Thoroughbred Beat

THOROUGHBRED BEAT

SEPTEMBER 19, 2008

by James Scully

With less than six weeks remaining until the 25th running of the Breeders'

Cup, this is an opportunity to take an advanced look at some of the races. There

will be 14 Breeders' Cup events offered at Santa Anita on October 24-25, but I

won't focus upon the Juvenile Fillies Turf and other non-traditional races at

this early date. In this second installment, I'll cover the Mile (G1), Sprint

(G1), Juvenile (G1) and Juvenile Fillies (G1).

Mile -- KIP DEVILLE's (Kipling) fifth-place effort in the Woodbine

Mile (Can-G1) was a head scratcher, but perhaps he didn't like the yielding turf

at Woodbine. When he's on his game, the defending Breeders' Cup Mile winner is

terrific. He opened 2008 with a commanding victory in the Maker's Mark Mile (G1)

and easily captured the Poker H. (G3) in his second outing. The Richard

Dutrow-trained gray won the 2007 Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) and is two-for-two

over the turf at Santa Anita.

Foreign-based horses in the Mile have excelled in Southern California,

winning twice in Arcadia and five-of-six runnings of the Mile at Santa Anita and

Hollywood Park combined, and this year's Mile will likely feature a strong

international presence. English (Eng-G1) and Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1)

winner HENRYTHENAVIGATOR (Kingmambo), a four-time Group 1 hero this season for

Aidan O'Brien, was originally targeting the Classic (G1), but Duke of Marmalade

(Danehill) could now represent his Ballydoyle connections in that spot, allowing

"Henry" the opportunity to run his best race at his best distance.

Three-year-old TAMAYUZ (Nayef) and three-year-old filly GOLDIKOVA (Anabaa) are

multiple Group 1 winners in France considering the race, and the English-based

RAVEN'S PASS (Elusive Quality) will merit serious respect if he makes the trip

as expected.

Champion DARJINA (Zamindar) would add more depth with her presence, and

Arlington Million (G1) runner-up ARCHIPENKO (Kingmambo) hasn't been eliminated

from consideration. Coronation (Eng-G1), Yorkshire Oaks (Eng-G1) and Matron S.

(Eng-G1) heroine LUSH LASHES (Galileo [Ire]) is another possible Mile invader

with tons of class. Trainer Jim Bolger could also opt to send her to the Filly &

Mare Turf (G1).

WHATSTHESCRIPT (Ire) (Royal Applause [GB]) owns wins in the Del Mar Mile (G2)

and American H. (G2) this season, and he's probably the best miler in

California. Eddie Read H. (G1) winner MONZANTE (Maria's Mon) also ranks high out

west, and HYPERBARIC (Sky Classic) has run well in his recent starts for Julio

Canani, a two-time Mile winner.

RAHY'S ATTORNEY (Crown Attorney) earned an automatic spot in the Mile with his victory in

the Woodbine Mile, but he's not Breeders' Cup nominated and won't be running.

Monmouth S. runner-up PROUDINSKY (Ger) (Silvano [Ger]), a Grade 2 winner this

season, will likely represent Bobby Frankel.

Sprint -- The Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) will be held over a synthetic

track for the first time, and no sprinter owns better synthetic form than STREET

BOSS (Street Cry [Ire]), a superb winner of the Bing Crosby H. (G1) and Triple

Bend Invitational H. (G1) in his last two starts. Six for seven this year with a

current five-race win skein, the Bruce Headley trainee will prep for the Sprint

in the Ancient Title S. (G1) at Santa Anita on September 27. Street Boss has

earned triple-digit BRIS Speed ratings in his last four starts. One potential

liability is his late-running style, which allows for the possibility of being

stopped in traffic or compromised on a speed-favoring track.

This isn't a deep year for sprinters. Benny the Bull, arguably the nation's

premiere short-distance specialist, was recently retired, and the rest of the

division lacks memorable performances. LUCKY ISLAND (Arg) (Lucky Roberto)

recorded a couple of nice wins in the Tom Fool H. (G2) and Bold Ruler H. (G2)

earlier this season, but he couldn't overcome a slow start in the Forego S. (G1)

last time and checked in sixth. Forego winner FIRST DEFENCE (Unbridled's Song)

runs his best races at Saratoga and will need to prove himself elsewhere.

Unbeaten BUSTIN STONES (City Zip) hasn't started since winning the Carter H.

(G1) in April, and health issues are always a concern for the lightly raced but

accomplished Sprint hopefuls FABULOUS STRIKE (Smart Strike) and KELLY'S LANDING

(Patton).

Defending Sprint hero MIDNIGHT LUTE (Real Quiet) is running out of

preparation time. The Bob Baffert runner didn't return to the races until the

Pat O'Brien H. (G2) on August 24, and nothing went right for him over the

Polytrack at Del Mar as he wound up seventh. That doesn't figure to set him up

for his best in this year's Sprint, and we'll see if Baffert can get one more

prep into Midnight Lute or possibly train him straight up to the race.

I will take a hard look at a couple of other California-based sprinters,

IDIOT PROOF (Benchmark) and IN SUMMATION (Put It Back). Idiot Proof owns plenty

of speed, but he can also sit close before offering his best run. Second to

Midnight Lute in the slop at Monmouth Park last year, the Cliff Sise Jr. runner

captured the 2007 Ancient Title over Cushion Track and owns a 4-2-0-2 mark on

all-weather tracks. After finishing a good second to Benny the Bull in the Dubai

Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) in March, the four-year-old was freshened for nearly

five months, reappearing with a second in the grassy Green Flash H. at Del Mar

on August 13. He'll prep for the Breeders' Cup in the Ancient Title and could

enter the Sprint in top form.

In Summation has class concerns, but his affinity for synthetic tracks is

appealing. Winner of the 2007 Bing Crosby, the Christophe Clement charge won the

Palos Verdes H. (G2) earlier this season and exits a pair of respectable

efforts in the Pat O'Brien and Bing Crosby at Del Mar.

Juvenile -- CHARITABLE MAN (Lemon Drop Kid) established himself as a

top Juvenile contender in Saturday's Futurity S. (G2). After running away from

his rivals on the front end in his career debut, a 11 1/2-length trouncing at

Saratoga, the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee displayed a new dimension in the

seven-furlong Futurity, rating off the pace before rallying strongly to a

one-length decision. The Virginia-native is bred to run long on both sides of his

pedigree, and Charitable Man looks special.

VINEYARD HAVEN (Lido Palace [Chi]) recorded a wire-to-wire decision in the

Hopeful S. (G1) on September 1, but I believe runner-up CRIBNOTE (Read the

Footnotes) owns the most appeal going forward. A smashing 13 1/2-length maiden

winner over state-bred rivals two starts back at the Spa, the Richard Violette

Jr. charge appeared to be making a winning move in the seven-furlong Hopeful when he

bolted out of the far turn toward the grandstand rail. Despite the extreme

ground loss, the chestnut colt regained his momentum and finished up strongly

for second. Third-placer MUNNINGS (Speightstown), the 2-1 favorite off his

impressive debut score, couldn't overcome a slow start in the Hopeful, but he's

eligible to show more in the future for Todd Pletcher.

I'll put three youngsters -- MIDSHIPMAN (Unbridled's Song), CORONET OF A BARON

(Pure Prize) and AZUL LEON (Lion Heart) -- at the top of the West Coast division.

Midshipman and Coronet of a Baron staged a thrilling stretch duel in the Del Mar

Futurity (G1) on September 3, with the former edging the latter by a nose, and

both figure to stretch out effectively around two turns. Azul Leon was the best

runner in the Best Pal S. (G3) and improved to three-for-three with the victory

via disqualification. The Norfolk S. (G1) on September 28 figures to be a dandy

if all three show up.

RUN AWAY AND HIDE (City Zip) returned from a 3 1/2-month layoff to record an

impressive win in the Saratoga Special S. (G2) on August 14, and the Ronny

Werner runner looks like a top contender for the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at

Keeneland on October 4.

Juvenile Fillies -- STARDOM BOUND (Tapit) broke her maiden in

spectacular fashion when taking the Del Mar Debutante (G1) on September 1,

drawing off to a 4 1/4-length decision, and the long-striding filly presently

looks like the one to beat in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. The gray lass

is a slow starter, but she'll swoop past her rivals in the stretch.

EVITA ARGENTINA (Candy Ride [Arg]) checked in fourth in the Del Mar

Debutante, but she displayed a fine turn of foot when winning the Sorrento S.

(G3) two starts back and remains an intriguing Juvenile Fillies prospect. She's

conditioned by John Sadler, who will attempt to parlay the home-town advantage

into his first Breeders' Cup race win.

Spinaway S. (G1) and Adirondack (G2) winner MANI BHAVAN (Storm Boot) owns

plenty of talent, but the speedster figures to be extremely tested around two turns.

Spinaway runner-up DOREMIFASOLLATIDO (Bernstein) flattered her rival when

posting a two-length score in the Matron S. (G2) last Saturday. The Shug

McGaughey-trained PERSISTENTLY (Smoke Glacken) recorded a good second from off

the pace in the Matron.

C. S. SILK (Medaglia d'Oro) could prove to be a serious threat from the

Midwest. Trained by Dale Romans, the dark bay filly broke her maiden by 6 1/4

lengths two starts back at Churchill Downs and followed with a stylish,

six-length romp in the Arlington-Washington Lassie (G3) on September 6. She's

proven formidable on dirt and synthetic, and that versatility is a real asset in

North American racing.