Sprint Diary Blood-Horse Magazine

SPRINT DIARY

SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

by Vance Hanson
The sprint division lost its leading light last weekend when MAJESTICPERFECTION sustained a condylar fracture to his right foreleg and was retired a few days later. For snake-bit trainer Steve Asmussen, it was his third piece of disastrous news in a week following the loss by Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) in the Personal Ensign S. (G1) and the injury-forced retirement of his up-and-coming two-year-old colt Kantharos.
Asmussen won an Eclipse Award as leading trainer last year in addition to having the Horse of the Year and champion male sprinter Kodiak Kowboy in the barn. This season, he's seen two potential champions prematurely exit the scene and two fillies, Rachel Alexandra and Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union), fail to run up to expectations. Racing is indeed a story of the highest highs and the lowest lows.
At any rate, Majesticperfection's departure is a serious blow to the division and has deprived the sport of a true superstar. The Harlan's Holiday colt made his belated debut at Fair Grounds this past January, where he ran third, but lived up to his moniker for the remainder of his far too short career. After a maiden victory and two allowance scores, Majesticperfection turned in a track-record performance in the Iowa Sprint H., then blew his rivals off their feet with a scintillating gate-to-wire romp in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G1) in his final start. Virtually no other horse in the division earned such consistently high BRIS Speed ratings as Majesticperfection, garnering numbers of 112, 112, 105 and 107 in his final four outings.
The race for the title: It's not out of the realm of possibility that Majesticperfection could back into an Eclipse Award championship as he does have several things going in his favor. In addition to the strong impression he made in his final two starts, voters in the past have been willing to give the benefit of the doubt to horses who were dominant yet whose campaigns were abbreviated, a recent example being Benny the Bull in 2008. Another factor is that only one hand would be needed to count the number of sprints remaining that could have legitimate championship implications.
Perhaps the most beneficial factor is one we mentioned in the first installment of this diary -- the presence of a one-turn Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Already there is plenty of talk that both Forego S. (G1) winner HERE COMES BEN (Street Cry [Ire]) and sixth-placer BRIBON (Fr) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]), who earlier won the True North H. (G2) and ran third in the Vanderbilt, would aim for the Dirt Mile rather than the Sprint. That spot is pretty much a foregone conclusion for Bribon, though trainer Chuck Lopresti is reportedly keeping the option of the Sprint open for Here Comes Ben. However, Lopresti has stated that he feels his charge would be more effective over the longer distance. That reasoning seems sound considering Here Comes Ben was still 2 1/2 lengths off the lead through six furlongs of the seven-furlong Forego.
Contenders or pretenders?: Of those hoping to wrest control of divisional honors away from Majesticperfection, BIG DRAMA (Montbrook) would appear to have the best chance at this writing. Though he chased his retired rival in second throughout the Vanderbilt, his remaining body of work is good enough to likely sway support his way should he prevail in the November 6 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), a race he will be trained up to by David Fawkes.
An impressive winner of the Smile Sprint H. (G2) and Ponche H. over his home strip of Calder this summer, Big Drama followed up his runner-up effort in the Vanderbilt with another solid try in the Forego. Demonstrating that seven furlongs might be a tad too far given his style of racing slightly off the pace, Big Drama was up by a length through six furlongs of the Forego in 1:09 2/5 before relinquishing the lead to the hard-charging Here Comes Ben. Having been asked a lot this summer, Big Drama should appreciate the two-month freshening and the reduction in distance once he arrives in Louisville.
With the unsurprising decision to cancel the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G2) coming from the Maryland Jockey Club recently, virtually the only dirt prep remaining on the East Coast is the October 2 Vosburgh S. (G1) at Belmont Park. That race could attract the Godolphin-trained duo of VINEYARD HAVEN (Lido Palace [Chi]) and GIROLAMO (A.P. Indy), who ran third and fifth, respectively, in the Forego.
Even following the retirement last month of Desert Party, Godolphin has always had a deep bench of sprinter-milers to aim for both of the corresponding Breeders' Cup races. In addition to those two, they also have a capable one in Gayego (Gilded Time), who is most likely a Dirt Mile candidate. The question now remains which of the above two is better suited to be their Sprint representative.
Though Girolamo is already more or less penciled in for the Vosburgh, the feeling here is that Vineyard Haven remains the stable's top prospect for an Eclipse Award. Girolamo was an encouraging fifth in the Forego despite having not raced since last year's Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), and figures to be a lot sharper for the Vosburgh. However, the dark bay has never run at a race less than seven furlongs. Indeed, he looked like a star miler in the making with his victory in last year's Jerome H. (G2) before his ill-advised placement in the 1 1/4-mile Classic.
Vineyard Haven, meanwhile, has his options open following a lackluster third in the Forego. Though we selected the gray to win that race, we always had an inkling he could be vulnerable as his performance in the James Marvin S. on Saratoga's opening day, upon further reflection, was not quite as overwhelming as we initially believed. Though it wasn't the strongest field he ever beat, Vineyard Haven's score in last year's De Francis Dash, then a Grade 1, suggests he's still capable of being a danger at six furlongs, at least more so than Girolamo.
Having passed on the last two Breeders' Cups, presumably due to surface concerns, this would seem to be Vineyard Haven's best opportunity to nail down a divisional title, and the only way to do that is to attempt a Vosburgh-BC Sprint double. Using a race like the one-mile Kelso H. (G2) as a springboard to the Breeders' Cup probably won't get the job done, and as noted earlier the stable already has a solid pair of runners for the Dirt Mile. The placement and performance of Girolamo and Vineyard Haven on the weekend of October 2-3 at Belmont will either make a dent or solidify Majesticperfection's current hold on divisional honors.
All-in: The claims to a championship by the three-year-old DISCREETLY MINE (Mineshaft) will rest entirely on his performance in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, a race he is being trained up to by Todd Pletcher. The rest is well-deserved as he's had a busy and effective summer, claiming both of Saratoga's sophomore sprints as well as the Jersey Shore S. (G3) at Monmouth Park. Of the three races, the Amsterdam S. (G2) victory was clearly the best of the three. Conceding the early lead in the 6 1/2-furlong dash on August 2, Discreetly Mine received the perfect set-up as ESSENCE HIT MAN (Speightstown) set wickedly fast splits of :21 2/5 and :44. That was too much for the Canadian to sustain, and Discreetly Mine pulled away to win by nearly nine lengths, finishing in 1:14 1/5.
The August 28 King's Bishop over seven furlongs was not nearly as impressive. Wisely placed on the lead over a track that was playing kindly to early speed, Discreetly Mine found being the prey more taxing. While he ultimately held his closest rival safe by 1 1/4 lengths, he staggered home in :13 3/5, running the distance slower than the fillies and mares did in the Ballerina S. (G1) on the same card.
When last occupying this space we suggested that no three-year-old at the time appeared like a legitimate title contender. We'll revise that proclamation slightly with a qualification. Discreetly Mine, if he can reproduce his Amsterdam effort at Churchill Downs, could be a serious threat to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint. The cutback to six furlongs should help, and given who he might potentially face he could be the quickest horse out of the gate in the entire field. We'll reserve further judgment for now.
The scene elsewhere: ATTA BOY ROY (Tribunal) flattered Majesticperfection, who beat him in the Iowa Sprint by 4 3/4 lengths, by dominating an overmatched group in the August 21 Remington Park Sprint Cup by 5 1/2 lengths. The Washington-bred will now return to the site of his earlier victory in the Churchill Downs S. (G2) and second-place finish in the Aristides S. (G3), and we won't dismiss his chances provided he can work out a good trip.
Out in California, Del Mar's two main-track sprints failed to yield a standout. The three-year-old SMILING TIGER (Hold That Tiger) claimed the scalps of his elders in the Bing Crosby S. (G1), but then failed to back up that win in the Pat O'Brien S. (G1) later in the meet. EL BRUJO (Candy Ride [Arg]), a creature of synthetic, ran away with the latter after running fourth in the Bing Crosby following a 2 1/2-month layoff.
If anything was confirmed where the turf meets the surf, it's that CROWN OF THORNS (Repent) is probably the most talented of any of the one-turn specialists in that part of the country. Though winless since the Robert B. Lewis S. (G2) in February 2008, Crown of Thorns has run his eyeballs out despite having to overcome significantly long spells in the interim. Second to Gayego in last year's Ancient Title S. (G1), the Dick Mandella trainee next was involved in that blanket finish in the Breeders' Cup Sprint where he finished second by a nose. Unraced following that one until the August 28 Pat O'Brien, the five-year-old made a strong run at El Brujo late before settling for second by a half-length.
Another shot at the Ancient Title, at Hollywood Park October 9, is likely next, where he could meet Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) hero KINSALE KING (Yankee Victor) and defending Sprint champ DANCING IN SILKS (Black Minnaloushe), a dull fourth this past Wednesday in the Pirate's Bounty S. in his return from an extended layoff.
Overall, we continue to take a jaundiced view of proceedings out west as none of the apparent leading contenders from that region has run over dirt, and the Breeders' Cup Sprint will be a difficult spot for all of them to try something new for the first time.
Flying fillies: Given how Saratoga's main track was playing on the afternoon of August 28, we have to wonder how many accolades would be appropriate to heap on RIGHTLY SO (Read the Footnotes) and RAPPORT (Songandaprayer), who took advantage of the prevailing conditions to run away from their fields in the Ballerina S. and Victory Ride S. (G3), respectively.
The victory by Rightly So should have come as no surprise as she had gutted out a win in the seven-furlong Bed o' Roses H. (G3) in her previous start and there was no guarantee of anyone putting pressure on her early. The fact she extended her lead from one to four lengths in the final furlong suggests the rest were clearly struggling, even after chasing a sub :45 half-mile set by the winner. Now undefeated in three attempts at seven furlongs, the same distance as the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), Rightly So would have to be considered a danger at Churchill Downs especially if she were to shake loose.
That might be a problem should the Bob Baffert-trained Rapport arrive on the Breeders' Cup scene. The sophomore finally snapped a four-race losing streak on dirt to win the Victory Ride by 3 1/2 lengths. While seven furlongs might be stretching her limitations, she could throw a monkey wrench into the plans of others on November 5.
With the retirement of Prioress S. (G1) heroine Franny Freud, CHAMPAGNE D'ORO (Medaglia d'Oro) appears to be the leading sophomore contender for the Filly & Mare Sprint. Already a winner of the one-mile Acorn S. (G1) and seven-furlong Test S. (G1), Champagne d'Oro was also a good second in the Prioress. There are no questions about her getting the Breeders' Cup distance, only whether she is quick enough. That might be answered sooner rather than later as she's expected to use the September 25 Gallant Bloom H. (G2) as her final Breeders' Cup prep. It will be her first race against older fillies and mares.
The Gallant Bloom might also feature the return of Godolphin's SARA LOUISE (Malibu Moon), who narrowly missed in the same race last season in a thriller to Indian Blessing. Sara Louise failed to run up to snuff in the Breeders' Cup when trying Pro-Ride, but captured the Top Flight H. (G2) over a mile in her seasonal finale in November. A very late bid for Eclipse Award honors could be in the offing if she returns in sharp form off a 10-month layoff.
This is being written prior to Saturday's Presque Isle Downs Masters S. (G3), a field which includes defending divisional champ INFORMED DECISION (Monarchos). The gray has clearly not been up to championship form this year, and our thoughts are unlikely to change substantially even if she were to win at the Erie, Pennsylvania, oval for a second straight year. Of more interest in that field is DUBAI MAJESTY (Essence of Dubai), who has shown enough on synthetic in the past to suggest she has a chance at winning the 6 1/2-furlong dash. More importantly, her resounding win in the Winning Colors S. (G3) at Churchill in May lends support to the notion that she could be a sleeper come Breeders' Cup time.
For the sake of being inclusive, SWEET AUGUST MOON (Malibu Moon) has risen to the top of the female sprint ranks in California following back-to-back wins in the A Gleam H. (G2) and Rancho Bernando H. (G3), the latter over a depleted group of three rivals. As is the case with her male counterparts on that circuit, her inexperience on dirt will likely prove problematic should she venture east in a couple of months.
It's green they say: The leading American contenders for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G2) were on display on opposite coasts in recent weeks. CALIFORNIA FLAG (Avenue of Flags), who captured the Turf Sprint last fall at Santa Anita, returned from a layoff of nearly five months to land Del Mar's top race for the division, the five-furlong Green Flash H. on August 18. For the second time in as many years he won the race, but for the second time he cut it close, just getting his nose on the wire after a courageous final furlong where he made up a little over two lengths.
Rather than keeping California Flag in his native state for the Morvich H. (G3) at Hollywood Park at the slightly-reduced distance of six furlongs, trainer Brian Kornier is opting to send the gray gelding to Kentucky early for the October 9 Woodford S. (G3) over 5 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland in preparation for Churchill's five-furlong dash.
Even more impressive was the effort turned in by the Bret Calhoun-trained CHAMBERLAIN BRIDGE (War Chant) in the Turf Monster H. at Philadelphia Park on Labor Day. Forced to make a six-wide rally turning for home, few watching the race on television would have given the six-year-old a chance to overcome that incredible loss of ground. No sooner had this observer quietly counted him out than Chamberlain Bridge began to eat away at the lead of a visibly tired STRADIVINSKY (Stravinsky), turning in such a strong bid that he made up a 3 1/2-length deficit in the final furlong and moved past by a half-length at the wire under Jamie Theriot.
For Chamberlain Bridge, it was his fourth stakes win of the season. He previously took the Pennsylvania's Governor Cup, Arlington Sprint H. and Colonel Power S. and finished second by  neck in the Churchill Downs Turf Sprint (G3), a race he had captured in 2009. It would be rather fitting if this new millionaire would follow in his daddy's hoofsteps with a Breeders' Cup victory over the Churchill lawn. War Chant was victorious in a flying finish to the 2000 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).
Though Stradivinsky tired in deep stretch of the Turf Monster, it's far too soon to call him inferior to Chamberlain Bridge. Victorious in the Jaipur S. (G3) two back, he preceded that one with a sparkling high-end claiming win over the Turf Sprint course and distance, earning a BRIS Speed rating of 104. The ever dangerous Rick Dutrow is the mastermind behind this reformed claimer.
One whose stock has tumbled since our last installment is SILVER TIMBER (Prime Timber), who earlier this year won both the Churchill Downs Turf Sprint and the Shakertown S. (G3). He's dropped two straight as the odds-on favorite, including the August 18 Troy S. at Saratoga. He might reappear in the Woodford, a race he won last year, and could return to top form after a brief freshening.
The Troy, along with the Frank Sullivan S. on Labor Day, were the two main grass sprints of the Saratoga meet. The top three finishers in exact order in both were AWAKINO CAT (Stormy Atlantic), RAVALO (Mutakddim) and YIELD BOGEY (Langfuhr). The most we're taking from either race is how foolish it is to bet against a Linda Rice-trained gelding named Awakino Cat in a grass sprint at Saratoga. Despite scores in the 2009 editions of the Troy and Quick Call S. over the same course, Awakino Cat was allowed to go off at odds of 6-1 and 2-1, respectively, in the Troy and Frank Sullivan. He now possesses a three-for-four mark at the Spa, a level of consistency he's yet to replicate elsewhere.
Up in Canada, SMOKEY FIRE (Smoke Glacken) prevailed in a three-way photo in the August 29 Play the King S. (Can-G2) at seven furlongs. That picture did not include Highlander S. (Can-G2) hero SIGNATURE RED (Bernstein), who finished 8 1/2 lengths behind. The final race in Woodbine's series of grass sprints is the Nearctic S. (Can-G1) at six furlongs, but one has to wonder whether any specialists capable of strutting their stuff at five furlongs will emerge from that one.
Finally, one can not conclude this section without a brief shout-out to BRIDGETOWN (Speightstown), the 2009 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) runner-up who's captured minor stakes for three-year-olds at Saratoga and Monmouth since our last account. The Kenny McPeek charge has seemingly run out of competition with what consists of the three-year-old turf sprint division and deserves a hike in class for what could potentially be another Breeders' Cup bid.