DISTAFF DIARY
AUGUST 3, 2005
by Hunter T. Houlihan
If any mare can replace 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri in the
hearts of distaff racing fans, ASHADO (Saint Ballado) is the one. Last
year’s champion three-year-old filly got off to an uncharacteristic start this
season, finishing fifth in the Apple Blossom H. (G1) in her four-year-old debut
and missing the board for the first time in her career in the process. The Todd Pletcher-trained miss caught a sloppy track in her next outing, finishing second
as the favorite in the Pimlico Breeders’ Cup Distaff H. (G3) after setting the
pace for most of the way. But something happened that afternoon in Baltimore,
Maryland. The dark bay, as trainer Tom Smith said in the movie Seabiscuit, “Remembered how to be a horse again.”
She returned to the track and recorded three nice morning works
before making her next start in the Ogden Phipps H. (G1) at Belmont Park. In a
field that included three-time Grade 1 winner SOCIETY SELECTION (Coronado’s
Quest), multiple Grade 2 winner BENDING STRINGS (American Chance) and multiple
Grade 3 winner DAYDREAMING (A.P. Indy), Ashado led from wire to wire for an
impressive three-length score.
Those same three rivals’ connections decided to make another run
at Ashado in Sunday’s Go For Wand H. (G1) at Saratoga, but to no avail. Sent off
the even-money favorite, Ashado and regular rider John Velazquez rated just to
the outside of the pacesetting ANDUJAR (Quiet American) for the opening three
quarters of the nine-furlong event. Leaving the turn for home, Velazquez took
what track announcer Tom Durkin termed a “confident look” behind him at Society
Selection and, realizing that rival was not threatening, asked his mount for her
best. The six-time Grade 1 winner responded with an impressive turn of foot to
be clear by seven lengths at the mile marker, accelerating through the lane to
score by 9 1/2-widening lengths. Bending Strings picked up the pieces in
second, and Andujar stuck around for third. The two New York-based runners,
Society Selection and Daydreaming, finished out the order of finish in fourth
and fifth, respectively.
From 10 starts in the Empire State, Ashado has now won seven
times. With this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships being
held at Belmont Park, where the filly shows a line of 5-3-1-1, her only
competition at this time appears to be the three-year-old sensation SMUGGLER (Unbridled),
who owns back-to-back Grade 1 wins, both over the Elmont, New York, oval.
On a side note, Bending Strings was commended in the last
installment of the Distaff Diary for her respectable second-place finish in the
July 9 Molly Pitcher Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) at Monmouth Park. This author
suggested returning her to sprint distances, where she is a Grade 2 winner, but
trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has run her instead in the Ogden Phipps and Go For
Wand in her last two. The dark bay four-year-old finished third and second,
respectively, in those two events, and showed her versatility in doing so.
Still, a great spot for her to cross the wire first again would be the
seven-furlong Ballerina H. (G1) on August 28 at Saratoga.
Next time, we’ll be recapping the 1 1/4-mile Personal Ensign H.
(G1), to be run on August 26 at Saratoga.