ANOTHER PHOENIX FOR O’BRIEN? HEADLINE p. 2 NEWS For information about TDN, DELIVERED EACH NIGHT call 732-747-8060. BY FAX AND INTERNET www.thoroughbreddailynews.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 2003 CONN GAME OCEAN’S ELEVEN Four weeks ago, New York-bred Whitmore’s Conn Making her second start where the surf meets the (Kris S.) upset the field in the GII Bowling Green H., turf, Azeri (Jade Hunter) will try to run her winning breaking a seven-race losing streak to score as an 11-1 streak to 11 in the GII Clement L. Hirsch H. at Del Mar outsider. The dark bay was given even less chance in this afternoon. The five-year- the GI Sword Dancer Invitational H. at Saratoga yester- old made it 10 in a row with a day, but once again charged down the stretch to get workmanlike two-length tally the job done at 24-1. The five-year-old took the 2002 under 127 pounds in the June Bowling Green, then fell on hard times, finishing off the 21 GI Vanity H., but was not board five of his next seven outings, including a fifth- penalized even a pound for the place finish in a Belmont allowance June 25. But he got victory. Instead, Del Mar racing it together with new jockey Jean-Luc Samyn in the officials chose to lower the Azeri Horsephotos irons last time, and it was Samyn on the green once weight on Vanity runner-up again yesterday. “I knew this race wouldn’t be Sister Girl Blues (Hold for Gold), who carries 109 here; easy...but he showed me great promise last time,” and fourth-place finisher Tropical Blossom (Thunder Samyn said. The Frenchman had the longshot in last Gulch), in at 108. While 32 ounces is unlikely to give place after a mile, but began closing ground on the far those two any more of an edge, the returning Got Koko turn, swung wide into the stretch and finished full of (Signal Tap) could threaten the reigning Horse of the run for the surprise victory. Favored Denon (Pleasant Year. In at 118, the four-year-old became the third filly Colony) grabbed the lead at the quarter pole, but weak- in history to sweep the La Canada series with her 3/4- ened late to be fourth. Click for the brisnet.com chart length score over the talented Sightseek in the Feb. 8 GII La Canada S. She makes her first appearance since or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. For running an even fourth in the Mar. 9 GI Santa Margarita the video race replay, select: broadband or modem. H., but has been working sharply. “The presence of Got SWORD DANCER INVITATIONAL H.-GI, $500,000, Koko makes it exciting,” Azeri’s trainer, Laura De SAR, 8-9, 3yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:28, gd. Seroux, said, adding that she does not feel any heat to 1--sWHITMORE'S CONN, 115, h, 5, by Kris S. keep the streak alive. “I don’t feel any undue pressure, 1st Dam: Albonita, by Deputed Testamony as long as I get to remain focused and put her on the 2nd Dam: *Lorgnette II, by High Hat path that I think is the best one for her,” she said. 3rd Dam: Mlle. Lorette, by Lovely Night Clement L. Hirsch field, p7 ($150,000 yrl '99 FTKJUL). O-M & L Shanley; B-Wolf & D'Agostino (NY); T-R Schulhofer; J-J L Samyn; MAGIC WANDO $300,000. Lifetime Record: 27-7-4-5, $740,426. Funny Cide fell one race short in his Triple Crown 2--Macaw (Ire), 114, c, 4, Bluebird--No Quest (Ire), by attempt, but Wando (Langfuhr) proved up to the task, Rainbow Quest. (Ir£160,000 yrl ‘00 GOFOCT; completing the Canadian version of the grueling series 42,000 2yo ‘01 TATAUT). O-George & Sandra with a 1 1/2-length victory in the Breeders’ S. at Wood- Melillo; B-Denis & Joan Brosnan (IRE); $100,000. bine yesterday afternoon. The chestnut colt became 3--Slew Valley, 114, h, 6, Valley Crossing--Slewway, just the seventh three-year-old to complete Canada’s by Slewpy. O-Rich Meadow Farm; B-W James Triple since the concept was born in 1959. The first Hindman (MD); $55,000. was New Providence in ‘59; the latest was Peteski in Margins: 1 1/4, NK, 3/4. Odds: 24.75, 15.30, 59.75. 1993. Dance Smartly (1991) is the only filly able to Also Ran: Denon, Dr. Brendler, Puerto Banus, Kim boast of the accomplishment. Wando had to fight his Loves Bucky, Lunar Sovereign, Ballingarry (Ire), way between horses to join the elite group, but forged Meridiana (Ger), Balto Star. Scratched: With Anticipa- to the front in the stretch and drew clear as the tion, State Shinto, Mariensky, Quest Star. crowd’s 1-2 choice. Breeders’ S. cont. p7 TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 8/10/03 • PAGE 2 of 10 Sunday, Deauville, France, post time: 3:50 p.m. P P R E V I E W P PRIX MAURICE DE GHEEST-G1, i150,000, 3yo/up, 6 1/2fT Sunday, The Curragh, Ireland, post time: 3:55 p.m. SC PP HORSE SIRE TRAINER WT INDEPENDENT WATERFORD WEDGWOOD PHOENIX 1 5 Nayyir (GB) Indian Ridge (Ire) Butler 128 S.-G1, i300,000, 2yo, c/f, 6fT 2 8 Vasywait (Fr) Valanour (Ire) Gay 128 SC PP HORSE SIRE TRAINER 3 11 Lucky Strike (GB) Petong (GB) Pubben 128 1 1 Born In America Danzig A O’Brien 4 10 Atavus (GB) Distant Relative (Ire) Margarson 128 2 3 Devil Moon (Ire) Danehill A O’Brien 5 3 Zipping (Ire) Zafonic Rob Collet 128 3 5 Old Deuteronomy Storm Cat A O’Brien 6 12 Swedish Shave (Fr) Midyan Gibson 128 4 2 One Cool Cat Storm Cat A O’Brien 7 9 Porlezza (Fr) Sicyos de Nicolay 125 5 4 Three Valleys Diesis (GB) Charlton 8 2 Avonbridge (GB) Averti (Ire) Charlton 123 6 7 Wathab (Ire) Cadeaux Genereux (GB) Prendergast 9 4 Etoile Montante Miswaki Head-Maarek 120 7 6 Notable Lady (Ire) Victory Note Callaghan 10 7 Together (Fr) Valanour (Ire) Boqueho-Vergne 120 All carry 126 pounds except Notable Lady, 123. 11 6 Mail the Desert (Ire) Desert Prince (Ire) Channon 120 Aidan O’Brien sends out a select team of juveniles, 12 1 Tante Rose (Ire) Barathea (Ire) B Hills 120 headed by One Cool Cat, as he bids to extend his formi- This contest offers an intriguing clash of proven dable record of five consecutive wins in this contest. seven-furlong specialists and milers taking on estab- lished sprinters. Heading the former category is Nayyir, He may surpass that if Susan Magnier’s imposing $3.1- who returned to his best when winning the G2 Lennox million KEEJUL purchase lives up to the reputation S. at Goodwood last time July 29, where Tante Rose earned with his smooth success in the G3 Anglesey S. was third. His performance in winning was all the more at this track July 13. The manner of his facile score creditable as he was racing under a penalty for his prompted O’Brien to describe the colt as a “stunner impressive score in the G2 Challenge S. at Newmarket. with unusual ability,” leaving no doubt that he is among But doubts surround his ability to act on a fast surface, the elite of the Ballydoyle juveniles. His connections and he needs to dispel those if he is to improve on his used the Anglesey as a stepping stone to this for Jo- third to May Ball (GB) in this 12 months ago. Etoile hannesburg two years ago and Spartacus last year. Montante drops back from a mile after finishing third in Ballydoyle will also field Devil Moon and Old Deuteron- the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches May 11 and beating omy; both runners proved their class at Glorious Good- subsequent winner State of Art (Fr) in the Listed Prix wood, where the former was third behind Lucky Story des Lilas Compiegne May 26. Of the proven sprinters, in the G2 Vintage S. July 30 and the latter finished Zipping has little improvement to find on his fine fourth- runner-up to Carrizo Creek (Ire) in the G2 Richmond S. placings behind Choisir (Aus) in the G1 Golden Jubilee the previous afternoon. The largest obstacle for Team S. at Royal Ascot and to Oasis Dream (GB) in the G1 O’Brien is Khalid Abdullah’s gifted Three Valleys. He July Cup at Newmarket. He was a disappointing sixth stepped up off a fluent debut score in a conditions in this race on testing ground last year, but will find this event at Nottingham May 16 to beat Botanical by an livelier going more to his liking. Swedish Shave holds astounding eight lengths in the G3 Coventry S. at Royal Vasywait on his short-head beating of that rival in the Ascot June 17. A reproduction of that performance, G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis at this track July 6, but may find which prompted a new juvenile track record and this trip stretching his stamina too far, as may Porlezza, equaled Mill Reef’s winning distance in the same race, who has yet to build on her two successes in the G2 would make him unopposable. However, the chestnut Prix du Gros-Chene over Chantilly’s five. faces the might of the Ballydoyle army on their turf. Previews cont. p7 SMART STRIKE IS THE LEADING SIRE Among the top four 4th crop sires: BY PERCENTAGE OF STARTERS FROM FOALS BY PERCENTAGE OF WINNERS FROM STARTERS BY PERCENTAGE OF STAKES WINNERS FROM STARTERS BOX 626, VERSAILLES, KY 40383 BY PERCENTAGE OF STAKES HORSES FROM STARTERS (859) 873-7300 FAX (859) 873-3746 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB SITE: lanesend.com TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 8/10/03 • PAGE 3 of 10 Saturday, Del Mar Saturday, Mountaineer Park SORRENTO S.-GII, $150,000, DMR, 8-9, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, WEST VIRGINIA DERBY-GIII, $600,000, MNR, 8-9, 1:17, ft.