The Dog Days of Summer

Jason Levin

I went to Hollywood Park over the July 4th weekend more than a bit jaded. I left exhilarated. As always, it's the horses that save you.

First I went for a "Candy Ride." An undefeated colt that went three for three in his native Argentina last year, he won an allowance impressively in his only US start. Word was he was the real deal, and we were sure to find out because he was facing Special Ring, one of the fastest turf milers in the world. It was a step-up in class similar to a baseball team that had only faced the Tigers suddenly playing the Yankees, a move that has broken more spirits than a Marine drill instructor.

Not Candy Ride. He broke smoothly, kept Special Ring honest early, engaged him on the turn, then put him away with a powerful, sustained stretch run that was as inspiring as it was impressive.

The colt could well be the next superstar in the sport, and his Hall of Fame connections know it. Trainer Ron McAnally said he "gets shivers" holding his stopwatch when the horse works, and compared him favorably with Gentleman, the versatile South American import who won over $3 million under his tutelage a few years back.

Jockey Gary Stevens, who has been on a decent horse or two, couldn't wipe the smile off his face throughout a lengthy post-race interview. "He's really serious. He gives me a really special feeling and he's just as good on turf or dirt. The sky's the limit."

McAnally had given owners Sid and Jenny "Have a salad" Craig a chance to buy Gentleman a while back and they had passed, but they ponied up this time, to the tune of $900,000. "I've never seen Ronnie so excited about a horse," said Sid Craig, and considering that the classy McAnally has trained John Henry, Paseana, and Bayakoa to name but a few, those are words to remember. The Craig's bought Candy Ride with the Pacific Classic in mind, and they way the horse ran on the 4th, that might not be the only "Classic" on their fall program.

The very next day was the second running of the American Oaks at Hollywood, a 1 _ race for three year-old fillies that attracted a full, United Nations-like field of fourteen. The class of the European contingent was Dimitrova, third in the Irish Guineas in her last start. However, having never run over a mile and never over such a fast, firm turf course, she was let go as the 9-2 second choice. Can you say gift?

Never far from the leaders, she was asked to go by David Flores at the top of the lane and responded with a move that left mouths open in awe across the grandstand. What was a four horse race was over in a split second, and the only questions then were how much she'd win by and how soon we'd get to see her run again. She won by three, and thankfully trainer Dermot Weld said he'll likely bring her back to California in the fall for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, Matriarch, or both.

Then came the baby. Two year-olds rejuvenate, reinvigorate and allow one to dream and what looked like a nightmare at the top of the stretch turned into the sweetest of dreams in Sunday's seventh race.

The top outfits generally wait until Del Mar to unveil their best prospects, but Eoin Harty doesn't have that luxury. The stable trainer for Dubai's Sheik Mohammed, Harty has only five months (June through October) with his two year-olds before they're all shipped back to the Persian Gulf.

He chose July 6th to start the career of Tizdubai, a full sister to the great Tiznow, and as beginnings go, it was a doozy. The bettors made her the 4-5 favorite over a relatively weak group of fellow Cal-breds, but as a relieved Harty said after the race, "I'd have been happy with fourth at the top of the lane."

Pinched back nearing the turn, Tizdubai was all dressed up with nowhere to go, waiting and hoping for a hole to open. Even when young horses do see daylight, they're reluctant to bull their way through. Not Tizdubai, who made like an NFL running back when the hole opened and surged in between horses aggressively. However, while she'd been idling, a 15-1 longshot had sailed around the logjam and was already two lengths clear and headed for home. Tizdubai was rolling, but the leader began to drift in, forcing her to downshift and alter course yet again.

Most horses have one good move in them. Some have two, but only the rarest of the rare have more. Tizdubai got straightened out with less than a hundred yards to run and unleashed move number three, catching the longshot near the wire, and galloping out happily as jaws dropped throughout the plant.

So, to three horses I'd never seen before; an Argentinian stud, a flying filly from Ireland and precocious California youngster, I say thanks for restoring my faith and I hope to see you soon.

Is this a great game or what?