UPI Thoroughbred Racing Roundup

It appears the sky is the limit for Orfevre, the Japanese Triple Crown winner who wrapped up his season Sunday with a convincing win over older foes.

The 3-year-old Stay Gold colt rallied along the outside from well back, into a slow pace, to defeat a star-studded field in the $5.4 million, Group 1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama. Eishin Flash was second, 3/4 length back, and To Glory took third.

The venerable Buena Vista, upset winner of the Japan Cup, was unable to deliver a winning rally and settled for seventh in a final race before retirement. This year's Dubai World Cup winner, Victoire Pisa, raced near the front but then faded to get home eighth.

Thirteen started in the 2,500-meter event, run over firm turf, after the late defection of Pelusa. Orfevre finished in 2:36.0 with Kenichi Ikezoe up for trainer Yasutoshi Ikee.

Orfevre now has won five straight races and looks to be a formidable presence on any international stage as the calendar turns into 2012. And Ikee sounds ready to take up that challenge with gusto.

Ikee said he was somewhat concerned that Orfevre had lost some weight between his latest previous win, the Kikuka Sho, and his arrival at Nakayama. "But I lost all doubts after seeting how he was with my own eyes," the trainer said. "He was off slow and traveled on the rail but the jockey was able to steer him out in the backstretch and I knew then that he would get the job done.

"As I've said before, we are aiming for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but are also examining the possibilities of racing him in Dubai in March," Ikee added.

Let's put that on the 2012 wish list alongside Australia's champion sprinter, Black Caviar, finally traveling across the water to compete at Royal Ascot as international racing continues to showcase the sport to new and expanded audiences.

Elsewhere, steeplechase fans had some top racing during the weekend in Japan and England. But, as the bartender "Moustache" said repeatedly in the movie "Irma La Douce," "That's another story." The action was thin in stakes-level flat racing.

Gulfstream Park

Frolic's Revenge engaged pacesetter Ready Signal a furlong out in Saturday's $60,000 Ginger Brew Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, then won the battle to the wire by a neck. Ann of the Dance was steadied early and clipped heels moving into the stretch turn but still got up for third, another 1/2 length back. Frolic's Revenge, a Kentucky-bred Vindication filly out of the Summer Squall mare Stormy Frolic, ran the 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:42.84 for jockey Paco Lopez. She finished ninth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile fillies and was making her turf debut. Trainer Milt Wolfson said the Breeders' Cup "is just a throw out. She never had a chance to get in it," he warned before the race. After the win, he marveled, "I couldn't believe she was that big a price (16-1). If you looked at all her figures she was right on par with the others. The only thing was that she'd never been on grass." Now, he said, his options are open for Frolic's Revenge's 3-year-old season.

Sunland Park

Twelve Twenty Two came widest of all down the stretch and was up in time to win Friday's $50,000 Bold Ego Handicap for fillies and mares by a neck as the odds-on favorite. Squiggle just missed and the pacesetter, D'Elegance, finished another 2 lengths back in third. Twelve Twenty Two, a 6-year-old, Florida-bred Kafwain mare, ran the 5 1/2 furlongs over a fast track in 1:03.91. Enrique Gomez rode for trainer Henry Dominguez. Dominguez claimed the mare last December at Hollywood Park for $25,000. She reeled off four straight races at Sunland early this year, culminating in a victory in the Harry Henson Handicap on March 27, then finished seventh in a noble experiment in the Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs on May 7. She had been idle since that event.

Just sayin'

Thunder Moccasin won at first asking Saturday at Gulfstream Park, leading all the way, drawing clear at the end and finishing 6 1/2 furlongs in a quite respectable 1:15.81. Todd Pletcher trains the son of A.P. Warrior out of the Storm Cat mare One Stormy Mama so he probably will get better chances.

Tizanexpense (a perfect name for a racehorse!) looked like he might be worth it in a Friday allowance race at Fair Grounds. Leading all the way, he was hooked by Major Hope in the stretch run and held on for the win by a nose even though his rider lost his whip in the heat of battle. Tizanexpense, by Tiznow out of the Deputy Minister mare Rezister, got the 1 mile and 70 yards in the off-the-turf event in 1:44.40. Mike Maker trains.

News and notes

Speaking of international racing, 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, injured at the start of the Belmont Stakes and out of action ever since, is working back toward racing and pointing toward the Dubai World Cup three months down the road. The Blood-Horse reports the Leroidesanimaux colt worked 3 furlongs in 38 seconds on Friday at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland for trainer Graham Motion. Motion said he hopes to have a race either in Florida or at Meydan before the March 31 World Cup. "It's all up to the colt and how quickly he gets himself into shape," Motion said. "He is a big horse and he grew during his layoff."

Lentenor, the younger full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, rallied through the stretch to win a 1 1/16-mile turf event Friday at Tampa Bay Downs. It was the third win in 12 career starts for the son of Dynaformer and his first since July 31. All the wins have come on the grass. Winning trainer Leigh Delacour said she expects to keep Lentenor on the turf. "The parts came together today," Delacour said.