Summer Racing Schedule: Recaps & Highlights
by Steve Davidowitz | Jul 7 2011
One look at the racing calendar says we are edging closer to the magnificent Saratoga and Del Mar meets later this month. In just a quick recap of last weekend, we should cite the best performances and perhaps the worst as well…
In the "best" category, there were two that qualify as "most impressive" although they qualified in my eyes under completely different criteria.
At Hollywood Park, it would be difficult to find fault with the victory posted by COURAGEOUS CAT over CATACORTADO in the contentious, $300,000 Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood on Saturday, July 2.
While the winning margin was only a head, both horses finished far in front of the good turf miler, VICTOR'S CRY, who won the Grade-1 Shoemaker and the Grade-2 Citation on the Hollywood turf course in 2010. And both of those races were over the same one mile distance!
The margin at the wire between the top two also was deceptive, as Courageous Cat looked to have the race completely in control while not asked for his absolute best. Remember, this veteran turf horse finished second to the world champ GOLDIKOVA in her third consecutive win in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs last fall.
Moreover, trainer Billy Mott, who knows a few things about turf horses having trained several national champions while becoming the youngest ever elected to the sport's Hall of Fame, came away from the race thinking he would love a rematch at Churchill on November 5.
That may seem ambitious, but when Mott sets a horse for a target, he can do wonders and the great European race mare better be prepared for a royal battle if she is to win her fourth straight.
The other extremely impressive performance was turned in by FLAT OUT, a nondescript 5-year-old who never had won a Graded stakes before he overpowered a modest group in the Grade-2 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park on Saturday.
While basically a purse nibbler in his relatively modest eight race career, Flat Out went wild in the nine furlong race, winning by more than six lengths over improving HYMNN BOOK who was making his Graded stakes debut.
Beyond the visually impressive move he made to win the race, Flat Out finished in the fast time of 1:46.64, with a sensational final 3/8 miles clocked in 35 3/5, with a final furlong a shade under 12 seconds flat. The performance earned this grandson of A.P. Indy a gaudy 113 Beyer speed Figure.
Although Flat Out has a history of physical quarter cracks, he is being patiently handled by mid western based trainer Charles (Scooter) Dickey and will be sparingly run through the summer with his target race, the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic.
The "worst" performance of the weekend might have been among the very worst performances in several years by a highly touted, heavily bet favorite.
HILDA'S PASSION – bet down to 35 cents on the dollar in the $150,000 Bed O' Roses Handicap at Belmont Park on Sunday, July 3 – looked to be the most reliable 4-year-old sprinting filly in America. But that was before she could not make the lead in the first four furlongs of the 7 furlong race and tired badly in the upper stretch to finish sixth more than 12 lengths behind upset winner TAMARIND HALL.
The poor performance led to some outrageous payoffs in the show pool as the bridge jumpers were out in real force expecting to cash at the minimum of five cents profit on every dollar bet for a third or better finish.
Tamarind Hall may have paid $33 to win, but she paid $53 to show.
Second place finisher KID KATE paid $17 to place, but also paid $53.50 to those holding show tickets on her. Finally, while all the money wagered on Hilda's Passion was burning in the hot NY sun, third place finisher SPA CITY PRINCESS paid a whopping $64.50 show.
Beyond these ultra generous show payoffs, 'Hilda' had no visible excuse and the race was clocked in a relatively ordinary 1:23-4/5, well below par for a Graded 7 furlong sprint on the fast Belmont surface.
This weekend, the high class stakes action will continue on both coasts as Belmont will offer the prestigious $600,000 Man 'o War Stakes, the final G-21 stakes at Belmont, in which two time Eclipse Award winner GIO PONTI will be attempting a record breaking third straight victory. To accomplish the unprecedented feat, Gio Ponti will have to turn the tables on MISSION APPROVED, the upset wire to wire winner of the Manhattan Handicap on the Belmont Stakes Day racing card on June 11.
At Hollywood Park, the venerable AWESOME GEM also will be attempting to repeat a victory in the 1-1/4 mile, Hollywood Gold Cup, one of the 11 races he has won in a six year career. Among his rivals in the Grade-1 race, however, will be TWIRLING CANDY, who is rated by many as the best older horse in America.
The supporting feature on the Gold Cup card is the 9 furlong, Grade 2 $150,000 Swaps Stakes for 3-year-olds. The field may seem light compared to the Triple Crown events, but the race is designed to establish contenders for the second half of the 2011 racing season.
Beyond the New York and Southern California racing cards, Calder in Florida will be hosting its annual Summit of Speed, a series of entertaining sprint races that accent speed and more speed.
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