AMERICAN TURF CLUB LEAD

By: JOE GIRARDI

            After the 130^th running of the Preakness on Saturday May 21^st, 2005

 there were many that thought what might have been. It was clear that we saw

 the best three year old in the country running at Pimlico. If he could have won

 the Derby instead of finishing a close-up third we would have our best chance

 at a Triple Crown, even better than SMARTY JONES’S chance we had last year.

            With a full field of 14 horses was sent off as the lukewarm favorite

going off at 3.30-1. HIGH FLY was sent off as the 5-1 second choice with

GIACOMO, a close third choice at 6-1. AFLEET ALEX broke towards the back

 of the pack and raced in tenth past the half mile pole before he started to

make his move on the inside pasrt of the track. The fractions were not as hot

as they were in the Derby but they were honest. HIGH LIMIT, with blinkers on

 led through fractions of 23, 46, 1:10:3, before SCRAPPY T, who was sitting

second, took over into the turn.

            As they approached the top of the stretch SCRAPPY T held the lead

with AFLEET ALEX was making a very strong move to the leader when

tragedy was averted. When the jockey of SCRAPPY T, Ramon Dominguez hit

 his horse lefty the horse veered very quickly to the right and at the same time

 AFLEET ALEX just happen to be there and he clipped heels badly, stumbling

 to his knees but somehow was able to get back on his feet and go on to still

 score by almost five lengths. Jockey Jeremy Rose did a phenomenal job to stay

 on the horse and possibly save his life. The whole field was about 5 lengths

 behind the top two horses and it would have been a very bad situation. Rose

 credited the athleticism of the horse and this writer would have to agree. The

horse showed not only how athletic he is but how classy he is to still go on and

 score by 4 and ¾’s lengths.

            GIACOMO closed to finish third but he was just an afterthought after

 the incident at the top of the stretch. He was right off of AFLEET ALEX, racing

 in 11^th but when it counted he didn’t have enough punch and is just not as

good as AFLEET ALEX. He did however show some heart to beat the rest of

the field especially when he was hopelessy beaten on the win end. SUN KING

 ran an improved race to finish fourth but was beaten more than 10 lengths.

 HIGH LIMIT, the pacesetter also ran an improved race to finish fifth and it is

 obvious he is a better horse when he can make the lead.       

            The biggest disappointment in the race was CLOSING ARGUMENT, who

 was a close second in the Derby and many felt his running style would be better

 suited to Pimlico but he didn’t run a step after laying close to the pace early on

 and tired to finish ninth. HIGH FLY was another that many felt would give a

 better performance at the Preakness but his 10^th place showing was also a

disappointment. Look for his connections to make a switch to the turf with

 this horse, we always felt his future might be that of a turf horse, follow his progress.

            Another interesting note was that GOING WILD who was entered

 in this race off three races in which he was beaten by 86 lengths. He does

 have some speed but that is about it. His most recent last place effort in the

 Preakness he was beaten by 43 lengths. His trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who

used to be a force in these Triple Crown races went overboard here. This horse

doesn’t belong and the fact that he continues to get beat multiple lengths he

should give him some rest and find a proper level for this horse, nowhere close

 to the top three year olds. 

            The Belmont is coming up in a few weeks and it will be interesting to

see who enters the race against AFLEET ALEX. He is clearly the best three year

 old right now and it doesn’t seem that the distance really matters. Hopefully he

 will stay healthy and racing can have a star for a few years, something it

desperately needs.