FILLY & MARE TURF DIARY
AUGUST 22, 2009
In this edition, we’ll review the recent “Big Three” races, ranking each in
order of its impact on the division, and catch up with the three-year-olds.
Still the champ: The August 1 Diana S. (G1) at Saratoga must take
precedence, as reigning champion turf female FOREVER TOGETHER
(Belong to Me) got back on the winning track with a deceptively strong
performance to defend her title. Unlike her stunning victory in the 2008 Diana,
when the Jonathan Sheppard mare produced a last-to-first rally from the clouds,
her 2009 score was much narrower and more subtle. For that reason, my initial
reaction to her second straight Diana trophy was one of slight concern: Is the
five-year-old still in championship form? Is she getting a bit wise, and perhaps
not as determined to extend herself? Is she maintaining only a tenuous grasp on
divisional leadership, leaving a sliver of hope to her rivals?
Being of the philosophical persuasion that sensory evidence is not to be
trusted implicitly, I did not want to draw all sorts of conclusions on the
testimony of my eyes alone. By looking at the objective data — the internal
fractions and weights — a completely different verdict appeared, one in favor
of Forever Together. The two Dianas unfolded in contrasting ways, creating
different visual impressions, but Forever Together produced a similarly dazzling
turn of foot in each.
In the 2008 Diana, a fast pace on good ground stretched the field from the
beginning, and furnished the ideal set-up for a deep closer. Forever Together,
15 lengths behind the leader at the half-mile mark, flew home to win going away
by three-quarters of a length from Dynaforce (Dynaformer), who was herself 3 1/2
lengths clear of RUTHERIENNE (Pulpit) in third. Both Forever Together and
Dynaforce carried 118 pounds.
In the 2009 Diana, again on good ground, the pace was only steady. The
advantage in the 1 1/8-mile affair thus lay with the forwardly-placed types, to
the detriment of the late-running Forever Together. CARRIBEAN SUNSET
(Ire) (Danehill Dancer), who had tracked in third early, sliced between rivals
to grab the lead in midstretch and set sail for the wire.
Meanwhile, Forever Together, who was eight lengths off this leisurely pace at
the half-mile point, was already in hot pursuit. Coming with a relentless
charge, she reeled in Carribean Sunset, to whom she was conceding five pounds as
the 123-pound highweight. Carribean Sunset finished her final furlong in roughly
:11 4/5, forcing Forever Together to blaze her last eighth in approximately :11
2/5 to thrust her head in front. Forever Together posted a slightly faster
closing split a year ago, but carrying less weight.
Whether Forever Together earned “style” points or not, she got the job done
in less than ideal circumstances, and you can’t ask for more than that. It’s not
easy to win two Dianas in any event, as illustrated by the short list of
two-time Diana winners — *Miss Grillo (1946-47), Searching (1956, 1958),
Tempted (1959-60), Shuvee (1970-71), Hush Dear (1982-83) and Glowing Honor
(1988-89).
Carribean Sunset ran by far her best race ever in the United States, and is
finally recovering the top-class form she displayed last season in England and
Ireland. She also showed great pluck to stay on along the inside late, briefly
threatening to come again and pip Forever Together on the line. The champion
always looked to have her measure, though.
Because of the moderate early pace, the margin between second and third was
not as gaudy as last year. Rutherienne, a well-beaten third in 2008, occupied
the same spot this time around, but she was desperately unlucky not to have
finished closer. Trained, like Carribean Sunset, by Christophe Clement,
Rutherienne was steadied twice, caught in traffic and stuck in a holding pattern
when her stablemate made her move. By the time she broke free, Rutherienne
closed well enough to gain a couple of lengths, but was still three-quarters of
a length behind Carribean Sunset at the wire.
A mischievous counterfactual: What if the brilliant DIAMONDRELLA (GB)
(Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]), who upset Forever Together in the Just a Game S. (G1)
last time out, had run in the Diana, instead of awaiting the August 29 Ballston
Spa S. (G2)? There’s no guarantee that the Angel Penna Jr. mare will be as
effective at two turns as she is in sprints and one-turn miles, which is why her
cautious conditioner preferred the step-by-step approach of the 1 1/16-mile
Ballston Spa rather than the 1 1/8-mile Diana. For whatever it’s worth, I think
that Diamondrella’s pedigree is strongly supportive of her staying 1 1/8 miles.
Sheppard has indicated that Forever Together will likely resurface at
Keeneland to defend her title in the October 10 First Lady S. (G1) en route to
the November 6 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Santa Anita. Clement
plans to split up his distaffers. According to Daily Racing Form,
Carribean Sunset is headed to the September 9 Palomar H. (G2) on closing day at
Del Mar, while Rutherienne is bound for the Ballston Spa.
Conjuring up a winning streak: Last Sunday’s John C. Mabee S. (G1) at
Del Mar ranks as the next most informative race of the recent trio, not because
the 1 1/8-mile contest was particularly deep, but because MAGICAL FANTASY
(Diesis [GB]) has racked up a three-race winning streak in the Breeders’ Cup’s
backyard in Southern California. Returning from a two-month freshening for Paddy
Gallagher, the 123-pound highweight relaxed well off a slow pace, angled out for
the drive, and stormed home to score by a convincing length, going away, over
the honest yardstick GOTTA HAVE HER (Royal Academy).
According to the Trakus data available on Del Mar’s website, Magical Fantasy
clocked her final furlong in :11.29, but neither her mile position nor her final
time on Trakus squares with the official chart. Estimating from her three-length
deficit at the mile mark on the official chart, and her final time of 1:47,
Magical Fantasy appears to have fired a sub 11-second final eighth. Either way,
she was in high gear.
Magical Fantasy, by turning the 2008 Del Mar Oaks (G1)/2009 Mabee double,
thereby achieved an historical feat of her own. Only Country Queen, Hall of
Famer Flawlessly and Amorama (Fr) have accomplished the double in the
contemporary period, since the Mabee (once known as the Ramona) became a grass
race in 1970.
With her potent late kick and ground-devouring strides, Magical Fantasy rates
as a legitimate contender for the Filly & Mare Turf. If her development into a
top-tier filly as a four-year-old has come as a pleasant surprise, it’s worth
remembering that her three-quarter brothers also reached their peak as older
horses. Keen Hunter (Diesis [GB]) landed the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp
(Fr-G1) at four, while Altibr (Diesis [GB]) won a Dubai Group 2 at four and the
Shadwell Turf Mile (G2) at five. Magical Fantasy is simply following the
family’s late-maturing pattern, suggesting, in hindsight, that she did
inordinately well to take the Del Mar Oaks last year.
Plans call for Magical Fantasy to use the local course-and-distance prep, the
October 10 Yellow Ribbon S. (G1), as her springboard to the Breeders’ Cup.
D-Day at Arlington: The August 8 Beverly D. S. (G1) on Arlington
Million Day featured a strong cast, but the early crawl on rain-softened ground
renders the literal result questionable in terms of divisional standing. The
classy DYNAFORCE moves up a few lengths in these conditions, and the Bill
Mott mare made the most of her perfect trip. Indeed, the Beverly D. was run as
if straight out of her playbook. Dynaforce stalked the early leader
TIZAQUEENA (Tiznow) through very slow fractions, had to work hard to subdue
the tough pacesetter in the stretch, but finally asserted her authority and
edged 1 1/4 lengths clear.
The Aga Khan’s French shipper ALNADANA (Ire) (Danehill Dancer), who
raced in third for much of the way, found a seam in the lane and stayed on to
garner runner-up honors in a three-way finish with a belatedly-closing PURE
CLAN (Pure Prize) and a tiring Tizaqueena.
Pure Clan, who had demolished both Tizaqueena and Dynaforce in the Modesty H.
(G3) on firm turf last time out, did well to finish as close as she did in the
Beverly D., considering her severe tactical disadvantage. Last of the octet
until reaching the stretch, Pure Clan finally got traction inside the final
furlong, when she made solid headway to grab third and just missed second. The
fact that she beat Tizaqueena by a scant nose, after drubbing her by 4 3/4
lengths and 2 1/2 lengths earlier this campaign, proves that the Beverly D.
result cannot be taken at face value. In different circumstances, especially the
firm turf sure to prevail in the Breeders’ Cup, I’m convinced that Pure Clan
would defeat this group. The Bob Holthus filly is entitled to rebound wherever
she turns up next.
Another who deserves an asterisk for her Beverly D. performance is
fifth-place finisher POINTS OF GRACE (Point Given). The Malcolm Pierce
trainee really needs to be on or near the lead to produce her best, so her
chances were diminished right out of the gate when she was bumped, got in tight,
steadied and was shuffled back. With a clean break, Points of Grace would have
been in the mix early, and given how the race unfolded, it’s more than likely
she would have been in the hunt late. I’m not about to give up on this
lightly-raced filly. Although I haven’t been a vociferous cheerleader for
BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe), the Southern California invader didn’t
run a yard in these conditions either, and her last-place effort is a toss-out
as well.
(I keep using the circumlocutions of “rain-softened ground” and “these
conditions” because of the discrepancy in the sources regarding the official
state of the turf course. All day, we kept hearing repeatedly on television
coverage that the course was “yielding,” yet the charts describe the surface as
“good.”)
Another mischievous counter-factual: What if Darley Stable’s CRITICISM
(GB) (Machiavellian) had run in the 1 3/16-mile Beverly D., her
originally-reported target, instead of the Diana, where she faded badly to
finish ninth of 10? As it turned out, the Arlington showpiece was tailor-made
for a front runner of proven distance capacity like Criticism. It was not
tailor-made for fellow Darley colorbearer Tizaqueena, who is now set to cut back
to a mile in the First Lady and clash with Forever Together.
Dynaforce is on course for a title defense in the October 3 Flower Bowl
Invitational (G1) at Belmont Park, where the weather may again prove
cooperative. To be fair, she has run well on firm going on occasion, but she was
never in contention in last year’s Filly & Mare Turf. Unless Dynaforce does
something spectacular on firm turf in the interim, it’s hard to make a case for
her at Santa Anita this season. Points of Grace will return in the September 20
Canadian S. (Can-G2) at her Woodbine base, and Black Mamba is expected to tackle
males in the August 30 Del Mar H. (G2), as trainer John Sadler continues to mull
an assault on Australia for the November 3 Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1).
Day at the beach: Godolphin’s COCOA BEACH (Chi) (Doneraile
Court), a disappointing last of four in her seasonal reappearance in the Floral
Park Heatherten S. at a sloppy Belmont, moved forward back on turf in the August
5 De La Rose S. at Saratoga. Launching a bold bid turning for home, the dark bay
shifted in, but straightened up and drove to a neck decision. A claim of foul
was lodged because of the incident at the top of the stretch, but Cocoa Beach
was rightly allowed to keep the victory.
While Cocoa Beach took a step forward, her effort in the De La Rose is still
some way below her stellar form of last fall, as illustrated by her
comprehensive coup in the Matriarch S. (G1). Assistant trainer Rick Mettee
forecasts further improvement. She’ll need to raise her game in her next
expected start, the Ballston Spa, against the likes of Diamondrella.
Cocoa Beach’s presence in this division could be only temporary, since she
captured last year’s Beldame S. (G1) on dirt and finished an excellent second to
Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]) in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) on
Pro-Ride. Godolphin has an embarrassment of options for her, so when the
Ballston Spa announcement was made, the Brisnet Editorial office erupted with
contrasting emotions. I celebrated with a fist-pump, thrilled to keep Cocoa
Beach in my sphere of influence for the time being, while my colleague Jennifer
Caldwell was deflated, since she will not be factoring in her Ladies’ Classic
Diary just yet.
In light of Cocoa Beach’s class and versatility, I was surprised to see in
the DRF that, before the Ballston Spa was confirmed, the September 19 Noble
Damsel H. (G3) at Belmont had been penciled in as a likely target. The grassy
Noble Damsel is a fine enough race for the level, and a perfectly suitable spot
to bring back a Grade 1-caliber animal off a layoff, but for Cocoa Beach’s third
start of the season? A Grade 3? Seriously? Hopefully that idea won’t see the
light of day again. I’d sooner hand her over to Jennifer’s division.
Captain loves the slop: Well, it certainly didn’t happen the way I
envisioned it, but it was still good to see South African champion CAPTAIN’S
LOVER (SAf) (Captain Al) stamp her class on this continent. The Todd
Pletcher mare pulverized a scratch-reduced field in the off-the-turf Matchmaker
S. on August 2 at Monmouth, gliding through the slop like a mudlark to score by
seven lengths. With such a smashing dirt debut on her resume, Captain’s Lover
can go in a number of different directions now, but I hope that she’ll get
another opportunity to square off against Grade 1 turf rivals.
Back in business: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf heroine
MARAM (Sahm) retained her unbeaten status when making her long-awaited
sophomore debut in the August 8 John Hettinger S. at the Spa. Hitherto sidelined
by issues ranging from bone remodeling to a popped splint, the Chad Brown pupil
showed no signs of rust, but picked up right where she left off. Maram was
always traveling well before rallying to the lead in the stretch, and although
the margin was only a half-length, she was firmly in command. Indeed, her ears
shot up right after she crossed the wire in 1:34 3/5 for the mile. The Hettinger
form looks solid enough, with useful stakes performers filling the minor
placings behind her.
Maram is now aiming for the September 12 Garden City S. (G1) at Belmont,
which will surely be the acid test of her career. Her perfect four-for-four mark
is in jeopardy against divisional leader GOZZIP GIRL (Dynaformer), queen
of the American Oaks Invitational (G1). SHARED ACCOUNT (Pleasantly
Perfect), the winner of Friday’s Lake Placid S. (G2) on soft ground at the Spa,
is also a logical candidate for the Garden City.
Shared Account is on the upswing for Graham Motion, so her third-place effort
to the Brown-trained DAME ELLEN (Smart Strike) in the Perfect Sting S.
back in June may not be a fair indication of her ability. On the other hand, I
remain very high on the well-bred Dame Ellen for reasons outlined in my last
edition. She has not worked since sustaining a foot bruise in late July, but
once she puts that behind her, Dame Ellen could end up being a first-rate filly.
Long-term investment: With Gozzip Girl staying home in New York,
American Oaks runner-up WELL MONIED (Maria’s Mon) is the horse to beat in
Saturday’s Del Mar Oaks. Whether she outclasses the field on Saturday or not,
this tremendously-talented filly has a bright future.
Given her rangy appearance, I have wondered whether Well Monied is anywhere
near the peak of her physical development at present. I asked trainer Howard
Zucker about this on an NTRA conference call earlier this week, inquiring
whether she could be even better next season as a four-year-old.
Zucker replied that he had thought that from the beginning, and was actually
surprised that she was able to make one start as a juvenile.
“But the good ones tend to do that,” he said.
Zucker went on to explain how “very immature” Well Monied still is, how he’d
“swear she grew an inch last week,” and that they just “took baby caps out of
her mouth not a week ago that my other three-year-old shed back in March.”
He added that “It’s really hard to keep flesh on that kind of growthy, rangy
filly,” and when she is no longer growing so much, she will be able to fill out.
Her first few races were easy on her by design, basically “morning workouts,”
precisely because of her immaturity.
Zucker revealed that he is “contemplating” possibly just one more start for
Well Monied this season, after the Del Mar Oaks. Although it’s not set in stone
at this point, chances are that her three-year-old finale could come in the
October 17 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland, since Zucker said
it’s more sensible for her to stay among her own age group.
By putting her away after one more start, backing off her and not having to
work her every week, Zucker believes that there’ll be “a lot more horse there on
the table next year.”
And just how much horse might that be? Earlier on the conference call, when
discussing Well Monied’s pedigree, Zucker brought up that she is by Maria’s Mon,
the sire of champion Wait a While.
“I was thinking this would be my Wait a While because I’ve been waiting a
while to get one this talented,” Zucker said.
On the horizon: Our next installment will recap the action from
Saratoga and Del Mar, as well as the Garden City and Canadian, and look ahead to
the major round of Breeders’ Cup preps.