Breeders' Cup Notes: The Draw

Juvenile Fillies

Be Smart (Smarty Jones) drew the 5 and C. S. Silk (Medaglia d'Oro) the 8.

Apparently D. Wayne Lukas was ecstatic with Be Smart's #5 post position. If D. Wayne is estatic, that's good enough for me. Seriously, I think 5 is perfect for her. With her natural speed, Garrett Gomez can decide whether to go for the lead or sit off the early speed. Either way, she shouldn't lose much ground. I could see her going for the lead. Is there any other speed in here?

C. S. Silk should be ok from her 8 spot. She has good tactical speed and should be able a get a good position. If Be Smart doesn't go for the lead, C. S. Silk probably will. She went gate-to-wire in the Arlington-Washington Lassie, but her maiden win was from off the pace.

Juvenile Fillies Turf

Renda (Medaglia d'Oro) will break from post 9.

The biggest question for Renda is whether she will take to the turf, having never run on the stuff. The 9 post should not compromise her chances, but she may be forced a little farther back than she has been in her previous starts.

Juvenile

Munnings (Speightstown) drew the rail and Mine That Bird (Birdstone) breaks from hole 9.

I don't like the rail, I think Munnings will be forced to go to the lead. On the other hand, maybe that's his best chance for victory.

Mine That Bird will be coming from off the pace, so he should be able to tuck in from his 9 hole and swing out when necessary.

The King Rumbles at Finger Lakes

Honor the Badge went to the lead, followed closely by Fast Approach. Rumble King (Peace Rules) was in mid-pack, but he began to make up ground on the inside. Princeofproximity was also moving in contention. Rumble King was eased out in the stretch and hit the front. He did bother Princeofproximity a bit, but apparently there was no harm, no foul, as the results stood as they finished. Rumble King is the 20th winner for Peace Rules.

Result: October 21, 2008 
Finger Lakes Race 2
Maiden Special Weight

View Race Details and Full Equibase Chart

It's Sweet Power Working Peacefully Over Fabriziano

Texas Diva set the early pace, but Sweet Power was never far behind. She hit the front in the stretch and never looked back, winning by more than 7. Pine Island Girl closed well to be best of the rest. Work for Peace (Peace Rules) was in a good spot, but could only manage an even run. She did, however, win the photo for third. Fabriziano (Congaree) did not have much impact, but did pass a couple of tired ones.

Result: October 21, 2008 
Delaware Park Race 5
Maiden Claiming

Equibase Chart

Caffe D'Oro Will Cross the Divide for a Distant Strike

October 22, 2008
Belmont Race 4
Maiden Special Weight
7 furlongs Turf
2-year Olds
Post Time: 2:36 PM HRTV/TVG

Caffe D'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro - Dr. Redoubtable by Storm Cat) debuts in a full field on the Belmont turf. He has been working at Monmouth and Belmont since mid-July. Caffe D'Oro sold for $80,000 as a 2-year old and is a half-brother to 2 winners, including one 2-year old winner who was placed on the turf. Medaglia d'Oro has sired 40 starters which have run 108 total times, recording 19 wins, 14 seconds, 13 thirds, and $793,593.

Winthrop House (More Than Ready - Why You by Polish Numbers) and Master (Mr. Greeley - Voodoo Baby by Ogygian) met at Belmont Park on July 3, in a 5 furlong race on the dirt. In that contest, Winthrop House was 2nd and Master 5th. Interestingly, that race was the debut of Cribnote who was 4th. Winthrop House also ran at Saratoga on August 6, finsihing 5th. Winthrop House who brought $40,000 as a yearling, is the first foal out of the stakes-placed mare, Why You. Why You is a half-sister to 3 winners. Master's only other start was on the Saratoga turf on August 29, where he finished 4th. Master is a half-brother to 5 winners, including one 2-year old winner.

Solidify (Alajwad - Kali Dearest by Dearest Doctor) has made 4 starts, including 3 on the turf. His best finish was 6th which he achieved twice; in his debut on the Saratoga dirt on August 9, and in his most recent start on the Belmont turf on October 9. However, Solidify has some good company lines, having been defeated by Elusive Bluff and Pioneerof the Nile, both entered in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Solidify is by first-year sire Alajwad whose 18 runners have made 63 total starts, recording 4 wins, 7 seconds, 7 thirds, and $53,381. Kali Dearest, dam of Solidify, was a winner and has produced 8 winners, including stakes winners I'mnaughtyandnice and Grooms Derby.

The only other entrant with turf experience is Distant Strike (Smart Strike - Distant Roar by Storm Cat), who finished 5th on the Saratoga turf on August 20. In his most recent start, he ran in the mud at Belmont on September 27, finishing 7th. Distant Strike, who was a $310,000 yearling, is the 2nd foal out of the winning mare Distant Roar. Distant Roar is a half-sister to Go to the Sun, who finished 3rd in the Summer Stakes (Can-II) as a 2-year old.

Wickaninnish (Giant's Causeway - Pent by Mr. Prospector) has run twice at Delaware Park, finishing 2nd on September 9, and 6th on October 6. He was a $450,000 yearling and is a half-brother to 2 winners, including stakes winner Pentagonal. Both of his winning siblings were winners on the turf.

Mr. Market (Mr. Greeley - Ophidian by Ogygian) finished 6th in his only start, on a sloppy Belmont track on September 27. He was a $250,000 yearling, and is out of stakes winner Ophidian. Ophidian is the dam of four winners, including stakes winner Dr. Cho.

The remaining participants are making their debuts, including Driven by Fear (Yonaguska - Cold Awakening by Dehere), who brought $40,000 as a weanling, $135,000 as a yearling, and $210,000 as a 2-year old. Cold Awakening, dam of Driven by Fear, was a winner and stakes-placed at 2, and a winner on the turf at 4. Cold Awakening is the dam of Recapturetheglory, winner of the 2008 Illinois Derby (gr. II). Recapturetheglory, who was 5th in the 2008 Kentucky Derby, was also a winner at 2.

Mellow Johnny (El Corredor - Big Fins by Carr de Naskra), who sold for $80,000 as a yearling, is out of a winning mare who has produced 2 winners, including one 2-year old winner.

Bringing $50,000 as a weanling was Cellar Dweller (Rahy - Oriole Way by Cahill Road). Cellar Dweller is a half-brother to 3 winners, all of which won on the turf.

Ducduc (Langfuhr - Tyne by Awesome Again) was a $40,000 yearling and is the first foal out of the winning mare, Tyne. Tyne is a half-sister to 3 winners, one of which won at 2 and one of which won on the turf.

Danka, dam of Cross the Divide (Gone West - Danka by Strawberry Road (AUS)), was a turf winner who has produced grade III stakes winner Bedanken and stakes winner Much Obliged, as well as 4 additional winners. Bedanken was a graded stakes winner on the dirt and turf who earned $539,629 and also won at 2. Much Obliged won the 2008 American One Thousand Guineas on the Arlington turf course and finished 2nd in the Boiling Springs Stakes (gr. IIIT).

On the AE list for this one is the unraced Promo (Maria's Mon - Cottage Rose by Magloire), who sold for $65,000 as a yearling. Promo's dam was a turf winner and stakes-placed on the dirt. Promo is her 2nd foal, neither have raced.

Hug It Out Has a Seismic Shift for a Stone Runner

October 22, 2008
Keeneland Race 5
Starter Allowance
About 7 furlongs
2-year Old Fillies
Post Time: 3:14 PM TVG

Hug It Out (Medaglia d'Oro - Dazzling Contrast by General Meeting) makes her third start, after winning her debut on August 27 at Arlington Park, and then finishing 2nd in an allowance race at Keeneland on October 4. She now tries Starter Allowance company, restricted to those who broke their maidens for a claiming price of $40,000 or less.

Moleen (Yankee Gentleman - Hello Val by Siphon (BRZ)) finished 5th in Hug It Out's debut, and then won a maiden race at Keeneland on October 9. In that race, she went gate-to-wire. She has worked once since that win.

Romin Robin (Pure Precision - Italian Slew by Ocala Slew) broke her maiden in her 2nd start, at 5 furlongs on the Colonial Downs turf. She then tried stakes company, running 4th in the Tippett Stakes on July 26 on that same turf course. She has been working regularly since late September at Arlington Park and Churchill Downs.

In her first start, Oro Gatita (Golden Missile - Kitty On the Track by Kitwood) finished 2nd to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf starter Sugar Mom on July 23 at Arlington Park. She then finished 11th at that same track, before breaking her maiden third time out at Arlington Park on September 18. She rallied from off the pace for that victory. Since then, she's had two works at Hawthorne.

Fervent Hope (Strong Hope - Foret Noire by Time for a Change), by first-crop sire Strong Hope, took 4 tries to break her maiden. But when she did win, she did it with style, winning by 12 while leading the whole way. Fervent Hope has had one work at Churchill Downs since her impressive win.   

Secret Spell (Richter Scale - All Mine Again by Seattle Song) also broke her maiden in her 4th start, but she came off the pace for her victory at Hawthorne. She has had one Keeneland work since that victory.

Meggido (Chapel Royal - Ms Hush Money by Quiet American), who is by freshman sire Chapel Royal, was 2nd in her debut at Arlington Park, and then broke her maiden at Presque Isle Downs on September 18. Since then, she has worked once.

Stone Runner (Skip to the Stone - Noactoreverlast by Noactor) and Seismic Shift (Richter Scale - Romantic Pro by Distinctive Pro) were victorious in their only starts. Stone Runner ran at Turfway Park on September 11. She has had a couple of Turfway Park works since winning. Seismic Shift's win was at Keeneland on October 9 in a 7 furlong contest.

Sweetie Bird in a Sheikhy Situation

October 22, 2008
Hoosier Park Race 2
Maiden Special Weight
5.5 furlongs
2-year Old Fillies
Post Time: 7:10 PM

Sweetie Bird (Birdstone - Kacie's Favor by Distictive Pro) makes her third start, after finishing 7th on August 31 at Ellis Park, and 11th at Turfway Park on September 27. She is out of a winning mare who earned $137,280. Sweetie Bird is a half-sister to 5 winners. Birdstone's 21 runners have made 63 starts, recording 12 wins, 11 seconds, 6 thirds, and $634,082.

She's Due (Devil His Due - J. D. and Water by Northern Prospect) and Inbackofyourmind (Put It Back - Whatsonyourmind by Jungle Express) met in a 5.5 furlong Maiden Special Weight race at Hoosier on October 3, with She's Due finishing 2nd and Inbackofyourmind 6th. She's Due had made 3 previous starts (2 at Turfway Park and 1 at Ellis Park), finishing 3rd, 7th, and 9th. J. D. and Water, dam of She's Due, was a 2-year old debut winner and also won three stakes that year. She was also a stakes winner at 3, and earned $233,217 overall. As a broodmare, J. D. and Water has produced 3 winners, including stakes winner J D's Deelites. Inbackofyourmind is out of the mare, Whatsonyourmind, a half-sister to 4 winners.

Just for Annika (Concerto - Point for Big Sexy by Horse Chestnut (SAF)) finished 4th in a different 5.5 furlong Maiden Special Weight race at Hoosier on October 3, finishing 4th. Just for Annika is the first foal out of an unraced mare who is a half-sister to the winner Point and Shoot, a winner at 2 and 3.

The final experienced filly is Miss Danica (Trippi - Peb by Exuberant), who was 5th in her only start, at Turfway Park on September 25. She is out of the winner mare Peb. Peb has produced 3 winners from 4 to run, including stakes-placed Pebbett, a winner at 2.

Go Spanish Code (Spanish Steps - Codetogo by Lost Code) and Midessa (Toccet - Moonlight Ransom by Red Ransom) are both by freshman sires. Spanish Steps, the sire of Go Spanish Code, has sired 17 runners who have made 53 total starts, registering 3 wins, 7 seconds, 7 thirds, and $136,569. Go Spanish Code is out of a winning mare who has produced 3 winners, including stakes winner Cedar Knolls. Cedar Knolls won or placed in 9 stakes and earned $312,648. Midessa is by Toccet whose 30 runners have made 94 collective starts, registering 14 wins, 11 seconds, 12 thirds, and $334,664. Midessa is a half-sister to 2 winners.

Bell Got Even (Stephen Got Even - Five Bells by Gilded Time) is the first foal out of a winning mare who is a half-sister to one winner.

Texas Country Doll (To Wit - Country Girl Drink by One Drink) is out of a winning mare who has produced one winner from one to run. That winner, Country Boy Wit, is a full-brother to Texas Country Doll.

Sheikhy Situation (Evansville Slew - Sheikh'nnotstirred by Sheikh Albadou (GB)) is the first foal out of Sheikh'nnotstirred, who won 11 races in 4 years of racing. Sheikh'nnotstirred is a half-sister to 10 winners, including stakes-placed Mount Weather. Three of Sheikh'nnotstirred's sibllings won at 2.