Slight Fever for Funny Cide HEADLINE p.2 NEWS For information about TDN, DELIVERED EACH NIGHT call 732-747-8060. BY FAX AND INTERNET www.thoroughbreddailynews.com TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2003 BOUTIQUE SEASON BEGINS AT SARATOGA STROLL ROLLS TO HALL OF FAME VICTORY The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sales, the first of Claiborne Farm’s homebred Stroll (Pulpit), who often the season’s select sales, kick off this evening at 7:30 kicks up a fuss prior to his races, managed to retain p.m. in upstate New York. A total of 217 yearlings are enough gas in the tank to steamroll over the yielding set to go under the hammer by such world-class stal- Saratoga lawn and 10 rivals, scoring an impressive lions as A.P. Indy, Carson City, Danzig, Deputy Minis- four-length victory in Monday’s GII National Museum of ter, Dynaformer, El Prado (Ire), Gone Racing Hall of Fame H. Sent off the lukewarm favorite West, Kingmambo, Kris S., Mr. for the Hall of Fame trainer/jockey combination of Bill Greeley, Rahy, Saint Ballado, Seattle Mott and Jerry Bailey, Stroll came into his graded Slew, Silver Deputy, Thunder Gulch, stakes debut off a six-length allowance win at Belmont Unbridled and his son Unbridled’s Park May 10 and a record-setting victory in Monmouth Song. The latter, who is having an Park’s 1 1/16-mile Lamplighter S. July 5. Full of run early, the eager bay stalked pacesetting leader Sharp outstanding Saratoga meeting as a Impact (Siphon {Brz}) through opening fractions of sire, could leave yet another indelible :23.55, :48.27 and three quarters in 1:12.80. Quick to mark on this sale early on when hip respond when asked, the colt charged to the front at number 21 strides into the ring. The the three-sixteenths pole and chestnut colt, consigned to the sale drew off with authority late by Dromoland/Hartwell, is out of for the easy score. According Aug. 5-7 7:30pm Grade I winner La Gueriere (Lord at to Mott, Stroll will probably War {Arg}) and is a half brother to make his next start in the GII MGSW & MGISP Lasting Approval (With Approval). Jamaica S. at Belmont Sept. “He’s got all the ingredients--the looks, the pedigree, 21. Click for the brisnet.com he’s a super mover and a lovely balanced horse,” com- chart or the free brisnet.com Stroll Horsephotos mented Robbie Lyons, who co-consigns the March 26 catalogue-style pedigree. foal with Gerry Dilger of Dromoland. “He’s by an excel- lent sire out of a great mare, and it doesn’t hurt that he NATIONAL MUSEUM OF RACING HALL OF FAME H.-GII, was raised at a quality nursery like Wimborne Farms.” $150,000, SAR, 8-4, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:49 1/5, yl. 1--@STROLL, 117, c, 3, by Pulpit The immediate family made big news at this year’s 1st Dam: Maid for Walking (GB) (GSP-Eng, Keeneland April Sale, when his half brother by El Prado $183,719), by Prince Sabo sold for a whopping $850,000 to Fleetwood/NW Man- 2nd Dam: Stinging Nettle (GB), by Sharpen Up (GB) agement. He is but one of many offerings Fasig-Tipton 3rd Dam: Nettlebed (GB), by Hethersett (GB) is pinning its hopes on. “We have an excellent group of O/B-Claiborne Farm (KY); T-William I Mott; J-J D horses,” said Fasig-Tipton President Walt Robertson. Bailey; $90,000. Lifetime Record: 9-4-2-1, $206,547. “And, as I always say, it’s all about the horses and if *1/2 to Patrol (Lear Fan), MSW & GISP, $398,920. I’m right we’re going to have a good sale. I like our 2--Urban King (Ire), 115, c, 3, Desert King (Ire)--Uruk group of horses as well or better than we’ve ever had. (GB), by Efisio (GB). O-Amerman Racing Stables LLC; Do we have as many really, really top horses as we had B-Eric Puerari and D Hazen Ades (IRE); $30,000. two years ago? We’ll see. But everybody that’s sup- 3--Saint Stephen, 115, c, 3, Saint Ballado--Goulash, by posed to be here is here.” (Cont. p3) Mari's Book. ($400,000 yrl '01 FTKJUL). O-P Karches & C E & S T Harris; B-A U & M Jones (KY); $16,500. Margins: 4, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 2.65, 4.90, 5.00. Click here to view the Also Ran: Hypnotist, Kissin Saint, G P Fleet, Sharp Saratoga Selected Yearling Catalogue Impact, Supervisor, Hidden Truth, Saint Liam, Coalition. Scratched: Awesome Time, Colita, Christine's Outlaw. Keeneland Sales Success At Saratoga VOODOO DANCER S Diana H. (G1) ! LADY TAK S Test S. (G1) ZAVATA S Amsterdam S. (G2) ! ASHADO S Schuylerville S. (G2) FILM MAKER S Lake George S. (G3) (800) 456-3412 www.keeneland.com September Yearling Sale Catalog Now Available Online at www.keeneland.com TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 8/5/03 • PAGE 2 of 9 SKY MESA FINE AFTER HASKELL P WEEKEND WRAP-UP P Sky Mesa (Pulpit), runner-up in the Sunday’s GI Haskell Invitational, was back at his Saratoga barn at FEVER NO LAUGHING MATTER FOR FUNNY CIDE 6:30 yesterday morning. The John Oxley runner was Funny Cide (Distorted Humor), a disappointing third making his second start off a nine-month layoff in the as the even-money favorite in the $1-million GI Haskell Haskell. “He cooled out quickly and he wasn’t nearly as Invitational H. at Monmouth Park Sunday, came out of tired as he was the first time back,” Donna Ward, wife the race with a slight fever. The winner of two thirds of and assistant to trainer John Ward Jr., said. As for Sky the Triple Crown, he returned to his barn at Saratoga Mesa’s latest effort, she said, “I wish we had been a late Sunday night. According to trainer Barclay Tagg, little closer to the pace, where he wouldn’t have had the gelding had a fever of 102 [normal range is 99 and quite so much to do [in the stretch]. We wanted him to 101 degrees] and was tired following Sunday’s defeat, rate off the pace, but, to me, there was no pace.” The but Tagg did not blame the abnormal temperature for eye-catching bay also has his sights set on the 10- Funny Cide’s off day, instead attributing the lackluster furlong Travers S. effort to the track surface. “[Jockey Jose Santos] said he didn’t like the going,” Tagg said. “He was never STRONG HOPE TO TRAVERS; OTHERS TO BYPASS comfortable.” The chestnut was scheduled to make his Trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed Monday that next appearance in the $1-million Travers S. at Sunday’s GII Jim Dandy S. winner Strong Hope (Grand Saratoga Aug. 23, but his participation in that race is Slam) will take another step up in distance for a re- now up in the air. “I honestly don’t know [if he’ll run],” match with Empire Maker in the Travers S. Aug. 23. In Tagg said. “The Travers is just 20 days away.” response to the detractors, Pletcher indicated that the bay, who has won five straight, doesn’t need the lead FRANKEL MAPS OUT FUTURE FOR STABLE STARS to win. “We’ve never sat him off a horse, but we’ve Haskell hero Peace Rules (Jules), who returned to the never really had to,” said Pletcher. “I don’t think he’s a Spa in “good shape” following Monmouth’s Sunday horse that has to be on the lead to be effective. It’s just feature, will not run in the Aug. 23 GI Travers S. at a matter of he’s a naturally fast horse and there’s not Saratoga, trainer Bobby Frankel confirmed Monday. The going to be a whole lot of horses in front of him. He three-year-old will instead take on older horses, includ- puts himself in the game and doesn’t have to work real ing stablemate Milwaukee Brew (Wild Again), in the $1- hard to do it.” Not planning on making the pilgrimage to million GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar Aug. 24. Frankel Saratoga is Haskell Invitational fourth-place finisher will still be represented, however, in Saratoga’s Mid- Wild and Wicked (Wild Again). According to trainer Ken Summer Derby by GI Belmont S. winner Empire Maker McPeek, the David Randal-owned colt returned from his (Unbridled). Far back early, the colt came up just a neck first lifetime defeat in good order, but will not make the short as the 1-5 favorite in the GII Jim Dandy S. at trip. “He only got beat a length by the Derby winner Saratoga Sunday. There will likely be a change in tac- [Funny Cide]. He’s a nice horse and he obviously fits tics for his next start. “I learned something from the somewhere at that level, but we’re going to skip the race,” Frankel said. “I think in all his races, [Empire Travers at this point.” McPeek mentioned that the GIII Maker] runs better when he’s right there [with the Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park Sept. 1 is likely leaders]. If I had [the Jim Dandy] to do over again, I’d to be the colt’s next start. Also likely to bypass the have probably put him right in behind [the frontrunners] Travers is Jim Dandy S. third Congrats (A.P.