KEENELAND DAILY NOTEBOOK
FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2006
by Brian P. Turner
A field of eight went to the post for Friday’s featured Royal Chase for the
Sport of Kings S. (NSA-G1) which was contested at 20 furlongs over
National Fences. Multiple Grade 1 winner McDynamo (Dynaformer) was sent to the
gate as the post time favorite but after running forwardly through the early
stages of the event, the bay inexplicably faded badly and left the course
before the finish. In the end, it was SUR LA TETE (Sky Classic), racing within
striking distance through the entire running, who moved to the lead on the
backstretch of the final lap and easily cruised home to a 10-length victory.
The bay’s ease of victory was helped by the fall of two runners behind him,
leaving him with no competition as he crossed the final jump and continued on
to the finish.
Mauritania (Trempolino) crossed the wire in second, a neck in front of
Feeling So Pretty (Nordic Legend) in third.
Rain showers continued to fall on Lexington Friday, leaving the main track a
soupy mess. But the rains did little to change the bias as there were five
sprints contested on the main track on Friday with horses on or near the pace
winning all of them. As for the four main track routes, front runners won
three of these. The lone turf event of the day was the feature.
In the trainer standings, Nick Zito saddled one winner to once more
take over the top spot with 10. Todd Pletcher remains in second
with nine, followed by Dale Romans, who added a winner on Friday to increase his
total to eight.
John Velazquez suffered a fractured right shoulder
blade and two cracked ribs, sidelining him for up to five months. Julien
Leparoux was unable to take advantage of the absence of his rival as he
went winless Friday to remain in a tie for the top spot in the standings. Both
have 12 wins. Shaun Bridgmohan, who booted home a
winner to gain ground on the top pair, has 11 victories thus
far.
Horses to Watch
2ND – CHUBBS LAST CALL (Dixieland Heat) has proven herself to be a true “mudder.”
The dark bay broke well from the gate in this claiming event and stalked the
pace through early fractions of :23 2/5 and :47 2/5. The filly dropped back a
bit before rallying along the rail and opening up through the stretch for an
easy 4 1/4-length victory. Chubbs Last Call is now a perfect three for three on
off tracks and should command respect anytime the rains fall.
3RD – JONATHAN QUICK (Unbridled’s Song) easily cleared his maiden special
weight condition in this 1 1/16-mile event. The dark bay took the lead out of
the gate and guided the field through early fractions of :23 3/5 and :48 1/5
before opening up in the stretch drive for an easy three-length victory under
little more than a hand ride.
Tomorrow’s Outlook – Saturday April 22
A pair of stakes races will highlight the last Saturday of the meet with the
feature coming in the 9TH as a field of 10 three-year-olds are scheduled to go
to the gate for the 1 1/16-mile Lexington S. (G2). It is now or never for
several in this field who are trying to get the needing graded stakes earnings
to make it into the starting gate at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in
May.
LIKE NOW (Jules), who is currently sitting in 20th place on the graded stakes
earnings list, has been installed as the morning line 5-2 favorite. If it were
not for the Lexington, the gelding’s place in the Kentucky Derby (G1) would be
secure, but a lackluster performance here and a strong showing by another member
of the field could leave him on the outside looking in. The bay has reeled off
three solid performances in a row, posting triple-digit BRIS Speed Ratings in
each with his latest success coming in the Gotham S. (G3) where he led the field
from gate to wire for a hard-fought victory. Like Now appears to be one who
wants the lead, but the presence of FAST PARADE (Delineator) in the field
virtually guarantees a brutal pace on the front end that could prove to be
detrimental to both horses.
Fast Parade has reeled off four victories from five career starts with his
most recent success coming in the Baldwin S. at Santa Anita. The bay possesses a
ton of early speed but has yet to try two turns, which could prove to be his
undoing. Still, if the Washington-bred is somehow allowed to have his way on the
front end and hits the stretch with the lead, the Keeneland golden rail just
might carry him to the wire in front.
SHOWING UP (Strategic Mission) has two wins to show for two career starts. In
his latest effort against allowance company, the chestnut posted a solid 107
BRIS Speed Rating which definitely makes him competitive here. Trainer Barclay
Tagg has made the Derby journey before and the colt’s works leading up to this
event have all been solid, making Showing Up a definite threat.
Saturday’s other stakes offering finds a field of 14 fillies and mares,
including two also-eligibles, scheduled to go to the gate for the
Giant’s Causeway S. Contested at 5 1/2 furlongs on the lawn, the Giant’s
Causeway has attracted a very competitive field and several have a chance to hit
the finish line in front.
BRIGHT GOLD (Hold For Gold) has been named the 3-1 morning line favorite and
is more than capable of pulling off the victory. The six-year-old mare has five
wins from 11 starts at the distance, one of which came here last fall when she
pulled off a two length victory in the Buffalo Trace Franklin County S. She posted a 105 BRIS Speed Rating
for that score. UNBRIDLED SIDNEY (Unbridled’s Song) is
another stakes winner sprinting on the lawn. The bay possesses a ton of early
speed and may be the one to catch when the field hits the stretch. TARA’S TOUCH
(SAf) (Tara’s Halls) finished second to Bright Gold in last year’s
Buffalo Trace and rallied from well off the pace to
claim this event when it was called the Stravinsky S. last spring.
Those looking for a price might consider TROLLEY’S LAST (Fusaichi Pegasus).
The dark bay was beaten 2 3/4
lengths against allowance company while going eight furlongs earlier in the meet. The four-year-old
mare is much more comfortable running at sprint distances and hails from the
stable of Patrick Biancone, who is having an excellent meet so far.
Saturday’s forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and a high of 70.
Saturday’s Best Plays
3RD – STALWART MEMORY (Hennessy) will be attempting to rack up his second
victory of the meet in this seven-furlong starter allowance. The chestnut
absolutely loves Keeneland and his Early BRIS Pace ratings indicate that he
should have things his own way on or near the lead with plenty left in the
stretch drive to get him to the finish line in front of the competition.
6TH – ULTIMATE GOAL (Storm Cat) is coming off an impressive 4 3/4-length
maiden score at Gulfstream Park and appears to have found an extremely soft
spot to clear his next condition. The dark bay’s BRIS Speed rating last out
towers over this field and his BRIS Pace ratings indicate that he should be on
the lead early and cruise home to an easy victory from there.