FAIR GROUNDS NOTEBOOK
FEBRUARY 16, 2005
by Brian P. Turner
Saturday’s Risen Star S. (G3) highlighted the week’s stakes action at Fair
Grounds and anchored what was quite possibly the best card of the meet thus far
as four stakes races were featured. A field of 11 three-year-olds went to the
gate, headed by the Todd Pletcher-trained Harlington (Unbridled) who was coming
off of an impressive three-length score at Gulfstream against allowance company
on January 15. The betting public obviously saw the Risen Star as nothing more
than a small detour for Harlington on his way to Kentucky for the first Saturday
in May as they sent him off as the overwhelming favorite. As is so often the
case though, the road to the Kentucky Derby can be filled with potholes, for
after racing wide through the entire event, the dark bay came up empty in the
stretch drive and staggered home a disappointing sixth.
In the end, the day belonged to SCIPION (A.P. Indy) who caused a bit of a
stir after breaking his maiden at Saratoga last August but quickly caused public
opinion to cool with back-to-back disappointing efforts in the Miller Genuine
Draft Cradle S. (G3) at River Downs and the Breeders’ Futurity S. (G1) at Keeneland. The dark bay
finally lived up to a bit of the early hype in the Risen Star
as he rallied from dead last, some 10 lengths off of the lead, to cross
the finish line 1 ¼ lengths in front. The Steve Asmussen-trained Real Dandy
(Yankee Victor) rallied from well off the pace as well to pick up the place, a
neck in front of Storm Surge (Storm Cat) in third.
Three-year-old fillies were featured in the Silverbulletday S. (G3) as a
field of nine went to the gate for the 1 1/16-mile event. Locally based SUMMERLY
(Summer Squall) was sent off as the 3-2 favorite off of her impressive 9
¾-length score against optional claiming company on January 17. The chestnut
rewarded her backers by stalking the early pace before taking over on the
second turn and pulling clear through the stretch to hit the finish line 3
¼-lengths clear of the field. Eyes On Eddy (Touch Gold), a respectable fourth
last out in the Tiffany Lass S., rallied from off the pace to pick up the place,
1 ¼-lengths clear of Enduring Will (Arch).
Pollard’s Vision (Carson City) was sent off as the 3-2 favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Mineshaft H. (G3) for four-year-olds and up. The four-year-old colt was
making his first start since taking the Lone Star Derby (G3) last October and
that, combined with the fact that he has never been the model of consistency,
made him a bit of an underlay against a very talented field. As it turned out,
the Nick Zito-trained WANDERIN BOY (Seeking the Gold) took the lead out of
the gate and guided the field through early fractions of :23 1/5 and :46 1/5
before actually widening his lead through the stretch to hit the wire 1 ¾
lengths in front. Pollard’s Vision easily claimed the place, 1 ¾ lengths in
front of Alumni Hall (A.P. Indy) in third.
A field of nine contested the 5 ½-furlong Taylor’s Special H. on the Fair
Grounds lawn. WRZESZCZ (Langfuhr) put in a solid effort by rallying from off the
pace and fighting gamely to the end to hit the finish line a nose in front of
favorite Mighty Beau (Rainbow Prospect). It was another 2 ¾ lengths
back to third-place Chosen Chief (Marquetry).
On the main track, horses that ran on or near the pace held the advantage in
sprint races this week, but the routes were dominated by horses coming from off
the pace. As for the turf, Monday’s races were moved to the main track but as
for those run on their intended surface, the sprints played pretty fair but
horses coming from off the pace won all four route races.
Asmussen has opened up a commanding lead in the trainer standings with 46
winners thus far. Tom Amoss is a distant second with 28 followed by Gamaliel
Vazquez with 26. Robby Albarado’s tally atop the jockey standings currently
stands at 72 winners for the meet. Corey Lanerie and Donnie Meche are in a tie
for second with 49 winners each.
HORSES TO WATCH
Friday (2/11)
6TH – MY POCKET (My Friend Max) found the move to the grass to be exactly what he needed to break his maiden after eight previous tries on the
main track proved to be less than fruitful. The three-year-old colt trailed the
field through the early stages of this state-bred event but absolutely exploded
in the stretch drive, getting up in time to cross the wire a half-length in
front.
7TH – ALEXAGOGO (Wheaton) was absolutely mugged at the start of
this maiden claiming event. The three-year-old colt recovered nicely and made a
game effort through the stretch to miss by a length in his first career
start.
Saturday (2/12)
5TH – MR. CANAVERAL (Canaveral) put in a solid performance in his
first career start as well. The three-year-old colt stalked the pace early and
made a late run that found him finishing second. Though he was 1 ¼ lengths
behind the winner, the chestnut was 3 ¾ lengths clear of the rest of the field.
7TH – Summerly went four-fifths of a second faster in winning the
Silverbulletday than Scipion went in winning the Risen Star only two races
later. Provided the chestnut filly continues to show improvement, she could
definitely loom as a contender on Kentucky Oaks (G1) day.
Sunday (2/13)
9TH – TRUALLY WILD (Wild Event) broke awkwardly at the start of
this 5 ½-furlong turf allowance event. Ultimately, this may have cost her a trip
to the winner’s circle as she closed with a solid turn of foot to miss by three
parts of a length.
Monday (2/14)
7TH – JUNQUEMAN JOHN (Gold Case) swerved sharply upon leaving the
starting gate in this eight furlong maiden special event originally scheduled
for the turf. The four-year-old colt recovered nicely and closed from off the
pace to hit the wire 4 ¾ lengths in front.