KEENELAND NOTEBOOK
APRIL 21, 2005
by Dick Powell
Zito loses a Derby prep race! After looking like he was going to win every
major Kentucky Derby (Gr1) prep race, Nick Zito’s luck finally ran out in
Saturday’s Blue Grass S. (G1) when Sun King (Charismatic) ran off the board in
an uncharacteristically dull effort. Just like Tiger Woods in golf, the
three-year-old picture of late has been all about Zito and the story has been
about whether he won or lost.
Before a record crowd of 33,621, seven sophomore colts took the track for the
Blue Grass, but the betting public narrowed it down to four contenders. HIGH
LIMIT (Maria’s Mon), the undefeated victor of the Louisiana Derby (G2) in his
last start, was sent off as the lukewarm 5-2 favorite. Consolidator (Storm Cat)
and Bandini (Fusaichi Pegasus) were co-second choices at 3-1 and Sun King was
right behind them at 33-10.
While not coupled in the wagering, Spanish Chestnut (Horse Chestnut [SAf])
figured to be the rabbit for stablemate Bandini and Gary Stevens was able to get
him to the front after an eventful start. High Limit, who had been in front at
every call in his three career starts, settled nicely for Ramon Dominguez and
tracked the pace while racing off the rail for much of the run down the
backstretch. Consolidator, who broke a bit slow and then bumped with Spanish
Chestnut soon after the start, uncharacteristically never made his way up to
challenge for the early lead. Bandini was stalking the pace while extremely
wide.
To everyone’s shock and Zito’s dismay, Sun King, who was coming off a
wire-to-wire win in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), was far back and last after a
half-mile. Clearly, this year’s running of the Blue Grass was going to be
different than it looked on paper.
Keeneland usually favors inside paths, but John Velazquez was content to keep
Bandini clear around the first turn and down the backside. Making his first
start in seven weeks, the Todd Pletcher-trained colt was still running
comfortably while wide around the far turn. High Limit went up after Spanich
Chestnut and gradually began to draw even heading to the top of the stretch.
But Velazquez was grinding along three wide aboard Bandini on the far turn
and straightened away even with High Limit and Spanish Chestnut. Just when it
looked like we might see an epic duel to the wire, High Limit shortened stride
and Bandini kept going at the same pace to win by six lengths in the
relatively-slow time of 1:50.16.
High Limit held on well for second and it was three lengths back to Closing
Argument (Successful Appeal) who had a nightmare trip. Another neck back was Sun
King, who rallied down the middle of the track. Consolidator was another four
lengths back.
Now that the race was over, how do we judge it? Going in, it appeared to be
the best prep race in terms of quality and depth. But, when evenly-matched
horses finish with large gaps in between them, it usually signifies that some of
the contestants did not grab a hold of the track. Thus, the question is whether
BANDINI is really that much better than the field he vanquished on Saturday or
just the beneficiary of a set of circumstances that he might not see again?
Whether he liked the racing surface more than the others, Bandini lost a lot
of ground on both turns and proved to be tons the best on this afternoon. It was
his first start in 42 days and he should improve next out.
I thought High Limit ran wonderfully and will be a major factor in the Run
for the Roses. In only his fourth career start and second start of the year, he
settled behind Spanish Chestnut and showed he doesn’t have to be in front to run
well. It looked like he was a little keyed up down the backstretch with his ears
pinned back, but he continued on well the rest of the way. When Bandini passed
him, High Limit still ran on well while ducking to the rail to be a clear
second.
Closing Argument had a nightmare trip and still was third in his first start
in 70 days, an amazing layoff for a three-year-old at this time of the season. I
still don’t like his pedigree for 10 furlongs on the first Saturday in May, but
Closing Argument should improve off this effort.
Sun King has always been rumored by Nick Zito’s staff as their best
three-year-old, but he showed little on Saturday. The dark bay colt broke
sluggishly, raced out in the middle of the track for most of the way and rallied
mildly to just miss third. The question one has to raise out of this effort is
what went wrong and how much did he get out of the race. Following an easy
spring campaign, he could have a hard time recovering from this real bad
performance.
Bandini’s win came over the strongest field assembled so far this year and
makes the Florida-based three-year-olds look very strong going into the Derby.
High Fly (Atticus) beat Bandini in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2), and Noble
Causeway (Giant’s Causeway) finished a good second behind High Fly in the
Florida Derby (G1). All three are going to the Derby the right way.
CLOCK STOPPER (Gilded Time) is an unusual five-year-old who races in the
colors of Overbrook Farm, who purchased him (instead of being a homebred) for
$110,000 as a yearling and then had him gelded. In his last start at Gulfstream
Park, the Richter Scale H. (G2), the one-dimensional closer raced much closer to
the pace than normal and finished a good third behind Sir Shackleton (Miswaki)
and Lion Tamer (Will’s Way).
In Saturday’s Commonwealth Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) going seven furlongs, Clock
Stopper stalked the pace three wide as Gators N Bears (Stormy Atlantic) led the
way and Cajun Beat (Grand Slam) chased in second. Clock Stopper sat third going
into the far turn as Cajun Beat, who suffered a career-ending injury during the
race, began to fade. Gators N Bears had a clear lead turning for home but was
under heavy pressure from the outside as Jerry Bailey had Clock Stopper in a
drive. They ran down the leader inside the eighth pole to win going away by
three-quarters of a length in 1:22.06.
Now that he is able to run a bit closer to the pace, Clock Stopper figured to
be a force in one-turn races no matter the distance the rest of the year.
However, he suffered a tendon injury in the Commonwealth and will now be
sidelined at least six months.
Bailey had a terrific week riding in what may be his last year of
competition. He’s been hinting around that the Breeders’ Cup will be the end of
a great career and business at Gulfstream earlier this year was very limited.
With the Triple Crown nearing, Jerry is cranking it up and has been brilliant at
Keeneland, especially out of the gate.
On Wednesday, Bailey shot CANDY BOX (Running Stag), a first time starter from
Kiaran McLaughlin, right to the lead at the start and never looked back on a
very muddy track. In Wednesday’s Madison S. (G), he gunned 2-5 shot MADCAP
ESCAPADE (Hennessy) to the front down the backstretch after her usual tardy
start and flew through the first half in :43.75 before cruising to an easy 4
3/4-length win. Bailey’s been riding much more aggressively recently.
On Friday, EFFECTUAL (Carson City) drew post 10 in a baby race for fillies
but it was no problem when Bailey broke sharp and won easily. After winning the
Commonwealth on Saturday, Bailey came back to take Sunday’s Jenny Wiley S. (G3)
with INTERCONTINENTAL (Danehill).
The Juddmonte Farm homebred is one of the most headstrong females you will
ever see, but Bailey has learned not to fight her; at least not all the way
around the track. Intercontinental broke well going into the first turn, but she
began to throw her head around in a rank manner when Bailey tried to get her to
relax. Once she made the lead down the backside, the five-year-old began to
relax and from there she was able to repulse every challenge mounted against her
to win by a measured length.
Half-sister to champion and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) winner Banks
Hill (GB), Intercontinental will someday make a fantastic broodmare for
Juddmonte and Bobby Frankel will have her talented but headstrong babies to
train years from now.
The most impressive juvenile of the week and the meet so far was unveiled on
Sunday by Todd Pletcher. HALF OURS (Unbridled’s Song) was a $625,000 yearling
purchase last September by Aaron and Marie Jones and was widely touted coming
into his career debut based on a bullet half-mile workout on April 10. He had
some kind of skin rash on his neck but was still made the 1-5 favorite against
three rivals.
Breaking on top for John Velazquez, Half Ours cruised along on an easy lead
and then exploded in the lane to a 10 3/4-length win. His time for 4 1/2 furlong
was a meet best :51.61, and the youngster gave every indication that longer
races will be no problem.
John Kimmel looks like he’s going to have a nice three-year-old in AWESOME
TWIST (Awesome Again). Out of multiple Grade 1 winner Twist Afleet (Afleet),
Awesome was an impressive maiden winner last out at Gulfstream, going seven
furlongs in a fast time and showing the ability to stalk the pace and make a big
run.
On Wednesday, over a muddy track that had favored inside speed in the first
four main track races, Javier Castellano had Awesome Twist far back early but
began a wide rally at the half-mile pole. He was four wide around the turn and
six wide turning for home when he exploded in the lane to win by six easy
lengths. With his pedigree and running style, look for him this summer at
Belmont Park in races like the Dwyer (G2).
Bias Report
Wednesday’s muddy main track saw a return to the old Keeneland with inside
paths and front-end speed dominating most of the card. In one turn races on the
main track, 12 of the 25 (48 percent) winners were either first or second after
a quarter-mile. In two turn races on the main track, four of eight (50 percent)
winners were either first or second after a quarter mile was run. Pretty typical
stuff.
On the turf going two turns, only 3 of 13 (23 percent) winners were either
first or second after a quarter mile was run. There was one turf sprint run last
week and it went to the speedy favorite SOARING FREE (Smart Strike).
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (4/13)
1ST – NEW DIMENSION (Golden Missile) rallied wide on a speed-favoring muddy
track to get second in her career debut for Rusty Arnold, who wins only 7
percent first-time out.
4TH – VISON OF BEAUTY (Danzig) hustled hard between horses in her first start
of the year and should be much fitter next time out.
8TH – MOLTO VITA (Carson City) was bumped around at the start and then made a
strong middle move into a brutal pace before weakening.
Thursday (4/14)
2ND – GYPSY ROVER (Mancini) had a nightmare trip in his career debut but
still showed interest and would be tough the first time a maiden claimer gets
written.
5TH – PALAESTRA (Atticus) was bumped repeatedly at the start of the race and
then ran evenly afterward.
Friday (4/15)
1ST – FLAME STITCH (Saint Ballado) showed high speed while down on the inside
before weakening late and Lukas is always tougher second time out.
4TH – LOST IN TRANSIT (Demidoff) looked like he was getting a good trip in
behind horses but had to circle them at the top of the stretch and lost valuable
ground.
9TH – MR. LIGHT (Arg) (Numerous), the world-record holder from Gulfstream,
was turned sideways on the first turn and then ran evenly afterward.
Saturday (4/16)
6TH – PARKER RUN (Glitterman) rallied furiously on the outside to get third
in a blanket finish at 86-1 odds.
8TH – Lion Tamer rallied widest of all turning for home before flattening out
in a paceless sprint.
9TH – High Limit showed that he doesn’t have to have the lead to run well and
should keep improving next out, which will be only his fifth career start.
Sunday (4/17)
5TH – PICK FIVE (Artax) was used hard while down on the inside going seven
furlongs behind a monster winner.
6TH – TEMPERED STEEL (Tale of the Cat) rallied from last to get second in a
very fast race going a mile.
7TH – MR. MALAPROP (Distorted Humor) ran well in his track debut going two
turns when he stalked the pace and had to swing very wide at the top of the
stretch.