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LADIES CLASSIC
Last Updated Nov. 3, 2009
Entries Connections and Other Information Trainer, Owner, Breeder, Breeding, Dosage, Age Recent Past Performances Post-Race Comments from Trainers, Jockeys How They Ran, Times, Lengths, Other Info; Workouts Reports written or compiled and edited from track, NTRA and other notes by Dick Downey. Unless otherwise noted, all races on synthetic track or fast dirt. Arlington Park, Del Mar, Hollywood Park, Keeneland, Presque Isle Downs, Santa Anita, Turfway Park and Woodbine races are on synthetic main track unless turf is noted.
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Ladies' Classic
Purse: $2,000,000 Distance: 1 1/8 Mile Surface: Synthetic LADIES CLASSIC ENTRIES
Click to go; click back to return CARELESS JEWEL COCOA BEACH LETHAL HEAT LIFE IS SWEET MUSHKA MUSIC NOTE PROVISO RAINBOW VIEW CARELESS JEWEL (KY) Trainer: Josie Carroll Owner: Donver Stable Breeder: Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd. & Bill Andrade Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Tapit (Pulpit, Tap Your Heels) Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Sweet and Careless (Hennessy, Not So Careless) Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 4-6-7-1-0 (18) 3.00 Age: 3 Purchased for $40,000 at the 2007 September Keeneland yearling sale, Careless Jewel finished third in her first start at Keeneland on April 5, and then took a pair of races at her home track of Woodbine before overwhelming five rivals at odds of 10-1 in the Grade II Delaware Oaks on July 18, her first start on dirt. She won that one by 7 1/4 lengths. Aug. 22, Grade I Alabama Stakes, Saratoga, 1 1/4 Mile. She acted up before the race. Then she put the rest of this field to shame. Canadian invader Careless Jewel, the close second choice at 5-2, took command on the far turn and drew off to a commanding 11-length victory over favored Milwaukee Appeal. She hit the finish line in 2:03.24 on a track rated good. After some pre-race antics that briefly dislodged jockey Robert Landry during the post parade--and some racing trouble after the gate opened--the 3-year-old relaxed well off early fractions of :23.33, :47.35 and 1:12.14 set by Be Fair, then grabbed the lead midway around the turn before kicking clear of her seven rivals. Milwaukee Appeal, another Canadian-based filly who was second to colts in two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, held on for second, 3 3/4 lengths in front of Casanova Move. Completing the order of finish were Sweet and Flawless, Don’t Forget Gil, Be Fair, Wynning Ride, and Funny Moon. Careless Jewel broke sharply but was pushed toward the rail by Be Fair, who bore in at the start, and then was pinned inside by Don’t Forget Gil and Funny Moon. When the field entered the first turn, Be Fair cut to the rail and Careless Jewel took up sharply behind her. Her winning margin was the third-largest in the 129-year history of the race. Olitipa holds the record, 20 lengths in 1895. In 1976, Optimistic Gal won the race by 16 lengths. Josie Carroll: “It doesn’t get better that that. The one thing about this filly, she’s made the lead, and she’s kicked on, and I think it’s very special when a horse can make pace and kick on. That gave us a lot of confidence. "She’s been a filly that’s been on the lead, but she’s been starting to relax more and more, and we thought that if she had to (sit off the pace), she could, and fortunately we were right. "There was a lot of jostling in there, and I got really concerned – I thought she was going to get dropped into that first turn and I think Robert did a great job with her. He got her outside and got her settled." Robert Landry: “When they can overcome (pre-race antics) and win the way she did, she’s a pretty special filly. I think the crowd had something to do with it – she’s not used to this many people, which is great because I’m sure the Breeder’s Cup will have a bunch of people, and hopefully she can end up there.” Oct. 3, Grade II Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes, Philadelphia Park, 1 1/16 Mile. As expected at 3-10 odds, Careless Jewel won by 3 1/2 lengths. She did it on the lead, and was timed in 1:41.40 after setting fractions of :22.93, :45.72, 1:09.34 and 1:34.71. She was followed by Bon Jovi Girl, Key Lime Baby, Just Jenda, Cat Moves and Mary's Follies in this $750,000 race. The chart call: Careless Jewel "drifted out while drawing clear early, moved four wide while clear on the first turn, was straightened out and maintained her advantage off the inside, drifted out again near the quarter pole and was never threatened while kept to pressure in the final furlong." COCOA BEACH (CHI) Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor Owner: Godolphin Racing Breeder: Haras La Obra Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Doneraile Court (Seattle Slew, Sophisticated Girl) Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Visionera (CHI) (Edgy Diplomat, Spray (CHI)) Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 4-2-8-0-0 (14) 2.50 Age: 5 Cocoa Beach finished second in the 2008 Ladies' Classic. Aug. 5, De La Rose Stakes, Saratoga, One Mile (T). Making her second start off a long layoff, Cocoa Beach, a two-time Grade I winner in 2008, made a nice comeback. Sent off as the heavy favorite along with coupled entry Skylighter in the field of nine, Cocoa Beach settled off of early fractions of :23.14 and :45.92 set by Lucky Copy. Four wide into the turn, the 5-year-old mare challenged My Baby Baby in the stretch to finish first by a neck on firm ground in 1:34.95. She won for the third time in as many starts on grass and ran her overall record to 10-2-1 from 14 starts. Rick Mettee, North American racing manager for Godolphin and assistant to trainer Saeed bin Suroor. “I was a little bit worried because she did shift in. Ramon said it looked worse than it really was. She started laying in a little bit turning for home. She did the same thing in the mud the other day. Once she straightened out on the right lead, she went pretty straight. I think it was a pretty good race. “We can do a lot of things with her off this. She can stay on the grass. She can go on the dirt. She can go on the PolyTrack. She can do a lot of things.” Oct. 10, Grade I Lady's Secret, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 Mile. After bobbling at the start, Cocoa Beach finished third, beaten 1 1/2 length by Zenyatta. Zenyatta won for the thirteenth time in as many starts, and, according to her jockey, she was in low gear the entire duration of the race. While longshot Briecat made the lead in crawling fractions of :25.06 and :49.58 in the 1 1/16-mile race, Mike Smith and Zenyatta sat back in sixth place in the field of seven fillies and mares. She was content to maintain that position heading into the second turn. Meanwhile Cocoa Beach sat in fourth in the early going, advance to third, then was fifth with a furlong to go. Smith moved her to the rail while she began to gear up--to third of 10 gears, according to Smith--and then he swung her out for a clear run down the stretch. Zenyatta moved into fourth gear, according to Smith, while Smith watched Lethal Heat and Cocoa Beach run toward her in vain. Cocoa Beach finished well between horses, but she just couldn't get to the winner. Winning with ease, Zenyatta finished the race in 1:42.89. LETHAL HEAT (CA) Trainer: Barry Abrams Owner: Barry Abrams, M. Auerbach, LLC & Ron McCauley Breeder: David Abrams, Madeline Auerbach & Tom Roberts Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Unusual Heat (Nureyev, Rossard (DEN) Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Lethal Leta (Synastry, Tiptopper) Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 6-2-16-0-0 (24) 2.00 Age: 4 Trainer Abrams said on Oct. 12 that he wanted to race Lethal Heat in both the Ladies Classic and the Turf Sprint. She has has a unusual career racing at different distances on different surfaces, with an overall record of six wins, three seconds and five thirds in 16 starts. In 2009, Lethal Heat's accomplishments include a second to Zenyatta in her most recent race, the 1 1/16 mile, Grade I Lady's Secret, a second in the Grade II Palomar going 1 1/16 mile on turf, and a second in the Cal Cup Classic. She finished third to Zenyatta in the Grade I Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar, third in the Grade II Del Mar Mile and third in the Grade III Monrovia Handicap on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita early in 2009. LIFE IS SWEET (KY) Trainer: John Shirreffs Owner: Pam and Martin Wygod Breeder: Pam and Martin Wygod Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Storm Cat (Storm Bird (CAN), Terlingua) Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Sweet Life (Kris S, Symbolically) Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 3-4-10-1-0 (18) 2.00 Age: 4 July 11, Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup, Hollywood Park, 1 1/4 Mile. She finished third after being way back in the early going. Rail Trip, given a perfect stalking trip by Jose Valdivia Jr., overhauled pacesetter Tres Borrachos on the turn for home and drew off to post a three-length victory at 9-1 odds. It was a Cushion Track record of 2:00.75 under 116 pounds to top 12 rivals. Tres Borrachos, (23-1) ridden by Joseph Talamo, finished 4 3/4 lengths clear of the late-rallying Life Is Sweet (3-1). Defending champion Mast Track (14-1) was prominent throughout and finished fourth, followed by favorite Parading (2-1) in fifth and Californian winner Informed (12-1) in sixth. Life Is Sweet, a stablemate of Zenyatta, ran in the Gold Cup rather than tangle with Zenyatta again in the Vanity a week before. Twelfth of 13 on the backstretch, she rallied from eleventh in the final furlong. Garrett Gomez, jockey: “She ran okay. I still believe she doesn’t handle this race track as well as she does Santa Anita’s. At the half-mile pole, I was actually losing ground. They wanted me to make one run, take my time with her, and that’s what I did. Usually she’s taking me to them, but in her two races here, halfway through the race she was off the bridle.” Aug. 9, Grade I Clement L. Hirsch Handicap, Del Mar, 1 1/16 Mile. Life Is Sweet, the second betting choice at 4-1, finished fourth and lost to 1-5 Zenyatta by 4 1/4 lengths. Garrett Gomez said of her effort: “I had her in a striking spot turning for home, but she just didn’t have another gear today. No excuses. We just got outrun late.” Oct. 10, Grade I Lady's Secret, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 Mile. Life Is Sweet finished fourth. She was reserved, last of seventh, through six furlongs, but the up-front fractions were slow, and unlike her stable mate Zenyatta, she couldn't overcome that. Zenyatta won for the thirteenth time in as many starts, and, according to her jockey, she was in low gear the entire duration of the race. While longshot Briecat made the lead in crawling fractions of :25.06 and :49.58 in the 1 1/16-mile race, Mike Smith and Zenyatta sat back in sixth place in the field of seven fillies and mares. She was content to maintain that position heading into the second turn. Meanwhile Cocoa Beach sat in fourth in the early going, advance to third, then was fifth with a furlong to go. Smith moved her to the rail while she began to gear up--to third of 10 gears, according to Smith--and then he swung her out for a clear run down the stretch. Zenyatta moved into fourth gear, according to Smith, while Smith watched Lethal Heat and Cocoa Beach run toward her in vain. Cocoa Beach finished well between horses, but she just couldn't get to the winner. Winning with ease, Zenyatta finished the race in 1:42.89. MUSHKA (KY) Trainer: Bill Mott Owner: Brushwood Stables Breeder: Diane Snowden Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Empire Maker (Unbridled, Toussaud) Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Sluice (Seeking the Gold, Lakeway) Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 13-6-13-0-2 (34) 3.00 Age: 4 Mushka was purchased for $2.4M in the Keeneland November 2008 Sale. Highlights of 2009 include a win in the Grade III Glen Falls Handicap, a second in the Grade II Sheepshead Bay Stakes and the Grade III Suwannee River Stakes, and a third in the Grade II Dance Smartly Stakes in Canada. Oct. 11, Grade I Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, Keeneland, 1 1/8 Mile. Mushka won via the disqualificaton of Proviso, who ducked out in Mushka's path in the stretch as she was attempting to pass Proviso on the outside. Kent Desormeaux, who'd just won the Grade III Bourbon on Interactif, picked up the win, while Rajiv Maragh, who's been hot at Keeneland, was the unlucky loser in the opinion of the stewards. The ruling, which appeared the obvious one to make, cost race sponsor Juddmonte Farms a victory as owner of Proviso, who was racing in the United States for the first time from the Bobby Frankel stable. Trained by Bill Mott, Mushka was sent off at 5-1 odds and paid $12.40 to win. By winning the Spinster, Mushka got an automatic spot in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. The winner was timed in 1:49.01 for the 1 1/8-mile distance. Kent Desormeaux, rider of winner Mushka: “I thought the last sixteenth of a mile, the leader (Proviso) had idled on the lead and she was stopping. At that point, she at the same time was making a right-hand turn. With the momentum change that was being made by her gawking on the lead, I know I would have definitely caught her. But when she made me stop as well, not to run over her, she made me lose my momentum and that cost me from beating her.” Bill Mott, trainer of winner Mushka: “I wasn’t sure initially because of the angle, but when you see the head-on it’s pretty convincing. I think the stewards did their job. It’s unfortunate for the other horse. We don’t like to win that way, but today we’re going to have to take it that way. “She’d won an allowance race here in the spring. We were thinking after Saratoga that this could be a good spot to try her back in. It turned out very well.” Mott said he wants Mushka to go to the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic. MUSIC NOTE (KY) Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor Owner: Godolphin Stable Breeder: Gainsborough Farm LLC Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew, Weekend Surprise) Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Note Musicale (GB) (Sadler's Wells, It's in the Air) Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 11-11-24-4-0 (50) 2.13 Age: 4 On June 13, she ran fifth as the favorite in the Grade I Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park. Prior to that race, she had been off since a third-place finish behind Zenyatta in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic. “We had to back off on her (after the Ogden Phipps because) she had some stiffness in her hind end,” said Rick Mettee, assistant to trainer bin Suroor. “We feel we have a filly going the right way. She is going to sit back and come. If she comes too late, she comes too late, (but) you can close at seven furlongs on this track, and she shouldn’t have much traffic coming from behind. We think this will set her up for the Belmont fall meet, whether it would be the Ruffian or Beldame, and give us an idea of where we are with her.” Aug. 29, Grade I Ballerina, Saratoga, Seven Furlongs. Indian Blessing (6-5) was second, but Music Note (5-1) came out on top. After pressing and dueling for the lead--and shaking off the early contenders--Indian Blessing was passed on the inside on the turn by the winner. After briefly dueling with Music Note, she was beaten 5 1/4 lengths to a time of 1:22.10 on a sloppy track. Informed Decision (6-5) was third, beaten 6 1/4 lengths by Music Note. She contested the early pace with Indian Blessing but soon started dropping back. Saeed bin Suroor, winning trainer: “Music Note ran a big race, and we are happy with her. She’s really healthy and back in exactly the same form she was last year. She’s a tough filly and she always tries hard. I talked to the jockey and told him to just sit in behind the lead. He gave her a brilliant ride, and she handled the mud really well today. Maybe we’ll find a one turn race for her in New York. We’ll see how she comes back, but so far we’re happy.” Rajiv Maragh, winning jockey: “It was very fortunate that she took me there. She got me there on her own will. I think that was to our advantage at that point where we weren't eight or nine lengths out of it. I have been on her a couple of times in the morning, and I became familiar with her. When I saw Indian Blessing come alongside of us at the top of the stretch, my filly just started sprinting away.” Oct. 3, Grade I Beldame Stakes, Belmont Park, 1 1/8 Mile. Fending off clever race-riding tactics from the jockeys aboard the coupled entry of Unbridled Belle and Captain’s Lover, Godolphin Stable’s Music Note extracted herself from a tight position on the rail, circled to the outside and pulled away convincingly to win the Grade 1 Beldame by 2 1/4 lengths over Unbridled Belle. The 4-year-old bay daughter of A.P. Indy notched the fifth Grade I victory of her 11-race career, the fourth at Belmont, timed in 1:48.49 on a course labeled fast during light rain--and before a deluge hit the track. She was a heavy 1-4 favorite in a field with only four betting interests. With jockey Rajiv Maragh aboard, Music Note broke well and raced along the rail on the backstretch, while millionaire Unbridled Belle opened a length lead for Ramon Dominguez. Unbridled Belle had faded badly in her most recent start, the Grade I Personal Ensign at Saratoga, but she stayed in the Beldame Unbridled Belle’s entry mate, Captain’s Lover, ran to the outside of Music Note, and jockey John Velazquez appeared to be trying to pin the favorite inside behind the leader, but Captain's Lover eventually regressed as the top pair went on. Saeed bin Suroor winning trainer: “She was really happy, relaxed, in condition. She showed her good turn of foot. I was waiting for him to take her outside. When he did, I was happy. We’ll take her to the Breeders’ Cup. Nine furlongs will suit her. She looked better than ever.” Rick Mettee, assistant to bin Suroor: “It was good race riding on the part of the entry’s riders. It wasn’t unexpected, but luckily she got separation off the turn. I was a little concerned about how well Unbridled Belle was traveling. When they got head-to-head, Ramon had gone to the stick, and Rajiv had not. This is the fifth Grade I for this filly and four of them are here.” Rajiv Maragh, winning rider: "I was comfortable because I didn't want to go too early. I wanted to get my filly to relax. Once I was behind the horses, she was getting into a nice, high cruising speed. I was pretty happy. I knew they were going to spread out at some point in the race. Once they did, that's when I made a move to get clear. There was a lot of race track left by the time I got open." PROVISO (GB) Trainer: Bobby Frankel Owner: Juddmonte Farms Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Dansili (GB) (Danehill, Hasili (IRE)) Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Binche (Woodman, Binary (GB)) Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 6-2-13-3-0 (24) 1.53 Age: 4 Oct. 11, Grade I Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, Keenelad, 1 1/8 Mile (T). Mushka won via the disqualificaton of Proviso, who ducked out in Mushka's path in the stretch as she was attempting to pass Proviso on the outside. Kent Desormeaux, who'd just won the Grade III Bourbon on Interactif, picked up the win, while Rajiv Maragh, who's been hot at Keeneland, was the unlucky loser in the opinion of the stewards. The ruling, which appeared the obvious one to make, cost race sponsor Juddmonte Farms a victory as owner of Proviso, who was racing in the United States for the first time from the Bobby Frankel stable. Rajiv Maragh, jockey of Proviso: “My horse ran huge today, and she was definitely the best. I made the lead with her and then she stopped focusing, so I tapped her and when I did she just bolted out. But still that other horse was never going to pass me. I’m disappointed, of course, but that’s the call and there’s nothing you can do. I don’t know the plans for her future yet, and if she will go to the Breeders’ Cup, but wherever she goes I want to ride her back. She is a really nice filly.” RAINBOW VIEW (KY) Trainer: John Gosden Owner: George Strawbridge Breeder: George Strawbridge Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Dynaformer (Roberto, Andover Way) Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): No Matter What (Nureyev, Words of War) Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 5-2-30-0-1 (38) 1.38 Age: 3 She was considered a brilliant 2-year-old last year and ran an undefeated campaign. Aug. 2, Group 1 Nassau, Goodwood, 1 1/4 Mile (T). In extremely boggy conditions Midday was slow to leave the starting gate but quickly was put into a secure position. Two furlongs out, Midday stormed to the lead and flew under the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front of the favorite Rainbow View. The Nassau was the first win in a Group 1 for Midday. Sept. 5, Group 1 Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes, Leopardstown, One Mile (T). Rainbow View easily defeated Heaven Sent by two lengths--and it was said at the time that she could be on her way to Santa Anita in November. The Dynaformer filly was back to her very best after this success. She was timed in 1:39.89 on ground rated good to yielding. “Her work has been good, and sometimes these fillies who were good 2-year-olds don’t come right until this time of year,” said trainer Gosden. “Ryafan was similar, she didn’t really going until the middle of the summer and went on to win three Grade Ones. “The Prix de l’Opera is the obvious next target and then possibly the E P Taylor Stakes. But looking further on, there is the Breeders’ Cup in November, and there are a number of races she could go for. There’s the Filly And Mare Turf, although our Dar Re Mi has earned a place in that after her Pretty Polly win, but she could also run on the main track--after all someone has got to take on Zenyatta.” Oct. 4 NOTE: Rainbow View was withheld from the Prix de l’Opera. Oct. 17, Grade I E. P. Taylor Stakes, Woodbine, 1 1/4 Mile (T). Rainbow View finished strongly, but not strongly enough to win, after chasing a slow pace in third position down the backstretch. Lahaleeb, a 3-year-old filly not nominated to Breeders' Cup, won. She was timed in 2:02.89 in a huge upset at 44-1 odds. Rainbow View, the 8-5 morning line favorite, was sent off at 2-1 odds as the slight favorite and finished second, beaten 1 3/4 length. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to Princess Haya at 7-1. Treat Gently, bet hard early and also made 2-1 at the windows, faded to sixth in the field of eight after contesting the pace early. Look Here, the third choice, finished seventh. Lahaleeb won the race with a late burst after rating back in fifth or sixth for the first mile. Early lead fractions were moderate, six furlongs marked in 1:14.61 and the mile in 1:38.88. |
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