Handicap Diary

HANDICAP DIARY

MAY 27, 2005

by James Scully

EDDINGTON (Unbridled) earned his first Grade 1 victory with a 5 1/4-length
triumph in the May 20 Pimlico Special H. (G1), closing from last to first to
take the 1 3/16-mile event over a very sloppy track. Trained by Mark Hennig, the
chestnut recorded a 113 BRIS Speed rating and has twice earned a 112 this year.
Eddington was very lightly raced when rushed into Triple Crown races last spring
and didn’t improve when returning later in the season, but he’s finally finding
his best form at four.

Eddington finished a non-threatening third to SAINT LIAM (Saint Ballado) and
ROSES IN MAY (Devil His Due) in February’s Donn H. (G1), but he could prove to
be a much tougher challenger in the future.

On the Preakness (G1) undercard, ZAKOCITY (Precocity) slowed the pace down on
an uncontested lead and had plenty left for the stretch drive in the
nine-furlong William Donald Schaefer H. (G3), notching his second Grade 3 score
by 2 1/2 lengths. The Patrick Reynolds-trained four-year-old received a 107
Speed figure.

Favored ALUMNI HALL (A.P. Indy) offered no rally and faded to last in the
Schaefer. Winner of the Ben Ali S. (G3) in his previous outing, Alumni Hall
hasn’t won outside of Keeneland or Sam Houston so far this year.

LIMEHOUSE (Grand Slam) broke through with his first two-turn stakes win when
taking the May 6 Alysheba S. at Churchill Downs, earning a 105 Speed rating for
the 1 3/4-length decision. The four-year-old owns a commendable second in the
New Orleans H. (G2) and may continue to improve for Todd Pletcher.

Monday’s Met Mile (G1) marks the five-year-old bow for 2004 Horse of the Year
GHOSTZAPPER (Awesome Again), who will square off against some tough sprinters,
including Carter H. (G1) winner Forest Danger (Forestry). After taking the
Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in wire-to-wire fashion, Ghostzapper will be forced
to close from off the pace on Memorial Day, but the Bobby Frankel charge is
versatile enough to win from anywhere.