UN – BELIEF – ABLE! STRETCH RUN LIKE WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN YEARS
On to Dubai for California Chrome, Big Cap for Shared Belief
Everyone hoped for it and gosh darn it, we got it. CALIFORNIA CHROME made his move at the quarter pole of the San Antonio Handicap at Santa Anita yesterday and was soon joined by SHARED BELIEF and the match race was on! Well, at least for half the stretch run.
Eventually, the little dark bay gelding SHARED BELIEF powered away and won big, posting a 106 Beyer Figure and for now, moving to the top of the older horse list with the defeat of the Horse of the Year.
California Chrome looked as if he was going to pull away when he took the lead after stalking a soft, early pace but he could not hold off his rival and jockey Mike Smith.
Of course, the handy score in the 1 1/8 mile race fuels the fire that continues to percolate its embers – the Breeders’ Cup Classic when Shared Belief was annihilated at the start and lost all chance, It was his only loss.
ART WILSON L.A. DAILY NEWS
ARCADIA >> It was Ali-Frazier in the 15th round, Palmer-Nicklaus on the 18th green of a major, or Borg-McEnroe for match point at Wimbledon. It brought back memories of some of the storied races at The Great Race Place.
When California Chrome and Shared Belief turned for home in the $500,000 Grade II San Antonio Invitational on Saturday at Santa Anita Park, the 21,522 who showed up to see a classic rematch between two exceptional race horses roared their approval as track announcer Trevor Denman brought the two thoroughbred heavyweights home.
In the end, it was Shared Belief in front by 1 1/2 lengths over California Chrome, who opened a one-length lead in the stretch under Victor Espinoza but was unable to hold off the closing surge of the winner, who pulled even at the eighth pole with Mike Smith aboard and gradually increased his margin in the final sixteenth of a mile as the even-money favorite.
Compact, jet black, stone-cold athlete with a big heart. SHARED BELIEF by Kelley Carlson (from last year)
AMERICA’S BEST RACING posted this Twitter image of Shared Belief as a youngster and a racehorse.
MOON LANDING and other Canadian stuff
DANZIG MOON upped his profile on the way to the Queen’s Plate with a handy maiden score at 1 mile on the Gulfstream dirt on Saturday. his time of just over 1:38 was good for an 89 Beyer Figure. The white-faced 3-year-old is by Malibu Moon – Leaveminthedust by Danzig, bred by Bill Graham and owned by John Oxley. He was a $160,000 yearling purchase. The colt was making his 3rd career start and he has yet to race at Woodbine on Polytrack.
His dam is a half sister to PHILANTHROPIST and she has produced winners Global Express (Woodbine) and Horseshoe Hill (Woodbine).
Another intriguing Canadian-bred youngster from Saturday at Gulfstream is UNBRIDLED JUAN, a grey colt of Unbridled’s Song – Sugar Swirl by Touch Gold who was 3rd in his debut for Stronach Stables in a 6 furlong dash. The Brian Lynch trainee earned a 73 Beyer Figure. He is the 3rd foal of Grade 2 winner Sugar Swirl.
DANZIG MOON, a Queen’s Plate hopeful for John Oxley and Mark Casse. Gulfstream Park photo
Gina and Mike Wright won the 4th race at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday with CONQUEST OUTLAW. The 4yo was winning for $8,000 and is was the 2nd win for Wright in 2015 form his 10th runner.
KENTUCKY DERBY MOVERS AND SHAKERS
DORTMUND is being hailed by some as the Kentucky Derby favourite following his incredible win in the Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, The giant chestnut by Big Brown – Our Jospehina posted a 103 Beyer Figure for 1:42 1/5 for 1 1/16 miles.
The Kalim Shah owned sophomore was passed by Firing Line in early stretch but he battled back and won to remain unbeaten in 4 races. Bob Baffert trains.
FAR FROM OVER is also unbeaten and his Withers win was wild. The son of Blame – Alchemist (from the family of blue-hen female family of Courtly Dee, through Aishah, stumbled badly at the start in the race at Aqueduct, trailed by a long margin, but blew by to win in 1:43 4/5 – a 96 Beyer Figure.
CONSTITUTION – 113 Beyer Figure, beats Lea
The East had its own older horse showdown and how about the new and improved CONSTITUTION? The Tapit – Baffled by Distorted Humor colt led all the way to win the DONN HANDICAP – Grade 1 over favoured LEA. The winner was a promising 3yo last year for WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks, trainer Todd Pletcher before he was sidelined.
CONSTITUTION (right) by Tapit wins the Grade 1 Donn over Lea – GULFSTREAM PARK PHOTO
