turf efforts against
better and ran well despite breaking awkwardly and rushing up to challenge for
the lead while wide.
Friday (3/11)
6TH – HOMILY (Pulpit) recovered nicely after breaking poorly in his career
debut here for Tony Reinstedler, who only wins 5 percent first out anyway, so much
improvement can be expected next time out.
8TH – FREE OF LOVE (Meadow Flight) had a nightmare trip when showing good
speed and should be tough if he returns against this class level.
Saturday (3/12)
4TH – SIMPLY PERFECT (Pioneering) broke poorly as usual but ran into traffic
right at the start and then was forced to run wide for most of the trip.
9TH – ACE HIGH STRAIGHT (Devil His Due) was beaten two lengths after a poor
start and a four-wide trip going a mile in good time.
10TH – MODENA BAY (NZ) (Volksraad) ran a big race to get fourth despite
traffic problems when making her first start in 259 days.
12TH – MEMORIES OF PA (Kelly Kip) was not able to gain early position after
running into traffic when breaking from the rail.
Sunday (3/13)
2ND – FLEET FORUM (Open Forum) was a good second despite being steadied
repeatedly going nine furlongs in pretty good time.
3RD – HONEST JENNIFER (Boundary) ran in the middle of the pack after
stumbling at the start in her second start off the claim by Steven Dwoskin.
5TH – DYNANTONIA (Dynaformer) rallied furiously in his first start in 114
days but had traffic on the first turn and should be much fitter next time out.
8TH – ICY ATLANTIC (Stormy Atlantic) was roughed up going into the first turn
and then was keyed up for most of the trip before tiring in the stretch.
11TH – GOVERNOR BENNETT (Elusive Quality) wound up pressing the pace four
wide after being bumped at the start.
Monday (3/14)
8TH – TAP DANCER (Sword Dance [Ire]) was a game third going nine furlongs
after running into the usual traffic from post one and should improve next time
out.