Still Waiting for American St. Leger Leader
The third edition of the Listed $400,000 American St. Leger progressively looks to be a tough affair. Overseas, two-time defending champion conditioner – and only trainer to win the race – Marco Botti has yet to reveal whom he will send from his expansive selection of stayers, but the assumption is that Darren Dance’s syndicate Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock would love to win its third edition. Their best shot is presumably with classy defending champ Dandino, who exits a commendable mid-pack finish in the Group II Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot – his first race since a tough trip landed him fourth in the world’s most prestigious marathon, the Group I Melbourne Cup in Australia.
Stateside, two possible St. Leger runners were in action in Sunday’s Grade I United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park. A furlong longer than the Grade I Arlington Million and 5/16 miles shorter than the St. Leger, the U.N. can serve as a stamina checkpoint for horses unsure which International Festival of Racing event they should consider. A duo who appeared to want more ground than the 1 3/8-miles Monmouth turf event were Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s Charming Kitten and West Point Thoroughbreds’ Twilight Eclipse.
Charming Kitten seemed to flourish when winning the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup a race prior, but did not enjoy his trip on the tighter turns and less gallop-friendly Monmouth course. The Ramseys last year were sadly forced to scratch Dark Cove – arguably the top American hope in the first two runnings of the American St. Leger – within 24 hours of the race. Charming Kitten, an honest and multiple graded stakes-placed homebred who seems to have found a home at marathon distances, could provide a welcome consolation.
Twilight Eclipse is highly likely to pursue the Grade I Sword Dancer at Saratoga next, but his connections were on the American St. Leger fence until late in the game last year with the endurance-laden son of Grade III Arlington Classic winner Purim. The tough bay was second in the Sword Dancer last year and could be a serious threat to do one placing better if his connections decide on the Chicagoland route in lieu of Upstate New York.
Canada produced a competitive renewal of the Grade III Singspiel Stakes this past Saturday when Sam-Son Farm’s Malcolm Pierce-trained Aldous Snow outbid Charles Fipke’s Roger Attfield-trained Perfect Timber. Run over a slightly undulating 1½-miles course, the Singspiel has the look of an ideal prep for the St. Leger, but has yet to produce a serious contender. Still, Sam-Son and Fipke have never been shy about sending horses to Arlington and in these two fine 5-year-olds, they seem to have a duo of dynamic doggedness.
The big race this weekend is Arlington’s Grade III $150,000 Stars and Stripes over 1½ miles. Well respected at the windows will be Team Block’s 2013 American St. Leger runner-up Suntracer. The Chris Block-trained son of Kitten’s Joy will be tough to beat on his home course, but will be tackled by the likes of Moro Tap, who was third directly behind Suntracer the Grade III Louisville Handicap last out for trainer Mike Maker, the Roger Brueggemann-trained The Pizza Man and the Brazilian-bred Olympic Thunder from the stable of Kenny McPeek.