QuikSand
01-31-2003, 09:24 AM
Clipped from BRISnet.com, full article here:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/static.cgi?page=edgeframe&header=off
(BRIS makes mention of every horse's sire in parentheses, just in case the convention is new to you)
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ROAD TO THE TRIPLE CROWN
JANUARY 29
by James Scully
There was only one graded event, the LeComte S. (G3), for three-year-olds over Super Bowl weekend. Like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, SAINTLY LOOK (Saintly Ballado) dominated his rivals at Fair Grounds.
. . .
As for Saintly Look, he made his two-turn debut in the one-mile LeComte and rolled to an easy 2 3/4-length score over pacesetter CALL ME LEFTY (Aggie Southpaw). The Dallas Stewart-trained colt earned a 96 BRIS Speed rating and has now won three of his last four starts, including the Sugar Bowl S. in his final start at two.
Owner Bill Carl tried to sell Saintly Look at two different sales, but the dark bay failed to meet his reserve each time. Now a multiple stakes winner, Saintly Look is worth a considerable amount as a promising Kentucky Derby (G1) candidate.
MOST FEARED (Commanchero) was favored at 8-5 but raced wide before spitting the bit in a 10th-place finish. Grade 3 winner LONE STAR SKY (Conquistador Cielo) also didn't fire, finishing seventh. The former appeared capable of much better based on his efforts in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2).
Trainer Bob Baffert made headlines last week by announcing that Mike Smith was off both champion VINDICATION (Seattle Slew) and the filly COMPOSURE (Touch Gold). Baffert didn't give any reason for the split with Smith. He named Jerry Bailey to ride both.
Bailey is also the rider of EMPIRE MAKER (Unbridled) and now has the mount on two of the leading Kentucky Derby (G1) candidates, but it's not a disadvantage to have too many Triple Crown contenders early in the season. A two-time Derby winner, Bailey was in a similar spot last year as the rider of both Repent (Louis Quatorze) and Siphonic, and neither made the Derby.
TOCCET (Awesome Again) has been sidelined due to ankle trouble. He'll apparently need at least 30 days of rest and will miss both the Fountain of Youth S. (G1) and Florida Derby (G1), but the multiple Grade 1 winner could still return for the Wood Memorial S. (G1) on April 12 and then go right to the Derby.
Owner Daniel Borislow and trainer John Scanlan both expressed confidence that Toccet would have enough bottom to win the Derby off only one prep race this year, but history doesn't support that scenario. As Point Given showed in 2001 (with only two preps that year beforehand), any horse with less than three preps at three is a golden bet-against opportunity at Churchill Downs. Only once in the last 50 years has a horse had two preps and still won the Derby (Sunny's Halo in 1983 had two). It's one of the strongest trends.
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/static.cgi?page=edgeframe&header=off
(BRIS makes mention of every horse's sire in parentheses, just in case the convention is new to you)
- - -
ROAD TO THE TRIPLE CROWN
JANUARY 29
by James Scully
There was only one graded event, the LeComte S. (G3), for three-year-olds over Super Bowl weekend. Like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, SAINTLY LOOK (Saintly Ballado) dominated his rivals at Fair Grounds.
. . .
As for Saintly Look, he made his two-turn debut in the one-mile LeComte and rolled to an easy 2 3/4-length score over pacesetter CALL ME LEFTY (Aggie Southpaw). The Dallas Stewart-trained colt earned a 96 BRIS Speed rating and has now won three of his last four starts, including the Sugar Bowl S. in his final start at two.
Owner Bill Carl tried to sell Saintly Look at two different sales, but the dark bay failed to meet his reserve each time. Now a multiple stakes winner, Saintly Look is worth a considerable amount as a promising Kentucky Derby (G1) candidate.
MOST FEARED (Commanchero) was favored at 8-5 but raced wide before spitting the bit in a 10th-place finish. Grade 3 winner LONE STAR SKY (Conquistador Cielo) also didn't fire, finishing seventh. The former appeared capable of much better based on his efforts in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2).
Trainer Bob Baffert made headlines last week by announcing that Mike Smith was off both champion VINDICATION (Seattle Slew) and the filly COMPOSURE (Touch Gold). Baffert didn't give any reason for the split with Smith. He named Jerry Bailey to ride both.
Bailey is also the rider of EMPIRE MAKER (Unbridled) and now has the mount on two of the leading Kentucky Derby (G1) candidates, but it's not a disadvantage to have too many Triple Crown contenders early in the season. A two-time Derby winner, Bailey was in a similar spot last year as the rider of both Repent (Louis Quatorze) and Siphonic, and neither made the Derby.
TOCCET (Awesome Again) has been sidelined due to ankle trouble. He'll apparently need at least 30 days of rest and will miss both the Fountain of Youth S. (G1) and Florida Derby (G1), but the multiple Grade 1 winner could still return for the Wood Memorial S. (G1) on April 12 and then go right to the Derby.
Owner Daniel Borislow and trainer John Scanlan both expressed confidence that Toccet would have enough bottom to win the Derby off only one prep race this year, but history doesn't support that scenario. As Point Given showed in 2001 (with only two preps that year beforehand), any horse with less than three preps at three is a golden bet-against opportunity at Churchill Downs. Only once in the last 50 years has a horse had two preps and still won the Derby (Sunny's Halo in 1983 had two). It's one of the strongest trends.