FILLY & MARE TURF DIARY
OCTOBER 13, 2005
by Jennifer Caldwell
Well, this is going to be the next to the last turf-based Diary leading up to
the Breeders’ Cup. Next week, I’ll be discussing the top three preps for each of
the turf races on Breeders’ Cup Day — Turf (G1), Mile (G1) and Filly & Mare
Turf (G1) — , followed by the final Diaries during championship week. In those,
I’ll post my final thoughts and give out who I think has the best chance for
victory on October 29.
The grassy distaffers had their final preps in the past two weeks, with
MEGAHERTZ (GB) (Pivotal) and RISKAVERSE (Dynaformer) taking their respective
events. The former took up her usual place in the field when the gates opened
for the October 1 Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meet,
running last as the 1-2 favorite. Alex Solis never hurried the six-year-old
mare, letting her make her own way 10 1/2 lengths back of the early pacesetter.
She started her run entering the final turn, as usual, splitting rivals and
went on to post a one-length win at the wire. Her BRIS Speed figure left much
to be desired that day (92), but the chestnut mare has rebounded big off low
numbers in the past and this could finally be the year Megahertz earns the respect she
deserves.
Riskaverse successfully defended her title in the Flower Bowl Invitational S.
(G1) on the same day at Belmont Park. Never far back from the pace, the dark bay
mare rallied along the inside before coming out in upper stretch, managing to
get her head down at the wire over fellow top contender WONDER AGAIN (Silver
Hawk). Riskaverse hasn’t been doing so well this year and turned it around in a
big way in the Flower Bowl, which was her first win since taking last year’s
edition. She earned a 99 Speed figure for the race, four points higher than last
year’s, and could continue her improvement over her favorite course in the Breeders’ Cup next out.
Wonder Again and FILM MAKER (Dynaformer) both ran good races in the Flower
Bowl in advance of their attempts to improve on last year’s third and
second-place finishes, respectively, in the Filly & Mare Turf. Neither one gave
too much in the Flower Bowl, and they should be in good position for October 29.
One surprise that came out of the Flower Bowl was the last-place finish of
ANGARA (GB) (Alzao), who defeated Megahertz by a neck in the Beverly D. S. (G1)
three back. That game finish threw Angara into the spotlight and trainer Pat
Biancone tried to take advantage of that by entering her against the boys in her
next one, the Man o’ War S. (G1). After a fifth there, the six-year-old mare was
transferred back to her own division, where she ran in last and never really had
a rally in the Flower Bowl. Angara’s past two races concern me, as do her
dwindling numbers. She’s really going to have to rebound to make an
impact on Breeders’ Cup Day.
The Galaxy S. (G2) on Sunday at Keeneland showcased just how much
INTERCONTINENTAL (GB) (Danehill) loves the Lexington, Kentucky, turf. The bay
mare took the lead from the start and never relinquished it en route to a
three-quarter-of-a-length victory under Jerry Bailey. Trainer Bobby Frankel
never mentioned the possibility of Intercontinental starting on Thoroughbred
racing’s championship day when discussing where she would go next, but her
connections could decide to give the classy five-year-old a shot in the Mile.
Since I won’t be doing a Turf Diary next week, I’m going to go ahead and
briefly mention the three main runners from this past weekend. Heading the trio
is last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile hero, SINGLETARY (Sultry Song). The bay
five-year-old took a page from Megahertz’s book and ran in last throughout the
Oak Tree Breeders’ Cup Mile (G2) on Saturday at Santa Anita, before coming wide
on the turn and into the stretch. He pulled away to score by 1 1/2 lengths and
looks ready to try a title defense three weeks later, but a warning flag popped
up when I saw his BRIS Speed rating (94), the lowest he’s
received since May of 2003.
HOST (Chi) (Hussonet) raised flags of another kind in the Shadwell Turf Mile
(G1) on Saturday. The chestnut endured a bumpy, wide trip at Keeneland event but still managed to come with a furious rally at the
end to get his neck in front at the wire. The Todd Pletcher trainee earned a 101
Speed rating and beat a lot
of nice rivals, including several who will be probably show back up in the Mile at
Belmont. Host shouldn’t go off at 10-1 on Breeders’ Cup day the way he ran
Saturday.
Now, I know that the odds of ROCHESTER (Green Dancer) showing up in the
Breeders’ Cup are slim, but I still want to mention the game veteran’s
race on Friday. Sent off at 6-1, the nine-year-old gelding was going for his
third win in the Sycamore Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) at Keeneland. He captured the
2001 and 2002 runnings of the 1 1/2 event, when it was ungraded, and ran third
in it last year. On Friday, the veteran rated three or four wide, came out six wide
exiting the turn into the stretch and powered away to a 3 3/4-length victory.
Rochester consistently earns top numbers when he runs and this time was no
exception (99) as he continues to show the heart and ability of a much younger
horse.
In this day of retiring early, it is so nice to see an ageless wonder
like Rochester still performing at the top echelon — and winning!