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Tuesday, October 22, 2002 Contact: Notes Team (847) 385-7472/7473 $1 million NAPA Breeders' Cup Sprint (Grade I) Bonapaw -- James and Dennis Richard's Bonapaw went twice around the Arlington Park track the wrong way accompanied by a pony with trainer Norman Miller up Tuesday morning. Jockey Gerard Melancon, currently riding at Louisiana Downs, is scheduled to arrive Friday for his first appearance in a Breeders' Cup race. Miller has had Bonapaw under his care for more than seven months, beginning with a trip to Dubai for the Golden Shaheen. Since returning to the States, Bonapaw has run four times, and comes into the NAPA Breeders' Cup Sprint on a three-race win streak. "Since his race in Iowa (July 4), his top line has come up, his attitude has changed and he is dappled out," said Miller, who massages Bonapaw for between 60-75 minutes before the gelding's morning training. "You have to know when your horse is right. You read the signs. The old trainers, they never left the barn. They watched them in their stalls, how they stood, how they walk, how they'd eat. You've got to be able to read that." Carson Hollow -- One of three filly contenders for the Sprint, Carson Hollow breezed 5f at Aqueduct on Monday morning in 1:02 2/5. According to her trainer, Richard Dutrow, "She galloped out in 15 and she couldn't be any happier. She walked the shedrow this morning (Tuesday, at Aqueduct) and we won't have to do anything with her once she gets there (Arlington Park) on Wednesday. We'll take her to the track to look around when we get there. We plan to work her on Saturday from the gate," he added tongue-in-cheek, referring to the race itself. For a filly who has led at every call in every one of her races except at the wire in the Test, it wouldn't be irrational for her to be on the early lead on Saturday. "I can see her going to the lead, if she breaks good," said Dutrow. "It looks like a very strong race for speed horses. But it's the break that's going to decide a lot." Crafty C.T. -- Crafty C.T. arrived safely at Arlington Park Tuesday morning after an uneventful flight from California that also brought several other Breeders' Cup contenders, and one trainer. Crafty C.T.'s trainer, Howard Zucker, was the only trainer on the plane. "We shipped fine...boy, this place is cold," said Zucker, who lives in Pasadena, Calif. "Really, the flight was fine and this is my first trip to Arlington. There were a mess of horses on the flight and I was eyeball-to-eyeball with Swept Overboard (a competitor in the Sprint) the whole way. I sat in shavings, read a book, and just spent some time talking to 'Crafty.'" Zucker is a real down-to-earth kind of guy who is not unaccustomed to flying with horses. "The first flight I took was back in the 1970s...it was on a 'prop' plane from Miami to Kentucky. It wasn't as nice as this big jet we just took. That prop plane was just prehistoric," he said. Looking forward to Saturday, Zucker observed, "There's no question that the Sprint is the toughest race on the card. But he (Crafty C.T.) is doing so well. His last race was excellent and it looks like he's peaking at the right time. He had some minor hold-ups during the year, which kept him fresh all year. But now he has some rhythm and this race just fits him right." Day Trader -- One of two horses trained by D. Wayne Lukas to run in the Sprint, Day Trader worked 4f in 49 over a fast track at Churchill Downs on Tuesday morning. "I just want something easy...he just got out of the race at Keeneland (second in the Phoenix Breeders' Cup on Oct. 5)," Lukas said prior to the work. Lukas was en route to Arlington Park Tuesday morning, while Day Trader is due to ship Wednesday. "He's a gifted, natural speed horse," Lukas said. He added that the combination of Day Trader and jockey Pat Day is "absolutely a marriage made in heaven. Day Trader is like two different horses. When we've tried him with other riders, he's not the same horse. You put Pat on him, and he just runs great for Pat. In fact, that was one of the deciding factors to put him in the Sprint." Lukas' "other" Sprint contender is Orientate, the probable favorite in the race. Disturbingthepeace -- The 4yo gelding worked 4f in 47 2/5 breezing on the main track under exercise rider Rhett Fincher. "He looked like he had to work a little to go 47 and change," said trainer Darrell Vienna, acknowledging the deeper track. "At home (Santa Anita), he would have been wrapped up to go 47." Disturbingthepeace has won his last six starts but has not raced since a victory in the Pat O'Brien Handicap at Del Mar Aug. 18. Vienna is not worried about the 10 weeks between races. He recalled running Gilded Time in the 1993 Breeders' Cup Sprint off a year layoff and finishing a creditable third. Vienna is visiting Arlington for the first time since 1992, when he won the Arlington-Washington Futurity with Gilded Time for David Milch, owner of Disturbingthepeace. Gilded Time returned to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and cap an unbeaten year en route to an Eclipse Award. D'wildcat -- Trainer Robert Hess Jr. made it official Tuesday morning: the son of Forest Wildcat, pre-entered in both the Breeders' Cup Sprint and Mile, will not compete Saturday. The 4yo colt developed a fever and missed his first travel option last Saturday. The fever didn't get better and he later developed a cough, also. Kalookan Queen -- The 6yo mare walked in the Bruce Headley barn at Santa Anita Tuesday after working four furlongs Monday. She will be flown here Wednesday from California. "The owner wanted to go; he said it might be his only chance to go to the Breeders' Cup," said Headley, who downplayed the mare's chances of participating after a victory over males in the Ancient Title Breeders' Cup Handicap at Santa Anita Oct. 5. Headley initially thought three weeks might be too little time for the mare to regain top form after the taxing victory. "But she's bounced back well," said Headley, pleasantly surprised by her recent training. Kalookan Queen is owned by Luis Asistio, a native of the Philippines, who named the horse after his hometown of Kalookan. Headley, 67, will make his first visit here in 35 years. "I came here with Trondheim in 1967," recalled the trainer. "He finished second in a race that was a prep for the Arlington-Washington Futurity, but hurt his knee." Kona Gold -- The venerable 8yo gelding will set one record by competing and two others if he wins the Sprint. "He's quite a horse," understated trainer Bruce Headley at Santa Anita Tuesday at the thought of the durable veteran making it to the gate for an unprecedented fifth Breeders' Cup start. Kona Gold would break a tie with four-time starters Affirmed Success, El Senor, Pleasant Tap and Precisionist. Kona Gold would also become the oldest horse to win a Breeders' Cup race and the only two-time Sprint winner with a victory. Former Sprint winners Cardmania and Elmhurst were the oldest Breeders' Cup winners at 7 when they won in 1993 and 1997, respectively. Kona Gold won the Sprint in 2000 en route to an Eclipse Award as champion sprinter after a third-place finish in 1998 and a second-place finish in 1999. Well preserved by Headley, Kona Gold has raced only 25 times, but one of his poorest races was a seventh-place finish in the Breeders' Cup last year. "I'm training the horse up to the race different this year by circumstance," explained Headley. "You can't always follow the same trail. He got bumped around in his last race at Hollywood Park (July 6) and came back body-sore. "He couldn't make the Bing Crosby at Del Mar and I didn't want to run him in the Ancient Title (Oct. 5) so close to the Breeders' Cup," said Headley, who has put a series of bullet works into the veteran during the past six weeks. "He likes to run fresh." Kona Gold walked in the barn Tuesday after working 3f in a bullet 34 Monday. He will be flown here Wednesday. Orientate -- Orientate recorded a 4f bullet work at Churchill Downs on Monday and is due to ship to Arlington Park on Wednesday, along with stablemate and fellow sprinter Day Trader. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas was heading to Chicago Tuesday morning. Lukas has had a presence in every Breeders' Cup since the championship's inception in 1984, but this year equals his lightest year ever with only two runners. He had only two starters in 1993: Stellar Cat and Tabasco Cat. Nevertheless, Lukas is the most dominant trainer in Breeders' Cup history, leading in the number of starters, winners and money won. Among his 16 Breeders' Cup victories, he has notched one win in the Sprint and that was in 1988 with Gulch. Swept Overboard -- Last year's fourth-place finisher in the Breeders' Cup Sprint arrived at Arlington Park about noon on Tuesday for a run at this year's Sprint Saturday. The 5yo roan, trained by Craig Dollase, arrived on a flight from the trainer's Hollywood Park headquarters, and settled into his stall in Barn 24, close by Good Journey, trained by the younger Dollase's father, Wallace. Craig Dollase is expected to arrive on Thursday. In the meantime, his father and sister, Aimee, who is her father's top assistant, will look after the horse. Thunderello -- "We're coming," reported trainer Scott Lake from his Philadelphia Park base. Owner Charles Mady and Lake reached the decision to run the lightly-raced son of Montbrook late Monday. Thunderello galloped Tuesday morning at Philadelphia Park under exercise rider Ronnie Hillis. "Our flight got bumped back to Thursday, so he is going to breeze three-eighths tomorrow," Lake said. Thunderello raced twice as 2yo, placing second in Mayakovsky's track-record effort at Saratoga, and then breaking his maiden by 14 ¼ lengths at Belmont on Sept. 1. "He had a slight tear in a suspensory," said Lake of why the colt was away from the races for year. Touch Tone -- Trainer Ronny Werner, who will be saddling his first Breeders' Cup starters on Saturday, had no trouble coming up with the biggest race of his career to date on Tuesday morning. "The Haskell Invitational," exclaimed Werner. "And, it was with this horse. I felt like a winner. To get that close and to almost get there against the Horse of the Year (Point Given) was great. "We chose the Sprint with him because that's where he's at in his training. He's talented enough and fast enough to be there. We may or may not try to stretch him out after this. "He's going to have to move forward off the Keeneland race (when third behind Xtra Heat in the Phoenix Breeders' Cup Handicap). We were impressed that he came on again at the end. The filly was tough on him and he just needed a breather." Touch Tone, to be ridden by Jorge Chavez, galloped 1 ½ miles at Arlington on Tuesday. Wake At Noon -- The Highlander Handicap winner was en route to Arlington Park on Tuesday and was expected to arrive late afternoon following an 8-to-9 hour van ride from his Woodbine base. "Everything looks fine," said trainer Abraham Katryan. "We'll gallop tomorrow." Jockey Emile Ramsammy has the mount. Xtra Heat -- Trainer John Salzman had his Eclipse Award winning filly out for a "two minute lick" Tuesday morning at Arlington Park. "They're not giving anything away," Salzman said of the complexity of the Sprint. "It's a tough race and once they draw, it'll all be put together, but I'm just tickled to death to run. I'm pleased to be in the race and whatever post we get, I'll be satisfied." The post position draw will take place at Arlington Park on Wednesday morning. When asked about the strategy he'll employ with Xtra Heat on Saturday, Salzman offered: "There's some real speed in there and I don't know how it will set up. Do I think she can make the lead? Yes. Does she need to be on the lead? No. But the million dollars is at the wire and I hope she can get there first. All I can say is that everybody better be tied on." - END - |
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Monday, October 21, 2002 Contact: Notes Team (847) 385-7472/7473 $1 million NAPA Breeders' Cup Sprint (Grade I) Bonapaw -- Dennis and James Richard's Bonapaw galloped twice around the Arlington Park oval the wrong way Monday morning with 168-pound trainer Norman Miller up. Miller said the 6yo gelding would follow the same routine until Friday when he would walk and then go postward Saturday under regular pilot Gerard Melancon, who has ridden Bonapaw in his past 20 starts and 25 times overall. "He's part of the team," Miller said of Melancon, who has ridden Bonapaw to 14 victories, four seconds and two thirds in those 25 starts. Bonapaw has been at Arlington since early July after finishing fourth in the Iowa Sprint at Prairie Meadows. His only sojourn from Arlington was a quick trip to Belmont for his victorious run in the Vosburgh on Sept. 21. Miller said the owners are scheduled to arrive Wednesday, headlining a 22-person contingent for Breeders' Cup day. Carson Hollow -- The highly consistent 3yo daughter of Carson City worked a "bullet" 5f at Aqueduct on Oct. 15 in 58 4/5. She is due to arrive at Arlington Park from New York on Wednesday. Jockey John Velazquez, who has ridden her in each of her six starts, has the mount again on Saturday, according to agent Angel Cordero. Were it not for a nose defeat in the Test at Saratoga, Carson Hollow would be undefeated. She joins Kalookan Queen and Xtra Heat as the only fillies in the race. Fillies and mares to have won the Sprint in the past include Very Subtle in 1987, Safely Kept in 1990 and Desert Stormer in 1995. Crafty C.T. -- Carl T. Grether's Crafty C.T. worked 4f in 46 2/5 -- a "bullet" work out of 32 on the tab -- at Santa Anita on Sunday morning. He is scheduled to fly to Chicago early Tuesday morning along with other California-based Breeders' Cup contenders. Interestingly, trainer Howard Zucker will travel with the horses. Crafty C.T. walked Monday morning at Santa Anita and will walk under tack at Arlington Park on Wednesday morning. Jockey Pat Valenzuela has the mount on Saturday. Day Trader -- One of two horses trained by D. Wayne Lukas to compete in this year's Sprint, Day Trader is scheduled to work 4f on Tuesday at Churchill Downs. The son of Phone Trick galloped there Monday morning and will arrive at Arlington Park by van on Wednesday afternoon. Lukas plans to be at Arlington as early as Tuesday. Pat Day will ride Day Trader on Saturday. Disturbingthepeace -- The 4yo gelding galloped 1 1/8 miles on the main track under exercise rider Rhett Fincher. He is scheduled to work a half-mile Tuesday, according to Scott Chaney, assistant to trainer Darrell Vienna. Victorious in his last six starts, but unraced since August 18, Disturbingthepeace was flown east Saturday from California. "This is his first time out of California, but he acted like he had done it all before," said Chaney of his smooth ship. Jose Salazar is his groom. Victor Espinoza will again be his jockey and Vienna is scheduled to arrive Monday night. Disturbingthepeace will be sold as part of the David Milch dispersal Nov. 3 at Keeneland. D'wildcat -- Plans are still incomplete for the son of Forest Wildcat who is suffering from a cough and a fever, according to trainer Robert Hess Jr. Hess said he will make a decision by Tuesday. Gygistar -- Edward Evans' Gygistar was withdrawn from the Sprint last Saturday because of a deep gash in the colt's left front hoof. Kalookan Queen -- The 6yo mare worked 4f in 46 4/5 at Santa Anita. "She worked great with her regular exercise rider, Zenda Grady," said trainer Bruce Headley. "She was just breezing." A millionaire with victories in 11 of 24 starts, she will be flown from California Wednesday. Mike Smith will ride her for the first time. Kona Gold -- The 8yo gelding showed his readiness for a fifth Breeders' Cup start by working 3f in a bullet 34 at Santa Anita under regular rider Alex Solis. "He was just breezing," said trainer Bruce Headley. "I worked him fast because I want to keep him closer to the pace." Winner of the Sprint two years ago, Kona Gold has started only twice this year -- most recently July 6 -- but has recorded a series of bullet works during the past six weeks. Solis retains the mount on the horse, scheduled to ship east from California Wednesday. Kona Gold was the Eclipse Award-winning sprinter in 2000. "Kona Gold and Kalookan Queen both looked great; no whips; they weren't even breathing hard," concluded Headley. "It looks like I'll be firing from both barrels with the 'King' and the 'Queen.'" My Cousin Matt -- Richard Englander's My Cousin Matt, who was second on the preference list for the Sprint, will not participate Saturday, according to trainer Scott Lake. "He is definitely not coming because he has been sick the past couple of days," said Lake from Philadelphia Park. Orientate -- Widely considered to be the horse to beat in the Sprint after four consecutive victories, Orientate worked 4f in 48 1/5 at Churchill Downs this morning under exercise rider Stacy Maker for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The time tied two others as the quickest works on the 57-horse tab. The colt is due to arrive at Arlington Park by van on Wednesday afternoon with stablemate Day Trader, who will also compete in the Sprint. Jockey Jerry Bailey, who rode the 4-year-old in his last two races, has the mount again on Saturday. Orientate is owned by Robert and Beverly Lewis, who -- despite having great success over the years in major stakes races -- have yet to win a Breeders' Cup race as sole owners. They were partners with Overbrook Farm and Gainesway Stable in owning 1994 Juvenile champion Timber Country, but are otherwise 0-for-8 in Breeders' Cup races. Last year, Orientate ran 12th in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Swept Overboard -- The 5yo son of End Sweep, who finished fourth in the 2001 Breeders' Cup Sprint, will be heading to Arlington Park from California on Tuesday for a Saturday date in this year's Sprint. The big gray owned by J. Paul Reddam, is trained by Craig Dollase, who ranks as the youngest trainer to win a Breeders' Cup race through his victory with Reraise in the 1998 Sprint. Swept Overboard put in his final serious work Saturday at Hollywood Park, running 5f in 59 from the gate with Corey Nakatani in the irons. Nakatani will ride. Thunderello -- Charles Mady's Thunderello galloped Monday morning at Philadelphia Park under exercise rider Carl Keegan, according to trainer Scott Lake. Lake said a decision on Thunderello's Sprint status would likely be determined later Monday. "Mr. Mady and I have been talking about it," Lake said. "The colt has only run five times and the Sprint would be a little like throwing him to the wolves. If we do come, he would ship in Wednesday and then Thursday have him pick it up from the quarter-pole and gallop out past the wire." Edgar Prado would have the call Saturday. Touch Tone -- One of two horses conditioned by debut Breeders' Cup trainer Ronny Werner, walked the shedrow with stablemate Most Feared, who will start in the Juvenile. Touch Tone breezed six furlongs in 1:13 on Saturday at Arlington. "The work was just what we wanted," said Werner. "He was the first of the two to work and I was real pleased until I saw the 2-year-old go. Touch Tone's wasn't quite as good, but it was what we were looking for." The Sprint will only be the second start of the year for Touch Tone, who made a return to the races following a 11-month layoff in Keeneland's Phoenix Breeders' Cup on Oct. 5 where he was third. Last year, he won the Iowa Derby and finished second to Point Given in the Haskell Invitational. Jorge Chavez has the mount in the Sprint for the first time. Wake At Noon -- Winner of Woodbine's Highlander Handicap last time out galloped Monday at his Canadian base and will take the 8 ½-hour van ride from Woodbine to Arlington on Tuesday. Regular rider Emile Ramsammy has the mount. "He's doing great," said trainer Abraham Katryan. "He had his last work a week ago (Oct. 15 at Woodbine) and it was really good. He set fractions of 34, 58 and galloped out in 1:12." Wake At Noon, among one of the most experienced runners in the Sprint with record of 16-5-3 in 34 starts, was officially credited with a bullet three furlongs in 34. Xtra Heat -- The Eclipse Award winning 3-year-old filly of 2001, Xtra Heat, arrived at Arlington Park on Oct. 6, the day after she beat colts in the Phoenix Breeders' Cup at Keeneland. Trainer and co-owner John Salzman, who is based in Maryland, has also been here with his star filly during this time. Salzman says that Xtra Heat will gallop every day up to the race, about 1 ¾ miles each day, and she goes to the track at approximately 7:30 a.m. Jockey Harry Vega, who has ridden her in her last 10 races, retains the mount on Xtra Heat in the Sprint. Salzman is set to attend the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships Media Luncheon at Harry Caray's Restaurant on Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m. and will be available for questions. - END - |
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