FILLY & MARE TURF DIARY
JULY 31, 2009
In this issue, we’ll recap the American Oaks Invitational (G1) at Hollywood
Park, analyze the preps for the Beverly D. S. (G1) at Arlington Park, and look
ahead to Saturday’s Diana S. (G1) at Saratoga.
Talk of the town: The Tom Albertrani-trained GOZZIP GIRL (Dynaformer)
spread-eagled a strong field in the July 5 American Oaks Invitational, racking
up her fourth straight score on the turf. The dark bay had hinted of her class
in her past victories, when handling different course conditions and employing
varying tactics, but she proved that she had it in spades at Hollywood.
Unhurried early, Gozzip Girl displayed nifty athleticism to maneuver through the
thicket of 13 rivals for Kent Desormeaux, and turning for home, she was ideally
placed on the heels of leaders. At the top of the stretch, Gozzip Girl charged
through a gap between rivals and uncorked a devastating turn of foot to bolt 3
1/4 lengths clear. After blitzing 1 1/4 miles in 2:00 1/5, she galloped out with
ears pricked, and left no reasonable doubt that she is the best of her division
on the turf.
As professional as Gozzip Girl had looked going into the American Oaks, this
performance was of a different order of magnitude altogether. Indeed, in that
two-minute span, she leapt from the category of “talented” to “outstanding.”
Albertrani is surely right to believe that she is still improving, for she
dismantled this high-caliber group more thoroughly than she had beaten lesser
fields in her previous starts.
Furthermore, Gozzip Girl became the fourth straight American Oaks winner with
prior main-track form. In her case, however, it came not on dirt but on
Polytrack, by way of her terrific runner-up effort in the Ashland S. (G1) at
Keeneland.
Albertrani is now considering a switch to the dirt for the August 22 Alabama
S. (G1) at Saratoga, but only if three-year-old filly tsarina Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia
d’Oro) goes elsewhere. Assuming that Rachel has bigger fish to fry, this is a
very clever piece of spotting on Albertrani’s part. The division does not appear
terribly deep, Gozzip Girl loves the 1 1/4-mile trip, and unless she wanted to
ship back to the West Coast for the August 22 Del Mar Oaks (G1), she wouldn’t
have another logical turf target until the September 12 Garden City S. (G1) at
Belmont. And, by the way, the Alabama’s worth $600,000.
Sob stories: Without detracting from Gozzip Girl’s career-best effort, it
must be pointed out that a few of her opponents ran into several types of
trouble. American Oaks runner-up WELL MONIED (Maria’s Mon) probably
covered closer to 1 3/8 miles. The Howard Zucker filly made an eye-catching move
out wide on the turn, when she was steadily circling the field, and found
herself in the center of the course once in the stretch. Well Monied was
entitled to flatten out by now, but instead, she stayed on willingly to pass six
rivals and grab second by a half-length from LEXLENOS (Ire) (Intikhab),
whom she had beaten easily in the Honeymoon H. (G2).
Fourth-place finisher MAGICAL AFFAIR (Giant’s Causeway) was traveling
beautifully entering the lane, just as well as Gozzip Girl and roughly on even
terms with the winner, until she was stopped cold along the rail. Julien
Leparoux had no choice but to wrap up on her, and Magical Affair literally did
not have a chance. She would have finished much closer had she gotten a seam.
MRS KIPLING (Ire) (Exceed and Excel), who was uncharacteristically close
through the opening quarter-mile, steadily retreated and wound up 12th. David
Flores dismounted quickly, sensing that something was amiss. Mrs Kipling was
able to walk off on her own power, and she has worked twice since for Neil
Drysdale. She was gearing up for a rebound in Saturday’s San Clemente H. (G2),
but was not entered after all, and Daily Racing Form reports that she is
sidelined until the fall.
The New Zealand filly PUTTANESCA (NZ) (Bertolini) was eased by jockey
Glen Boss, who reported that she was experiencing a breathing problem, according
to several Australian websites. Considering that she had secured a great spot
and had been moving well before stopping abruptly, a physical explanation makes
sense. Her former connections, trainer Wayne Hillis and his son Kurt, reportedly
opined that the administration of first-time Lasix may have been an issue. In
any event, the real Puttanesca was eliminated by the far turn. I had expected
her to give a good account of herself, and hopefully she will regroup in the
future for new trainer Julio Canani. As outlined in my last diary, Puttanesca’s
Kiwi form was superior to that of BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe), a
Grade 1 winner who is probably headed to the Beverly D.
Lady in waiting: Although it doesn’t boast the star power of the American
Oaks, Friday’s Lake George S. (G2) at Saratoga will feature several
up-and-coming three-year-old fillies. I was looking forward to seeing DAME
ELLEN (Elusive Quality), but according to the DRF, she sustained a foot
bruise that has ruled her out of her engagement. A daughter of One Thousand
Guineas (Eng-G1) heroine Sleepytime (Ire) (Royal Academy) from a black type-rich
family, Dame Ellen overcame a world of trouble to win her stakes debut in the
June 26 Perfect Sting S. at Belmont. Full of run when buried on the hedge in
midstretch, she was forced to take up and was mired in an unpromising position.
When a seam at last appeared, the Chad Brown trainee plowed straight through and
made up more than two lengths inside the final furlong — on yielding turf — to
collar STRIKE THE BELL (Mizzen Mast) in the shadow of the wire. The
third-place finisher has since come back to just miss in the July 18 Virginia
Oaks (G3), beaten a head by BLIND DATE (Not for Love). Hopefully Dame
Ellen will be in fine fettle for the August 21 Lake Placid S. (G2).
Shameless exhibition: Nothing was demure, or reserved, or self-effacing
about the way that last year’s American Oaks winner PURE CLAN (Pure
Prize) made a spectacle of herself in the July 11 Modesty H. (G3) at Arlington,
a course-and-distance prep for the August 8 Beverly D. After striding along last
in the five-horse field, Leparoux barely nudged her to take slightly closer
order after a half-mile, then let her drop back to fifth again entering the far
turn. Pure Clan was apparently responsive to every cue from her rider,
displaying a tractable disposition as well as multiple moves. The Bob Holthus
filly commenced her rally turning for home, and once she got her mammoth stride
in gear, she blew by the front-running TIZAQUEENA (Tiznow) and
DYNAFORCE (Dynaformer) and spurted away by 2 1/2 dominating lengths.
Tizaqueena had gotten away with dawdling splits, with Dynaforce in close
pursuit, but the favorable pace scenario was no help to them. Nor was it any
hindrance to Pure Clan, who thereby marked herself as the horse to beat in the 1
3/16-mile Beverly D.
As if Pure Clan needed a form boost, she got it in the July 5 Locust Grove H.
(G3) at Churchill, when CLOSEOUT (Repriced) outclassed the field and
sluiced home by three lengths. Closeout had previously finished fifth in the
Mint Julep H. (G3) in her seasonal reappearance, well adrift of runner-up Pure
Clan and third-place Tizaqueena. The Tom Proctor-trained Closeout sabotaged
herself that day by being overaggressive early, but relaxed more kindly in the
Locust Grove.
Tizaqueena and Dynaforce are both expected to try their luck against Pure
Clan again in the Beverly D. It’s difficult to imagine how Tizaqueena can
reverse the form, since she has now been crushed by Pure Clan twice in a row.
Dynaforce, last year’s Flower Bowl Invitational (G1) victress, was a bit
disappointing in not being able to overtake Tizaqueena in the Modesty. On the
other hand, Dynaforce did improve off her disappointing 2009 debut, and she is
eligible to do better still when making her third start off the layoff for Bill
Mott. Rain-softened ground would also be a boon for Dynaforce’s chances in the
Beverly D.
Gentle introduction: French Group 2 winner TREAT GENTLY (GB) (Cape
Cross [Ire]), for whom I had issued a be-on-the-lookout alert in the nick of
time, has now entered the Beverly D. picture after an easy American debut.
Meeting a useful group in Belmont’s 8TH race on July 9, the Juddmonte Farms
homebred was given an ultra-confident ride by Ramon Dominguez. Treat Gently was
anchored at the rear through slow fractions, cruised into contention in the
stretch, and got up in time by a cozy half-length. The Bobby Frankel trainee
finished deceptively fast while reeling off 1 1/16 miles in 1:41 3/5, in what
was essentially a paid workout in company.
Treat Gently’s European form from 2008 is as solid as it gets, having
finished within hailing distance of Zarkava, and having beaten Dar Re Mi
(Singspiel [Ire]). She is also a blue-blood whose dam is a half-sister to the
outstanding broodmare Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi), the dam of Banks Hill (GB),
Intercontinental (GB), Dansili (GB), Cacique (Ire), Heat Haze (GB) et al. The
burning question is, can Treat Gently be ready to win a super-tough race like
the Beverly D. off just one bloodless prep?
Grace notes: The late bloomer POINTS OF GRACE (Point Given) may
have booked her ticket to the Beverly D. with a driving victory in the July 11
Dance Smartly S. (Can-G2) at Woodbine. Trained by Malcolm Pierce for Live Oak
Plantation, the four-year-old showed a high cruising speed to take the lead,
repelled an early challenge from Canadian champion GINGER BREW (Milwaukee
Brew), and kept up her relentless gallop to score by 2 1/4 lengths. Points of
Grace completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:45 2/5, especially snappy on a course listed as
good, and not far off Rahy’s Attorney’s (Crown Attorney) firm-turf mark of 1:44
3/5.
Points of Grace did not begin her career until last November, when romping in
a Polytrack maiden, and she has gone on to compile a respectable 8-5-2-0 mark.
She made her stakes debut in the Nassau S. (Can-G2) two starts ago, where she
was taken back off the pace and ran evenly in fourth. Pierce told the DRF that
was a tactical error in hindsight, for she would have been more comfortable on
or near the lead.
Points of Grace moved forward considerably with the change of tactics, as
evidenced by the fact that she turned the tables on Canadian champion
CALLWOOD DANCER (Ire) (Danehill Dancer). Second in the Nassau, Callwood
Dancer could manage no better than fourth in the Dance Smartly, beaten 3 3/4
lengths by Points of Grace. To be fair, the weight spread had also shifted in
Points of Grace’s favor, with Callwood Dancer spotting her eight pounds (121 to
113) in the Dance Smartly.
Both the Nassau and Dance Smartly represent solid form. Nassau winner
RUTHERIENNE (Pulpit), a Grade 1 veteran, is entered in the Diana. Nassau
third MEADOW SAFFRON (Military) went on to post a course record-setting
victory in the Casino S. at Indiana Downs. The Casino has turned out to be a
surprisingly productive race, with third-place finisher HAPPINESS IS (Dynaformer)
coming back to win a deep renewal of Saturday’s Lady Canterbury S., and Casino
fifth FINAL REFRAIN (Lion Cavern) returning to capture Saturday’s Ellis
Park Turf S. While none of those is graded, the overall pattern compliments
Meadow Saffron, and in turn suggests that the Nassau was a strong event.
In the Dance Smartly, Ginger Brew performed well in her first start off a 3
1/2-month holiday. Not only was the Frankel pupil flashing speed throughout and
conceding five pounds to Points of Grace, but she also finished 1 1/2 lengths
clear of a rallying MUSHKA (Empire Maker) in third. The formline through
Mushka is particularly important, with Mushka having finished second to
CRITICISM (GB) (Machiavellian) in the Sheepshead Bay S. (G2) in her prior
outing. Sheepshead Bay third CAPRICE (Ger) (Monsun) promptly flattered
the form by winning the July 18 Robert G. Dick Memorial H. (G3) at Delaware
Park.
Taken together, these strands of form bode well for Points of Grace.
Moreover, Criticism would have been a top contender in the Beverly D., but
Albertrani has opted for the Diana instead. Now Points of Grace figures to step
into Criticism’s pacesetting or pace-prompting role. She has some way to go
before she can match Criticism’s divisional standing, but Points of Grace is an
upwardly-mobile type who merits respect. Ginger Brew is also eyeing a tilt at
the Beverly D., and she has a license to improve.
Invasion force: The Beverly D. historically attracts a potent raiding
party from Europe, and this year promises to be no different. The Aga Khan’s
ALNADANA (Danehill Dancer) is the most attractive of the likely invaders.
She was supposed to run in Dubai earlier this year, according to trainer Alain
de Royer-Dupre, but met with a setback that altered her campaign. The
royally-bred four-year-old is razor-sharp at present, however.
The gray comes off a front-running score versus males in the July 18 Prix
Messidor (Fr-G3), and two starts back, she nearly captured the Princess
Elizabeth S. (Eng-G3) at Epsom. Finishing like a freight train, Alnadana looked
as though she were going to win readily, only to lug in dramatically on the
Epsom camber, was forced to steady, and checked in second. The third-placer,
Spacious (Nayef), has gone on to land the Windsor Forest S. (Eng-G2) at Royal
Ascot and was most recently third to Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) in the Falmouth S.
(Eng-G1). Spacious was obviously much better in her past two than she was in her
2009 bow in the Princess Elizabeth, so the form can’t be taken too literally,
but it still reflects creditably upon Alnadana.
Irish maestro Dermot Weld is planning to dispatch MAD ABOUT YOU
(Indian Ridge), who would be a prime threat if she runs up to her 2008 form.
Last season, she was among the best of her division, just missing in the Irish
One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) and finishing second in the Pretty Polly S.
(Ire-G1), but her four-year-old campaign has been rather disappointing. Mad
About You’s lone victory this year came in the Gladness S. (Ire-G3) in April,
and she has been beaten in her last three attempts, all in Group 3 company. If
she were not trained by Weld, I’d be tempted to dismiss her, but he is capable
of conjuring up a massive effort from her.
The other possibles are all sophomores who would need to step up their game
quite a bit. DENOMINATION (Smart Strike) garnered the nine-furlong Prix
Vanteaux (Fr-G3) before being trounced in the 10 1/2-furlong Prix de Diane
(French Oaks) (Fr-G1), and she is exiting a close third, beaten a head and a
neck, in the Prix Chloe (Fr-G3) back at nine furlongs. The Criquette Head-Maarek
trainee has tactical speed, but she doesn’t look good enough to pull the upset.
PROVIDANZA (Okawango) was a troubled fourth in the Chloe. It may be
telling that her trainer, Mikael Delzangles, also saddled the Chloe winner, yet
prefers to send Providanza to Arlington. Two starts back, she defeated an iffy
field in the Prix de Lilas, and three starts back, she was a non-threatening
seventh in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas)
(Fr-G1). Perhaps her strongest calling card is that Delzangles sent out Toque de
Queda (GB) (Dansili [GB]) to finish a shocking third in last year’s Beverly D.
Aidan O’Brien’s HEART SHAPED (Storm Cat) is familiar to Americans as
the filly who fell a nose short in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
Turf last fall. Her 2009 began promisingly enough, with a second in the
Leopardstown One Thousand Guineas Trial (Ire-G3) and a fourth in the One
Thousand Guineas to the impressive Ghanaati (Giant’s Causeway). Heart Shaped has
lost her way in her past two, crossing the wire a well-beaten sixth to Ghanaati
in the Coronation S. (Eng-G1) and fifth in the Brownstown S. (Ire-G3) in her
latest. O’Brien is also considering a trip for ROMAN EMPRESS (Sadler’s
Wells), who has been drubbed in both the Pretty Polly and Irish Oaks (Ire-G1).
Tricky Dick: Caprice may have upheld the Sheepshead Bay form in the Dick
Memorial at Delaware, but the form of a couple of other races took a battering
in that event, and I’m not sure that it’s unimpeachable. For starters, I was
nonplussed when ASTROLOGIE (Fr) (Polish Precedent) went to the lead, for
she looks a lot happier as a closer. Predictably, she wilted, despite crawling
for the first 1 1/4 miles of the 1 3/8-mile affair, and wound up fourth.
Even worse was DRESS REHEARSAL (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]), who had been
stalking on the outside, but gave way alarmingly on the far turn. She was not
the only horse on the outside to struggle, for WINTER VIEW (Thunder
Gulch) looked one-paced for the first time in months. Winter View’s three-race
winning streak was snapped as she trudged home sixth. In contrast, Caprice
showed a smart burst of speed on the inside to win by a neck from TRENSA
(Giant’s Causeway), another to fly home on the fence.
Caprice, who had finished fourth to Winter View in the Bewitch S. (G3)
earlier in the year, will probably be put to the test in the Glens Falls H. (G3)
on Labor Day at Saratoga. There we’ll get a better idea of whether she’s really
in the ascendant, or whether she had the good fortune to be a Graham Motion
runner in the Dick. He’s only won it six times now.
Breaking open the bubbly: Another who shapes up as a Glens Falls type is
multiple Brazilian Group 1 queen BUBBLY JANE (Brz) (Yagli), who captured
her North American debut for Paulo Lobo in the July 22 Donor S. at Belmont. The
dark bay, who is just about one month shy of celebrating her actual fourth
birthday, rated near the back of the field off slow fractions. Rajiv Maragh had
to push her along for quite a while before she began to make headway in the
stretch. Bubbly Jane kept plugging on purposefully between rivals, and she
stayed on well to score by a nose in the last jump. The DRF noted that she
appeared to be struck in the face by a rival’s whip, so I went back to look at
the video more closely, and her head did in fact reflexively shoot up at one
point in deep stretch.
That was a game and professional effort from a lightly-raced filly who was
making her first start since October. While the 1 1/4-mile Donor was just an
overnight stakes, note that third-place finisher BELLE ALLURE (Ire)
(Numerous), a French Group 3 heroine last season, is a late addition to the
Beverly D. for Christophe Clement.
Bubbly Jane has a lot going for her. She sports a sterling 7-5-1-0 career
mark, she distinguished herself at the highest level in Brazil, and she can
handle all types of ground. Runner-up in a Group 1 event in her homeland as a
juvenile, she won both of her outings at three — the nine-furlong Grande Premio
Henrique de Toledo Lara (Brz-G1) on firm turf and the 10-furlong Gran Premio
Diana (Brz-G1) on heavy going. Bubbly Jane appeals as the type who can progress
further.
Battle royal: The July 11 Royal Heroine Mile (G2) served up a riveting
stretch duel between TUSCAN EVENING (Ire) (Oasis Dream [GB]) and stakes
debutante PATRICIA’S GEM (Mineshaft). While Patricia’s Gem went straight
to the early lead, Tuscan Evening proved to be rateable and settled into a
stalking second. No one else got involved. Tuscan Evening threw down a stiff
challenge in the lane, but Patricia’s Gem showed a great deal of poise in her
sixth lifetime start to fight back. Every time one appeared to get the upper
hand, the other upped the ante, and the two were nip-and-tuck to the wire.
Tuscan Evening just thrust her nose down to claim the spoils from a gallant
Patricia’s Gem.
While the Royal Heroine was great theater at Hollywood, I wonder whether
these speedy fillies can re-enact the scene in the August 16 John C. Mabee H.
(G1) at Del Mar, where multiple Grade 1 queen MAGICAL FANTASY (Diesis
[GB]) will presumably be lying in wait. Also, MEYDAN PRINCESS (Ire) (Choisir),
who couldn’t get near Tuscan Evening or Patricia’s Gem at Hollywood, looked like
a different horse when rolling to an emphatic score in this past Sunday’s
Osunitas H. at Del Mar. Even allowing for the class drop into a restricted
stakes, the Jim Cassidy filly was impressive in squeezing through along the
fence and barreling home as much the best, in a swift 1:40 3/5 for 1 1/16 miles.
Del Mar appears to suit her far better than Hollywood. Might one even hope that
the frustrating VISIT (GB) (Oasis Dream [GB]), a belated fourth in the
Royal Heroine, could get her act together at Del Mar?
Alternatively, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has suggested that Tuscan Evening
could try the Beverly D. instead of the Mabee. Considering that she has yet to
race beyond 1 1/16 miles, I would be surprised if Tuscan Evening ships halfway
across the country to face the likes of Pure Clan, Treat Gently, probably Black
Mamba et al. She won’t have the luxury of being the controlling speed there,
either.
Hunting the Diana: Champion FOREVER TOGETHER (Belong to Me) had
her game face on Wednesday, scorching five furlongs in :57 3/5 over the Oklahoma
training turf as she looks to defend her crown in the Diana. This 1 1/8-mile
test at the Spa served as her coming out party last season, and the Jonathan
Sheppard mare will likely have to produce another stellar effort to retain her
title. Forever Together is drawn out wide in post 10, but she’s going to drop
back early anyway, so that’s not as big a concern as is the presence of
Criticism. The 123-pound co-highweight along with Forever Together, Criticism is
going to get the jump on her and doesn’t figure to slow down to make it easy on
the deep closer. Forever Together’s other potential adversary is the weather; if
it rains enough, the course could be softer than ideal, as it was when she was
second in the Just a Game S. (G1) last time out.
Two other Just a Game alumnae are lining up against Forever Together in the
Diana. MY PRINCESS JESS (Stormy Atlantic) has been freshened since her
third-place effort, while Just a Game fourth CARRIBEAN SUNSET (Ire) (Danehill
Dancer) rebounded with a smart score in the July 6 Dr. James Penny Memorial H.
at Philadelphia Park. Clement will be double-handed in the Diana, since in
addition to Carribean Sunset, he has Rutherienne.
Interestingly, Rutherienne was cross-entered to Sunday’s Matchmaker S. (G3)
at Monmouth, perhaps as a back-up plan in case the Saratoga turf is too soft. If
she winds up being re-routed to the Jersey Shore, she would face a solid group
including ARIEGE (Doneraile Court), Closeout, Meadow Saffron and South
African champion CAPTAIN’S LOVER (SAf) (Captain Al), a closing third in
the July 3 Miss Liberty S. over the course. Captain’s Lover was fifth in the
Just a Game in her American debut, and I keep expecting her to break through one
of these days for Todd Pletcher. The Matchmaker will be her third start off the
layoff.
On the horizon: Our next installment will review the Diana, Beverly D.
and Mabee and take stock of the three-year-olds approaching the Lake Placid and
the Del Mar Oaks.