ANOTHER GRADE I WIN FOR ENGLISH HEADLINE CHANNEL...p3 NEWS For information about TDN, DELIVERED EACH NIGHT BY FAX AND FREE BY E-MAIL TO SUBSCRIBERS OF call 732-747-8060. www.thoroughbreddailynews.com SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2006 BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE WORTH EVERY PENNY They could only find three rivals to try their luck Purchased for a reported $4.3 million last July, Henny against Bernardini (A.P. Indy) in the GI Jockey Club Hughes (Hennessy) paid immediate dividends with a Gold Cup at Belmont Park yesterday, and the trio win in the GII Saratoga Special proved hopelessly over- and runner-up finishes in the GI matched. Sent off the Hopeful, GI Champagne and GI 1-10 favorite in his first Breeders= Cup Juvenile. But the outing against older chestnut has proved even more horses, Bernardini was valuable this year, putting himself hard held by jockey Javier squarely into Eclipse consider- Horsephotos Castellano as he shad- ation as he beat older horses in owed Wanderin Boy the GI Vosburgh S. yesterday. Off a step slowly, he (Seeking the Gold) for the had a head in front after a half in :44.82 and opened it opening mile. The Darley up late to win by 2 3/4 lengths. AHe was pretty impres- Horsephotos three-year-old dismissed sive today, let me tell you,@ jockey John Velazquez said. the frontrunner at the top of the lane and was never Cont. p4 out of third gear as he came under the wire a 6 3/4- length winner. AThat was exactly what I was hoping FLEET OF FOOT for,@ trainer Tom Albertrani said. AHe does things so Proving she doesn=t need to be on the lead, Fleet easily, I don=t know if anyone can give him the kind of Indian (Indian Charlie) changed tactics for yesterday=s race where he was to fight. Look at the hold Javier had GI Beldame S. at Belmont Park. Stalking the early pace on him. It looked like he could take the lead at any set by Take d=Tour (Tour d=Or) and then Round Pond time. It worked out very, very well. I=ve got a fresh (Awesome Again), the dark bay took over at the top of horse for the Breeders= Cup now.@ Cont. p2 the lane and held off Balletto (UAE) (Timber Country) to pick up her eighth straight victory. AWhat we were Saturday, Belmont Park hoping to find out, which will help us in the Breeders= JOCKEY CLUB GOLD CUP S.-GI, $712,500, BEL, 10-7, Cup, is that she can sit off horses and dig in,@ trainer 3yo/up, 1 1/4m, 2:01, ft. Todd Pletcher said. AShe showed that today.@ Cont. p4 1--BERNARDINI, 122, c, 3, by A.P. Indy 1st Dam: Cara Rafaela (GISW, $884,452), by Quiet American TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE 2nd Dam: Oil Fable, by Spectacular Bid Add his name to the list of Breeders= Cup hopefuls 3rd Dam: Northern Fable, by Northern Dancer who have yet to be beaten this year. While Fleet Indian O/B-Darley (KY); T-Thomas Albertrani; J-J Castellano; will head into the GI Breeders= Cup $450,000. Lifetime Record: 7-6-0-0, $2,060,480. Distaff with a perfect six-for-six *1/2 to Ile De France (Storm Cat), GISP, $125,300. record in 2006, and Henny Hughes 2--Wanderin Boy, 126, h, 5, Seeking the Gold--Vid Kid, is three-for-three, Lava Man (Slew by Pleasant Colony. O/B-Arthur B Hancock III (KY); City Slew) has been on top in ev- T-Nicholas P Zito; $150,000. ery one of his seven appearances 3--Andromeda's Hero, 126, c, 4, Fusaichi Pegasus-- this term. The five-year-old gelding Marozia, by Storm Bird. ($310,000 yrl '03 KEESEP). rolled through his seventh score, Horsephotos O-Robert V LaPenta; B-Barnett Enterprises (KY); leading every step in the GII Good- T-Nicholas P Zito; $75,000. wood Breeders= Cup H. at Oak Tree yesterday and Margins: 6 3/4, 6, 19HF. Odds: 0.15, 9.00, 17.60. drawing off late to take it by 2 1/4 lengths over Brother Also Ran: Dylan Thomas (Ire). Derek (Benchmark). Cont. p7 TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 10/8/06 • PAGE 2 of 15 Jockey Club Gold Cup cont. Patience Rewarded... Putting His Best Foot Forward... Javier Castellano was especially pleased with the Bernardini hasn=t put a foot wrong since finishing patience his mount showed yesterday. AI liked the way fourth in his debut at Gulfstream Jan. 7. Bred in the he did it today,@ he said. AHe settled down perfectly purple and looking the behind the speed horse. I didn=t want him on the lead part, he was a 7 3/4- because I want him to be focused for his next race, the length maiden winner Breeders= Cup. In the Breeders= Mar. 4 and came back Cup, someone may want to go to post a 3 3/4-length for the lead. There is more pres- score in the GIII With- sure and more pace in that kind ers S. Let go at 12-1 of a race.@ The rider added, AHe=s behind Kentucky Derby a special horse, and that kind of hero Barbaro in the a horse is hard to find. He=s my May 19 GI Preakness, spoiled baby.@ Looking ahead, Adam Coglianese he was overshadowed Tom Albertrani said, AHe=ll proba- when the star of the bly stay here [at Belmont] until a show broke down just strides into the race, but has few days before the [Classic]. Adam Coglianese since proved that 5 1/4-length Classic score was no Depending upon what flights we fluke. With connections opting to skip the GI Belmont can get out, maybe he=ll leave on Wednesday [Nov. 1].@ S., Bernardini awaited the July And who are the horses to beat for year-end honors? AI 29 GII Jim Dandy S. at Saratoga think it will come down to Lava Man, Invasor (Arg) and and won by nine in what was us for Horse of the Year,@ Albertrani remarked. Trainer nothing more than a public work- Nick Zito, who saddled Wanderin Boy and third-place out. He was always in control in finisher Andromeda=s Hero, added his praise. AThis the Aug. 26 GI Travers S., and horse has superstar credentials,@ Zito said. AIf he wins had an even easier time of it in the Breeders= Cup, he=ll certainly solidify that. It=s the the Gold Cup. Allowed to sit sec- first time I almost clapped for a horse that beat me. ond as Wanderin Boy tried to That was pretty cool. That was a tremendous horse. save something for the finish, Javy rode him with tremendous confidence. He=ll be easing through a half in :48.13 getting a lot of accolades now. He doesn=t need me.@ and three-quarters in 1:11.81, Click for the brisnet.com chart or the free brisnet.com Bernardini went after the lead catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Taylor after a mile in 1:35.86 and gal- Made. loped through a final quarter in Adam Coglianese :25.16, leaving plenty in the tank for the Nov. 4 GI Breeders= Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. AI had so GOLD CUP TO BREEDERS= CUP much horse today,@ jockey Javier Castellano said. AI Year Runner JCGC Finish BC Win never asked him. It looked pretty easy.@ G1 Irish Derby 1989 Prized 4th Turf and G1 Irish Champion S. winner Dylan Thomas (Ire) 1982 A.P. Indy 3rd Classic (Danehill), making his first start on the dirt, trailed the 1995 Cigar 1st Classic field throughout, finishing 32 1/4 lengths behind the 1997 Skip Away 1st Classic winner in last. www.stonewallstallions.com TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 10/8/06 • PAGE 3 of 15 Saturday, Belmont Park Turf Classic cont. JOE HIRSCH TURF CLASSIC INVITATIONAL S.-GI, AHe made it look a little more difficult than it was, but $600,000, BEL, 10-7, 3yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:28 3/5, fm. he went on and looked really good,@ said jockey John 1--ENGLISH CHANNEL, 126, c, 4, by Smart Strike Velazquez. AHe proved today that he can get 12 fur- 1st Dam: Belva, by Theatrical (Ire) longs.@ It was the third Grade I winner on the afternoon 2nd Dam: Committed, by Hagley for trainer Todd Pletcher, who also took the GI Beldame 3rd Dam: Minstinguette, by Boldnesian S. with Fleet Indian and GI Flower Bowl Invitational S. ($50,000 yrl '03 KEESEP). O-James T Scatuorchio; with Honey Ryder. AThis horse has a heavy argument B-Keene Ridge Farm (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher; J-J for being champion turf horse,@ Pletcher said. AHis re- Velazquez; $360,000. Lifetime Record: 15-9-2-0, cord stacks up with anyone=s in the division.@ Click for $2,379,028. the brisnet.com chart or the free brisnet.com catalogue- 2--Freedonia (GB), 123, f, 4, Selkirk--Forest Rain (Fr), style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Taylor Made. by Caerleon. O-Flaxman Holdings Ltd; B-The Niarchos Family (GB); T-John E Hammond; $120,000. 3--Royal Highness (Ger), 123, f, 4, Monsun (Ger)--Reem Dubai (Ire), by Nashwan. (i130,000 yrl '03 TAYLOR MADE SALES AGENCY BBASEP). O-Monceaux Stable; B-Gestut Etzean AT FASIG-TIPTON NOVEMBER (GER); T-Pascal F Bary; $60,000. SELLS ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH Margins: 4HF, NK, HD. Odds: 0.65A, 3.05, 10.00.