The week that was in racing, Feb. 22-28, 2016
Here's a collection of some of the biggest stories in horse racing, all in one place. Unless noted, all of the links here are to free stories on DRF.com.
Mohaymen remains perfect
On Saturday at Gulfstream Park, Mohaymen improved to 5 for 5, knocking Zulu and Awesome Banner from the ranks of the unbeaten when they met in the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes. While some used the 95 Beyer Speed Figure – the same number he earned in his two prior races – as a means to question his performance, it may have been better than it first appeared. And now, in his final start before the Kentucky Derby on May 7, he’ll put his unbeaten record on the line against another undefeated colt, Nyquist, last year’s champion 2-year-old male, in the Florida Derby on April 2.
Graded stakes action around the country
Along with the Fountain of Youth, there were five other graded stakes last week, all of which occurred Saturday at Gulfstream Park. Like Mohaymen, Cathryn Sophia stayed unbeaten, as the 3-year-old filly ran away and hid in the Grade 2 Davona Dale. In the win, she earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 98, higher than Mohaymen’s figure in the Fountain of Youth, and just one point shy of division-leader Songbird’s career top from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
He had to overcome a bobble out of the gate, but the raw speed of X Y Jet was too much for his rivals in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint, his final start before heading to Dubai next month for the Golden Shaheen.
Trainer Mark Casse made it 2 for 2 in the Breeders’ Cup winners making their 2016 debut category as Catch a Glimpse rolled to her fourth straight victory in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride. She followed in the footsteps of Casse’s champion older turf female, Tepin, who also made her 2016 debut a victorious one a couple weeks prior in the Grade 3 Endeavour Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
Heart to Heart proved too much for his rivals, winning the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Stakes handily in wire-to-wire fashion. The 5-year-old English Channel horse improved to 9 for 20 lifetime, earning his third straight graded stakes victory and the sixth in his career.
Other notable performances
California Chrome’s connections got exactly what they were looking for when the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner cruised home an easy winner in a handicap race over about 1 1/4 miles Thursday night at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Sure, “he was battling inferiors,” but the effort should serve as a suitable prep for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 26.
Breeding news
Coolmore, which stands American Pharoah at its Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky., announced Friday that Untouched Talent has been confirmed in foal on an initial scan. The Storm Cat mare was among the first mares covered by American Pharoah when Kentucky breeding sheds officially opened the weekend of Feb. 13.
Horses to watch
Aqueduct:
DHAMAAN
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Last race: Feb. 25, 4th
Finish: 3rd by 13
Beyer: 62
First-time starter ran into a buzzsaw in the form heavily favored stablemate Amoral (92 Beyer), and he lost several lengths when forced in badly at the start before racing greenly at the back of the field and then finishing up with some interest. Well-bred Indian Charlie colt has distance in his pedigree with Grade 1 routers Glitter Women and Political Force appearing on his dam's side. He can build upon this needed debut experience.
DRF Plus subscribers can see the rest of Mike Beer’s horses to watch from last week by clicking here.
Santa Anita:
ALGORHYTHMIC, by Vronsky
Trainer: James Kasparoff
Last race: Feb. 25, 6th
Finish: 6th by 10 1/4
Beyer: 43
This California-bred maiden’s second start was a debacle. Off slowly from the rail, rushed, steadied and shuffled, empty in the lane. She can improve with a better post and switch to a top rider.
DRF Plus subscribers can see the rest of Brad Free’s horses to watch from last week by clicking here.
– reporting by Marcus Hersh, Mike Hogan, Jay Hovdey, Jay Privman, Nicole Russo, Mike Watchmaker, and Mike Welsch