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Bernardini on course for Horse of the Season honours
By Anil Mukhi | 28 Aug 2006 |
In sharp contrast to the comparative drought being suffered by their Godolphin standard-bearers in Europe, the Maktoum family has been enjoying a banner year in North America. In fact, one would go so far as to suggest that four of the five best three-year-old colts in the U.S.A. race for various wings of their multi-faceted operation. And the icing on their cake is a pair of four-year-olds - the Candy Stripes colt sourced from Uruguay, Invasor, and the late-developing Awesome Again filly, Dubai Escapade.
The three-year-olds:
Judging by the manner in which Darley Stable's Bernardini (by A.P. Indy), has been trouncing his opposition, what seemed earlier to be a cut-and-dried selection (albeit a trifle sentimental one) of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro (by Dynaformer) as the leader of his generation has been put on hold.
Entrusted to Javier Castellano, and saddled by trainer Tom Albertrani, the first-named went into the historic $ 1,000,000 Travers Stakes, Gr.1, in front of a crowd of 40,785 at Saratoga on August 26th as fit as hands could make him. Starting at cramped odds of 2-5, the superb three-year-old extinguished what little fire was in the belly of Bluegrass Cat (by Storm Cat), checking in by 7-1/2 long lengths after controlling the pace virtually throughout the 10 furlongs trip.
Bernardini now heads for the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Gr.1, at Belmont Park on October 7th where he will have to hook up with older horses, including Invasor. As his trainer ranks him on par with Cigar and Dubai Millennium, it's clear that Bernardini is something special. On the other hand, Bluegrass Cat suffered a career-ending right hind pastern injury and has been retired. His third dam is a three-parts sister to Razeen.
A mere forty minutes earlier on the same track, Henny Hughes (by Hennessy), making only his second start of the year, smashed the hopes of ten rivals in the 7 furlongs King's Bishop Stakes, Gr.1. Sporting the yellow silks of Zabeel Racing International, last year's runner-up in the Breeders Cup Juvenile powered clear under John Velasquez as they straightened up, leaving the rest floundering. The broad-chested chestnut from Kiaran McLaughlin's yard, whose victory margin was in excess of 5 lengths, now goes for the 7 furlongs Gr.1 Vosburgh Stakes on the Gold Cup card at Belmont before dropping back a furlong to the Gr.1 Breeders Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs in November.
The previous day, trainer Saeed bin Suroor's Discreet Cat (by Forestry) made mincemeat of allowance rivals in the fastest time for 7 furlongs recorded at Saratoga this season. Unraced since his U.A.E. Derby victory at Nad Al Sheba back in March (where one of his victims was Invasor), the inexperienced Godolphin colt checked in untroubled by 11 lengths giving Garrett Gomez his 149th - and easiest - win of 2006.
The winner did however have previous experience of the track, having broken his maiden there in a 6 furlongs event at 2 while carrying the colours of Mrs. Einar Robsham, from whom he was purchased privately last year. The next target for the unbeaten (4-for-4) colt is the Gr.1 Jerome Handicap at Belmont Park on October 1st.
The only "fly in the ointment" for the Maktoums is the delay in the return to action of the other leading sophomore, Belmont Stakes hero Jazil (by Seeking The Gold), who is scheduled to be shipped from Shadwell Farm in Lexington back to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin around the time these words are being written. He may not make it back to the track in time for the Breeders Cup, but tempting prizes await in California and/or Florida this winter……
While Roy and Gretchen Jackson, racing as Lael Stable, might continue to ponder what "might have been" had their star, Barbaro, not suffered a catas-trophic injury, they are fortunate enough to have a worthy back-up. His name is Showing Up (by Strategic Mission) and the progressive colt controlled affairs in the August 12th Secretariat Stakes, Gr.1, at Arlington, ultimately holding off Irish challenger Ivan Denisovich (by Danehill) with ease. Guided by Cornelio Velasquez for trainer Barclay Tagg, Showing Up recorded a faster time for the 10 furlongs than the winner of the Arlington Million had done just over an hour earlier.
Matters are not quite so clear amongst the distaff set. With Bushfire & Co. taking a short rest, it was left to a pair of fillies by Arch - Pine Island and the Canadian shipper Arravale - to dominate the headlines. The former, from the talent-packed Shug McGaughey stable, teamed up with Castellano to annex the Alabama Stakes, Gr.1, at Saratoga, a race that had fallen to her third dam, Maplejinsky (by Nijinsky) in 1988.
The latter had to travel all the way across the continent from her Eastern base to be able to taste success - a sweet victory in the Gr.1 Del Mar Oaks on turf. Jose Valdivia, Jr., teamed up with Benson MacDonald for the win, which was the culmination of a great piece of placing on the part of her schooler.
Also at Saratoga, the oddly-named Swap Fliparoo became her sire, Exchange Rate's first Graded Stakes winner by taking the 7 furlongs Test Stakes, Gr.1. Last early, she picked off a dozen rivals one by one to score under a clever ride from Eibar Coa. The filly's impeccably-bred sire (Danzig - Sterling Pound) is having a tremendous impact from his Florida base, the Padua Stables of Satish and Anne Sanan.
This review would not be complete without a mention of Wait A While (by Maria's Mon). Effective on both surfaces, she is beginning to dominate the turf division for 3-y-o fillies over a distance of ground. Having picked up the laurels in the American Oaks, Gr.1, she showed this was no fluke by accounting for the French-bred Lady Of Venice (by Loup Solitaire) in the 9 furlongs Lake Placid Stakes, Gr.2, at Saratoga.
The older horses:
Vastly-improved in 2006, Lava Man (by Slew City Slew), from trainer Doug O'Neill's barn, remained in California to successfully tackle the 10 furlongs Pacific Classic, Gr.1, at Del Mar on August 20th and thereby extended his winning skein for the year to six. He thus became the first horse to win the three biggest races for older horses in his home state - the Santa Anita Handicap, the Hollywood Gold Cup, and now the Pacific Classic - in the same season. En route to a possible tilt at the Breeders Cup Classic, Gr.1, he reverts to turf on September 30th in the 10 furlongs Clement Hirsch Turf Championship.
Waiting for him there is sure to be the grand old warrior The Tin Man (by Affirmed) who put away younger "upstarts" Cacique (by Danehill) and Soldier Hollow (In The Wings) in the 10 furlongs Arlington Million, Gr.1 (turf) on August 12th, where favoured English Channel (by Smart Strike) disappointed in fourth. Astride Richard Mandella's triumphant ward, Victor Espinoza cleverly controlled the pace from the front and had too much in hand for his challengers.
Another turf star is the transplanted Irish colt, Aragorn (by Giant's Causeway), who completed a hat trick of Graded Stakes wins when essaying a rail-hugging effort in the Gr.2 Del Mar Breeders Cup Mile on August 26th. A fortunate sliver of opportunity down the inside allowed him to display his patented explosive burst of acceleration under Corey Nakatani.
The late foal, whose third dam is Valoris, started his racing career in Ireland with John Oxx, then moved to David Loder's yard in England before finding his true métier in California under the guidance of the suave Neil Drysdale. On his rating, he is currently the best older horse in America. His next assignment is the October 7th Oak Tree Breeders Cup Mile, Gr.2, at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting.
Apart from Aragorn, Lava Man - who has yet to perform well outside California - will also have to conquer a summit named Invasor if he is to wrest Horse Of The Year honours. The latter, a hardy Argentinian-bred, remained undefeated in the Americas when eking out victory in the Gr.1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on August 5th.
Despite his mount stumbling at the start, Fernando Jara stayed cool, and was able to get Invasor to recover enough to pip the luckless Sun King (by Charismatic) by a nose, although clearly the former would have won with ease had that incident not occurred. Last year's Travers winner Flower Alley (by Distorted Humor) was amongst Invasor's victims.
Clear leader of the filly and mare division is the French-bred Gorella (by Grape Tree Road), trained by expatriate Frenchman Patrick Biancone and steered by their fellow countryman, Julien Laparoux. The turn of foot she showed when streaking past her rivals in the Gr.1 Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington on August 12th was simply stunning.
Another good one is Fleet Indian (by Indian Charlie), albeit on dirt, who went into the Personal Ensign Handicap, Gr.1, off a six-race winning streak, although she had yet to score at this level. None of her four rivals was able to stop her gaining the distinction, as Jose Santos set a slow pace on the New York-bred and had plenty to spare at the wire. The UAE-foaled Balletto (by Timber Country), who has made a stunning comeback from colic surgery, occupied the runner-up slot.
Dubai Escapade made just $75,000 as a Keeneland September yearling but yielded her pinhooker an astounding profit when resold as a 2-y-o in training at Barretts, where she fetched $2,000,000! The buyer - Darley Stable (represented by John Ferguson Bloodstock) - is well on the way to recovering that huge outlay, as the improving filly has now scored 6 times from 8 starts, her most recent display being an emphatic rout of her six rivals in the Gr.1 Ballerina Breeders Cup over 7 furlongs at Saratoga on August 27th. Edgar Prado did duty for trainer Eoin Harty.
The two-year-olds:
Although beaten by Circular Quay (by Thunder Gulch) in the Bashford Manor Stakes, Gr.3, at Churchill Downs back in July, it was clear Chace City (by Carson City) had been unlucky in running on that occasion. He confirmed that opinion when on August 16th he ground out a determined victory in the Gr.2 Saratoga Special over 6-1/2 furlongs. Trainer Scott Blasi handles the good-looking colt, who made $ 400,000 as a yearling.
Over the same trip, the 90th running of Adirondack Stakes, Gr.2, saw an upset as the unusually mature and imposing Magical Ride (by Storm Cat), an odds-on choice, was relegated to third by Unbridled Song's grey daughter, Octave, who came with a wet sail to prevail. As the winner also had Successful Appeal's stakes-performing daughters Chagall (who faded after a suicidal duel with the favourite) and Richwoman behind her, it seems clear the form is good and that trainer Todd Pletcher has yet another top prospect for the future.
On the West Coast, Bob Baffert's E Z Warrior (by Exploit) - a $ 1,200,000 yearling - who remained undefeated in the Gr.3 Hollywood Juvenile Champ-ionship Stakes in July, missed the whole of August and is unlikely to reappear soon as he is suffering from sore shins. At Del Mar, Principle Secret (by Sea Of Secrets) recovered from a bad start to score with ease in the Gr.2 Best Pal Stakes on August 12th for trainer Christopher Paasch. The previous week, Untouched Talent (by Storm Cat) had held off Outofthepast (by Exchange Rate) in the Gr.3 Sorrento Stakes.
Canada :
The final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown for Canadian-bred three-year-olds, the $500,000 Breeders' Stakes, was contested over 1-1/2 miles on turf at Woodbine on August 6th.
Queen's Plate winner Edenwold (by Southern Halo) and Prince of Wales Stakes "hero" (winner on the track) Malakoff (by Lemon Drop Kid) were absentees, while the horse who gained the honours in the latter event (courtesy of the Fort Erie stewards), Shillelagh Slew (Chief Seattle) did turn up, although there were some doubts about his getting the trip. Stronach Stables, owners of Malakoff, gained sweet revenge when their homebred Touch Gold colt, Royal Challenger, pounced late under Patrick Husbands to beat the favourite, French Beret (by Broad Brush) by a neck, with Shillelagh Slew third.
In the unrestricted Gr.3 Canadian Derby, run over 11 furlongs at Northlands Park in Edmonton, Alberta, on August 26th, the last named overwhelmed the opposition, which included Edenwold, to win pulling up. Steered by regular pilot Dino Luciani, he was followed home by The Visualiser, a grey son of Giant's Causeway that cost his owners $ 1,000,000. Shillelagh Slew is a rarity in that he is a Quebec-bred - that province has a very small breeding industry.
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