Many Classy Horses On Display Over July 4th Weekend

Zenyatta remains unbeaten despite slightly sub-par effort

A Column by Steve Davidowitz
July 9, 2008

Although the July 4th weekend celebrates America's independence from Great Britain in 1776, in more recent years it has developed into a wonderful horseplayer's holiday with dozens of high-class stakes from coast to coast.

Top-level male sprinters ran in the Tom Fool Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park, the Jersey Shore Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park and the Triple Bend Invitational (G1) at Hollywood Park, while serious dirt milers ran at Monmouth Park in the Salvator Mile Stakes (G3).

Nationally ranked fillies and mares ran on various surfaces and at various distances in the Prioress Stakes (G1) and First Flight Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park; the CashCall Mile (G2), Vanity Handicap (G1) and American Oaks (G1) at Hollywood Park; and the Locust Grove Handicap (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Late developing 3-year-olds ran in the Dwyer Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park; highly promising two-year-olds ran in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship (G3) at Hollywood Park and the Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs; world-class turf horses ran in the United Nations Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park, the Firecracker Handicap (G2) in Louisville and several of the previously named stakes for fillies and mares at Hollywood Park.

Thanks to the modern miracle of the Internet and satellite TV, I saw all of these races and bet on a few, even while traveling through five states in the west and nursing some physical issues that required a minor operation when I returned home.

With just a few shortcuts, here are reviews of the above-named stakes, accenting the strengths and weaknesses of each winning performance. No doubt we will see more of these horses this summer at Saratoga, Del Mar, and Arlington Park and in early fall races pointing towards the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park on October 24th and 25th.

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Sprinters

Belmont Park, Friday, July 4th

* The $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap (G2), 7 furlongs for 3-year-olds and up.

Fractional Splits: 22.84 45.37 1:09.58 1:22.73 - Above par splits all the way through on a muddy, but sealed, slower than usual racing strip.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 113 - A terrific number earned by front running winner Lucky Island, a rapidly developing top-level threat for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint. Trained by Kieran McLaughlin, expertly ridden by Alan Garcia.

Monmouth Park, Friday, July 4th

* The $150,000 Jersey Shore Stakes (G3), 6 furlongs for 3-year-olds.

Fractional Splits: 21.46 44.24 56.42 1:09.10 - Slightly above par splits all the way.

Winning Beyer speed Figure: 101 - Earned by the solid six-furlong specialist J Be K, who started his career last year for Bob Baffert and now is trained by Steve Asmussen. J Be K won this by stalking a weak front runner and opening up a sizeable lead on stretch running Silver Edition, who finished second. At the bottom line, J Be K keeps demonstrating Breeders' Cup Sprint potential.

Hollywood Park, Saturday, July 5th

The $300,000 Triple Bend Invitational Handicap (G1), 7 furlongs for 3-year-olds and up.

Fractional Splits: 22.42 44.97 1:09.15 1:22.42 - Slightly above par for the first six furlongs, below par for the final furlong (even though the winner closed ground late) on a relatively glib synthetic track.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 99 - By Bruce Headley's Street Boss, who came in highly touted and rallied from off the pace as usual to defeat a modest group. A good effort for sure, but he will have to continue his development to be a serious Breeders' Cup threat to Benny the Bull and other high-class Eastern-based sprinters. Second-place finisher Elite Squadron won the pace duel and held relatively well for second while his pace rival High Standards tired badly to finish last.

Filly and Mare Sprinters

Belmont Park, Friday, July 4th

* The $150,000 First Flight Handicap (G2), 7 furlongs for fillies and mares.

Fractional Splits: 22.58 45.40 1:10.20 1:23.86 - Slightly above par splits set by the Allen Jerkens-trained winner Any Limit, who tired during the final furlong on a muddy, sealed track that was playing slower than par.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 98 - Almost two lengths below par for the level and distance and nearly matched by stretch running second-place finisher Wild Gams, who slowly but surely was getting to the winner. Third-place finisher Rite Moment was involved in the above par pace but weakened.

Belmont Park, Saturday, July 5th

* The $250,000 Prioress Stakes (G1), 6 furlongs for 3-year-old fillies.

Fractional Splits: 22.20 44.74 56.66 1:09.36 - Above par splits all the way on a muddy, sealed track that was slower than normal.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 109 - A very good G1 rating for Indian Blessing, the 2-year-old Champion Filly of 2007, who has developed into a superior one-turn specialist.

In this race, Indian Blessing showed a new dimension for trainer Bob Baffert and jockey John Velazquez, stalking the pace rather than rushing to the lead before thoroughly dominating in the run to the wire, winning by 5 1/4 lengths. Pace-setting longshot Secret Gypsy faded to fifth but could be a threat with less pressure in a weaker sprint.

Dirt Milers

Monmouth Park, Saturday, July 5th

* The $300,000 Salvator Mile Stakes (G3), one mile around two turns for 3-year-olds and up.

Fractional Splits: 23.12 46.06 1:10.09 1:35.84 - Solid G1 splits all the way through for a G3 race, most set by the classy front runner Gottcha Gold and finished off with a strong late burst of speed by rejuvenated Notional, who ran well in a few Derby preps last year but didn't pan out in the 2007 Spring Classics when trained just fine by Doug O'Neill. Trained now by Mark Hennig and seems ready to reach his true potential in two-turn races up to nine furlongs.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 109 - Almost a G1 rating for this G3 race.

Three-year-old Males

Belmont Park, Sunday, July 6th

* The $200,000 Dwyer Stakes (G2), 1 1/16 miles around one turn for 3-year-olds.

Fractional Splits: 23.55 46.59 1:11.01 1:37.34 1:44.29 - A par pace for the first half-mile followed by a slower than par final 5 1/2 furlongs. All fractions set by the Jimmy Jerkens-trained winner Mint Lane, who will probably be seen next in the Jim Dandy at Saratoga where he'll face more speed pressure and better competition. Pace chaser Ready's Image couldn't stay with the winner and quit after five furlongs. Jimmy Jerkens' Hall of Fame father Allen Jerkens saddled longshot Tizbig for a fair second-place finish.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 95 - About three lengths below par for the level and distance.

Fillies and Mares at one mile or more on dirt

Hollywood Park, Saturday, July 5th

* The $300,000 Vanity Handicap (G1), 1 1/8 miles on a synthetic track for fillies and mares 3 years old and up.

Fractional Splits: 23.59 46.16 1:09.91 1:35.97 1:49.51 - Fast splits for six furlongs on a glib surface, with a final three furlongs clocked in a slow 39.60.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 97 - About four lengths below the G1 level for the undefeated Zenyatta, who rallied outside, slowly but surely, to take command in mid stretch, but was still unable to put away the second-place finisher Tough Tiz's Sis while earning a half-length win.

This wasn't Zenyatta's best race and it was foreshadowed by her wide-walking, sweaty behavior going to the post. Must be watched carefully to see if she is developing a physical problem, or was this just an off day in which she still managed to win?

Fillies and Mares at one mile or more on turf

Hollywood Park, Saturday, July 5th

* The $750,000 American Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1), 1 1/4 miles on the turf for 3-year-old fillies.

Fractional Splits: 24.01 47.07 1:10.97 1:35.12 2:00.50 - A complex race that developed in spurts, with a slow first quarter, fast second and third quarters and slightly below par splits from the six-furlong marker to the wire.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 96 - About four lengths below a G1 rating for Pure Plan, a Bob Holthus-trained shipper from Kentucky who won this race only with Julien Leparoux's daring, very strong ride.

Leparoux was patient in the extreme and found a hole between horses in mid stretch to out-finish stretch running longshots Satan's Circus and Clearly Foxy. The race also featured considerable traffic problems for half the field and I suggest repeated viewings on YouTube to see exactly what happened to Carribean Sunset (who finished 4th), Missit (5th); Bel Air Sizzle (9th) and Zaskar (10th).

* The $750,000 CashCall Mile Invitational Stakes (G2), one mile on the turf for fillies and mares 3 years old and up.

Fractional Splits: 24.25 47.60 1:10.77 1:22.52 1:34.07 - A slow first quarter, followed by fast G1 splits from there to the wire as the top two finishers, Diamond Diva and Ventura, ran strongly.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 102 - A G1 rating for a G2 race that really should be upgraded next year by the graded stakes committee. Ventura seemed to have the race won when she rallied outside and slightly faster than Diamond Diva, taking a lead of almost half a length leaving the 1/16 pole. But Diamond Diva re-rallied inside to catch Ventura on the wire in excellent performances by both horses. Favored Lady of Venice finished a non-threatening third.

Churchill Downs, Sunday, July 6th

The $150,000 Locust Grove Handicap (G3), one mile on the turf for fillies and mares 3 years old and up.

Fractional Splits: 23.84 47.52 1:11.38 1:23.34 1:35.76 - G1 splits and a G3 par final furlong on a firm turf course, all set by the classy Kiaran McLaughlin-trained winner Genuine Devotion, who only began to tire in the final 70 yards but gutted it out to score by half a length over strong finishing Brownie Points, with pace-pressing Bayou's Lassie weakening late for third in a respectable performance.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 103 - A G1 rating for a very good G3 race.

Older Males on the turf

Churchill Downs, Friday, July 4th

* The $200,000 Firecracker Handicap (G2), one mile on the turf for 3-year-olds and up.

Fractional Splits: 23.79 47.50 1:11.98 1:24.08 1:36.69 - A par pace, with par finishing splits.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 100 - Earned by the front running winner Thorn Song, while classy turf router Einstein was seriously overbet at 1-2 odds and did close ground resolutely at a distance too short for his best.

Monmouth Park, Saturday, July 5th

* The $750,000 United Nations Stakes (G1), 1 3/8 miles on the turf for 3-year-olds and up.

Fractional Splits: 24.44 49.16 1:14.31 1:38.76 2:02.14 2:13.88 - A slow early pace, with a pair of strong final quarter-miles that played to locally based Presious Passion's winning front running effort at 13-1. Expertly ridden by Eddie Castro and well prepared by high percentage NJ-based trainer Mary Hartman.

Stretch running Strike a Deal made up considerable ground late to just miss, while favored Champs Elysees was no factor at any time.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 99 - At least four lengths below par for a G1 contest and caused in part by the slow early pace.

Added notes: In a pair of early season, G3 juvenile stakes at 6 furlongs on July 5th, Azul Leon made a stronger visual impression winning the $100,000 Hollywood Juvenile Championship than Screen Your Friend winning the $150,000 Bashford Manor Stakes wire-to-wire at Churchill Downs. This was true even though Screen Your Friend earned an 83 Beyer Speed Figure for his 6 furlongs compared to Azul Leon's relatively modest 79. The latter had trouble at the start and rallied superbly while very wide to win by four lengths as if he was just scratching the surface of his potential.

The 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin will make his turf debut this Saturday in the $500,000 Man o' War Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park as his first serious step towards a possible start in the world famous Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October. This is the same turf stakes in which the great Secretariat made his impressive grass debut in 1973, setting a new course record for 1 1/2 miles at the time.

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.