First State Classic Hollywood Ending Air Support Strikes at Colonial Downs Wonderful Today?
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SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2011 For information about TDN, call 732-747-8060. FIRST STATE CLASSIC WONDERFUL TODAY? They first met a year ago in the GII Delaware Oaks, Johnny Murtagh received a barrowload of plaudits for when Blind Luck (Pollard=s Vision) nipped Havre de an enterprising ride that aided Dancing Rain (Ire) Grace (Saint Liam) by a (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) to success in the June 3 desperate nose in a G1 Epsom Oaks, but it is the runner-up from that sloppy renewal. Twelve contest, Wonder of Wonders months and four split (Kingmambo), who is expected decisions later, the to reverse Classic placings in California-based Blind today=s G1 Darley Irish Oaks at Luck got the better of her The Curragh, according to determined rival once bookmakers' forecasts. Ryan more with a stretch battle Moore renews his acquaintance Blind Luck (outside) that should make many a with the May 4 Listed Cheshire Wonder of Wonders Horsephotos highlight reel. Having Oaks victress, who bids to McCann/Racing Post been beaten soundly by provide Aidan O=Brien with a Havre de Grace at Oaklawn in March, Blind Luck carried fourth triumph in the i425,000 event and continue the two pounds less than the odds-on local lass. "I'd rather trainer=s sweep of domestic Classics. However, a have the two pounds than not,@ trainer Jerry reversal of fortune is not a formality, and Dancing Hollendorfer told Daily Racing Form. "Havre de Grace is Rain=s trainer William Haggas is looking forward to the the number-one rated filly in the country and we were rematch. AWe=ll see whether it was just a fantastic ride coming to her home track, so I would expect to get a by Johnny [Murtagh] at Epsom, or if she was good couple of pounds.@ Blind Luck=s rider Garrett Gomez enough to win,@ he said. AShe=s a long-striding filly and added, AWe came up to [Havre de Grace] and she is a lengthener, rather than a quickener, and just needs fought back--I thought I might be in a little trouble. But a good gallop. If there is no pace, she=ll have to make with this filly, as soon as you pull her out and she pins the running again. She seems to have come on since her ears back, she accelerates in two jumps." Cont. p5 Epsom, and we feel she is in good shape at the moment. She ran well as a 2-year-old on soft [going], and she obviously goes well on fast. I think that she is HOLLYWOOD ENDING such a fluent mover that fast ground will be ideal, but Nereid (Rock Hard Ten) was doing her best to hang we can=t do anything about the weather.@ Cont. p2-4 on after making all of the running the GI Hollywood Oaks, but Cambina (Ire) (Hawk Wing) made her way determinedly through traffic, and the two fillies were deemed inseparable at the wire by the camera. "It's always good to win,@ said Cambina=s conditioner Nereid (inside) and Cambina dead- Jeff Bonde. AJohn Shirreffs heat is a good friend of mine Benoit photo and if I had to tie with somebody, I'm glad it was him.@ Bonde added, AI wasn't sure who won, I have very poor eyesight at my age.@ Cont. p6 AIR SUPPORT STRIKES AT COLONIAL DOWNS Stuart Janney=s Air Support (Smart Strike) turned the tables on Banned (Kitten=s Joy) to prevail in a thrilling renewal of the $600,000 GII Virginia Derby yesterday at Colonial Downs. AWe always thought he wanted more distance,@ Janney said. AI thought Alex [Solis]=s ride was superb. Cont. p7 P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 7/9/11 • PAGE 2 of 12 • thoroughbreddailynews.com FEATURE PRESENTATION • G1 IRISH OAKS Godolphin=s Blue Bunting was chinned on the line for third at Epsom, with Frankie Dettori incurring the wrath of the local stewards for dropping his hands late, and trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni considers the G1 1000 Guineas heroine to have progressed from her latest effort. AWe thought Blue Bunting was a mile-and-a-half filly before she won the Guineas,@ Al Zarooni told Racing Post. AThe pace really helped her at Newmarket, and she stayed on. I wouldn=t say she was unlucky at Epsom, but the pace was too slow. Mile-and-a-half fillies always come from behind, and they prefer a fast pace. She has ability, has already proved she=s a class filly, and I think she can do it again. I think she likes fast ground, but it was soft ground when she won her maiden, so she won=t mind the ground. She did very well after the Oaks, she=s stronger, better and more relaxed now. We just need the luck. If you are not in it you cannot win it.@ It seems an annual occurrence that Jim Bolger mines a prime example of his training ethic, and this year Banimpire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) fits that bill, carrying the torch with elan. She has won five black-type events from seven starts this term, and lines up with a stamina guarantee, having annexed Royal Ascot=s G2 Ribblesdale S. last time June 16. AI hope we have her in form, as good as we=ve had her in all year,@ Bolger said. AIf that is so, we expect her to give a good account of herself. She is a filly that we like and she is entirely reliable. We felt she was in good form for Royal Ascot and was up for it on the day. We were a bit concerned about the going, but she seemed to cope with that fairly well. She is gutsy and has a fair level of talent. Those two together combine to make her a useful racehorse.@ The home defense is further bolstered by Laughing Lashes (Mr. Greeley), who will seek to improve on a third in the May 22 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, and makes her first start beyond one mile here. ALaughing Lashes ran really well and was staying on in the Irish 1000,@ said trainer Jessica Harrington. AThe plan was always to go straight for Laughing Lashes the Oaks after that. She=s a very big Healy Racing Photos filly, and that=s why she hasn=t had much racing this year, with a view of her hopefully staying well and having a nice autumn campaign. She=s in great form.@ Irish Oaks cont. p3-4 P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 7/9/11 • PAGE 3 of 12 • thoroughbreddailynews.com KILCARN STUD - Banimpire (Ire) Kilcarn, owned by Pat IRISH OAKS BREEDERS O’Kelley, is a 200-acre stud in Co. Meath, Ireland. The operation was started by O’Kelley’s father, Major AIRLIE STUD - Gemstone (Ire) Airlie was founded by the Ned O’Kelley, in 1943, and taken over by the late Capt. A.D.D. Rogers after WWII, and is daughter about 40 years ago. The farm was the now headquartered in Co. Kildare, Ireland. Still leading breeder in Britain and Ireland in 1966, run by the Rogers family, the operation and produced champion and Classic winner combines commercial breeding with boarding of Salsabil (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), who beat the boys mares and foals at Grangewilliam Stud and sales in the 1990 G1 Irish Derby, and also took the prep for yearlings at Kilmacredock Stud. Classic Banimpire G1 1000 Guineas and three other Group 1 winners produced by the farm include Bachelor events. Gemstone Duke, Fair Question (Ire), Margarula (Ire) and Petrushka (Ire). LIBERTY BLOODSTOCK - Wonder of Wonders Liberty Bloodstock is a U.S. arm of the Coolmore conglomerate. All Too BRAD KELLEY - Blue Bunting A resident of Nashville, Beautiful (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), the Tennessee, Brad Kelley founded the Commonwealth Brands dam of Wonder of Wonders, is out of tobacco company in 1990, which manufactured the great Urban Sea (Miswaki), and discounted cigarettes and undersold the top was acquired by Coolmore for brands by offering low advertising costs. He 1,100,000gns as a TATDEC weanling. sold the company in 2001 for a reported $1 She went on to win the G3 Middleton billion and subsequently held a majority S. and run second behind Ouija Board ownership position in Kentucky Downs near (GB) in the G1 Epsom Oaks while the Tennessee border and a small stake in carrying Michael Tabor’s colors. All Too Beautiful - full-sister Churchill Downs. He also served on that Wonder of Wonders is the second foal to Galileo and dam of track’s board for a short time. Kelley was one of four original out of the half to champions Urban Wonder of Wonders partners in Hurricane Hall, and later purchased the 403 acres of Ocean (Fr) (Bering {GB}) and Sea the land after the farm’s stallions were relocated to Pauls Mill. Stars (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), and full to champions Galileo Kelley also owns Lane’s End stallion English Channel in (Ire) and Black Sam Bellamy (Ire). The mare has an unraced partnership, maintains a small racing stable and has real estate 2-year-old filly, Along (Ire) (Smart Strike), and a yearling colt by investments across the United States. Dansili (GB). Sunday, The Curragh, post time: 10:45 a.m. ET DARLEY IRISH OAKS-GI, €246,600, 3yo, f, 1 1/2mT SC PP HORSE OWNER BREEDER TRAINER/JOCKEY 1 8 Amazing Beauty (Ire) Michael Tabor Marston Stud & Fleming Thoroughbreds-IRE A O’Brien (Galileo {Ire}--Doula, by Gone West) J O’Brien 2 5 Banimpire (Ire) Mrs J S Bolger Kilcarn Stud-IRE Bolger (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}--My Renee, by Kris S.) Manning 3 3 Blue Bunting Joseph Calvo B M Kelley-KY Al Zarooni (Dynaformer--Miarixa {Fr}, by Linamix {Fr}) Dettori 4 7 Dancing Rain (Ire) M J & L A Taylor Swettenham Stud-IRE Haggas (Danehill Dancer {Ire}--Rain Flower {Ire}, by Indian Ridge {Ire}) Murtagh 5 2 Gemstone (Ire) Derrick Smith Airlie Stud-IRE A O’Brien (Galileo {Ire}--Kincob, by Kingmambo) O’Donoghue 6 1 Hurricane Havoc (Ire) Mrs June Judd Milltownmore, Pinnacle & Carra Bloodstock-IRE Bolger (Hurricane Run {Ire}--Cheeky Madam {Ire}, by Night Shift) Cleary 7 4 Laughing Lashes K Mrs J Maxwell Moran Runnymede Farm Inc & Robert P Levy-KY Harrington (Mr.