From the Backstretch
Manner, Thief could crash the party
Posted: Friday May 14, 1999 04:52 PM
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D. Wayne Lukas's horse Cat Thief has finished first, second or third in his last 11 starts. AP |
By Mark Beech, Sports Illustrated
BALTIMORE -- A party last night at Country Life Farm, the breeding center where
Cigar was foaled, in Bel Air, Md., brought together several distinguished
members of the thoroughbred industry and a few local celebrities to talk
business and rehash old times. The farm's century-old main house, tucked inside
a grove of trees and surrounded by acres of lush pastureland, provided the
venue.
Along the front-porch railing, surrounded by 10 or 12 close friends, Art
Donovan, former Baltimore Colts great and current David Letterman
favorite, held court. Reminiscing about everything from how scared he was by
The Silence of the Lambs to the tragic death of Colts defensive great
Big Daddy Lipscomb, Donovan never moved, letting the party come to him
instead.
Inside, Bob and Beverly Lewis, the owners of Kentucky Derby winner
Charismatic and, quite possibly, two of the nicest people on the planet,
talked happily with friends. More than one well-wisher told the couple -- who
also own 1997 Derby and Preakness champion Silver Charm -- how great
they've been for racing. Bob's response was, "Well, it's been great to
us!"
NOTES FROM THE
BACKSIDE
Why is everybody so afraid of an outside post position? Bob Baffert
pulled Silverbulletday out of post 14 because he didn't want to use her
too early to get position. Still another reason was offered up by Carl
Nafzger, the trainer of Vicar, who cited the narrowness and inward
bank of Pimlico's track. It seems that a few feet from the outside rail the
track slopes in the opposite direction, creating a ridge that makes it difficult
for horses to run. Nafzger felt that Vicar, starting from post 13, might have to
contend with the ridge after coming out of the
gate.
In a few hours, Silverbulletday will run in the Black-Eyed Susan, her second
straight move with three-year-old fillies. Running her in the Susan is a
disappointing move by owner Mike Pegram and his friend Baffert. Baffert
says they want to avoid running her on a crowded track, as they did by running
her against the girls in the Kentucky Oaks instead of the Derby. But after
easily winning the Oaks as the 1-10 favorite, they have nothing left to prove
against the girls, especially against the girls running this afternoon for the
relatively paltry sum of
$200,000.
If you want to make some money on this race, don't overlook Godolphin Stable's
Worldly Manner or D. Wayne Lukas's other horse, Cat Thief.
The conventional wisdom on the backside is that the Dubai-trained Worldly Manner
came up short in the Derby because of the Godolphin team's belief in slower,
less strenuous workouts, and that both the race and his subsequent workouts have
helped to wind him tight as a watch. He's 12-1 on the morning line, and if those
odds hold he could be an attractive win bet or an interesting play in any number
of exotic wagers. Cat Thief, on the other hand, ran in the Derby like he always
runs: terrific. He's always there at the end, finishing first, second or third
in his last 11 starts -- only once beaten by more than 3 1/2 lengths. For exacta
or trifecta players, the Thief should never be
ignored.
Giddyup and good
luck!
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