[Kasept]

'MIESQUE'S' ON 11/3/05? $50,000 CLAIMER

Miesque's Approval capped a brilliant season in the Mile, storming to the lead at the eighth pole while widest of all. Under Eddie Castro, the 7yo bay, his career declared over by Bill Mott exactly a year earlier when 6th in a $50k Aqueduct claimer, returned to the course on which he had scored in the Firecracker and turned the tables on a host of more heralded rivals. Euros Librettist, Araafa, Rob Roy, Sleeping Indian and Echo of Light and domestic stars Gorella and Aragorn all failed to withstand the Miesque's Son progeny's powerful charge.

With Aragorn, Badge of Silver and Sleeping Indian behind the $50 winner, a Superfecta ticket brought back $98,500, the tri $4,781 and the exacta $246. While a debate is likely to ensue, a case could be made that the Live Oak homebred earned himself the Eclipse Award as top grass horse with the score.

TRAGEDY OBSCURES DISTAFF STAR'S EFFORT

With the poor decision to scrape the track already taking a toll on any horse hoping for a square shot at coming from off the pace, the track condition likely helped turn things tragic with Pine Island's breakdown in the Distaff. The incident also marred a wonderful display by Michael Matz' Round Pond and a nifty move by Edgar Prado. Stalking the pace from the slick and cozy rail, the 4yo daughter of Awesome Again pounced on faultering leaders Sharp Lisa, Healthy Addiction and Pool Land exiting the turn for home. There, Prado wisely redirected the '05 Acorn winner to the rail after briefly considering a move towards the outside. The 14-1 6th choice then powered home to win easily while a melee ensued behind her.

Asi Siempre, Happy Ticket and Balletto exchanged a series of checks and jostles from the top of the stretch to halfway down the lane that ultimately resulted in a change in the order of finish. Happy Ticket and Balletto were awarded second and third while Asi Siempre was moved to fourth in a decision that could have just as easily pushed Happy Ticket down. The changes, and the absense of the two injured favorites from the tote, produced another lucrative mutuel with the exacta returning $46, the tri $4,355 and the super $38,600.

For Matz, the victory was bittersweet, having been in Shug McGaughey's shoes just six months ago when Barbaro suffered what appeared at the time to be a catastrophic and life-ending injury. Matz had been quietly confident that Round Pond had legitimate excuses in her Beldame try October 7, and those that stuck with the never-off-the-board bay were rewarded with a $29.80 win price.

And obviously, our sincerest sympathies to the Phipps', Shug McGaughey and his staff and all those who came to love Pine Island. While not the most beautiful filly the august family has ever bred and campaigned, she had captured many hearts with her charmingly goofy style and determination. RIP.

'RED ROCKS' THE TURF

While questions to trainer Brian Meehan focused mostly on Classic entrant David Junior during Cup Week, his Turf challenger Red Rocks was blossoming in his new environment. The lightly-raced three year old Irish bred had made a habit this year of finishing secoind in good company, and entered the gate as the 11-1 sixth choice. Under Dettori, the son of Galileo and the lone sophomore in the field, bided his time at the back of the pack before coming with a powerful run in the stretch that left game English Channel (3rd), surprising Rush Bay (4th) and even Scorpion (5th) in his wake.

2004 Turf winner Better Talk Now was following the first time Graded or Group Stakes winner, but was never a threat. The placement completed a pair of runners-up finishes for rider Ramon Dominguez and trainer Graham Motion who have an excellent record together wherever these preceedings are conducted.

The outcome was undoubtedly disappointing to followers of Hurricane Run, a non-threatening 6th as the 3-1 public choice, and Cacique, who briefly challenged before fading in the stretch to finish 10th at 4-1.

A CLASSIC 'INVASION'

The day's main event already seemed destined for an unusual result before Bernardini, Invasor, George Washington, David Junior and Lava Man entered the gate. While the result, Kiaran McLaughlin's Invasor catching Tom Albertrani's even money favorite in the final 150 yards, seemed fully plausible before the gates opened, the public appeared eager for a confirmation of Bernardini as a regal entity.

With the predictably eager soph pair of Brother Derek and Lawyer Ron renewing aquaintance on the front end of the first half of the race, Bernardini sat fifth stalking the speed. Invasor, likely at McLaughlin's instruction to Fernando Jara, was just behind him. When Bernardini made a sweeping, and perhaps premature, move on the turn, he looked free and clear at the quarter pole. But the lead was short lived as Invasor came to call in advance of the 16th pole and was by him in just three strides with the wire looming.

The win by the 9 of 10 Argentinian bred by Candy Stripes caps a wonderful ascension to the top of the game for McLaughlin, his brother Neal and their well-managed operation. The victory likely makes the winner of four straight American Grade I's the 2006 Horse of the Year.

For Bernardini, the defeat will be a bitter pill if it is indeed his final career start...

More from Churchill Sunday.. We hope you did well...

Steve