COUNTRY STAR OUTSHINES IN ALCIBIADES
Article taken from The Blood Horse
by Jason Shandler,
Stonerside Stable’s Country Star entered the $500,000 Darley
Alcibiades (gr. I) (VIDEO) as one of only two juveniles without a
win to her credit. It did not matter, as the EMPIRE
MAKER filly showed a finishing kick that was plenty good enough
to earn a one-length victory on Keeneland’s Polytrack in the
opening day feature Oct. 5.
Out of Metfield mare Rings a Chime, Country Star rated four-wide
for jockey Rafael Bejarano throughout most of the backstretch,
staying well back of longtime leaders Dreaming of Liz, Morakami and
Grace Anatomy, who set the pace through three-quarters.
Dreaming of Liz, coming off a win in the Arlington-Washington
Lassie (gr. III), set fractions of :24.23 and :49.69 before giving
way to A to the Croft. As they straightened away in the 1 1/16-mile
test, Dreaming of Liz was fading while jockey Mike Smith moved
Grace Anatomy four-wide to a short lead. A to the Croft, who was
settled early, also was making her late charge on the outside.
But Bejarano began to steadily move Country Star, who had drifted
toward the middle of the racetrack. Despite the wide move, the
Bobby Frankel-trained filly had more than enough to get by A to the
Croft at the wire, breaking her maiden in grand style.
“The horse broke really good. I didn't try to break so close to the
pace; I knew the speed was no good,” said Bejarano. “So when I saw
about a half-mile into the race (that) the other horses were
tiring, I edged her up a little bit. When I came to the turn I was
pretty clear, and then I set her down to run and the horse gave me
it all. She just exploded. She's a really professional horse."
Before the Alcibiades, Country Star, who was bred by Stonerside's
Robert and Janice McNair, made her only start Sept. 20 on the
Belmont turf, running second. Her dam, Rings a Chime, also won a
grade I race at Keeneland but on the old dirt track, taking the
2000 Ashland Stakes.
It was unclear whether Frankel, who was in New York, would send the
homebred to the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I)
Oct. 27 at Monmouth.
“We have to praise Bobby (Frankel) and his entire team. They did an
unbelievable job of getting this filly fit,” said Stonerside racing
manager John Adger. “I was impressed, but we've thought a lot of
her for a long time. She did it today. She was absolutely
fabulous."
Country Star, whose final time was 1:45.85, paid $10.40 to win. The
exacta (10-12) with A to the Croft was worth $59.20. Grace Anatomy,
who broke in the air and then was rushed up into contention, was
another neck back in third, 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Initiation.
Grace Anatomy trainer Doug O’Neill said his filly would make the
trip to the Breeders’ Cup.
Betting favorite Irish Smoke, who was coming off a win in the Sept.
2 Spinaway (gr. I) at Saratoga, bobbled at the start and never
factored, finishing last.
Date:
08 October 2007