Springhouse Takes Shot in Cup and Saucer

Trainer Mike Keogh will be represented by a pair of talented Gus Schickedanz homebreds Oct. 11 at Woodbine as Springhouse, in the $250,000 Cup and Saucer, and Sweet Grass Creek, in the Bunty Lawless, look to continue their good run of form.

Springhouse, a gray son of Limehouse  , will tackle a field of 12 in the grassy 1 1/16-mile Cup and Saucer for Canadian-bred juveniles, while Sweet Grass Creek, a chestnut son of Wando, entertains a field of 14, plus an also-eligible Gran Bid, in the Bunty Lawless, a one-mile turf tilt for Ontario-sired stock.

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Keogh won the Cup and Saucer Stakes in 2002 with Mobil and he's hopeful that Springhouse, gelded after his disappointing debut on July 19, will be a cut above on Sunday.

"The first time we ran him it was a bit of a surprise. We'd schooled him in the paddock the week before that start and he was a good boy, but when we brought him over to run he was awful," said Keogh of the studdish fellow. "Mr. Schickedanz was there that day and saw what happened so we gelded the horse before his next start."

In his next outing, Springhouse finished a strong second to Sky Marshal in the prep for the Summer Stakes (Can-IIT). That winner came back to run second to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) contender Conquest Daddyo in the Summer.

"I don't think he was going to get the winner. He was green and it was only his second start," said Keogh of the good tracking effort.

Last time out Sept. 18, Springhouse stalked the early pace of longshot York Ranger, saving ground along the rail under David Moran, before making the lead at the top of the lane and drawing off to an impressive 1 1/2-length score.

"I was very pleased with it. I liked the way he ran and I thought David gave him a lovely ride. He got him covered up and got him to relax. It was quite a nice effort," said Keogh of the breakthrough score.

A pair of good morning training efforts finds Springhouse in fine fettle for Sunday's test as the gray looks to keep the ball rolling.

"He's doing well. He's worked twice since and David worked him on the turf, going a minute and change (1:00 4/5 on the training turf on Oct. 4) just breezing. We've got everything right so far," Keogh said.

And the veteran conditioner, in the midst of a good season with 9 wins from 53 starts, believes Springhouse should relish the added distance.

"If you watch the replay of his maiden win, he galloped out strong, nobody got by him.  I'm hoping for a clean trip," said Keogh.

The loaded Cup and Saucer field includes a pair of Mark Casse trainees, a talented Sam-Son Farm homebred, and a number of recent maiden winners.

Casse will saddle the Conquest Stables duo of Conquest Enforcer and Conquest Twister.

Conquest Enforcer, a well-regarded son of Into Mischief  , made his debut in the Summer Stakes and overcame a slow start to finish fourth under pilot Patrick Husbands. The $210,000 Fasig-Tipton yearling sale purchase has breezed twice since the debut effort including a quick Sept. 26 work on the Woodbine main in 1:00 3/5.

Conquest Twister, a bay son of Twirling Candy   purchased for $92,000 at the Canadian-bread Yearling Sale, debuted in style with a 3 3/4-length score in a five-furlong maiden allowance over the Woodbine Polytrack. Last time out, the colt made the pace in the Simcoe Stakes only to lose by a desperate nose to a rallying Ami's Gizmo. Husbands is named on both Casse entrants.

Malcolm Pierce will saddle Butterfly Dance, a Sam-Son Farm homebred son of Awesome Again  . A half-brother to stakes winner Smartyfly, Butterfly Dance made his debut a winning one with a driving length score in a six furlong turf allowance. Eurico Rosa da Silva retains the mount.

Terry Hamilton's Hammers Vision, a bay son of Court Vision  , won his debut over the Belmont Park turf for trainer Brian Lynch and came back to finish third in the Saratoga Special (gr. II) over the main track. Last time out in the Summer Stakes, Hammers Vision endured a troubled trip en route to a seventh-place finish. Justin Stein takes over from da Silva.