Indian Blessing: How big was that?

The chart will reflect that Indian Blessing was 1-10 and life and death to hold on in the final yards of the Santa Ynez Stakes on Sunday at post-flood Santa Anita – and she was -- but will not reflect the immensity of the effort.

The Cushion Track that was flooded a week ago when the drainage system failed has been freakishly fast now that the waters have receded and the undefeated presumptive champion two-year-old filly of 2007 set a pace that may have shortened her legs -- :22.2, :43.6, 1:07 and 1:19.89 for seven furlongs. That’s right – 1:19.89 on the lead; withstood pressure early and late. A searing pace unfolded in the San Rafael on Saturday that came apart and set the table for El Gato Malo’s late surge. When framed in such a pace dynamic, the fact that Indian Blessing managed to hold off Golden Doc A in her first start since the Breeders’ Cup is impressive. She is now four-for-four and this is a very special filly.

In light of the race Indian Blessing ran and the prevailing conditions at Santa Anita cannot wait to see Midnight Lute’s return over this track in the Jan. 21 Palos Verdes, which is run at six furlongs. Imagine how fast top Western sprinters will travel over this track and Midnight Lute is one of the horses with potential to contribute mightily to what at this stage appears to be a very intriguing season beyond the annual renewal of the Kentucky Derby chase.

The fractions being run at post-flood Santa Anita in every class of race must be a matter of concern to those considering the options both costly on more than one level – persist with Cushion Track despite the uncertainty or move the meeting to Hollywood Park rip out the synthetic course and return to dirt.


Pletcher denied in Queens


By Francis LaBelle Jr.


Trainer Todd Pletcher entered of three of the six three-year-old fillies in Sunday’s 35th running of the $80,850 Busanda at Aqueduct and figured to be celebrating his 2,000th career victory when the race was over.

But Pletcher’s favored Sunday Elegance gave up the lead without a fight. La Porta and Sumptuous ran second and third, respectively and Winning Move Stable’s Paint Me Red rallied for a neck victory in the mile and 70 yards inner dirt track feature.

Pletcher, who lost a bob earlier in the day at Gulfstream and who had two entered at Santa Anita on Sunday, had the milestone put on hold as Paint Me Red made her New York debut a successful one for trainer Gary Contessa, who took over as her trainer from Calder-based Bill White after three South Florida starts.

“Horses either go one way or another coming up from Florida,” Contessa said of the daughter of 2000 Preakness winner Red Bullet. “Sometimes, they fall apart in the cold; other times, they excel. Obviously, she’s excelled. She has improved since the day we got here, and I just don’t think she was a Florida horse. We’ll keep her in the program go to the next stake.”

Wonderwho’sbest broke for the early lead from outside Post six, but Sunday Elegance came up the rail to go to the front after a first quarter mile of :23.55 and the half in :48.13.

Off the turn, Wonderwho’sbest moved to the lead with no resistance from Sunday Elegance. Suddenly, Paint Me Red, who was steadied earlier in the race when D J Lightning was pulled up, and La Porta put in their runs, with Paint Me Red prevailing by a neck in 1:44.06

“She never really gave me the feeling that I had a lot of horse,” said winning jockey Ramon Dominguez. “I really thought I didn’t have a chance when that horse broke down in front of me and I had to go around her. She surprised me off the turn, because I asked her and all of a sudden, she was there. Obviously, that was a real nice debut for Gary (Contessa).”

The third choice of the crowd of 3,102, Paint Me Red returned $8.70 to win.