PHILADELPHIA PARK NOTEBOOK
MAY 27, 2005
by Bernard T. Moore
Saturday’s featured contest was a six-furlong sprint contest for fillies and
mares who have never won two races in their lifetime. And, while the race was
obviously dwarfed by Afleet Alex’s (Northern Afleet) acrobatic effort in the
Preakness S. (G1) at Pimlico, these fillies nevertheless put on a respectable
show for the fans in attendance at Philly Park, as EXEMPT (Exploit) outgamed
runner-up Formalities Aside (Awesome Again) in a stirring stretch battle to post
a well-deserved length victory.
Exempt, an invader from Delaware Park, began to challenge the pacesetting
Formalities Aside at the half-mile pole. At that point, the 10th and featured
event at Philly Park was reduced to a virtual match race, with both runners
proceeding to distance themselves from the rest of the field. There was little
to choose between them in midstretch. However, Exempt, the recipient of an
energetic ride by jockey Victor Carrero, began to assert herself while edging
away slowly in deep stretch. She’s My Lady (Grand Slam) was a non-threatening
third as the 3-2 favorite while racing evenly throughout the race.
Despite getting away with snail-like fractions on the front end, Catlike Move
(Tabasco Cat), the odds-on favorite in an optional-claiming contest on Sunday,
could not stave off a determined late rally by VALLEYMAN (Valley Crossing) in
the final yards. The winner, ridden by jockey Todd Glasser, raced within
striking distance of the pacesetter down the backstretch, rating off the
pedestrian pace. He continued to track that rival into the stretch, and when
asked in earnest for a final bid, responded willingly to overhaul the leader in
deep stretch to win by a neck. Catlike Move really had no excuse while finishing
second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Nittany Express (Quarry), who ran third.
Valleyman had been winless the last two years, but has earned a boatload of
second- and third-place finishes during his racing career. I guess its true that
things do come to those who wait.
Those runners who stalked or closed from just off the pace did well on Monday
and Tuesday. That prevailing bias seemed to disappear on Saturday, but on
Sunday, stalkers did very well once again, especially in route contests. There
was an outside path bias all week which varied in intensity.
Harry Vega continues to hold a sizeable lead in the jockey standings over
Josiah Hampshire Jr. Jose Flores, Frankie Pennington and Victor Molina
maintained their positions in the standings.
Scott Lake owns a 10-win cushion over Jayne Vaders in the race for leading
trainer. Robert Seeger remains in third with Patricia Farro in fourth and
Guadalupe Preciado in fifth.
HORSES TO WATCH
Monday (5/16)
5TH – RUN N COKE (Line in the Sand) was a fine close-up, second-place
finisher despite a wide trip. Finished with good energy late while racing wide
as the race quickened.
7TH – DENIM DEBUTANTE (Vermont) held well while carving out a quick and
pestered pace toward the deeper inside. Finished with interest once displaced on
the front end.
Tuesday (5/17)
8TH – PARADE OUT FRONT (Eskimo) was sent to dictate the early pace, and was
then wrangled back down the backstretch. Re-rallied once moved off the inside to
gain the show in the stretch.
9TH – GADACE’S KHAMSEH (Piccolino) was clearly a tad short sprinting off the
layoff. Gained a tenuous lead after stalking the lead, but was unable to match
strides with the winner. Should have derived beneficial conditioning from this
effort.
Saturday (5/21)
3RD – SPOOKY GIRLFRIEND (Spectaculardynasty ) finished a strong second
chasing home a wire-to-wire winner in an abbreviated sprint that quickened
noticeably late.
7TH – SKIPPER JACK (Kelly Kip) dropped back into a conditioned claimer and
ran a much-improved second. Closed strongly in the stretch, overcoming rather
ordinary fractions on the front end. May be set for a career best effort if kept
at this level with Carrero up in next start.
9TH – BLUEBERRY PATCH (American Chance) was zealously spotted in first effort
meeting winners. Unfortunately encountered a multiple-race winner who was
dropping down and stretching out in distance. Exits an extremely quick race and
is better suited to conditioned claiming rivals.
Sunday (5/22)
2ND – BUSHY’S JULE (Ocean Splash) outran his 20-1 odds in his debut effort.
Bad actor prior to the start, refusing to enter the gate. Was then forced to
overcome an extreme outside post and a wide trip in a race that was quick from
start to finish while reporting home a creditable third.
3RD – BIG WAGNER (On Target) switched to a dirt sprint on the drop and
finished a heartbreaking second in Philly Park debut. Yielded grudgingly in deep
stretch after exhibiting much improved early speed. Most recent win came at a
mile.
9TH – PULPIT HARBOR (Nicholas) was a good third in second start over the
Philly Park oval. Carved out a lively pace and held well despite racing along
the deeper inside. Might benefit from a little class relief.