THOROUGHBRED BEAT
AUGUST 24, 2005
by James Scully
Elusive stakes score – BORREGO (El Prado [Ire]) made a name for
himself when finishing second by 1 1/2 lengths to Smarty Jones in last year’s
Arkansas Derby (G2), but he wound up winless from eight stakes starts in 2004
and kept an ignominious streak going in his first four stakes attempts this
year. Everything changed for Borrego on Sunday as the four-year-old colt
accomplished a noteworthy victory in the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1).
Trained by Beau Greely, Borrego earned his first stakes win under an excellent
ride from Garrett Gomez, who took far back off fast fractions of :22 3/5 and :45
4/5 for the 1 1/4-mile race and closed furiously on the far turn and into the
stretch drive. Borrego eventually caught a gutsy LAVA MAN (Slew City Slew) and
outfinished PERFECT DRIFT (Dynaformer) for the half-length decision, recording a
106 BRIS Speed rating.
Bridesmaid – Perfect Drift captured the Stephen Foster H. (G1),
Kentucky Cup Classic (G2) and Hawthorne Gold Cup (G2) in 2003, but his only
stakes win since came over six grossly overmatched rivals in the July 30
Washington Park H. (G2) at Arlington Park. He has finished second or third in
nine stakes races over the past 16 months and remained consistent with a
runner-up placing in the Pacific Classic for the second-straight year.
Lava praise – Cynics may want to label Lava Man a Hollywood Park horse
following his defeat at 3-2 odds in Sunday’s Pacific Classic, but take nothing
away from his marvelous third-place performance. He battled nostril to nostril
with Surf Cat (Sir Cat) through fast fractions before disposing of that
well-regarded opponent and then gamely withstood the late rallies of Borrego,
Perfect Drift and Choctaw Nation (Louis Quatorze) until the final yards,
displaying tremendous grit to hold the latter rival to fourth. A resounding 8
3/4-length victor of the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) in his previous outing, Lava
Man was beaten only three parts of a length for it all in the Pacific Classic
and did so on a track that wasn’t favoring speed.
Late-running gray – IMPERIALISM (Langfuhr), last year’s third-place
Kentucky Derby (G1) finisher, returned to the winner’s circle for the first time
in nearly 18 months by annexing Sunday’s Pat O’Brien Breeders’ Cup H. (G2)
at Del Mar. The Kristin Mulhall-trained four-year-old raced in last until the
far turn and entered the stretch widest of all, but he was still able to easily
run past all rivals. Closers accounted for the top three placings and, once
again, a new winner emerged in a major California sprint stakes. Unfurl the Flag
(Bertrando), Hasty Kris (Kissin Kris), Harvard Avenue (You and I) Forest Grove
(Forestry) and Saint Afleet (Northern Afleet) are all one-time graded sprint
stakes winners in California this year. Greg’s Gold (Lake George)
notched his first career stakes victory when annexing the Bing Crosby H. (G1)
earlier in the Del Mar meet. There aren’t any formidable Breeders’ Cup Sprint
(G1) candidates training in Southern California.
Sweetness and Suaveness – SWEET SYMPHONY (A.P. Indy) remained perfect
with an authoritative 6 1/4-length romp from off the pace in Saturday’s Alabama
S. (G1) and earned a strong 108 BRIS Speed rating for her stakes bow. She’s
suddenly a serious contender for championship three-year-old filly honors and
the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). SUAVE, another offspring of A.P. Indy, captured
Sunday’s feature, the Saratoga Breeders’ Cup H. (G2), in front-running fashion
and recorded a 109 Speed figure. He’ll now be pointed toward the Breeders’ Cup
Classic (G1). Suave’s win came at the expense of OFFLEE WILD (Wild Again), who
faltered to fifth at 3-5 odds. Offlee Wild’s dam is a half-sister to Dynaformer,
but the five-year-old has never been given the chance to show what he can do on
the turf. Given his physical problems, the grass might prove beneficial. Trainer
Jonathon Sheppard didn’t switch With Anticipation to the grass until he was six,
despite his pedigree, and the gray went on to win six Grade 1s and finish second
in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). Offlee Wild is bred to be an outstanding turf
horse.
Travers bound – George Steinbrenner owns BELLAMY ROAD (Concerto).
Winner of this year’s Wood Memorial (G1) by 17 1/2 lengths and favored in the
Kentucky Derby, Bellamy Road was being considered for both the $1 million
Travers S. (G1) and the seven-furlong King’s Bishop S. (G1) on the undercard. The final decision was a
no-brainer. Instead of going after a race many people have never heard of, the Boss
will pursue much greater glory in the Travers. Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet) is
on the sidelines recovering, but three top-class sophomores remain for the
10-furlong event — ROMAN RULER (Fusaichi Pegasus), FLOWER ALLEY (Distorted
Humor) and Bellamy Road.
Juveniles – WHAT A SONG (Songandaprayer) was sadly lost last Friday
after suffering a fractured right front sesamoid in a morning workout. The Bob
Baffert-trained colt won all three career starts, including the Best Pal S. (G2)
in striking fashion, for owners Bob and Beverly Lewis. A budding rivalry had
been developing between What a Song and East Coast counterpart HENNY HUGHES
(Hennessy), who will put his unbeaten streak on the line Saturday in the Hopeful
S. (G1) at Saratoga.