Weekend Preview

In between the storm of high quality races we had last week and the virtual hurricane of races next week (caused in no little amount by the sandstorm which is expected to follow in the wake of Curlin and the Dubai World Cup) is...ummm...this week. Mind you, I welcome the brake, as last week was just too much for me to handle. Point in fact, I think I'll stick to profiling only Derby trail 3-year olds for a while.

Lane's End Stakes

My dear husband once made fun of this race, laughing at how commercial horse racing has become that a clothing store can now sponsor a race. I told him it was the name of a famous breeding farm, which decidedly cut into his fun. Luckily for him, he can continue to rag me about the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (please kill me).

Twelve middle of the road Derby contenders have entered this race. As the Lane's End is now run on Keenland's polytrack, it's attracted several synthetic and grass specialists who would not normally be trying out a major Derby prep. However, the switch to synthetic does not mean that a serious Derby contender could not come from this field; the Lane's End was won last year by Hard Spun who, if he didn't win any of the Classics, certainly made his name heard in all of them...the definition of consistency.

Among the several horses we've seen before on the Derby trail, and making perhaps his last grasp at greatness, is Halo Najib (Halo's Image-Najibe's Wish, by Sword Dance). He was sixth last out in the Fountain of Youth, but prior to that won an OBS Championship race on synthetic track. Point of fact, this horse has never lost a race on synthetics (although the sample size of 2 races is not what one might consider "scientifically significant").

Turf War (Dixie Union-Grass Skirt, by Mr. Prospector) has also made his name known. He was 9th in the Southwest Stakes, never having been a factor. Before that he was part of the Delta Jackpot dead heat which I have continually ignored. If that pedigree looked familiar it's because he's a full brother to 4-year old Grasshopper, who was recently a hard fighting second to Circular Quay in the New Orleans Handicap (g.II), and a winner in the Mineshaft (g.III) before that.

Cannonball (Catenius-No Deadline, by Skywalker...now that's an interesting background) to date has been something of a turf expert (2-0-3 from 5 starts on that surface). He, Why Tonto (Indian Charlie) and Cowboy Cal (Giant's Causeway) have filled the trifecta their last 2 times out. Prior to that, Cannonball was 3rd in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Turf. Can he make a successful switch to the polytrack?

Then there's a plethora of lesser knowns, trying to make it to the big time. Adriano (A.P. Indy- Gold Canyon, by Mr. Prospector...lovely) was 9th in the Fountain of Youth, but has raced mostly turf and has one 4th on synthetic track. Chitoz has little to recommend him, but seems to like things wet and wild and may be worth watching if the track is off. Duke of de Buqe is a stakes company newbie, but recently won an allowance race impressively for Todd Pletcher (who I'd like to see actually do something for my RttR stable for once). Racecar Rhapsody was 4th in the infamous Delat Jackpot, but broke his maiden over this same polytrack surface. Macho Again has never won above 7 furlongs and appeared thoroughly outclassed by both Z Fortune and Blackberry Road in the Lecomte Stakes.

Medjool's highest class race before this was a 6th place behind Yankee Bravo in the California Derby. Afterwards he was dropped down in class and finally broke his maiden in a mile and 1/16 synthetic race, winning off by 4 and a half. Yes, he was put in a stakes before breaking his maiden on the basis of three places and a show effort in maiden company including the likes of Colonel John, Tres Borrachos, and Coast Guard. Although he'll be facing a tough test here, he looks to me like a horse just about to break out of his shell.

1. Medjool
2. Cannonball
3. Halo Najib

Bad news is I have no horses running again this week. Good news is, they're finally televising the prep races on normal channels!! That means I actually get to watch the Lane's End!! As it's happening!!

Rushaway Stakes

Although not as prestigious as the Lane's End (which is saying something), there is one other stakes race for 3-year old males this week. No really big horses here, but worth a look anways. Big Glen (Cactus Ridge) looks to be the top horse in the field, finishing 4th last to Absolutely Cindy in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes. Cape of Storms (Cape Town) actaully won the last time out in a one mile test over synthetic track. But prior to that he was a dismal 12th in the Smarty Jones Stakes. He'd probably look to be the class of the field, but he's gone through 8 jockeys in 13 starts...that just seems odd to me. I usually assume jockeys to be nothing more than heavy ornamentation on horse's backs, but when a horse can't seem to keep a regular rider, I start to wonder why.

Holidaze (Harlan's Holiday) returns after ghosting to 6th place behind Visionaire in the fogged-out Gotham. The splits on that are hilarious: __ __ __ __ 6th. Miner's Claim (Mineshaft) is undefeated...in 2 starts last year.

Tejano's Eliminator (Tejano Run) could only manage a 5th place the last time out in a small stakes race at 7f over a real dirt track. Before that, he came in first in a 1 mile 1/16 allowance over synthetic track and prior to that broke his maiden going a mile over the same surface. Targe (Monarchos) also performs well on synthetic track, he was second the last time out at 1 mile, and has won on this track before. Ichabod Crane (Jump Start) also looks to be a synthetic monster in the making. He hasn't run since January, but then he took a mile and 70 contest on synthetic track.

1. Tejano's Eliminator
2. Big Glen
3. Targe

In other news

- It appears that Sierra Sunset, winner of last week's Rebel Stakes (g.II) has been sidelined with an ankle injury and is off the Derby trail. Now I don't feel quite so bad about him shutting down Z Fortune.

- Items from several prominent Claiborne sires are being put up at auction on eBay to benefit the Secretariat Foundation. Oh. My. God. I'll have you know I'm not what anyone would call rich, and I almost never go on eBay, but I have a soft spot for Secretariat memorabilia. I'm the proud owner of an authentic 1973 Kentucky Derby mint julep glass (which gets used only by me...and only once a year). I've also been trying for years to get ahold of mint copies of the Newsweek, Time, and Sports Illustrated editions that feature Secretariat on the cover; I was outbid last year for a collection of all three when I couldn't justify going over $200. I'm aware that there's no way I could ever afford any of these pieces, but a girl can dream can't she?

-Okay, this is probably totally off topic, but Ive decided that Pyro is not pretty. Seriously, I was talking about this with my husband and, though he's certainly not what you'd call a connoisseur of horseflesh, he agreed. He's very angular, especially when compared with his sometime running partner Curlin, who is about as well muscled and rounded as could be. It doesn't sway me from my support of him as a runner, though. Clearly, pretty is as pretty does, and some of the ugliest horses have found the roses on their shoulders come Derby day. Still, is anyone else in agreement with me that his looks leave something to be desired?

Photo: Skip Dickstein