The manner in which the Sheikh Mohammed standard-bearer led all the way
and cantered in with ears pricked suggests that his expected principal
rivals, Strong Contender (by Maria's Mon), a facile winner of the
Dwyer Stakes, Gr.2, at Belmont on July 4th, and perennial bridesmaid
Bluegrass Cat (by Storm Cat), runner up in the Kentucky Derby, Gr.1,
and the Belmont Stakes, Gr.1, will have to produce something special to
be able to topple him in the Travers.
Meanwhile, Kentucky Derby, Gr.1, winner Barbaro (by Dynaformer)
continues his heroic struggle for life. Following surgery on his broken
ankle, injured in the May 20th Preakness, he seemed to be progressing
nicely until a life-threatening bout of laminitis developed, which
required excision of about 80% of his left hoof on July 12th. Since then
he has appeared stable, but it is only prayer - and the valiant efforts
of his medical team - that can get him through the next few weeks.
Amongst the older horses, the versatile Lava Man (by Slew City
Slew), trained by Doug O'Neill, gave a gutsy display in the 10 furlongs
Hollywood Gold Cup, Gr.1, on July 8th to prevail by a nose in a blanket
finish. Earlier he had performed well on turf, and has won all 5 of his
2006 starts. His obvious target is the Breeders Cup Classic, Gr.1, at
Churchill Downs on November 4th.
The turf stars include English Channel (by Smart Strike) who
toppled the fancied Cacique (by Danehill) by half a length in the
July 8th United Nations Handicap, Gr.1, at Monmouth Park, a race won in
the past by Manjri Stud's Senure[USA].
One who deserves a mention is the Argentine-bred Invasor. An
unbeaten Uruguayan Triple Crown winner, purchased there by Sheikh Hamdan
Al Maktoum's Shadwell Farm, Invasor is a son of Candy Stripes.
The purchase price, said to be about $1.4 million, is well on the way to
being recovered, as Invasor has banked $ 640,000 from two starts,
with back-to-back wins in the Pimlico Special, Gr.1, in May and the
Suburban Handicap, Gr.1, on July 1st.
Amongst the three-year-old fillies, the leader has to be Bushfire
(by Louis Quatorze), a facile winner of the Mother Goose Stakes, Gr.1,
at Belmont on July 1st, pushing back Kentucky Oaks victress Lemons
Forever (by Lemon Drop Kid) to fourth spot. Trainer by Eddie
Kenneally, Bushfire had earlier annexed the Acorn Stakes, Gr.1.
She bypassed the July 22nd Coaching Club American Oaks, Gr.1, in favour
of a Saratoga campaign.
In her absence, Wonder Lady Anne L (by Real Quiet) prevailed in
the C.C.A. Oaks in sloppy going, with Lemons Forever once again
fourth. Earlier, the victorious filly, from Richard Dutrow Jr.'s yard,
had suffered an injury in the starting stalls when Miraculous Miss
(Mr. Greeley) had flipped over at the start of the Acorn. Neither
Bushfire nor Wonder Lady Anne L hail from well-known families
- the latter cost only $ 8,000 as a yearling - but both are by sires who
won at least one leg of a Triple Crown race.
It's early days for two-year-olds, but one that caught the eye was
Circular Quay (by Thunder Gulch) who remained unbeaten when annexing
the Bashford Manor Stakes, Gr.3, at Churchill Downs on July 8th. About
an hour earlier, Heiligbrodt Stables' Richwoman (by Successful
Appeal) had beaten off the challenge of another by her sire in
Chagall when taking the Debutante Stakes, Gr.3, for trainer Steve
Asmussen, who has since started a 6-month suspension, following a
positive test for one of his runners at Evangeline Downs.
Champion 2-y-o Johannesburg sired the one-two in the Sanford Stakes,
Gr.2, at Saratoga on July 27th with Scat Daddy narrowly
justifying favouritism when finishing a neck ahead of Teuflesberg
(who sold for just $ 9,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale as
the very last lot into the ring).
Conditioner Todd Pletcher - who shelters both Circular Quay and
Scat Daddy - is streets clear at the top of the trainers' table
with $ 15,132,882 earned by his wards, about $ 7 million clear of his
nearest pursuer, Steve Asmussen, who will not be able to add to his
tally in 2006. In the number of wins column, the latter, with 241 wins,
is again lying second, trailing Scott Lake, who has an incredible 344
victories to his name.
The energetic Garrett Gomez shades Edgar Prado at the head of the
jockeys table (money won) but neither is in the top ten in "races won",
which is headed by apprentice Julien Laparoux with 279 victories - a
great effort from the 22-year-old Frenchman who was virtually unknown a
year ago.
Canada
The Canadian Triple Crown for Canadian-bred three-year-olds consists of
the $ 1,000,000 Queen's Plate (10 furlongs on dirt at Woodbine, run this
year on June 25th), the $ 500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes (1-3/16 miles
on dirt at Fort Erie run on July 17th) and the $500,000 Breeders' Stakes
(1-1/2 miles on turf at Woodbine, due to be run on August 6th).
Leading from half way, after having been well up from the start, last
year's juvenile champion male, Edenwold (by Southern Halo)
prevailed in the Queen's Plate. He started at a generous 16 to 1 by
virtue of the fact that he had raced disappointingly in his lead-up
races this year. He became the first winner of this historic race,
having its 147th renewal, to have been trained by a lady trainer, Josie
Carroll. Emile Ramsammy - of Indian origin - did duty in the red and
gold silks of James and Alice Sapara, and added an interesting touch
when removing his helmet - his hair was dyed red and gold.
Edenwold was unable to get the lead in the Prince Of Wales Stakes
and failed to accelerate. The one who was able to turn on the
afterburners was Malakoff (Lemon Drop Kid), third in the Queens
Plate earlier despite having missed crucial training time. However, the
Fort Erie stewards felt that he had compromised the chances of
Shillelagh Slew (Chief Seattle) in the closing stages and demoted
him to fifth, an act that so upset his owners, Stronach Stables, and
rider, Todd Kabel, that they appealed to the Ontario Racing Commission.
The result of the hearing is expected some time in August. Had the race
been run under Indian rules, Malakoff would have kept the prize,
as the outcome was not affected.
