TURF DIARY
JULY 28, 2005
by Jennifer Caldwell
A lot of turf action has occurred in the past two weeks, with Arlington
Million Preview Day taking place on July 23. The best way to cover everything,
in my opinion, is to go chronologically. So off we go!
Starting us off is KING’S DRAMA (Ire) (King’s Theatre [Ire]), who made his
return to the races a winning one on July 14 at Belmont Park. The five-year-old
gelding was last seen running fifth in the October 24 Canadian International
(Can-G1), but the long break didn’t deter the public one little bit. Sent off
the heavy 4-5 favorite against a graded-caliber field, the Bobby Frankel trainee
justified the faith placed in him with an easy six-length, front-running victory
in a nine-furlong optional claimer. He earned a nice 105 BRIS Speed rating and
looks ready to try his luck in a graded event soon.
CACHT WELLS (Arg) (Poliglote [GB]) put together a career-best run on July 16
at Belmont, scoring in the Bowling Green H. (G2) by a head as the 26-1 longshot.
The five-year-old tracked in behind the pacesetter for much of the 11-furlong
event before taking the lead in the stretch to post a 104 Speed figure. That was
his graded debut, and Cacht Wells must be respected in his next one.
One of the most impressive performances came in the July 16 Virginia
Derby (G3) at Colonial Downs. That was where ENGLISH CHANNEL (Smart Strike)
earned his fourth straight victory and fifth from six lifetime starts. The Todd Pletcher trainee raced in behind the pacesetting Chattahoochee War (War Chant)
throughout the 10-furlong event before rallying to take over at the eighth pole.
His final margin of victory was 3 1/4 lengths, and English Channel will be tough
to deny in the Secretariat S. (G1) at Arlington Park on August 13. If he
succeeds in capturing that 10-furlong test, English Channel will have captured
the first three legs of the new Grand Slam of Grass series, which carries a $3
million bonus to any horse who can captured the Colonial Turf Cup, Virginia
Derby, Secretariat
and the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).
July 23 was billed as Arlington Million Preview Day, and the American Derby
(G2) is living up to its status as a prep for the Secretariat. GUN SALUTE (Military)
wound up prevailing by a nose in the American Derby after running third by a
half-length in the Jefferson Cup (G3) in mid-June, and the first three
finishers from the 1 3/16-mile test are all under consideration for the Secretariat. PURIM (Dynaformer),
who entered the American Derby off a victory in the July 2 Arlington Classic (G3) on July 2, just
missed at the wire and could utilize the extra distance in the Secretariat to
turn the tables on his rival. EXCEPTIONAL RIDE (Chester House) finished another
3 1/2 lengths back in third and is still looking for his first graded win after
running second to English Channel in the Colonial Turf Cup prior to this one.
COOL CONDUCTOR (Stravinsky) punched his ticket for a possible start in the
Arlington Million (G1) when taking the Arlington H. (G3) on Preview Day. The
four-year-old bay took the lead from the gate and was never headed en route to a
3 1/4-length score in the 1 1/4-mile event. He has plenty of experience at
Arlington, running second in last year’s American Derby prior to a fifth-placing
in the Secretariat, and could turn that to his advantage if he goes in the
Million.
SWEET RETURN (GB) (Elmaamul) earned his second straight Grade 1 win when
taking the Eddie Read H. at Del Mar on July 24. Prior to that one, the
five-year-old chestnut captured the Charles Whittingham Memorial H. by a head, and
he looks ready for another try at the Arlington Million. In last year’s
edition, the Ron McAnally trainee ran eighth off a third-place finish in the
Eddie Read. Sweet Return seems to be rounding into top form and is yet another exciting
addition to an already electrifying event.
I’ll wrap up this week’s Turf Diary with THREE VALLEYS (Diesis [GB]), who
made his long awaited return in the 3RD race at Del Mar on the same day as the
Eddie Read. Trained by Frankel, the Group 1-winning colt was last seen finishing
a close third in the November 27 Citation H. (G1) at Hollywood Park and appears
headed back to Grade 1 competition after this victory.