UPI Thoroughbred Racing Roundup

One of Thoroughbred racing's many colorful racing sayings has it, "No one ever killed himself with a good 2-year-old in the barn." The thought is right on and, since 2-year-olds all turn 3 in a few weeks, it's time to be thinking Kentucky Derby.

WinStar Farm and trainer Eoin Harty certainly are thinking about Churchill Downs and the first Saturday in May after they sent out lightly raced American Lion to an impressive victory in Saturday's $100,000 Hollywood Prevue Stakes.

The homebred Tiznow colt stalked the early speed, came to challenge at mid-stretch and edged clear in the final sixteenth to win by 1/2 length.

A pair of longshots -- Get My Fix and Seattle Ruler -- ran well late to finish second and third but it was American Lion, finishing 7 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:22.49, who got tongues wagging.

"This horse is very sensible, but he's still unfocused," Harty said. "Coming down the stretch he was flicking his ears and looking at everything. But there's plenty of time to correct that before Derby Day, if we get that far. At the three-eighths pole I thought he was in trouble. It looked like he was under a ride and going nowhere. But he got to running in the lane."

American Lion finished second in his career debut in September at Arlington Park, then scored a 6 3/4-lengths victory in his second start at Keeneland Oct. 18.

The Futurity next logical step will be the $750,000 Cash Call Futurity over the same track Dec. 19. That race, also expected to attract Breeders' Cup runner-up Lookin at Lucky, has produced six Kentucky Derby winners since 1981.

In other weekend races for juveniles:

At Golden Gate Fields on Saturday, Shudacudawudya upset the $50,000 Golden Nugget Stakes for 2-year-olds despite clipping heels and nearly falling at the five-sixteenths pole. The California-bred Marino Marini colt closed stoutly in the stretch to beat the favorite, Sourdough Sam, by 3/4 length, finishing 6 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:09.46. Tiny Woods, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Jose Valdivia Jr., led early and finished third. "He's a nice colt," said Duran of Shudacudawudya, who has three wins and two seconds in five career starts. "He does whatever you ask him and today he overcame a lot. When he clipped heels, he picked himself up and then waited for us to find a hole. It was eventful but everything worked out."

Pleasant Storm rallied from far back to win Sunday's $60,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile for state-breds at Remington Park by 2 lengths over Hollywood Ice. Pleasant Storm, a Pleasant Tap colt, ran the 6 furlongs in 1:10.93 with Bryan McNeil up.

On the filly side, Bickersons rebounded from a 10th-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies to win Sunday's $100,000 Moccasin Stakes at Hollywood Park. Under Joe Tolamo, the Ontario-bred Silver Deputy filly dueled for the lead, then took charge and won by 2 1/2 lengths over Miss Heather Lee. It Tiz finished third and the favorite, Crisis of Spirt, finished fourth. Bickersons ran the 7 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:22.49.

And Shotgun Gulch rallied wide into the stretch in Sunday's $60,000 Oklahoma Classics Lassie and got home first, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of odds-on favorite Vertical Vision. C J Jones was third Shotgun Gulch, by Thunder Gulch, got the 6 furlongs in 1:10.28 for jockey Luis Quinonez.

The coming weekend features a slew of 2-year-old races all over North America. Many are for state-breds but the schedule also includes the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs and the Kingarvie for Ontario-breds at Woodbine.

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In weekend racing:

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Japan

In his final race before retirement, Company rolled to a 1 1/4-lengths victory in Sunday's Mile Championship at Kyoto Race Course. The 8-year-old defeated 17 rivals, including nine foreign-trained horses, and picked up his third straight stakes win. Jockey Norihiro Yokoyama steered Company between the leaders, caught Meiner Falke with about 100 meters to run and got clear. Meiner Falke held on for second, just a neck in front of French filly Sahpresa, who was closing well under Olivier Peslier. The final time was 1:33.2. Company, a son of Miracle Admire, compiled a record of 12 wins, four seconds and one third in 35 career starts.

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Hong Kong

Local horses prevailed in Sunday's trials for the Dec. 13 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile and Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint -- and they weren't even the most highly regarded local steeds. In the Mile, Fellowship kicked loose at the top of the Sha Tin stretch when asked by rider Zac Purton and got home first by 3/5 length over Sight Winner. Two-time defending champion Good Ba Ba was closing fast and finished third. Trainer Paul Sullivan said Fellowship always has run well in international competition "but he has often found one or two too good for him on the big day. Today, though, he got a nice run." Sullivan, however, pointed out that in the International Mile, his horse will give up the five-pound allowance he enjoyed Sunday. In the Sprint Trial, Happy Zero got past one of the world's top-rated sprinters, Sacred Kingdom, in the final furlong and won by 2 lengths, going away. "I think he's the new kid on the block," winning trainer John Moore said, "and I don't want to take anything away from Sacred Kingdom, a world champion. But sometimes you have to give way to the next generation and I believe this is the one."

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Hollywood Park

Loup Breton, making his first U.S. start for trainer Julio Canani, rallied from last in a six-horse field to win a tough allowance race Friday. A 5-year-old Irish-bred, previously raced in France for trainer Elle Lellouche and the Wildenstein Stables, Loup Breton split horses at mid-stretch and won ridden out. He finished the 9 furlongs on the grass in 1:46.87 and was accelerating through the stretch without a lot of urging from jockey Garrett Gomez. While not spectacularly successful in France, the son of Anabaa did finish second in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp in Paris this past April. The win was convincing enough to give Canani hope Loup Breton will be a player in the turf division but he said he has not planned a next race for the bay horse.

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Churchill Downs

Acoma rebounded from two last-place efforts and a bad start in this one to win Saturday's $100,000 Cardinal Handicap for fillies and mares by a head over You

Go West Girl. The lukewarm favorite, Lemon Chiffon, finished a non-threatening third. Acoma, a 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred daughter of Empire Maker out of the Danzig mare Aurora, broke in the air, was shuffled back and came out to launch her winning rally in the stretch. She ran the 9 furlongs on firm turf in 1:50.02 under Jesus Castanon. She now has eight wins from 14 starts but her owners had been considering retiring her after her recent poor showings. Now, said trainer David Carroll, plans have changed. "We'll shut her down and get ready for next year," he said. "We needed to see that race from her and why not? The Breeders' Cup is here next year." Acoma is 5-for-5 under the Twin Spires.

Custom for Carlos, the odds-on favorite, ran to his notices in Saturday's $60,000 Bet on Sunshine Handicap, drawing off down the stretch to win by 3 3/4 lengths over Accredit. Golden Country put some gold in the trifecta at 20-1 odds. Custom for Carlos, a 3-year-old, Kentucky-bred colt by More Than Ready, ran the 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.71 with Jose Lezcano in the irons.

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Aqueduct

Haynesfield relaxed behind the early leader in Saturday's $100,000 Discovery Handicap for 3-year-olds, moved to the lead easily when asked by jockey Ramon Dominguez and drew off to win by 4 1/2 lengths over longshot Bad Action. The odds-on favorite, Gone Astray, lacked a stretch bid and settled for third. Haynesfield, a New York-bred Speightstown colt, ran the 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:50.1, picking up his second straight win after more than six months off. "He's got a very high cruising speed, it looks like to me," said Toby Sheets, assistant to winning trainer Steve Asmussen. "We thought that last year, but he was a little immature. He's definitely grown into himself." He said no decision has been made about Haynesfield's next start.

Groomedforvictory pressed the pace in Sunday's $65,000 Study Hard Stakes for New York-breds, opened a lead in the stretch and easily won by 3 1/4 lengths over Naughty New Yorker. Almighty Silver finished third. Groomedforvictory, a 4-year-old Victory Gallop gelding, ran the 1 mile on a fast track in 1:36.74 with Ramon Dominguez in the irons.

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Woodbine

Smokey Fire, always a consistent money horse, found the winner's circle after Saturday's $150,000 (Canadian) Kennedy Road Stakes. After tracking the early leaders, the 4-year-old Smoke Glacken gelding got around four-wide and led the way in deep stretch. Field Commission got within 3/4 length at the wire and Signature Red finished third. Smokey Fire, with Emma-Jayne Wilson up, ran the 6 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:08.49. It was his fourth win in eight starts and first victory in a money-added event. "He's on his way to Kentucky on Tuesday," said winning trainer Sid Attard. "That's it for him this year. We're hoping he's going to be a nice horse next year."

Tribal Belle collared Silver Z at mid-stretch in Sunday's $150,000 (Canadian) Bessarabian Stakes for fillies and mares, then won a battle to the line, scoring by 1/2 length. Smart Surprise was third. Tribal Belle, a 4-year-old, British Columbia-bred Tribunal filly, ran the 7 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:22.29 under James McAleney.

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Turf Paradise

Twin Sparks got quickly to the front in Saturday's $50,000 Caballos Del Sol Handicap and no one could go with the 6-year-old Twining gelding. At the wire, Twin Sparks was first, 11 1/4 lengths ahead of 50-1 longshot Bobadieu. Goin' Dancin was third and the favorite, Mutak Gold, finished last of nine. Twin Sparks, with Luis Medina aboard, ran the 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:06.49 – a North American record time, bettering a 14-year-old mark also set at Turf Paradise. "He felt like he was going that fast," said Medina.

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Beulah Park

Gathering Dreams rated off the pace in Saturday's $55,000 Bobbie Bricker Memorial Handicap for Ohio-bred distaffers, rallied around the final turn and got clear to win by 4 lengths. The odds-on favorite, Indian Ink, had the early lead and held on for second, 2 3/4 lengths better than Sarasponda. Gathering Dreams, a 3-year-old daughter of Mercer Hill, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:46.81 with Luis Gonzalez riding.

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Charles Town

Russell Road, the prohibitive favorite, easily drew clear in the stretch drive to win Saturday night's $50,000 A Huevo Stakes for West Virginia-breds by 9 lengths. Dancin Banker was second and Peaceful Bliss finished third. Russell Road, a 3-year-old Wheaton gelding, finished 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:52.66 under Travis Dunkelberger. Russell Road, who has dominated West Virginia-bred stakes this year, picked up his fifth straight win and 12th in 15 starts. In his last outing, he captured the $450,000 West Virginia Breeders' Classic.

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News and notes:

Gravity Films is planning a movie based on the life of Julie Krone. The film, to be directed by Katherine Brooks, is scheduled to start shooting in April 2010 in New York and Louisiana. Brooks says casting is "under way." It will be interesting to see who plays Krone -- a young Mary Martin with a higher-pitched voice comes to mind. Brooks says the film is titled "Freak," explaining, "Julie is a freak of nature and, although I admire her accomplishments in racing, it is her personal triumphs that drew me to the project. I can't relate to winning a Triple Crown race but I can relate to fighting for an impossible dream."