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Sunday, May 07, 2006

Back to Business

- Life goes on after the Derby as Edgar Prado, just around 19 hours after the biggest win of his life, was aboard Dream to Dress, the 6-5 favorite in the first race at Belmont before around 6,000 fans. He ran third, but ended up with three winners on the day, including the unfortunately named Oprah Winney in the NY-breds Bouwerie Stakes.

Garrett Gomez was also in town, beginning his New York stint for Todd Pletcher. Gomez was aboard Bob and John on Saturday. He went off lower than I thought he would at 12-1; I thought that AP Warrior would get more money than he did. At 14-1, you could almost say that he was dead on the board. Gomez said he had a rough trip on the 17th place finisher. "Just when I got to a spot where I could be comfortable....something would come along and bang me again." [Star-Telegram] Gomez did win, however, on Pussycat Doll and English Channel.

At Belmont on Sunday, he failed in a couple of attempts for Pletcher, who was not present. In the 4th, their Brantley (Theatrical) was bet to 5-2 favoritism in his first start. He ran well enough for third, but nothing was catching the winner, Beautiful Daniele. This looks like a nice three-year old turf filly for John Kimmel. Mike Smith set a moderate pace with the winner, who then sprinted home in 23.35 seconds. She’s by AP Indy, out of an unraced Storm Cat mare who is a half-sister to the Juvenile Filly winner Countess Diana; her second dam a half to the dam of the Grade 1 winner Exogenous.

Pletcher did it again on Saturday in the 11th at Churchill – yes, that’s right, I bet on the 11th at Churchill yesterday, call me what you will – as Yes Yes Yes won in his first race since last October. This one was totally dead on the board - 3-1 in the morning line, he went to the post at 7-1! I fully fell into that, and turned to eventual show horse British Attitude instead. I’ve noticed lately that as much as he wins, you sometimes do get good prices on Pletcher’s horses. Don’t be scared to take a shot with a Pletcher returnee or first-timer because you think it’s not getting bet. You could do worse than holding a ticket on one of those at 6 or 7 to 1.

- Where the hell was Lawyer Ron yesterday?

"He wouldn't give me nothing at all," [John] McKee said. "I'm just shocked at the results."

When the field made its first run past the grandstand, Lawyer Ron was near the front of the pack, but unlike the past six races - all wins - he never made a move to the front.

"He just didn't have any punch turning for home," trainer Bob Holthus said. "Through the stretch, he never really kicked in. That's the first time he's run that way.” [The Gleaner.com]
But Holthus has already announced his attention to run Lawyer Ron in the Preakness. Kent Desormeaux told of his journey aboard favored Sweetnorthernsaint.
“He'd never had dirt in his face, and it took him about 100 yards to settle in about that......But he's such a quick learner, I just let him get into his high cruising speed and we started eating up horses steady and sure. . . . We'll get them next time.” [SignOnSanDiego.com]
Next time is apparently the Preakness for him too. Apparently, my initial thought that few of these would want to try Barbaro again, but apparently that is not the case. Jazil is also a possibility. But runner-up Bluegrass Cat will be pointed to the Belmont instead.

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