Monday’s $250,000
Shoemaker Mile S. (G1) at Hollywood Park offers no shortage of story lines.
Can the sprightly eight-year-old KARELIAN (Bertrando), who has already claimed
the scalps of Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat) and Court Vision (Gulch) this season,
remain perfect in 2010? Can COMPARI (Redattore [Brz]) extend his winning streak
to seven, despite enduring a hiccup last month and drawing widest of all in post
10? Can MR GRUFF (Mr. Greeley) rack up his fifth win in a row, even though he is
making his first start beyond a sprint distance? The trio will waste no time in
coming to grips, for all promise to flash early speed in the Memorial Day
feature.
Karelian is in career-best form at present for Rusty Arnold. The bay gelding
had shown talent in the past, but his fragility had prevented him from reaching
the top echelon. That predicament began to change last fall, when Karelian
returned from a nearly 11-month layoff in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) and missed
by inches to Court Vision. A creditable sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1)
next time out, Karelian then mysteriously bolted in the River City H. (G3) and
wound up eighth. He hasn’t put a foot wrong since. In his seasonal reappearance,
Karelian outdueled dual champion Gio Ponti by a desperate nose in the Tampa Bay
S., and gained sweet revenge on Court Vision in the April 9 Maker’s Mark Mile S.
(G1) at Keeneland.
Although typically a front runner, Karelian appears to be the most tactical
of the three pace factors in the Shoemaker, and could end up sitting in the
catbird’s seat behind the other speed. Rafael Bejarano, who was two-for-two
aboard Karelian in allowance/optional claiming company in 2007, gets
reacquainted with him here.
If Karelian is the elder statesman, Compari is the young turk. The
four-year-old gelding has not lost since his career debut, rising through the
ranks in such California-bred stakes as the 2009 Snow Chief S. and the
Sensational Star H. and Crystal Water H. earlier this year. Compari earned his
graded stripes with a wire-to-wire victory over a tough group in the April 3
Arcadia H. (G2) last out. Unfortunately, the Marty Jones trainee met with a
minor setback that ruled him out of an expected start in the April 25 Inglewood
H. (G3).
Compari got over that injury scare, judging by his brisk training in recent
weeks. As if he weren’t already planning to blaze right out of the gate, his
landing in post 10 ensures that he will hustle to the front. Joel Rosario picks
up the mount from the now Monmouth-based Garrett Gomez.
Mr Gruff has spent most of his career on the unique downhill turf course at
Santa Anita, where he has compiled his current skein going about 6 1/2 furlongs.
Following his front-running score in the 2009 San Simeon H. (G3), the Ron Ellis
charge was shelved for 11 months. The six-year-old gelding promptly resumed his
winning thread in his March return, then easily defended his title in the April
17 San Simeon. Acclimated to the ferocious speed on the downhill, Mr Gruff will
show plenty of pace from the rail for new rider Joe Talamo, who takes over from
Rosario.
With such confirmed pace factors in the field, the closers could have a field
day. GLOBAL HUNTER (Arg) (Jade Hunter) swooped off a fast pace to conquer the
Eddie Read S. (G1) last summer. Unraced since closing for runner-up honors in
the Oak Tree Mile (G2) in October, the A.C. Avila veteran has been training
sharply in advance of his comeback. GALLANT SON (Malabar Gold) profited from a
pace war in the Inglewood over this course, rallying to win convincingly by 1
3/4 lengths. French Group 3 veteran BLUE CHAGALL (Fr) (Testa Rossa) is another
who has been crying out for an honest tempo to set up his late thrust, and NOBLE
COURT (Doneraile Court), a late-running sprinter, is intriguing on the
stretch-out for John Sadler.
Earlier on the Memorial Day card, EVENING JEWEL (Northern Afleet) will make
her turf debut against six surface specialists in the $150,000
Honeymoon H. (G2). The James Cassidy filly has twice been denied by Blind
Luck (Pollard’s Vision) in photo-finishes, most recently in the April 30
Kentucky Oaks (G1) as well as in the Las Virgenes S. (G1) earlier this season.
In between those runner-up efforts, Evening Jewel captured the Ashland S. (G1)
over Keeneland’s Polytrack. The ultra-consistent sophomore finds another Blind
Luck-free zone here, and her bullet work over the grass last Sunday hints that
she’ll adapt well. Victor Espinoza, who last rode her in the Las Virgenes,
reunites with the California-bred.
The other Honeymoon principals have been knocking heads with each other. COZI
ROSIE (Pleasantly Perfect) stamped her class in the May 2 Senorita S. (G3) over
one mile at Hollywood, defeating ANDINA (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]), CITY TO CITY
(City Zip) and TRIPLE CREAM (Tapit), and the extra furlong in the 1 1/8-mile
Honeymoon should only help her even more. Previously, City to City had beaten
Andina, IN THE SLIPS (More Than Ready) and a mightily-troubled Cozi Rosie in the
Providencia S. (G2) at Santa Anita.
Seven juveniles will dash 5 1/2 furlongs in the $60,000
Willard L. Proctor Memorial S., with the Walther Solis pair of
BELLEOFTHEBRIDLE (Yes It’s True) and TAPPIN TOUGH (Tapit) looming large.
Belleofthebridle, the only filly in the field, crushed subsequent winner
EDGEWICK ROAD (Swiss Yodeler) in their mutual debut, while Tappin Tough just got
up in time to capture his first start. David Hofmans will saddle the maiden J
P’S GUSTO (Successful Appeal), who was beaten a total of 2 1/4 lengths by
Edgewick Road after a troubled trip.