The Thoroughbred Daily News is delivered to your home or business by fax each morning by 5a.m. For subscription information, please call 908-747-8060. T~~I~~UN~~~RE DM FRIDAY, JUNE 21,1996 ElVIERALD DOWNS OPENING DAY A SUCCESS Thursday, Royal Ascot: With a white-capped Mt. Rainier looming over the spar­ ASCOT GOLD CUP-G1, $290,904, Royal Ascot, Eng­ kling teal-and-white grandstand, Emerald Downs yester­ land, 6-20, 4yo/up, 20fT, 4:23.20, gd/fm. day ushered in the return of Thoroughbred racing to the l--CLASSIC CUCHE (IRE), 126, c, 4, Salse--Pato (GB) Seattle area after a four-year hiatus. A capacity crowd (SP-EngL by High Top (GB). O-Godolphin; B-Lord streamed through the gates for the first live racing in Victor Matthews (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-M J Washington since the close of Longacres in 1992. Track Kinane; $179,619. *Hwt. 3yo-Eng at 14f/up. President Ron Crockett, who, with his team of inves­ 2--Double Trigger (Ire), 128, h, 5, Ela-Mana-Mou (lre)-­ tors, bucked long odds to bring Emerald Downs to life, Solac (Fr), by Gay Lussac (Ity). O-R W Huggins; said yesterday, "We set out to save an industry. It's B-Dene Investments NV (IRE); $66,618. obvious now that we will. We'll make Emerald Downs 3--Nononito (Fr), 128, h, 5, Nikos (GB)--Feuille work. It will be successful, and people will have fun." d'Automne (Fr), by Crystal Palace (Fr). O-Patrick One new touch Seattle-area racing fans can enjoy is the Sebagh; B-Mme Patricia Beck (FR); $ 31 A96. U.S. debut of Hong Kong race caller Robert Geller, who Odds: 3-1, 1-2,16-1. brings lively and insightful commentary to his calls. The Also Ran: Always Aloof, Latahaab, Upper Mount Clair stakes schedule includes the return of the $200,000 (GB), Assessor (Ire). Longacres Mile, August 18, and the inaugural $100,000 Sheer class overcame pure courage as Classic Cliche Emerald Derby, September 1, and a full stable area thwarted Double Trigger's bid to collect a second suc­ housing 1,276 horses bodes well for the future of the cessive Ascot Gold Cup. Last year's winner set off in 100-day meeting, which runs through November 4. his usual front-running role and, although the pace was never exceptional, several others were struggling by the home turn. Classic Cliche, however, was always travel­ FAIRPLEX UNVEILS PLAN FOR ENLARGED ling smoothly and, the moment jockey Mick Kinane TRACK, NEW TURF COURSE Fairplex Park officials made his effort to overhaul the leader, the race was transformed a routine discussion of proposed 1997 won. Classic Cliche quickened well about two furlongs Southern California racing dates with the surprise an­ from the post, grabbed an advantage 100 yards later, nouncement Thursday that the Los Angeles County Fair and kept on without being really hard-pressed. Sheikh Association plans to build a seven furlong turf course Mohammed, head of the successful Godolphin team, and a one-mile main track around its existing five­ said, "It was only a hope that he would stay. Nobody eighths oval. Fairplex President James Henwood told the could be s.ure. But I did not think the pace was too Dates Committee of the California Horse Racing Board strong, so that gave us a little extra confidence. I think that the fair board voted Tuesday to "proceed in devel­ we might bring Classic Cliche back to a mile and half oping and proceed to arrange financing" for the project, next time. But he proved that a classy horse can stay which Henwood speculated could cost as much as $10 and we will talk about future plans before making any million. He said the fair association will be "going after definite decisions." governmental assistance." Henwood added that in the best of circumstances, construction would begin imme­ STAKES CLOSINGS diately after the upcoming race meet (Sept. 12-30) and TODA y, FRIDA y, JUNE 21: would be completed in about 10 months, preferably in 10-5 $200,000 Oak Leaf S.-GI, SA, 2yo, f, time for the 1997 meet. John Van de Kamp, president 8.5f ($100) of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, said the 10-6 $200,000 Norfolk S.-GII, SA, 2yo, 8.5f Fairplex plan has "tremendous potential--if they can do ($100) it. It will provide year-round grass racing in Southern TOMORROW, SA TURDA y, JUNE 22: California." Henwood said the project "has been part of 7-4 $500,000 Suburban H.-GI, Bel, 3yo/up, 10f ($500) the long-range plan at Fairplex," but the timing was 7-4 $ 150/50,000 Finger Lakes Breeders' Cup-Gill, FL, "prompted by the proposal for Hollywood Park to have 3yo/up, 6f ($50) some overlapping dates with our meeting in 1 997." Due 7-6 $150,000 Dwyer-Gil, Bel, 3yo, 8.5f ($150) in part to the Fairplex announcement, the Dates Com­ 7-6 $100/100,000 Monmouth Breeders' Cup Oaks-Gil, mittee could now delay any decision on the 1997 racing Mth, 3yo, f, 8.5f ($100) calendar until August. 7-7 $100,000a Tom Fool H.-GIl, Bel, 3yo/up, 7f ($100) PAGE 2. THOROUGHBRED DAILY NEWS. 6-21-96 Royal Ascot Continued. Atraf, an improving three-year-old with two wins RIBBLESDALE S.-G2, $151,609, Royal Ascot, England, already under his belt this season, took advantage of his 6-20, 3yo, f, 12fT, 2:31.41, gd/fm. favorable stands-side draw to earn his first stakes win. 1--TULlPA, 120, f, 3, Alleged--Black Tulip IFr) (SW-Fr, Watch Me, from the number one stall, broke best from MGSP-U.S., $182,754), by Fabulous Dancer. the gate and set a brisk pace. But Atraf, drawn two, O-Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum; B-Fares Farm Inc and fifth-placed IKTAMAL (Danzig Connection), drawn (Ky); T-Andre Fabre; J-S. Guillot; $92,817. *1/2 to three, were always chasing him. Atraf hit the front Devil River Peek (Silver Hawk), MGSP-Ger, $170,638. about 200 yards from home and quickened well to beat 2--Key Change (Ire), 120, f, 3, Darshaan (GB)--Kashka, those on his side with a fair amount in hand. Ironically, by The Minstrel. O-Lady Clague; $34,764. Atraf was declared for this contest mainly because his 3--Shemozzle (Ire), 120, f, 3, Shirley Heights (GB)-­ last success, scored in a handicap at Newmarket, had Reactress, by Sharpen Up (GB). O-Lord Hartington; seen his rating raised too high to give him any further $16,721. chance outside this Group Three class. Trainer David Margins: NK, 1 1/4,7. Morley explained, "He's a typical son of Clantime--quite Also Ran: Alzabella (Ire), Bathilde, Magnificent Style, small--and it would not have been fair to ask him to Alessandra (GB), Ceirseach, Ninotchka, Sea Spray (Ire). carry too much weight in any more handicaps. But he Jockey Sylvain Guillot won his first ride at Royal loves this firm ground and six furlongs is definitely his Ascot when steering Tulipa to a cozy neck victory. best distance." MAGNIFICENT STYLE (Silver Hawk) set off at a good gallop as she attempted to justify her position as favor­ NORFOLK S.-G3, $64,068, Royal Ascot, England, 6-20, ite. It was soon clear, however, that she was not com­ 2yo, 5fT, 1 :01.37, gd/fm. pletely comfortable on fast going and Shemozzle (Ire) 1--#@TIPSY CREEK, 124, c, 2, Dayjur--Copper Creek was always niggling at her heels. That filly took a nar­ (Ire), by Habitat. ($90,000 yrl '95 KEESEP). row advantage two furlongs from home. But Tulipa, O-Abdullah Ali; B-Airlie Stud (Ky); T-Ben Hanbury; who had always been going nicely for her French J-W. Ryan; $38,864. * 1/2 to Copper Play (Fast Play), jockey, soon grabbed the lead and was not seriously MSP, $159,697. over-worked to hold off the late thrust of Key Change 2--Raphane, 124, c, 2, Rahy--Fast Nellie, by Ack Ack. (Ire). Anthony Stround, racing manager to winning ($110,000 yrl i95 KEESEP), O-Peter Savill; $14,711. owner Sheikh Mohammed, said, "We're absolutely 3--Muchea 1GB), 124, c, 2, Shalford (lre)--Bargouzine delighted with this performance. Our three-year-olds are (GB), by Hotfoot (GB). O-Albion Investments; $7,205. limited in their ability this season, but it's always nice to Margins: 1, 1 3/4, 1/2. win races here. Tulipa will have a break now and then Also Ran: Roman Imp (Ire), Grand Lad (Ire), Darb Aloia, we'll probably bring her back for the Prix Vermeille at Arethusa (GB), Granny's Pet (GB), For Your Eyes Only Longchamp (September 15)." (GB), Raven Master. Non-runner: Omaha City (Ire). Tipsy Creek, unquestionably the most mature juve­ CORK AND ORRERY S.-G3, $85,751, Royal Ascot, nile in this field, dominated the pre-race parade with England, 6-20, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1: 14.07, gd/fm. his physical presence. For much of the event itself, 1--#@ATRAF 1GB), 118, c, 3. Clantime IGB)--Flitteriss though, he seemed likely to play second fiddle to Park (GB), by Beldale Flutter. O-Sheikh Hamdan al runner-up Raphane, who shot out of the gate and Maktoum; B-R T & Mrs Watson (GB); T-David Morley; quickly established a clear lead. At halfway, however, J-W. Carson; $51,979. *1/2 to Son Pardo (GB) Raphane began to hang badly left towards the stands (Petong {GB}L GSW-Eng, $131,577.