Saturday began on an encouraging note for followers of form. Rain continued and the main track alternated between sloppy and muddy. The turf course was labelled yielding and changed to soft. The bottom line was that Monmouth Park was turning into a lake. Unlike Friday, the rain stopped now and then. Finally, just before the BC Turf was run, the seventh of the eight BC events, the sun took a peek at what was going on.
Indian Blessing won the Juvenile Filles race without working up a sweat. The winning margin was 3 and one half-lengths. The 1,700-metre race was run in 1 37.72. Bob Baffert trains Indian Blessing. Garrett Gomez was the winning jockey. Indian Blessing was the 17-10 favourite. The purse for this race was $2 million (almost Rs 8 crore).
Proud Spell headed the beaten brigade. Backseat Rhythm took the show spot. Indian Blessing’s sire is Indian Charlie. The dam is Shameful by Flying Chevron.
The second race was the BC Juvenile boys also over 1,700 metres. The Nicholas Zito-trained War Pass made this race a ‘no contest.’ Jockey Cornelio Velasquez had the 22-10 public choice in front. The margin widened as the race progressed. As War Pass turned for the run to the box, Cornelio had the luxury of easing up. War Pass coasted home 4 and three quarter lengths in front of Pyro. Pyro, in the rear, emerged from the pack with 600 metres to run but the issue had been settled at that point. Kodiak Kowboy was third.
War Pass covered the 1,700-metre journey in 1 42.76. A good time indeed considering the conditions. War Pass is sired by Cherokee Run. Vue is the dam and she is a Mr Prospector mare.
The third race, the BC Filly-Mare Turf, was over 2,200 metres. Henry Cecil’s Passage of Time was the lukewarm choice. Nashoba’s Key, seven for seven in her career, had a lot of support. Wait A While was a scratch. Precious Kitten left alertly to get the lead and coming into the first turn, was passed by Simply Perfect and John Murtagh. Rounding the second turn, Simply Perfect went wide and in the process, took Precious Kitten out of the race. Passage Of Time and Lahudood were in the clear as they raced down the backside. Lahudood shot to the front as they turned for home with Passage of Time in chase. As Lahudood kept going, Honey Ryder appeared on the scene to deny Passage of Time the runner-up berth. The winning margin was three parts of a length. A neck behind in third was Passage of Time. The time was 2 22.7 on soft turf.
The F-M Turf was a $2 million race. Lahudood was 11-1. I asked trainer Kiaran McLaughlin if there was a reason why Lahudood flopped in Arlington’s Beverly D in August.
He replied, “I was losing my enthusiasm after the Beverly D. I could not understand it. She, however, raised her game to win the Grade I Flower Bowl at Belmont Park. She trained very well for today’s race.”
Jockey Alan Garcia was winning his first BC race. He was happy beyond words. “I had great position. Lucky that I stayed clear of trouble. She (Lahudood) responded when they came at her. This is a dream.”
Lahudood is by Singspiel. The dam is Rahayeb who is by Arazi. Sheikh Hamdan, not at Monmouth Park, was given the news immediately after the race.
The fourth race was the Sprint with a purse of $2 million. Idiot Proof and Talent Search were at the helm of affairs and the former saw the latter off as they swung into the home turn. Idiot Proof was going along merrily and her fans began figuring out the winnings. Midnight Lute, Garrett Gomez up, was seen coming out of the beaten pack with less than 600 metres to run. With 400 to go, it appeared that Idiot Proof would cling to the advantage. Finding his best stride in the mid-part of the track, Midnight Lute was devouring ground. In the waning yards, Idiot Proof began to weaken perceptibly. Midnight Lute’s margin was four and three quarter lengths. The time was 1.09 seconds over 1,200 metres.
Midnight Lute is by Real Quiet. Candytuft is the dam by Dehere. At 5-2, Midnight Lute was the favorite.
At the post-race meeting, I asked Bob Baffert, the trainer this question. “The last quarter came in 25 seconds. Your horse was, at least, 12 lengths off. How could he have finished so ferociously?”
The unflappable Baffert answered, “You are right. It was incredible. He broke poorly. It was a terrible feeling. Oh, he (Midnight Lute) won’t be able to show his stuff, I told a friend. They went fast and that helped… but to close the way he did, I don’t believe he did it. I have never seen anything like this.”
Garrett Gomez was not at the meeting. He had a ride in the following race. I remarked to the owner, Mike Pegram, that his horse was like a silver arrow racing through a dark sky but in Midnight Lute’s case, the arrow was painted red.
Next came the BC Mile Turf over 1,600 metres. Excellent Art was the rage. Post-13 seemed to have no impact on the fans’ thinking. Nobiz Like Shobiz, my choice, was next in demand. Jereny, Frankie Dettori up, had considerable support. At 9-1, Kip Deville had the last laugh. Cornelio Velasquez was the rider. Kip Deville, given a smart steer, got a good trip and was in front soon after the final turn and showed resolve when challenged in the last 200 metres. Excellent Art, a backmarker, was on the move with 800 to go, was wide into the turn, had to be steadied more than once in the lane and ran on to be the bridesmaid. Cosmonaut salvaged the third spot. Nobiz Like Shobiz was in mid-division, charged three and four-wide late in the backstretch to move into contention and had little left when the heat was on. Jeremy took the inside path, loomed large with 600 to go and threw in the towel.
Kip Deville won by a length. There was another length between Excellent Art and Cosmonaut. The time was 1 39.78. Kip Deville is by Kipling. The dam is Klondike Kaylie who is by Encino.
I asked trainer Richard Dutrow Jr how Kip Deville was able to get to new levels after a couple of sub-par races in spring and summer. “He had a lot of trouble in the running. I was not disappointed. The last eight weeks, he has been training superbly. Cornelio (the jockey) gave him a perfect ride.”
When told that there is a bonus of $1 million if Kip Deville can also win at Hong Kong’s Sha Tin racecourse, Dutrow Jr gave an emphatic answer. “My Hong Kong experience was bad. We lost Royal Rebel there last year. I am not going.”
