BELMONT NOTEBOOK
OCTOBER 14
by John Mucciolo
Saturday was the showcase for the juveniles at Belmont, and it
was a test to see who could move on to the bigger riches offered
in the respective October 30 Breeders’ Cup events at Lone Star.
First up were the fillies challenging the $500,000 Frizette S.
(G1) going 1 1/16 miles over Big Sandy.
Post time favorite BALLETTO (UAE) (Timber Country) rated off
lively early fractions of :23, :46 1/5 and 1:10 3/5, burst
through a huge opening on the inside, and closed strongly to earn
her initial graded tally, beneath Corey Nakatani for conditioner
Tom Albertrani. The consistent two-year-old filly stopped the
clock in 1:43 2/5, and although nothing has been made official,
she appears to be right on track for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Fillies (G1) later this month.
Ready’s Gal (More Than Ready) entered this race undefeated
from two starts, but could do no better than second on this day.
The Todd Pletcher trainee raced wide throughout and endured a
somewhat eventful stretch run, yet has plenty of room for
improvement. The personal opinion is that this bay is a much more
intriguing candidate to run big at Lone Star due to her trip and
lightly raced status, although neither of the top pair look
extraordinary.
Approximately 30 minutes later, eight colts lined up to
contest the $500,000 Champagne S. (G1), led by the unbeaten
Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet). In what turned out to be an
outstanding race both in talent and excitement, PROUD ACCOLADE
(Yes It’s True) ranged up four wide turning for home, took the
lead from a slightly tiring Sun King (Charismatic), and held the
late-charging Afleet Alex at bay to remain unbeaten from three
lifetime outings.
The Pletcher trainee spotted his rivals ground at each portion
of the race, yet still stopped the clock in a swift 1:42 3/5,
which included a final five-sixteenths in a superb :31 3/5. His
rating ability and push-button acceleration should make him
especially tough at Lone Star.
Take nothing away from Afleet Alex or the third place Sun
King, as they both put in excellent efforts. The thinking here is
that we may have seen the top three juveniles in the United
States here, and all three should be respected in the forthcoming
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
The following race matched eight going a mile on the sod in
the $270,000 Kelso Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) run over the Widener
turf course. Although this race has not been the most important
of preps for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), this year might be the
exception. MR O’ BRIEN (Ire) (Mukaddamah) bided his time until he
found a hole, and once the five-year-old did, it was over.
Trained by Robin Graham and piloted by Eibar Coa, Mr. O’ Brien
ran his final two quarter-mile fractions in :22 4/5 and :23 1/5,
exactly the kind of acceleration needed to win a high caliber
mile race.
Millennium Dragon (GB) (Mark Of Esteem [Ire]) is not headed to
the Breeders’ Cup according to his connections, but ran very well
in here to gain place honors as a nearly 7-1 overlay.
Closing out the flurry of stakes action was the biggest prize
of all, when five distaffers went postward in the $735,000
Beldame S. (G1). This race was the swan song for the exciting,
Belmont-loving SIGHTSEEK (Distant View), and did she ever go out
in style. Breaking alertly from the opening bell, the
five-year-old mare secured the lead in this paceless affair and
was allowed an opening half-mile in a pedestrian :48 2/5 under
Javier Castellano.
From there it was cruise control for the Bobby Frankel
trainee, registering fractions of 1:12 4/5 and 1:36 4/5, prior to
stopping the teletimer in 1:49 3/5 to repeat as Beldame champ.
For her career, Sightseek racked up 12 wins from 20 starts and
banked more than $2.4 million in earnings. She was especially
fond of the Empire State, Belmont in particular, where she was
perfect from six attempts. She’ll be truly missed.
Society Selection (Coronado’s Quest) closed well from off the
pace to gain second and earned a spot in the Breeders’ Cup
Distaff (G1) for Allen Jerkens. Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat),
also Lone Star bound, was taken out of her element when close to
the pace and settled for the show. Although the Jerkens charge is
winless from three starts outside of New York, Society Selection
has improved a great deal as this year has progressed and could
earn a spot on the board in the Cup.
“CHALK” WATCH
A total of 57 races were contested over the past six racing
days, and favorites continue to perform well. With 23 top betting
selections crossing the wire first (40 percent), and 12 second
choices winning (21 percent), longshot players were once again up
against it at Belmont.
Thursday and Saturday were especially “chalky,” when
an astounding 14 of the 19 winners were favored (73 percent).
CURRENT LEADERS
John Velazquez has clearly planted himself atop the New York
jockey colony, and is likely riding as well as anyone on the
planet. He leads the current Belmont meet with 44 wins, a 29
percent win rate, and $2,972,117 in monies earned. Futilely
chasing him are Cornelio Velasquez (28 wins), Edgar Prado (26),
Castellano (26) and Richard Migliore (21).
On the trainers’ front, Pletcher and Richard Dutrow are
deadlocked in with 13 wins apiece. While Pletcher has gotten to
that point by sending out 63 starters, Dutrow has compiled his
from just 37 (35 percent wins). Bruce Levine has been steadily
hot throughout the meet and has now had 11 first-place finishers
(35 percent).
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (10/6)
3rd — SHAKE THE DICE (Boundary) looked real good in this
race, pouncing in the stretch to win going away by 1 1/2 lengths.
The gelding finished fast and earned a 100 BRIS Speed figure for
his trouble. Expect the six-year-old in allowance company next time.
8th — MOGADOR (Danzig) had no pace to run at but closed
admirably in his stakes debut. Clement has been conservative with
this one, but the four-year-old can close with the best of them
when he has something to run at.
Thursday (10/7)
9th — KFAR DANIEL (Fr) (Spinning World) waited for the right
time and blew by his competitors to break his maiden for Frankel.
This two-year-old was much the best in here and could be a real
good one.
Friday (10/8)
4th — It’s hard to get excited about a 2-5 shot winning by eight
lengths, but you can when that horse is SALUTE (Unbridled). The
two-year-old filly was produced from Personal Ensign (Private
Account) and is a half-sister to some fine runners. The final
time for the mile was an average 1:38 1/5, but marked an
improvement from her debut.
Saturday (10/9)
2nd — SURVIVALIST (Danzig) was one of many Shug McGauhey runners
looking good this weekend, but this one may possess the most
upside. Exiting a live heat on Travers Day when unplaced, the
colt got into the bit early and waltzed home a facile 8 1/2-length winner beneath Migliore. The dark bay had been
sharp in the mornings, and transformed that ability on the big
stage like a good horse should. We may all be hearing much more
about the colt for the next year or so, remember where you heard
his name first.
4th — HECKLE (Hennessy) made his turf debut in here, and likely
found his new home for Pletcher. The terribly fast colt was quick
early and quick late, and was especially impressive when spurting
away from a good group turning for home.
7th — SILVER TRAIN (Old Trieste) ran into the wrong group at the
wrong time but should rebound and win some races. He shouldn’t find many like
the top three finishers he faced here in the future.
Sunday (10/10)
8th — ANDOVER LADY (Kris S.) was wide throughout and closed
gamely to miss by just a nose and pair of necks. A more sensible
trip for the four-year-old could find her in the winner’s circle
in her next venture.
Monday (10/11)
4th — DADDY JOE (Unbridled’s Song) digressed from an excellent
debut but will be very tough to upend in her next try. The expensive
two-year-old in training purchase didn’t appear to be very
comfortable on the inside part of the track.
A LOOK AHEAD
Thursday’s card looks quite competitive, especially with three
contentious maiden races carded, the 4TH, 6TH and 9TH races.
In Race 4, #4 Smuggler (Unbridled) is out of champion Inside
Information and has been working well for Shug McGauhey. A
positive sign is that of John Velazquez riding first time out.
Race 6 will have two-year-old fillies on the lawn, never an
easy task for handicappers. A pair of first time starters, #3
Sugar Plum and #8 Oodles of Noodles, are well bred for the grass
and merit attention first out.
Race 9 is a six furlong sprint on the main track that drew 14
entrants. #13 Karakorum Splendor drew very wide in here, but ran
into a good one last out and could improve for trainer Jimmy
Jerkens.