Intense Holiday, Albano and the Risen Star

February 24, 2014

Dear Readers,

            Since I concentrated on the Fountain of Youth in Florida, I didn’t watch the Grade II Risen Star Stake at the Fairgrounds until today. Intense Holiday won the race in a very close, head-bobbing photo finish over Albano, and a tiring Vicar’s in Trouble.

 

            Everybody loves a winner, as do I. However, wait for it…but, and a big but it is. Intense Holiday has, no doubt, been running against some of the best three-year-olds that are out there so far, and no one can argue he doesn’t have the right connections.

            So I took a good look at his races, all of them. Throw out the first career start, five and half furlongs, green…yadda yadda.

 

Second race: He made the lead and he liked it.

Third race: Foxwoods Champagne Stakes GI at Belmont, well placed and had good position at the head of the lane, but came up empty.

Fourth race: He broke well and settled behind a tightly bunched pack. Then he was checked slightly down the backstretch as he ran up on heels. At this point his rider moved him to the outside where he passed a few horses on the turn. Down the lane he ducks sharply over to the rail, interfering with another horse while doing so. He then passed some tiring horses on the way to the wire. Intense Holiday didn’t look like he came up empty, nor did it  look like he was out classed. He just didn’t look enthusiastic about running down the leaders. Now that might have been the jockey, who could clearly see he wasn’t going to be able to improve his position, so why beat up on the colt.

Fifth race: Broke well, settled nicely in a race with a very slow pace being set on the front end. He had a clear path coming down the lane, and he did extend himself. However, it did look, to me, that he was lugging in and the jockey had to keep checking him slightly. He wasn’t going to win, but he could have been closer.

Sixth race: For me this was his best race yet. He looked like he tried. His move on the turn was impressive and he ran between horses. He didn’t look to be lugging down the lane and though he couldn’t come anywhere close to the winner, he did try.

And that brings us to the Risen Star. There were a lot of really long priced horses in this race—I’m just saying.  Intense Holiday was reported to have been fractious in the saddling paddock, but he was perfect in the gate, and one of the first loaded in a big field. He broke in a little and rounding the first turn had to be checked strongly when a hole closed up on him. I thought he looked more focused throughout the race and he took dead aim on Albano once he passed a tiring Vicar’s In Trouble.  

       Now I love speed, hey Quarter horse roots here, but I think Albano is a lightly raced question mark. His jockey, more-or-less, implied he didn’t see Intense Holiday coming. With Vicar’s in Trouble occupying the lane between the two, I can see how that happened.

       So what do I think? I would like to own any one of the horses in that field. But as far as the Kentucky Derby goes, can anybody spell Cairo Prince?

       Lots of fun to be had over the next few weeks on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, and I must admit it’s a lot less stressful tapping away at my computer, than campaigning a Kentucky Derby contender. But I would do it again, acid indigestion, sleepless nights and all. The wonder and excitement, easily outweighs the trials and tribulations.

Take care,

Shelley Riley, author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure

www.shelleyriley.com