Racing Roundtable: Kentucky Downs and Del Mar

This week, the Racing Roundtable look back at a stakes-packed weekend at Kentucky Downs, the meet-ending two-year-old features at Del Mar, and what else caught our eye.

What are your takeaways from the action at Kentucky Downs?

James Scully: Kentucky Downs offered 10 seven-figure stakes over two days, including a pair of Breeders’ Cup Challenge series races, and Cogburn headlined the festivities. Following a world-record performance in the Jaipur (G1) (5 1/2 furlongs in :59.80), Cogburn confirmed himself as the world’s leading turf sprinter by taking Saturday’s Turf Sprint (G2) with authority. The five-year-old gelding figures to be one of the shortest-priced favorites over the two-day, 14-race Breeders’ Cup program at Del Mar on Nov. 1-2.

After a pair of tough trips in paceless stakes, Neecie Marie made the most of a favorable set up in Saturday’s Ladies’ Marathon (G3), scoring going away by nearly three lengths, and the Butch Reid-trained mare will look to make a late impact in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) this fall. Tiztastic established himself as a contender for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), recording a nice win in Sunday’s Juvenile Mile. The well-built son of freshman sire Tiz the Law has really taken to turf for Steve Asmussen.

And I’ll also mention Brilliant Berti, who continued his ascension in the three-year-old turf ranks with a sharp win in Sunday’s Gun Runner S., and Franklin-Simpson (G1) victor Howard Wolowitz. A troubled fourth when making his stakes debut in the Aug. 11 Mahony S. at Saratoga, lightly raced Howard Wolowitz appears very promising for Jose D’Angelo.

Vance Hanson: Cogburn was undoubtedly the star of the show at Kentucky Downs over the weekend and I suspect he'll be the shortest-priced favorite of Breeders' Cup weekend in the Turf Sprint, and deservedly so. Such a dominant force is he that I'm very likely to support him as champion male sprinter come Eclipse Award time, which will break my long-standing personal preference for dirt-only performers in the category.

I can't say I found obvious Breeders' Cup implications during the rest of the weekend at Kentucky Downs. However, the three-year-old Brilliant Berti continues to impress following his win in the Gun Runner S. on Sunday. Although a workmanlike effort compared to his earlier wins at Churchill Downs, he's a consistent, talented colt who's been extremely well-managed by trainer Cherie DeVaux so far. I hope the Hollywood Derby (G1) at Del Mar in a couple months is on his radar as I think he can be a bit of a sleeper there.

What are your takeaways from Del Mar's major two-year-old stakes?

JS: Gaming left a favorable impression winning the Del Mar Futurity (G1) by nearly two lengths. Last early, the Bob Baffert-trained son of freshman sire Game Winner launched his bid on the far turn and accelerated clear into the stretch, registering a fine 99 Brisnet Speed rating while improving his record to 2-for-2. 

I also liked the performance from McKinzie Street, who didn’t have the cleanest trip on the far turn but offered a solid run to be a clear second. A convincing debut winner in his previous outing, the Tim Yakteen-trained colt is from the first crop of McKinzie. 

VH: Although champion juvenile Game Winner is not off to as fast a start as some other freshmen this season, it was nice to see one potential standout from his first crop emerge when Gaming upset stablemate Getaway Car in the Del Mar Futurity, and quite convincingly. It wasn't a particularly fast edition from a raw time perspective, but he will possess the home court advantage for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, which both his sire and broodmare sire Johannesburg won.

Of the other two-year-old stakes at Del Mar held over the weekend, Thought Process caught the eye most by winning the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf rather stylishly. A heavy 2-5 favorite off a maiden win over the course and distance, Thought Process always looked a winner through the final quarter mile while propelling herself into Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) contention. She appears to skip over the ground, and could prove tough in a race U.S.-based fillies have largely dominated.

What else caught your eye over the weekend?

JS: In North America, quick turnarounds are more commonplace at Kentucky Downs. The Franklin, Kentucky, course offers seven days of racing over a two-week period, and we witnessed numerous runners make their second start of the meet last weekend, including Goliad and Tiztastic. Goliad won Saturday’s Mint Millions (G3) on six days' rest, taking a lucrative handicap event previously, and Tiztastic wheeled back 10 days later after breaking his maiden convincingly.

On Wednesday’s closing day, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Greenfinch is entered in the $1.6 million Dueling Grounds Oaks four days after finishing fourth in the Ladies Marathon.

VH: Sunday's Prix du Moulin (G1) at Longchamp was billed as a showdown between Europe's top older miler, Charyn, and the three-year-old Godolphin-owned Notable Speech, winner of the 2000 Guineas (G1) and Sussex (G1). However, it was another Godolphin-owned horse, the five-year-old Tribalist, who registered a huge upset with a frontrunning score for trainer Andre Fabre. Tribalist was sent off at odds of 25-1 locally and 20-1 in the World Pool.

Fabre mentioned the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) as a possible spot for Tribalist, and Godolphin is rather loaded for that race already. However, I think Notable Speech will deserve another look in the Mile if he comes. While a bit of an enigma this year, I'm sure the soft conditions at Longchamp played a significant role in his dull fifth-place effort. He'll undoubtedly get the faster ground he relishes at Del Mar, and on his very best he's extremely talented, as his wins in the Guineas and Sussex showed.

As much as I love reigning Mile winner Master of the Seas, Notable Speech perhaps could be an intriguing price play.