Tue Aug 28 19:44:52 2007

Comment | Email | Print

Summer racing coming to an end

---

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The 2007 summer racing season is coming to a close, and several new names appeared along side the established ones. The three major summer meets, Saratoga, Del Mar and Arlington, provided exciting contests and dramatic finishes.

At Del Mar the meet's premier race, the $1 million Pacific Classic, was captured by longshot Student Council. Sent off as a 23-1 outsider in the 12 horse field, Student Council used a stalking run to take the 1 1/4 mile race.

Run for the first time on the new all-weather surface at Del Mar, the Pacific Classic was covered in the very slow time of 2:07.29. It goes down as a stakes and track record due to the new racing surface.

Student Council, ridden by Richard Migliore, gained entry into the Breeders' Cup Classic through the "Win and You're In" program of the Breeders' Cup Challenge.

Defending champ Lava Man failed in the race, which would have given him a second sweep of Southern California's three major handicap races, Santa Anita Derby, Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic. He finished sixth in a rare defeat.

"He tried hard, but he was struggling a bit out there," said jockey Corey Nakatani. "He wasnt really getting the track." Lava Man won the Hollywood Gold Cup on a different type of all-weather surface.

Trainer Vladimir Cerin is undetermined on the next start for Student Council. He could keep the five-year-old in California and run in the Goodwood Handicap at Santa Anita or head east for the Jockey Club Gold Cup on the dirt at Belmont Park.

At Saratoga Race Course Lawyer Ron reestablished his prominence in the handicap division. The four-year-old took the Whitney Handicap after losses in the Mel Mile and Salvatore Mile. The victory was also worth an automatic spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense won both major stakes for three-year-olds. After a decisive triumph in the Jim Dandy Stakes, the colt needed all he had to fend off Grasshopper in the $1 million Travers Stakes.

"I never worry about where Calvins going to have him," trainer Carl Nafzger said of jockey Calvin Borel. "Thats Calvins business. When I saw where he was and saw the pace setting up slow, I knew Calvin had him right where he had to be. Thats one of Calvins fortes, how to read a pace. I think when we drew the 4-hole, it automatically set up. Its like I tell Calvin, You enjoy riding the horse. This horse has taken us here. Have fun and ride your race.

With the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic the goal, Nafzger is looking at a variety of races for Street Sense. They are the $500,000, 1 1/8 mile Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs on September 22; $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on September 29; Belmont Parks $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on September 20 and the $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic at 1 1/8 miles at Turfway Park on September 29.

"I always look to a target race," Nafzger said. "Get a good solid race and come back in a major race. I train to win, but I dont like to be 110% and then try to bounce him back. I look to races to take them another step. Whatever race Im running in, Im always thinking about the next race."

If the colt runs in the Kentucky Cup Classic he will take on Hard Spun again. Hard Spun was second in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness Stakes behind winner Curlin and runner-up Street Sense.

Owner Rick Porter announced that Hard Spun, trained by Larry Jones, will go in Turfway Park stakes following his tough win in the seven-furlong King's Bishop.

Arlington Park's signature race, the Arlington Million, was won by Canadian- bred Jambalaya. Jockey Robby Albarado guided the five-year-old past defending champ The Tin Man in the 1 1/4 mile turf race.

"(The trainer) gave me very specific instructions," said Albarado. "I figured Id try to stay close behind The Tin Man. (Jambalaya) let me have my way, and at every point in the race he was there for me. Hes a great ride and Im proud of him. It has always been one of my goals to win the Arlington Million and now Ive accomplished that goal."

Also part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" program, the Arlington Million victory moved Jambalaya into the Breeders' Cup Turf on Saturday, October 27 at Monmouth Park.

"Jambalaya will get a little bit of a break now," noted trainer Catherine Day Phillips. "He will ship back to Toronto, and after a few days we will begin to make future plans for him. But today, the sun is shining and we all have big smiles on our faces."

However, we are still waiting for Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches to return to the races. The filly has been held out of competition with health concerns. Twice this summer she has come down with a fever that prevented her from starting in the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama Stakes.

Trainer Todd Pletcher was hoping she would run in the September 8 Ruffian Stakes at Belmont Park. The back-up plan is for Rags to Riches to go in the Gazelle at Belmont the following week. The ultimate goal is to have the three- year-old start in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.