SARATOGA DAILY NOTEBOOK
FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2005
by Dick Powell
Steve Asmussen won his 3,000th career race today when FOREST MUSIC
(Unbridled’s Song) went gate to wire to win the Honorable Miss H. (G2) by
two lengths in a tour-de-force performance. On paper, it looked like there was a
lot of speed in the race but not enough speed to get within Forest Music’s tail
during the race.
She gunned to the front with Johnny Velazquez and never looked back despite
running the first half-mile in 44.43 seconds. “She seemed like she was walking,”
said Velazquez after the race. “They told me she is really fast. She was so
calm, I was a little concerned about it. I kept her quiet. When the doors
opened, she was gone.”
Recently purchased by Stonestreet Stable, Forest Music was a monster first-out
winner as a juvenile that was rushed into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
(G1) two years ago. Shortened back to a sprinter, she’s always tough when she
makes the lead and relaxes. With a top gate rider like Velazquez, the race was
over when she broke on top.
Asmussen, whom it may seem has won 3,000 races the past two years, was very
complimentary of the new owners of the filly who privately purchased her from
Michael Gill.
“It is kind of how the career evolved, when there is a filly like
this that the owner paid so much money for and moved into my barn,” Asmussen
said. “There is not success without that opportunity.”
Forest Music took 1:10.06 to cover the six furlongs of the Honorable Miss and
REUNITED (Dixie Union) only took 1:10.60 to win the 9TH race, a conditioned
allowance event for fillies and mares. Even with first-time front leg bandages
and sweating profusely, she won in a common gallop for Robbie Albarado and Neil
Howard.
Pulpit (A.P. Indy) has become a terrific sire as horsemen have figured out
his offspring want to go long and run on the turf. In today’s 2ND race, a
maiden special for juveniles going two turns on the turf, Lisa Lewis sent out
CHURCH SERVICE (Pulpit), a first-time starter out of a stakes-winning With
Approval mare.
He dropped far back early behind a steady pace under Ramon Dominguez and then
began to rally around the far turn. Velazquez had sent Straight Run
(Straight Man) to the front and looked like a winner turning for home but began
to run erratically through the stretch and was passed by Church Service who went
on to a one-length victory in 1:44.60.
In the other division of this group in the 4TH race, Devil’s Preacher (Pulpit)
acted up throughout the paddock, post parade and in the race. Wooden (Woodman)
dumped Jerry Bailey in the post parade and MYSTIC RULER (Fusaichi Pegasus)
unseated Edgar Prado at the gate.
At the start, Under Thunder (Thunder Gulch) went right to the front and
settled beautifully for Cornelio Velasquez. He covered an uncontested first half
mile in :50.16 and looked like he might go gate to wire. Mystic Ruler was
giving chase in second for Prado and had the leader in his sights every step of
the way.
The real story was Devil’s Preacher, who was fighting Javier Castellano and
was steadied repeatedly. Considering how much energy he expended before and
during the race, he showed that he has some raw talent that will be awesome when
he learns his lessons.
Mystic Ruler went up after Under Thunder turning for home and after a
stretch-long battle, prevailed by three parts of a length. He’s out of Buffalo Berry
(Sri Pekan), who won a stakes race in Europe before coming to America and winning
the Reeve Schley Jr. S. (G3). Her first foal to race is turf
stakes winner Chattahoochee (War Chant).
Edgar Prado was the riding star of the day with four winners and Stanley
Hough trained two winners.
Saratoga had its first turf sprint race in recent memory in the 6TH. Run at
5 1/2 furlongs, the race was won by SECOND IN COMMAND (Silver Deputy), who
rallied from off the pace to win going away by 4 1/4 lengths in the blazing-fast
time of 1:01.52.
Horses To Watch
4TH – DEVIL’S PREACHER (Pulpit) was sweating profusely in the paddock, was
rank in the post parade and going to the gate, then acted up during the race
when he refused to relax. Still, he showed a ton of talent and will be worth
watching.
7TH – WILD VICAR (Vicar) went to his knees at the break with Eibar Coa
holding on for dear life, losing all chance.
Saturday Preview
The Test S. (G1) is always one of the highlights of the Saratoga meet for
the hardcore players. A Grade 1 seven-furlong sprint always attracts a
contentious field and Saturday’s renewal is proof positive. Eight betting
interests and a field of ten will take to the track tomorrow and I am looking for
SENSE OF STYLE (Thunder Gulch) to regain last year’s form when she won the Spinaway (G2) and Matron (G1) before going bad.
She returned this year for Pat Biancone with two good efforts and despite
her pedigree, she seems to do her best running going one turn. Edgar Prado has
the call.
I am a big fan of COMMENTATOR (Distorted Humor) and even though he was beaten
this winter in his lone attempt going two turns, I think he’ll be very tough in
Saturday’s Whitney H. (G1). He looks like he’ll have the early lead all to
himself and should be able to hold on. What I want to see is a relatively fast
pace. A slow pace lets too many others into the race and will turn into a
kicker’s race which he will lose.
With the short run to the first turn, Gary Stevens should be able to open up
on this group and take the starch out of the rest of the field.