KEENELAND DAILY NOTEBOOK
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2005
by Brian P. Turner
Keeneland kicked off the Fall Meet by offering a pair of graded stakes races,
one of which was the Alcibiades S. (G2) for two-year-old fillies going 1 1/16
miles on the main track. Ex Caelis (Seattle Slew) was sent to the gate as the
post-time favorite off her second-place finish in the Arlington Breeders’ Cup
Lassie S. (G3). The dark bay was content to stalk the pace through early
fractions of :23 4/5 and :48 1/5 but once she decided to make her move, she
could not run down the pacesetter and was forced to settle for second.
SHE SAYS IT BEST (Stormy Atlantic) bounded out of the gate then onto the lead
and was never once seriously challenged on her way to a solid 2 1/2-length
score. The bay had reeled off two nice victories in a row for trainer Vickie
Foley before coming up a head short last out in the Bassinet S. at River Downs,
and her impressive performance in the Alcibiades definitely moves her squarely
into Breeders’ Cup contention.
Maiden winner Performing Diva (Storm Cat) was content to lay just off the
pace early but could make up no serious ground at the end and was forced to
settle for third, crossing the finish line two lengths behind Ex Caelis.
In the other stakes offering on the day, a field of eight contested the
12-furlong Sycamore Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) on the lawn. Vangelis (Highest Honor
[Fr]) was sent to the post as the favorite off of his recent performances
against Grade 1 company but after laying near the back of the pack early, the
gray just did not have enough in the tank through the stretch and was forced to
settle for third. In the end, the day belonged to the tough old gelding
ROCHESTER (Green Dancer), who won this event for the third time in his long
career. The nine-year-old has always loved Keeneland and showed it once again as
he rallied from near the back of the pack with a nice turn of foot and powered
down the stretch to hit the finish line 3 3/4 lengths in front.
Dreadnaught (Lac Quimet), who had run behind Vangelis in each of this last
two starts, picked up the place, crossing the finish line a half-length clear of
his rival.
There were five sprints contested on the main track today and horses on or
near the pace won all of them. In addition, there were three main track routes
with front runners winning two of these. As for the two turf routes, horses
coming from off the pace won both.
Gary Stevens jumped out to an early lead in the jockey standings as he booted
home three winners on the 10-race card, but Rafael Bejarano and Edgar Prado are
hot on his trail with two winners each.
With the first day of racing now in the books, there are 10 separate
trainers, including Nick Zito and D. Wayne Lukas, who have one win apiece.
Horses to Watch
3RD – SUMMER BOOK (Notebook) had a stellar performance in this “non-winners
of three other than” allowance event. The gray was allowed to escape with slow
early fractions of :25 and :50 1/5 before absolutely exploding through the
stretch drive to hit the wire 8 1/4 lengths clear of a very solid field of
horses. The four-year-old colt did this despite the fact that he was still
eligible for “non-winners of two other than” allowance conditions so don’t be
surprised if he returns back in the same conditions he cleared today.
6TH – SWEPT GOLD (Touch Gold) rallied from last with a game effort over a
surface that was favoring speed to miss by 1 1/4 lengths in this allowance event
for two-year-old fillies. The bay was really moving well late, with good action,
and should definitely pose a threat in her next start.
Tomorrow’s Outlook – Saturday, October 8
A total of three graded stakes races, including two that are Grade 1s,
highlight Saturday’s card of racing at Keeneland. The first Grade 1 event comes
in the 8TH as a field of 14 two-year-olds is entered for the Breeders’ Futurity, contested at 1 1/16 miles over the main track. LAITY
(Pulpit) has been made the morning-line favorite in the event off of this
impressive 11 3/4-length score in the Cradle S. at River Downs. Though the bay
is an extremely talented young runner, he has drawn post 12 for the event which
is not the ideal place to be at Keeneland in 1 1/16 miles events. Over the
course of the Spring meet there were 27 races at this distance and not one
winner came from outside post 7.
This trend was challenged a bit on Friday though when She Says It Best broke
from post 9 in the Alcibiades, but Laity definitely has his work cut out for
him. Though he is coming off of only a maiden victory, the Todd Pletcher trained
HIGH COTTON (Dixie Union) should take some action from the betting public as
should STREAM CAT (Black Minnaloushe), who is coming off of a solid 1 3/4-length
victory in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile S. (G3) at Turfway Park.
The other Grade 1 event of the day will be contested in the 9TH as a field of
10 is set to go to the gate for the Shadwell Turf Mile S. for three-year-olds
and up going eight furlongs over the lawn. The Bobby Frankel-trained THREE
VALLEYS (Diesis [GB]) will be looking for his third win in a row with his most
recent triumph coming in the Del Mar Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) where he overcame a
troubled trip to hit the finish line a nose in front. AD VALOREM (Danzig) is a
Group 1 winner in Europe who has been facing some beasts across the pond and has
been performing admirably against that competition. Trainer Aidan O’Brien has
brought along jockey Kieren Fallon for the ride and the bay is a solid threat
here at what should be a fair price.
ALINGHI (Aus) (Encosta De Lago) was extremely impressive in her North
American debut as she rallied from some 13 lengths off the pace to take the
victory by 1 1/4 lengths in the Ballston Spa Breeders’ Cup H. (G3) at Belmont.
This will be a solid test for the filly as she takes on the boys.
Saturday’s other graded stakes race comes in the 6TH as a field nine is set
to contest the Phoenix Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) for three-year-olds and upward
going six furlongs on the main track. FIFTEEN ROUNDS (Fit to Fight) is coming
off of a solid score in the Arlington Breeders’ Cup Sprint H. where he vied for
the lead throughout and dug in gamely at the end to hit the wire a neck in
front. PREMIUM SALTINE (Salt Lake) will be returning to stakes competition after
a drop into allowance-company in his previous start. The one knock against the
gelding would be that he has not performed well in either of his two previous
starts here at Keeneland.
Saturday’s forecast calls for rain in the morning and cloudy skies in the
afternoon with highs in the mid-60s.
Saturday’s Best Plays
4TH – SUMMER TRIP (Trippi) stands a solid chance in this maiden special event
at what should be a square price. The two-year-old filly will be making her
first start since finishing third at Churchill back in May where she hopped at
the start but closed well at the end to come up 3 3/4 lengths short. Summer Trip
will also be making her first start for trainer Tom Proctor, who wins 22 percent
of the time in the “90+ days away” trainer category and 24 percent of the maiden
special weight races he has runners in. The dark bay has been working steadily
and forwardly for her return to racing, including her most recent clocking of
:49 right here at Keeneland, the fifth fastest time of the 25 that worked that
morning.
9TH – Ad Valorem has been acquitting himself well against some of Europe’s
best including multiple Group 1 winners Soviet Song (Ire) (Marju), Shamardal
(Giant’s Causeway) and Oratorio (Ire) (Danehill). The bay will be adding Lasix
for his North American debut and has in the past displayed a versatile running
style which should allow jockey Fallon to have him well placed regardless of the
pace scenario that develops.