Mr Speaker Roars into Secretariat Picture
Phipps Stable’s once Triple Crown-trailed Mr. Speaker has always been well regarded by trainer Shug McGaughey, but on Saturday July 5, he went one step farther when accelerating past favored Irish invader Adelaide in the Grade I Belmont Derby Invitational to score at the wire by a neck. The victory landed him $670,000 and square in the picture for the Grade I $500,000 Secretariat Stakes on Arlington Million Day at Arlington International Racecourse.
Coolmore’s Adelaide made a winning run to the lead before being tagged in the final 150 yards. The positive performance of the international powerhouse stable bodes well for their participation at Arlington five weeks later, whether with the aforementioned son of Galileo or one of the many other sophomores they possess. One such nominee who fits the profile is recent Group I Irish Derby runner-up Kingfisher. Originally sent as a rabbit for winner Australia, Kingfisher held on gamely for the place. The run was similar to that of Treasure Beach’s runner-up finish in the 2011 English Derby before he won a weak edition of its Irish equivalent and then the Secretariat seven weeks later.
Another to watch out of the Belmont Derby is French invader Gailo Chop, who went off a 9-2 fourth-choice and ran to his odds, finishing a respectable fourth after a mild bid at the top of the stretch. A gelding unable to compete in the French classics because of his unfortunate pruning, it would be no surprise to see him prolong his stay for trainer Antoine de Watrigant and owners OTI Racing and Alain Chopard.
Disappointments in the race included the well backed domestic duo of Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s Bobby’s Kitten and Glen Hill Farm’s Global View. While the former tipped his hand to a lack of stamina and therefore is unlikely to contest the Secretariat, the latter is to attempt to atone his lackluster Belmont run at the Chicagoland course at which he is based on Aug. 16.
Canada’s biggest day of racing – Queen’s Plate Day – included a Secretariat possible in the Ramsey’s Todd Pletcher-trained beaten favorite We Miss Artie. The son of Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Artie Schiller fits the bill not only because of his erratic trip and consequential alibis, but also because of his connections’ knack for winning Grade I races at Arlington – including two in the Secretariat.
Across the pond in England, Godolphin’s talented sophomore True Story made a quality account of himself in the Group I Coral Eclipse Stakes, finishing a competitive fifth against older horses in the 1¼-miles event. By European Horse of the Year Manduro, the bay colt was making his first start since a seventh-place showing in the English Derby in June and a quality third behind subsequent Group I French Derby winner The Grey Gatsby in the Group II Dante Stakes in May. Trained by five-time Million starter Saeed bin Suroor, who won the Festival centerpiece in 2003 with Sulamani, True Story could appreciate a return to his own age group over a course which has been kind to his connections.
The same can be said for Godolphin’s rival Coolmore, as its sophomore War Command ran seventh in the Eclipse and raced like a colt who may appreciate a 10-furlong attempt against his own crop. Always well regarded by trainer Aidan O’Brien, the Group I-winning son of War Front is co-owned by American Joseph Allen and has often carried his green and white checkered silks. Being by one of America’s top studs, owned by the same connections as who brought Declaration of War to the States last year to finish third in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Classic and trained by the winner of the 2011 Secretariat – it would be no surprise to see him go from simple ‘nominee’ to invading probable.
The key prep this weekend will be the Grade III American Derby over Arlington’s world-renowned turf course. A mere sixteenth of a mile shorter than the Secretariat, the $200,000 fixture produced last year’s Secretariat winner Admiral Kitten for the Ramseys. This year it will include Team Block’s highly esteemed Afortable, a three-quarter brother to talented marathoner Suntracer, as well as the Todd Pletcher-trained Divine Oath and European shipper Our Channel from the white-hot yard of William Haggas – trainer of Eclipse victor Mukhadram. Another race to watch through the month of July is the $125,000 Toronto Cup over a grassy 1 1/8 miles at Woodbine on July 20.