Windsharp Shoots for an Eclipse

Five weeks after one Eclipse Award was virtually wrapped up, another could be secured Sunday by a second female member of trainer Wally Dollase’s stable.

Jewel Princess should earn her forthcoming honor as the nation’s top female performer with a beating of Different and Serena’s Song in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff last month at Woodbine.

Now, Windsharp is in a position to win the award as the country’s top female on turf. All she seemingly has to do is win Sunday’s $700,000 Matriarch, the main event of Hollywood Park’s three-day, $2.15 million Turf Festival this weekend.

Most observers agree the Eclipse will be decided in the Matriarch, which is expected to attract 14 fillies and mares, many of them Grade I or Group I winners on more than one occasion.

For Windsharp, a victory Sunday would enable her to end her year the way she began it in February. In succession, she won the San Luis Obispo and San Luis Rey at Santa Anita, beating the boys and Wandesta, another Eclipse contender and Matriarch probable, both times.

Since then, her best finish in five starts has been a pair of seconds in the San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita and in the Jockey Club Handicap at Woodbine.

Most recently, she was fifth of 14 in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, but that was her first start after undergoing surgery to correct a problem with her soft palate.

The 5-year-old Lear Fan mare, who is owned by Martha and Richard Stephen and the Thoroughbred Corporation, the same people who have Jewel Princess, should move forward with that race behind her. Dollase is certainly confident.

“She’s doing super,” he said. “She couldn’t be better. The [operation] has made a different horse out of her. She’s done awfully well since then.”

After Windsharp was a disappointing fourth behind Singspiel in the Canadian International at Woodbine on Sept. 26, Dollase decided to have her checked. “I knew she was better than that and she was nervous and rank before the race,” he said.

The problem was discovered, and in effect, Windsharp’s air was being shut off, primarily because of nerves. “It was very cold that day [at Woodbine] and the wind was blowing about 35-40 mph. She was really uptight and rank [going to the gate].

“Because of the operation, she lost a whole week of training and maybe wasn’t at her best for the Breeders’ Cup, but she still ran a heckuva race. She beat all the American horses.”

All is well these days and she is ready for her second shot at the Matriarch. A year ago, in her second American start, after 13 races in Europe, Windsharp finished in a dead heat for fourth in this event, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by longshot winner Duda, who will also be back Sunday.

Timarida, who missed the Yellow Ribbon earlier this month because of fever, is the likely favorite on the strength of her 10 wins in 15 lifetime starts, including a decisive victory in the Beverly D. in August at Arlington International.

Dollase, though, is confident. “If [Windsharp] gets a good trip, I think we’re the winner,” he said.

Horse Racing Notes

Windsharp won’t be Wally Dollase’s only participant in the Turf Festival. Wild Zone will try to end his career with a victory in today’s $200,000 Hollywood Turf Express at 5 1/2 furlongs, then Saturday, Helmsman will try to end a five-race losing streak in the $300,000 Citation Handicap at 1 1/8 miles. Wild Zone, owned by Frank Stronach, will be shipped to Kentucky after the Turf Express to begin a career at stud. In his first start for Dollase, the 5-year-old son of Wild Again finished second to Comininalittlehot in the Morvich Handicap last month at Oak Tree.

Serena’s Song, retired two weeks ago by owners Bob and Beverly Lewis, will be bred to Mr. Prospector next year. Still at trainer Wayne Lukas’ barn at Churchill Downs, Serena’s Song, who finished with a record $3,283,388 in earnings, will be moved to Denali Stud in Paris, Ky. on Dec. 9.