SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2010 For information about TDN, call 732-747-8060. ON THE RIGHT PATH NIGHT FALLS ON SEPTEMBER Defending an unbeaten record entering yesterday=s The 2010 Keeneland September Yearling Sales begins G1 Vincent O=Brien National S., the Silverton Hill Part- its 14-day stand this evening in Lexington, Kentucky, nership=s Pathfork (Distorted Humor) had to dig into with the first of two select night sessions. Action gets reserves, but was underway at 7:00 p.m. In a market still struggling to equal to the chal- find its footing, Keeneland offi- lenge when over- cials have adopted a new format coming Casamento for the 2010 renewal of the sale (Ire) (Shamardal) in in the hopes of injecting energy a thrilling finale to into the proceedings. Book 1 has The Curragh con- been nearly halved--distilled from test. Slick when 418 hips last term to 211 hips-- successful twice and will take place over two over the course and night sessions rather than the Mike McMahon inspects the distance in a traditional afternoon sessions. Inpho Photo wares yesterday at KEESEP July 18 maiden and Keeneland anticipates the Lucas Marquardt photo the Aug. 21 G2 Futurity S., the 2-1 second favorite change will launch September was drawn into battle by the long-time leader on a high note and create momentum going forward. Casamento in the final quarter and, after they domi- Book 2, meanwhile, has been greatly expanded and has nated the race, it was Pathfork who gave most under grown from two sessions to four. Book 2 runs Tuesday Fran Berry=s drive to score by a head. AFran said he had through Friday. Saturday, Sept. 18 will be the sale=s to be really tough and that he didn=t really like the lone dark day. ADue to a change in market dynamics, ground,@ trainer Jessica Harrington said. APure class got we felt we needed to take a look at the format and talk him there in the end.@ Cont. p2 about the last three or four years here,@ said Keeneland Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell. AThat led to the Saturday, The Curragh, Ireland concentrated Book 1 and selling at night, and moving BOYLESPORTS.COM VINCENT O=BRIEN NATIONAL Book 2 to four days.@ Cont. p15 S.-G1, i200,000, Curragh, 9-11, 2yo, c/f, 7fT, 1:27.95, sf. Kentucky Derby Winner Super Saver Sidelined........p14 1--sPATHFORK, 127, c, 2, by Distorted Humor 1st Dam: Visions of Clarity (Ire) (SW-Fr), by Sadler=s Wells 2nd Dam: Imperfect Circle, by Riverman 3rd Dam: Aviance (Ire), by Northfields ($230,000 yrl >09 KEESEP). O-Silverton Hill Partnership; B-Flaxman Holdings Ltd; T-Jessica Harrington; J-Fran Berry; i116,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, i186,695. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2--Casamento (Ire), 127, c, 2, Shamardal--Wedding Gift (Fr), by Always Fair. (i54,000 wnlg >08 GOFNOV). O-Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-D & J Cantillon & C & K Canning; T-Michael Halford; i40,000. 3--Zoffany (Ire), 127, c, 2, Dansili (GB)--Tyranny (GB), by Machiavellian. (220,000gns yrl >09 TATOCT). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd; T-Aidan O=Brien; i20,000. Margins: HD, 5, HF. Odds: 2-1, 11-1, 6-4. Also Ran: Samuel Morse (Ire), Glor Na Mara (Ire), High Ruler, Rudolf Valentino (GB), Janood (Ire), A World Apart (Ire). P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 9/12/10 • PAGE 2 of 22 • thoroughbreddailynews.com FEATURE PRESENTATION • G1 Vincent O’Brien National S. Forked Lightning... Pathfork had shown bountiful speed on his two track- and-trip runs so far, and jockeys Shane Foley and Fran Berry had allowed him to use that pace to race promi- nently before employing his inherent stamina at the finish. Those tactics had seen him overwhelm rivals when winning by four lengths in his maiden, and when drawing away from Glor Na Mara (Ire) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) in the Futurity. Breaking quickly again here, he was set no difficult tasks as Berry kept tabs on Casamento and Declan McDonogh, with the keen-run- ning favorite Zoffany (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) under restraint in behind. In a rare turn of events for a race of this quality, none of the Ballydoyle representatives threat- ened to take up the pacesetting duties, and it was left to Mick Halford=s runner to lead the field to the quarter pole. With Zoffany struggling in their wake, Pathfork edged ahead of the rail-running Casamento there and, after gaining a clear lead, he was all out to prevail from the rallying runner-up. AHe is a different horse on better ground, and fast is really his surface,@ Berry explained. AI knew Declan=s horse from working on him and knew he was a smart horse, but I was trying to nurse my horse. I didn=t want to get in a battle with him and so stayed wide and, thankfully, it worked.@ Harrington was concerned afterwards that the winner had endured a hard race and was holding fire on future plans. AI=m going to Keeneland in the morning and I=ll make plans with the owners then, but he did have a very hard race there,@ she said. Click for the Racing Post chart or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, courtesy attheraces.com. Pathfork (outside) Inpho Photo P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 9/12/10 • PAGE 3 of 22 • thoroughbreddailynews.com Saturday, Doncaster, Britain LADBROKES ST LEGER S.-G1, ,500,000, Doncaster, 9-11, 3yo, c/f, 14f 132ydsT, 3:03.12, gd. 1--#@sARCTIC COSMOS, 126, c, 3, by North Light (Ire) 1st Dam: Fifth Avenue Doll, by Marquetry 2nd Dam: Allego, by Alleged 3rd Dam: Dotsie Go, by Clandestine (47,000gns yrl >08 TATOCT). O-Rachel Hood & Robin Geffen; B-Sheridan & Iadora Farm; T-John Gosden; J-William Buick; ,283,850. Lifetime Record: 8-3-1-2, ,333,280. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Purchased by Blandford Bloodstock LTD. 2--Midas Touch (GB), 126, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)--Approach (GB), by Darshaan (GB). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Denford Stud; B-Belgrave Bloodstock Ltd; T-Aidan O=Brien; ,107,600. 3--Corsica (Ire), 126, c, 3, Cape Cross (Ire)--Cedar Sea (Ire), by Persian Bold (Ire). (20,000gns yrl >08 TATOCT; 48,000gns 2yo >09 TATAPR). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd & P A Byrne; T-Mark Johnston; ,53,850. Margins: 1 3/4, NO, 1 1/4. Odds: 12-1, 13-2, 40-1. Also Ran: Snow Fairy (Ire), Joshua Tree (Ire), Rewilding (GB), Theology (GB), Dandino (GB), Total Command (GB), Ted Spread (GB). Rachel Hood and Robin Geffen=s Arctic Cosmos had climbed the ranks steadily, but hit the heights with the There was no hard work for Buick this time, and it fitting of first-time blinkers to provide John Gosden was evident in early stretch that he was the main threat with a third renewal of Doncaster=s oldest Classic. His to the pacemaking Corsica and Ballydoyle=s Midas performances when runner-up in the June 18 G2 King Touch. After kicking past Corsica, he stayed in control Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot and third in Goodwood's despite veering right in the run to the line. AIt was very G3 Gordon S. July 27 had been marked by laziness, but straightforward for my horse, as he broke well today the headgear worked instantly here as he traveled and traveled, which he hadn=t done previously,@ Buick strongly behind the leading quartet under William Buick. commented. AThe pace was generous and he liked the Full of run as he moved onto the heels of the long-time ground. In the straight, I just wanted to point him at leader Corsica at the quarter pole, he soon had his something that would take me along and he was in measure before asserting to best Midas Touch. AHe=d front soon enough, but he put the race to bed. He=s a worked so lazily, I said I couldn=t afford to give this field very strong horse and we knew he=d stay. He=s done 10 lengths, so I put an American semi-blinker on and nothing wrong this year and ran a nice trial at Goodwood--being easy on him there helped him here.@ he=s done it like a proper horse,@ Gosden explained. AWe John Gosden added, AWilliam feels he can come back to always dreamt he was a Leger horse, and that little a mile and a half, especially with that bit of headgear shower of rain before the race helped him.@ Godolphin=s on and we can dream about the Breeders= Cup Turf,@ even-money favorite Rewilding (Tiger Hill {Ire}) proved a AConduit (Ire) did it two years ago, and we may not be major disappointment when laboring from a long way that good, but we could have a go.@ Connections are out and eventually finishing sixth. Arctic Cosmos, third eyeing a potential tilt at the GI Breeders= Cup Turf with over 11 furlongs at Newbury May 14, impressed when the winner. Dettori was nonplussed as the below-par returning to winning ways over a panel further back on effort of Rewilding. AI couldn=t bridge the gap early on,@ the all-weather at Kempton June 9. On the face of it, he explained. AI thought I would just wait till I got up his tilt at the Royal meeting=s King Edward VII just nine the straight and ask him again, but he was on his days later was ambitious, but he was doing all of his knees.