Pyro Comes From Way Back To Win The $300,000 Risen Star Stakes

Eight other graded stakes at the Fair Grounds and Santa Anita

A Column by Steve Davidowitz
February 13, 2008

As advertised, the Triple Crown chase got underway last weekend with an eye-catching last-to-first winning rally by Pyro in the $300,000 Risen Star Stakes (G3) at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans.

Pyro's visually impressive late blur was verified by the clock, which caught him going a sensational final quarter mile in about 22.80 (using interpolation). For some perspective, that finishing split ranks among the fastest recorded in a dirt race at one mile or longer in more than a decade. Yet Pyro's winning 1 1/16 miles, which was clocked in a moderate 1:44.68, earned him a sub-par 90 Beyer Speed Figure that seemed to expose weaknesses in the 10 horses he defeated.

For openers, Pyro trailed a pedestrian six-furlong pace in 1:14.62 and was partially blocked before he uncorked his stirring rally. The slow pace and his brief traffic problems certainly gave all the horses ahead of him an edge they never utilized. While none of his rivals should have been exhausted, they all failed to muster much of a defense against the fast flying Pyro. This lack of sustained speed even indicted his previously undefeated stablemate Z Fortune, who finished two lengths behind in second place and will have to show much more in his next outing to remain a viable Triple Crown prospect.

When we last saw Pyro in October 2007, he was rallying for second to 2007 Juvenile Champion War Pass in both the Champagne Stakes at Belmont and the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Monmouth Park. Although the speedy War Pass is still training for his 2008 debut, it seems obvious that Pyro will be one of his most formidable rivals when they eventually meet in a Triple Crown prep race or the Kentucky Derby itself.

More Saturday, February 9th stakes at the Fair Grounds

* The $200,000 Silverbulletday Stakes (G3), 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-old fillies

On the same Fair Grounds card in which Pyro put on his explosive late rally, Juvenile Filly Champion Indian Blessing won the Silverbulletday Stakes over stretch running Proud Spell, who she defeated in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies last fall.

Although Indian Blessing was tiring in the final yards of this 1 1/16-mile stakes, she controlled a fast pace (six furlongs in 1:11.40) and was never in real danger of being caught by stretch running Proud Spell, who fell short by a length but did catch the winner about 40 yards past the wire.

The final clocking for Indian Blessing's 1 1/16 miles was 1:43.75 (for a 99 Beyer Speed Figure), with a final quarter mile clocked in about 26 seconds. Despite her undefeated record, Indian Blessing's tendency to slow down in the final furlong may leave her vulnerable to Proud Spell and others at longer distances down the road.

* The $150,000 Mineshaft Handicap (G3), 1 1/16 miles for 4-year-olds and up

Second to Street Sense in the $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga last summer, Grasshopper looked the part of a legitimate Grade 1 performer in this, his 4-year-old debut.

Rallying between horses approaching the final furlong, Grasshopper pulled away from a decent field that included improving Silent Lord and the $2 million earner Magna Graduate to score his first career stakes victory. The clocking for the 1 1/16 miles was a good 1:43.46 (102 Beyer Speed Figure), with the final quarter in about 24.80. Next stop for Grasshopper will be the $500,000 New Orleans Handicap (G2) on March 8th, the same day that 3-year-old fillies will compete in the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and 3-year-old males will go in the $600,000 Louisiana Derby (G2).

* The $150,000 Fair Grounds Handicap (G3), 1 1/8 miles on the turf for 4-year-olds and up

Southern California shipper Daytona won another graded turf stakes for trainer Dan Hendricks by taking the lead and improving his position. Expertly ridden by Mike Smith, Daytona had this field at his mercy on a turf course that usually favors stretch running types. Jazz Quest and Sterwins were noses apart in second and third about 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

Saturday, February 9th at Santa Anita

* The $250,000 Las Virgenes (G1), 1 mile for 3-year-old fillies

Golden Doc A, a fast closing second to Indian Blessing in last month's Santa Ynez Stakes at 7 furlongs, turned in a professional rally from mid pack to win driving clear over Lovely Isle. The winner obviously flattered Indian Blessing while stamping Golden Doc A as another likely rival in longer races down the road.

* The Santa Maria Handicap (G1), 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares four years old and up

Double Trouble, a Brazilian import trained to perfection by Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel, was a dominant winner over heavily favored Tough Tiz's Sis. The latter, caught in a three-way duel for almost seven furlongs, did well to hold on to second in the four-horse field that was depleted by two late scratches.

* The $250,000 San Antonio Handicap (G2), 1 1/8 miles for 4-year-olds and up

Well Armed led every step of the way and held on late to score narrowly over fast closing Heatseeker while third-place finisher Awesome Gem made a good bid but weakened in the final furlong. All three are pointing towards the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (G1) at 1 1/4 miles on March 1st.

Sunday, February 10th at Santa Anita

* The $200,000 La Canada Stakes (G2), 1 1/8 miles for 4-year-old fillies and mares

Dawn After Dawn, an even money betting favorite, used front running tactics to defeat second choice Say You Will by a length in a race on the fast Pro-Ride Cushion Track that may have featured either a mistimed six-furlong split officially clocked in a sluggish 1:15.08 or one of the most unusual pace scenarios of the year. Either way, Dawn After Dawn was never threatened in 1:50.37 for the nine furlongs.

* The $150,000 San Vicente Stakes (G2), 7 furlongs for 3-year-olds

By contrast, Georgie Boy rallied smartly to score a 3/4-length victory over Grade 1 stakes winner Into Mischief in 1:20.01 for the seven furlongs. That clocking was only .12 (12/100) seconds off the extremely fast track record set by Indian Blessing in the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) when Santa Anita's wacky Cushion Track was producing numerous track and world records. In making his first start since winning the 7-furlong Del Mar Futurity (G1) last September, Georgie Boy looked quite strong, but questions still remain about his ability to handle much longer distances.

A Brief Review of the New Pro-Ride Cushion Track

After so many problems and postponements, Santa Anita's newly configured synthetic, hybrid track offered a relatively fast, relatively fair racing surface through its first weekend of usage (February 9-11). But before anyone can claim an end to Santa Anita's track problems, we have to see how this surface handles a good rainfall. Stay tuned.

Steve Davidowitz has written two highly acclaimed books on Thoroughbred racing---Betting Thoroughbreds and The Best and Worst of Thoroughbred Racing. He also is a regular contributor to Daily Racing Form's Simulcast Weekly and DRF Plus and his columns appear in the Bodog Racebook each week.