Horse Racing Weelend Preview: Creative Cause Returns; Half Sister to Havre de Grace Born

As usual in January and February, my Horse Racing previews are focused mostly on Gulfstream Park in Florida and Santa Anita in California. I mean, the weather and quality of the meets dictate that and, for the most part, I’m ok with it. But once in a while I feel like a ping pong ball. Over the last three weeks we’ve gone from Gulfstream Park to Santa Anita, back to Gulfstream and this week back to Santa Anita where we will be taking a closer look at the 2012 San Vincente Stakes which features Kentucky Derby hopeful Creative Cause

With the exception of several hiccups thru the years, the San Vicente has been run every year since 1935. The great filly Busher (1945) was the first name to jump out at me while looking thru the list of past winners. Busher won four championships in just two years while winning 15 of 21 starts overall. She was elected into the racing hall of fame in 1964. Another hall of fame horse Swaps, with the great Bill Shoemaker aboard, won it in 1955. Lucky Debonair, who went on to win the Kentucky Derby, won it in 1965. Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Majestic Prince won the 1969 running, yet another hall of famer Ancient Title won the race in 1972. Flying Paster, the poor talented bastard who got stuck chasing the great Spectacular Bid around racetracks, won it in 1979.

Fast forward to 1995 where Afternoon Deelites, of who jockey Kent Desormeaux called “the fastest horse I’ve ever ridden” (which speaks volumes) won it. Another Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Silver Charm won the 1997 renewal and more recently Sidney’s Candy won this race in 2010, while the wickedly fast The Factor won it last year after scorching the seven furlong distance in 1:20.1.

Before we take a look at this years running lets first take a look at action elsewhere in the sport. Albeit, its being run on Monday and the field (or fields this year) have not been drawn yet, Oaklawn Park is running the $250,000 Southwest Stakes. An eye popping 21 horses are listed as possible, so Oaklawn Park officials may not have a choice but to “split”the field.

“There’s a strong possibility of splitting, depending on how many go,” said Pat Pope, the racing secretary at Oaklawn. “There’s got to be two strong fields to consider it”.

“I’m real excited. I can’t remember when this was done, in a long, long time, to have this kind of stature of race, with this kind of field, looking at a split.”

Either way, Secret Circle, winner of the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint, figures to be the main player on Monday.

The other race I wanted to point out that bears some watching is the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields. The race will be spearheaded by California Derby and Gold Rush Stakes winner Russian Greek, who worked six furlongs in 1:16.2 for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer last Thursday. Jockey Aaron Gryder said Russian Greek was “very aggressive working by himself”, but added, “He galloped out strong and he’s doing great.”

 

Santa Anita Park – February 19, 2012

 

Race 7 – 3:36 PM

San Vicente Stakes

Purse $150,000. For Three-Year-Olds

Seven Furlongs

 

PP	Horse	A/S	Med	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer
1	Let’s Get Crackin	3/G	L	V Espinoza	118	C Dollase
2	Creative Cause	3/C	L	J Rosario	123	M Harrington
3	Drill	3/C	L	M Garcia	123	B Baffert
4	Smoking G	3/G	L	C Nakatani	118	P Miller
5	American Act	3/G	L	M Pedroza	118	J Carava
6	Captain Obvious	3/C	L	M Gutierrez	118	B D Cecil

 

Analysis:

1) Creative Cause- makes his three year old debut and looks to have picked a good spot. This grey colt by super sire Giant’s Causeway is ranked #1 in the great Steve Haskin’s Kentucky Derby list and that, readers, speak volumes. Big work on January 22 (6F- 1:11.3). On paper, he towers over this field.

2) Smoking G- think they named this horse after me? ..I doubt it, but it is fitting (just kidding) Anyway, this horse broke his maiden by coming off a scorching early pace and didn’t slow down as his final time of 1:12.1 for six and a half furlongs is mind boggling fast. Was that just a “freak” performance (a one hit wonder) or his coming out party? We’ll find out more on Saturday afternoon.

3) Captain Obvious- broke poorly in US debut back in a November stakes race at Hollywood but still only finished 6+ lengths behind the highly touted Liaison. He shows two good races out of three in Ireland before than…..chance vs. these.

Honorable Mentions: Drill showed some ability last year but hasn’t been the same since November. If he bounces back to last year’s form he could be formidable. American Act wired maidens thru fast fractions in his last but steps up and stretches out. He also has a chance especially if he’s left alone on the early lead.

 

 

Little Bets N’ Pieces:

 

*** 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom will make his 2012 debut in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race on the turf Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The champion three year old colt of last year will use this race a prep for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 31.

“Gulfstream management was anxious to have him run there, and they have been extremely accommodating and a huge help with his training at Palm Meadows,” said trainer Graham Motion “We wouldn’t have gotten where we are now with him without their help, and I felt some amount of gratitude when it came to making a decision regarding his return. I also believe that having a race six weeks out from the World Cup instead of five is the optimum time for a prep (race)”

 

*** A half sister to 2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace was born February 15 at Mill Ridge Farm near Lexington. She is a dark bay/brown filly by back to back Breeders Cup Classic winner Tiznow.  

 

*** Speaking of Havre de Grace, the Saint Liam mare breezed a half mile in :48 3/5 this past Wednesday at Fair Grounds Race, her second published workout in advance of her 2012 debut.

The 5-year-old recorded splits of :12 3/5, :24 2/5, and :36 1/5, as galloped out five furlongs in 1:04 2/5.

“She pulled up really good and she’s moving forward nicely,” trainer Larry Jones said. “She’ll get ready real quick. It won’t take her long.”

 

*** My Adonis, who made up some 10 lengths in the last quarter mile of the Holy Bull Stakes, will be entered in the Gotham Mile at Aqueduct in New York where he will face 2011 two year old champion Hansen.

“I think he’s a top horse,” trainer Kelly Breen said of My Adonis. “We’ve worked him with Ruler On Ice and Pants On Fire and he’s always gone head and head with them.”….that’s a pretty strong statement.

 

*** Toby’s Corner, who was last seen knocking off 2010 two year old champion Uncle Mo in the Wood Memorial, makes his comeback in the $200,000 General George Handicap Monday at Laurel Park.

“I am very excited but also a little apprehensive because this is a tough spot for his return,” trainer Graham Motion said. “He is the high weight (121 pounds) but at the same time he has run well atLaureland I love the distance. There are pros and cons to coming back in the General George, but the pros outweigh the cons.”