ROAD TO THE BREEDERS’ CUP
Breeders’ Cup Wrap-up
by James Scully
Breeders’ Cup Day went smoothly in Texas with perfect weather
and excellent racing. Favorites GHOSTZAPPER (Awesome Again),
OUIJA BOARD (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]) ASHADO (Saint Ballado) and
SWEET CATOMINE (Storm Cat) were all able to prevail and
second-choice SPEIGHTSTOWN (Gone West) verified his 2004 form in
the Sprint (G1). Grade 2 winner and Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile
(G1) runner-up SINGLETARY (Sultry Song) provided a mild surprise
at 16-1 in the Mile (G1), and a couple of bombs came in the form
of WILKO (Awesome Again) and BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin Man).
Classic
Ghostzapper was the most impressive horse in the post parade
and dominated from the moment the gates opened in the $4 million
Classic (G1), leading gate to wire for an easy three-length win.
His final time of 1:59 for 1 1/4 miles was the fastest in the
21-year history of the Breeders’ Cup.
Ghostzapper should be a lock for Horse of the Year and
champion handicap honors. Nobody could beat him this year, and he
earned a victory in the prestigious Woodward S. (G1) prior to
Breeders’ Cup glory. His 116 BRIS Speed rating was the top dirt
figure earned on Saturday. He also became the first son of a
Classic winner (Awesome Again scored in 1998) to duplicate his
sire’s feat.
His authoritative victory figured to send the four-year-old
into retirement, but his connections have announced that
Ghostzapper will return to the races next season. What a shocker!
The sport will be able to keep one of its brightest stars on the
track. Kudos to his connections.
ROSES IN MAY (Devil His Due) suffered his first defeat this
year with a gutsy runner-up performance and is also expected to
return for a five-year-old campaign in 2005. Third-place finisher
PLEASANTLY PERFECT (Pleasant Colony) was far back early and went
too wide around the far turn. A better trip might have possibly
yielded a challenge for second, but the six-year-old wasn’t
nearly as sharp following a lengthy layoff as he was last year.
AZERI (Jade Hunter) gave an excellent account of herself.
After breaking slowly from the starting gate, she settled nicely
into third entering the clubhouse turn and managed to sit a
perfect trip in striking position until the top of the stretch.
The six-year-old mare weakened a bit in the final eighth, but still managed an excellent fifth-place performance at a distance that
was too far for her. She recorded the same Speed figure (106) as
Distaff winner Ashado while running an extra furlong.
As good as she was on Saturday, Azeri probably would have
crushed her Distaff foes at 1 1/8 miles.
Japanese invader PERSONAL RUSH (Wild Rush) surprisingly took
sixth, and the three-year-old colt came out onto the track 20
minutes (10 minutes ahead of his rivals) before the post and
proceeded to gallop past the starting gate and down the
straightaway chute used for Quarter Horse racing. He just hung
out down there for a long time until the rest of field made their
way to the gate to load. It took a fine effort to beat
seventh-place BIRDSTONE (Grindstone) and others at the wire, and
Personal Rush is one to watch for next year.
Turf
Better Talk Now captured the Sword Dancer Invitational H. (G1)
over a yielding turf in August and relished similar conditions at
Lone Star when capturing the Turf (G1) by 1 3/4 lengths. He raced
on the same weekend last year, but faced much weaker foes in 2003
when capturing the Knickerbocker H. (G2) at Aqueduct. The Graham
Motion-trained five-year-old improved significantly over the last
few months, finishing first or second in three of four starts
prior to Turf, the only unplaced showing being a close fourth in
the Man o’ War (G1).
The gelding received a heady ride from the up-and-coming Ramon
Dominguez, who also guided 60-1 MY COUSIN MATT (Matty G) to a
commendable third in the Sprint, but the same could not be said
for the runner-up and third-place finishers.
John Velazquez looked like a quarterback with shaky feet upon
reaching the top of the stretch aboard KITTEN’S JOY (El Prado
[Ire]). POWERSCOURT (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) was in front along the
rail, but that rival received one of the worst rides in Breeders’
Cup history from Jamie Spencer and began to drift out in the
stretch.
Velazquez needed to either swing out earlier leaving the far
turn or wait for a hole to materialize up the inside. He did
neither entering the stretch run and began switching paths back
and forth while bumping with rivals. John V. is possibly the best
jockey in North America and did a commendable job guiding both
Ashado, who had to wait for a hole to materialize before
launching her run, and Speightstown to the winner’s circle as
well as providing an excellent ride to Filly & Mare Turf (G1)
runner-up FILM MAKER (Dynaformer). Unfortunately, he got Kitten’s Joy into
all kinds of trouble on Saturday. Trainer Dale Romans blamed the
wet turf, but the sophomore colt may have simply gotten
frustrated and spit the bit following the troubled trip.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien had to be disappointed. European jockeys
Frankie Dettori and Kieren Fallon were giving horses capable
rides all day, each winning a Breeders’ Cup race earlier on the
program, but Spencer looked like a rank amateur on Saturday.
After watching Spencer get Mile runner-up ANTONIUS PIUS (Danzig)
into all kinds of trouble on both turns earlier on the afternoon,
O’Brien had to be hoping that his stable rider had his head
screwed on tight for the Turf. Instead, Spencer cost his mount
any chance of winning by launching the most premature move
possible on the backstretch.
If he needed any Texas souvenirs to take back to Ireland,
Spencer should have purchased a shirt with a burro on it.
The Turf highlighted the problem of including a heavy favorite
in the Head2Head wagers. Heading to the post, Kitten’s Joy
Head2Head odds versus Powerscourt were 3-5, the same as his win
odds. He would have paid nearly the same for both, leaving
bettors who wagered only on the win pool feeling like suckers for
not taking advantage of the Head2Head, which Kitten’s Joy won.
The Breeders’ Cup made a big mistake here.
Sprint
Speightstown accomplished more than any other
sprinter this year, winning five of six starts – all stakes -
with the only setback coming over a drying out and cuppy track at
Belmont Park in the Vosburgh S. (G1). He should be named champion
sprinter. The Todd Pletcher-trained horse defeated runner-up KELA
(Numerous) by 1 1/4 lengths on Saturday, and that rival easily
handled his top competition for the Eclipse Award.
Pico Central (Brz) (Spend a Buck) took the Vosburgh but was no
match previously for Kela, who in turn was easily handled by
Speightstown. Pico Central failed to show up for Thoroughbred
racing’s championship day while Speightstown took on all comers.
The connections of Pico Central may have feared losing and they
had to be hoping Speightstown would get beat. Should they be
allowed back into a title when a truly deserving winner
exists?
A vote for any horse other Speightstown is essentially a vote
against the Breeders’ Cup this year.
Mile
Trainer Don Chatlos did an outstanding job getting Singletary
to the Mile in peak form and the four-year-old rewarded his
connections by surging to a clear lead in upper stretch and
withstanding the late run of Antonius Pius for a half-length
decision.
Chatlos utilized the same winning path taken by trainers Julio
Canani and Neil Drysdale with recent Mile victors Val Royal (Fr)
and War Chant. Following a spring campaign that included a fine
second in the Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) in late May,
Chatlos gave Singletary the rest of the summer off and brought
his charge back with an October prep to sharpen him up for the
Breeders’ Cup.
In the October 9 Oak Tree Breeders’ Cup Mile (G2), Singletary
traveled wide the entire way but still turned in a top-class
performance to miss by only a head at the wire. He figured to
move forward off that effort and turned in a career best on
Saturday, recording a 117 BRIS Speed rating.
The runner-up and third-placer, SIX PERFECTIONS (Fr) (Celtic
Swing), both ran well. Pilot error hurt the former and defending
heroine Six Perfections was also steadied in traffic on the far
turn. She was forced to swing out wide at the top of the stretch
and finished gamely, but she got free too late and had too much
to do. The four-year-old filly is one of the classiest performers
in Mile history.
Three of the four bottom positions were filled with top
contenders. Next-to-last SPECIAL RING (Nureyev) sat a good trip
before stopping abruptly leaving the far turn. Surprising 7-2
favorite ARTIE SCHILLER (El Prado [Ire]) experienced severe
traffic problems in the clubhouse turn and was never a factor
afterward, finishing 12th. NOTHING TO LOSE (Sky Classic) didn’t
resemble the same horse who captured the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1)
in his previous start, laboring to an 11th-place showing.
Filly & Mare Turf
Ouija Board lived up to her pre-race billing with a convincing
1 1/2-length tally in the 1 3/8-mile Filly & Mare Turf.
Pacesetter MOSCOW BURNING (Moscow Ballet) crawled through opening
splits of :26 2/5 and :52 2/5 while Fallon bided his time in
midpack on the prohibitive favorite, and the English (Eng-G1) and
Irish Oaks (Ire-G1) queen began to creep closer down the
backstretch. She launched her rally three wide on the far turn
and displayed a strong turn of foot to easily reach the fore,
cruising to the finish line much the best.
Third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) beforehand, the
three-year-old has proved to be an exceptional filly and is
expected to race at four for owner Lord Derby. Ouija Board was
cross-entered to the Turf, but trainer Ed Dunlop mentioned
Kitten’s Joy as the reason they decided for the filly and mare
race.
She would have been very difficult to beat in the 1 1/2-mile
event and should be a major player against males if she returns
to America for the 2005 Breeders’ Cup at Belmont Park.
Film Maker, who was off at 16-1, got a perfect ride from
Velazquez for second, barely withstanding WONDER AGAIN (Silver
Hawk), who finished courageously from far back to just miss
second. Edgar Prado appeared asleep at the wheel during the
initial stages on Wonder Again, placing the multiple Grade 1
winner near the back of the pack through pedestrian early splits.
That’s not her normal running style. Moscow Burning held for
fourth.
Distaff
Ashado deserves three-year-old filly divisional honors with her
1 1/4-length Distaff score. The Pletcher charge received a
perfect trip from her innermost post, stalking the leaders while
saving ground and pouncing up the rail leaving the far turn to
gain the advantage. The dark bay miss enjoyed a tremendous season
following a stellar juvenile campaign, earning victories in the
Kentucky Oaks (G1), Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), Fair
Grounds Oaks (G2) and Cotillion H. (G2) as well as runner-up
showings in the Mother Goose (G1) and Ashland S. (G1).
Runner-up STORM FLAG FLYING (Storm Cat) and third-place
finisher STELLAR JAYNE (Wild Rush) each performed well while
finishing fast to be close at the wire. They were next-to-last
and last, respectively, after a half-mile and both had to
overcome traffic, with Stellar Jayne traveling too wide into the
stretch. The former wrapped up a successful career while Stellar
Jayne appears poised to be a major factor in the distaff division
next year at four, provided she isn’t retired (she is entered in
the Keeneland November sale).
Juvenile
Wilko was the most experienced runner in the Juvenile (G1)
field, with 10 previous starts, including five second- or
third-place finishes in stakes races. He also owned a good dirt
pedigree on top as a son of Awesome Again. Those were among the
best things that could be said for him before the race.
Inexperience probably wound up hurting many of his rivals. Top
contenders AFLEET ALEX (Northern Afleet), SUN KING (Charismatic)
and PROUD ACCOLADE (Yes It’s True) owned five stakes starts
between them and none of them had ever been around two turns.
Most entrants were shipping a long way to Texas without much
seasoning.
Regardless, Wilko ran the best race on Saturday to win by
three parts of a length under Dettori and has now been turned
over to Craig Dollase in California. He could secure two-year-old
divisional honors with a victory in December’s Hollywood Futurity
(G1).
Afleet Alex brought more experience than most into the race
with five career starts and finished a very respectable second.
After bobbling at the start, he traveled four wide on both turns
to reach the lead in midstretch and just missed. His troubled
Juvenile runner-up finish, coupled with wins in the Hopeful (G1)
and Sanford S. (G2) and a runner-up placing in the Champagne
(G1), leaves Afleet Alex as the division front-runner at the
present time.
ROMAN RULER (Fusaichi Pegasus) showed signs of tailing off in
his previous start, the Norfolk S. (G2), and will receive a
well-deserved break following his fifth-place showing. He could
return as any kind of three-year-old. CONSOLIDATOR (Storm Cat)
offered a good showing to be fourth and owns room for tremendous
improvement next year. Third-placer Sun King and Proud Accolade,
who finished sixth, weren’t up to the task on Saturday but are
still both lightly raced colts with promising futures.
Juvenile Fillies
Sweet Catomine, a daughter of Storm Cat, is the first foal out
of the Grade 1-placed Sweet Life (Kris S.) and is one to really
get excited about next year. She developed into a tremendous
two-year-old this season, earning her third straight stakes win
with a much-the-best, 3 3/4-length victory in the Juvenile
Fillies (G1).
Trained by Julio Canani, Sweet Catomine was steadied sharply
on the far turn Saturday but quickly recovered under Corey
Nakatani to surge to the lead in upper stretch. She was on cruise
control to the wire and completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:41 3/5. Her
male rivals, who were in a dogfight through the final furlong,
posted a final time of 1:42 in the Juvenile later on the card.
BALLETTO (UAE) (Timber Country) enjoyed a perfect trip along
the rail and held second over a troubled RUNWAY MODEL
(Petionville), who keeps getting better and better for
conditioner Bernie Flint. SIS CITY (Slew City Slew) ran a big
race on the front end and finished fourth. SHARP LISA (Dixieland
Band), who owns room for major improvement off only her third
career start in the Juvenile Fillies, had a ridiculously wide
trip, going four wide around the first turn and circling near the
grandstand turning for home, before flattening out to sixth. She
should keep improving next season.
That concludes this year’s Road to the Breeders’ Cup. I’m
already looking forward to the 2005 event at Belmont.