Sunday, November 14, 2010
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AQUEDUCT RACETRACK NOTES
- Souper Spectacular, a half-brother to Zenyatta, earns his third straight score
- Friend Or Foe pointing for Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile
- Ribaudo eyes G2 Top Flight for Qualia; Grand Couturier off to stud
- Bribon works toward G1 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile, Awesome Maria breezes for G1 Gazelle; Pletcher well-represented during HolidayFest
- Field coming together for G3 Discovery
Looking to remain unbeaten on the turf, Souper Spectacular raced outside of horses in third through six furlongs in 1:13.22, came under a drive turning for home, and dug in to hold off Carson Hall, who finished a head in front of third-place
"Ultimately I think this horse is going to be better-suited going a mile and an eighth and beyond," said Seth Benzel, who trains Souper Spectacular for Live Oak Plantation. "I thought this race would challenge him. Not only did he go up against a nice group of horses, but he also had to deal with tight turns and a distance that was a little short for him. I think all of that made him dig deep and step out of his comfort zone."
After opening his career with a fourth and a sixth on the dirt, Souper Spectacular broke his maiden by two lengths on the grass at
"With him being by
Immediate plans for Souper Spectacular, purchased for $1.15 million as a yearling, are nebulous, but Benzel believes bigger things are to come for the 3-year-old chestnut colt.
"We find ourselves with a horse who has put three strong performances together," said Benzel. "At the same time I think we are still dealing with his maturity and his development. I think this horse next year is going to take us to some pretty nice races, so we just have to get him back to the barn and make sure he comes out of it healthy, and then we'll look at what's out there."
In addition to Zenyatta, Souper Spectacular is a half-brother to Balance, a three-time Grade 1 winner whose first foal sold for $4.2 million as a yearling at Keeneland this September.
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The son of
"He's a happy camper," said trainer John Kimmel. "I would have to say that he came out of the Empire Classic probably the best he's ever come out of a race. Attitude-wise he was right back into the feed tub, very solid on the racetrack and it actually looks to me like he might have put some weight on after the race. His work yesterday was very pleasing to watch. He set off kind, and when he came back wouldn't have blown out a match. He's very sharp right now, so we'll come back [and work] next weekend with a couple of days to play with if we get some inclement weather, and then we'll have a date on the 27th."
Undefeated in his first three starts including a 2 ½-length win over fellow New York-breds in the Mike Lee on June 20 at Belmont, Friend Or Foe next stepped into open company, finishing a solid fourth in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy on July 31 at Saratoga, then ran sixth in the Grade 1 Travers following a troubled trip.
Sidelined by an infection after the August 28 Travers, Friend Or Foe made a triumphant comeback in the Empire Classic on October 23, winning by five lengths to earn himself another chance in graded company.
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Although trainer Bobby Ribaudo has nominated Marc Keller's Qualia to both the Grade 3 Fall Highweight at six furlongs on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, and the Grade 2 Top Flight the following day, he indicated the 4-year-old Saarland filly would most likely start in that Friday's one-mile race for fillies and mares.
"She's kind of between both those distances," said Ribaudo, "but we're thinking the Top Flight. We'll keep an eye on the other race, in case something develops."
Qualia began 2010 with three straight allowance victories and then finished a nose behind Rightly So in the Grade 3 Bed o'Roses at
"We kind of zigged and zagged," said Ribaudo. "Hopefully, she'll run well. You worry a bit about her being past [her] peak as she's been ready for the last three weeks."
Last Thursday, Ribaudo bade farewell to a horse who has been a fixture in his barn for the past four years – multiple Grade 1 winner Grand Couturier, who will stand at stud in
"He'll be going to Darby Dan Farm for a 30-day quarantine period, and go to France from there," said Ribaudo of the 7-year-old son of Grand Lodge, who won the 2007 and 2008 editions of the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga Race Course and the 2008 Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational. "He was my first stop every morning for four years at the barn."
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Grade 3 Bold Ruler winner Bribon worked a half-mile Sunday morning in 47.23 over
"Bribon seems to be in really good form," said trainer Todd Pletcher of the 7-year-old Mark of Esteem gelding. "He had a very good work this morning."
Pletcher will be well-represented in the HolidayFest stakes; in addition to Bribon, he will saddle Riskaverse winner Awesome Maria in the Grade 1 Gazelle, Tap for Luck and Summer Laugh in the Grade 2 Demoiselle, Curlinello in the Grade 2 Remsen, all on Saturday, and Go Go Shoot in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight on Thursday.
Awesome Maria made her first start as a 3-year-old in winning the Riskaverse on the turf at Saratoga Race Course, and subsequently finished third behind Havre de Grace and Blind Luck in the Grade 2 Fitz Cotillion at Parx Racing and fourth as the favorite in an overnight turf stakes at
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Saturday's 66th renewal of the Grade 3 Discovery Handicap, 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds, is expected to draw Al Muhtasib, Dominant Jeannes, Golden Moka, Overcommunication, Stormy's Majesty and Teaks North. Cactus Charlie was listed as possible.
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