HEADLINE NEWS • 10/23/07 • PAGE 2 of 10
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DARLEY ANNOUNCES EUROPEAN FEES ...p. 5 HEADLINE For information about TDN, call 732-747-8060. NEWS www.thoroughbreddailynews.com TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2007 DIAMOND STRIPES WORKS AT BIG A Diamond Stripes (Notebook) fired a sharp five-furlong bullet yesterday at Aqueduct for trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr., going five panels in :59 1/5 (1/7). While Dutrow didn’t say which race he’d send his charge to--Diamond Stripes has been cross-entered in both the $5-million GI Classic and the $1-million Dirt Mile–it sounded yester- CURLIN GETS LAST WORK BEFORE CLASSIC day like he was perhaps leaning toward the Classic. “I GI Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Curlin (Smart see rain in the forecast and I’m not going to duck Curlin Strike), one of the favorites for Saturday’s GI Classic, or Lawyer Ron at Monmouth for $5 million,” said the breezed an easy four furlongs yesterday at Keeneland trainer, who captured the 2005 Classic with Saint Liam. Race Course. The sophomore Diamond Stripes captured the Oct. 5 GII Meadowlands stopped the clock in :50 1/5, Breeders’ Cup S. in his most recent. “I don’t like run- which ranked as the 24th fastest ning horses back in three weeks, but maybe this is of 32 works at the distance. what he’s looking for,” said Dutrow. “I’m seeing noth- Trainer Steve Asmussen’s assis- ing but good, so I’m just following his lead.” tant Scott Blasi is scheduled to arrive at Monmouth Park with Curlin today, along with BREEDERS’ CUP Asmussen’s other two Breeders’ Cup hopefuls, GI Juvenile con- BULLETIN Curlin Sarah Andrew tenders Pyro (Pulpit) and Kodiak Kowboy (Posse). That pair was EASY DOES IT IN SMOKEY’S LAST BREEZE also on Keeneland’s worktab Monday. Pyro, who co- Harry Aleo’s Smokey Stover (Put it Back) worked a mes off a second in the GI Champagne S. at Belmont relaxed five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 at Monmouth Park on Sept. 30, worked four furlongs in :50 3/5, while Kodiak Monday morning for trainer Greg Gilchrist. “It’s just Kowboy got the same distance in :50 2/5. what we wanted,” Gilchrist said HARD SPUN TURNS THE SCREWS afterwards. “I certainly didn’t want him to leave his race out Fox Hill Farm’s Hard Spun (Danzig) took to the track there today. That last work of at Delaware Park yesterday for his final serious drill in his was when we really wanted advance of the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. The Larry to get something out of him; he Jones-trained colt, winner of the GI King’s Bishop S. went in :58 last week [Oct. 14 and GII Kentucky Cup Clas- at Bay Meadows]. Today we sic S. in his last two, Smokey Stover just put a little air in him. He breezed five furlongs in Equi-photo finished real well.” Jockey Aaron 1:00 1/5. “I’m not sure Gryder, Smokey’s regular jockey, exclaimed “Great!” about the time, I just know coming off the racetrack after the work. The pair visited he worked well,” said Jones. “He couldn’t be do- the paddock prior to the breeze. Smokey Stover is coming off an atypical prep for the Breeders’ Cup, ing any better. He’s training Hard Spun & Jones Horsephotos better than he ever has.” having won Monmouth’s Icecapade S. Sept. 1 in Hard Spun, who will van to Monmouth this morning, wire-to-wire fashion. “The race was perfect because I will be partnered with regular jockey Mario Pino in the wanted to get a race over the track for him and for it to Classic. be a good experience,” explained Gilchrist. TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 10/23/07 • PAGE 2 of 10 PLETCHER PLAYS WEATHER WAIT-ING GAME... LA TRAVIATA ROCKETS IN KEENELAND WORK Last year’s champion three-year-old filly Wait a While Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John (Maria’s Mon) has proven plenty on the sod, including Magnier’s La Traviata (Johannesburg) put her rivals on winning five graded races and a pair of Grade Is. The notice with a blistering four-furlong drill in :45 3/5 from one thing she hasn’t done, however, is compete over a the gate over Keeneland’s yielding lawn, and with rain in the forecast for Satur- Polytrack yesterday day, trainer Todd Pletcher is keeping a wary eye on the morning. Just who those skies. “I don’t think she likes soft turf, but I am sure rivals will be remains that the turf course at Monmouth won’t be as chewed something of a mystery, up as the turf here at Belmont,” said Pletcher. “You however. Her connec- never want to scratch out of a race that you think you tions selected the GI have a decent shot in. It may come down to a tough Breeders’ Cup Sprint as decision.” That said, it seems unlikely that Monmouth’s first preference when pre- course will have too much give to it Saturday. Showers entries were taken last La Traviata are expected this evening and tomorrow morning, with week, but TVG reported Adam Coglianese sun in the forecast Thursday and Friday before showers last night that La Traviata return Saturday. Of Wait a While’s nine turf starts, will instead start in Friday’s inaugural $1-million Filly & eight have come over a firm course. The other came in Mare Sprint, a race in which she’ll vie for favoritism. September of 2005 over a Belmont course labeled The lightly raced three-year-old is a perfect three-for- good, when she broke her maiden by five lengths. three and is coming off a resounding victory in the GIII Victory Ride S. at Belmont Aug. 25. ...AS DOES SHIRREFS WITH AFTER MARKET Another trainer who is checking The Weather Chan- ZITO CONFIRMS COMMENTATOR FOR SPRINT nel with some frequency is John Shirreffs, who sends Tracy Farmer’s Grade I winner Commentator (Dis- out After Market (Storm Cat) in the GI Breeders’ Cup torted Humor) will pass on Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. “It’s up to the boss [Marty Wygod], but I’m fairly Mile in favor of Saturday’s GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint, certain we’d be a bye-bye if they have a wet course for trainer Nick Zito confirmed yesterday. The six-year-old the race,” said Shirreffs. “He just won’t handle it. One gelding, who has been off since running third in the GII way or another, race or no race, the plan is that he’s A.G. Vanderbilt S. at Saratoga in late July, was pre- off to stud [at Lane’s End] after Saturday.” entered for both races. TALE OF EKATI WORKS FAST AT BELMONT IN SUMMATION OUT OF SPRINT Trainer Barclay Tagg was a bit chagrined after his Waterford Stable’s GI Bing Crosby S. winner In Sum- talented two-year-old colt Tale of Ekati (Tale of the Cat) mation (Put it Back), who worked five furlongs in 1:00 worked a blistering four furlongs in :45.79 at Belmont flat at Belmont Sunday, has been declared from the GI yesteday, which was the fastest of 48 works at the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. “He did not come back 100 per- distance and nearly a full second quicker than the cent from his breeze [Sunday] and, after consulting second-ranked work. “He went way too fast,” said with the owner this morning, we decided he will not go Tagg. “We’ll just take it easy with him the rest of the in the race,” confirmed trainer Christophe Clement. week.” Jockey Eibar Coa was in the irons and will be aboard in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Breeders’ Cup Report cont. TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 10/23/07 • PAGE 3 of 10 MY TYPHOON WORKS FOR MILE LADY JOANNE WORKS AT CHURCHILL Fillies have fared well in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile, While her celebrated Kentucky Derby-winning with five renewals of the stablemate Street Sense arrived at Monmouth last race going to the fairer sex. week, Lady Joanne (Orientate), an accomplished runner Trainer Bill Mott will go for in her own right, has held down the fort at Churchill six Saturday if My Typhoon and yesterday worked five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 under (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway) gets the Twin Spires. “Everything went well,” said condi- her first preference in the tioner Ian Wilkes, who oversaw the breeze for Lady Mile; she was also pre-en- Joanne’s trainer, Carl Nafzger. Wilkes added that the GI tered in the Filly/Mare Turf. Alabama S. winner will board a van at 5 p.m. today and The impeccably bred five- ship overnight to Monmouth in Oceanport, New Jersey. year-old worked on Belmont’s main track yester- “The Works” day, breezing four furlongs Steve Sherack in :48 2/5. “She went very well,” said Mott. My Typhoon is one-for-two at the mile Aqueduct distance, with her win coming in this year’s GII Just a Diamond Stripes (Notebook), DM, C 5f, :59.27, 1/7 Game S. at Belmont in June. Belmont Park My Typhoon (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway), M 4f, :48.73, 16/48 ‘WINNEY’ ON WINFREY TODAY Tale of Ekati (Tale of the Cat), J 4f, :45.79, 1/48 As reported, Oprah Winney (Royal Academy), a can- Churchill Downs didate for Friday’s $1-million Filly & Mare Sprint, is set Lady Joanne (Orientate), D 5f, 1:01.80, 12/41 to make her network debut on today’s “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” The show is set to air at 4:00 p.m.