MEADOWLANDS NOTEBOOK
NOVEMBER 1, 2005
by Bernard T. Moore
I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but the
Meadowlands was once again forced to cancel a live card of racing. Their tale of woe
continues as inclement weather forced Tuesday’s live card to be scrapped,
joining the ever growing list of cancellations that have plagued “The Big M”
Fall
Meet.
Racing resumed on Wednesday night as planned, but both grass contests were
transferred to the main track. Turf racing returned on Friday, and there were
three more races scheduled for the lawn on Saturday night. However, only one
race was run on the inner course, as the turf still remains in a “bog like”
state due to all the recent rain. Contests scheduled for turf continue to draw
full and contentious fields. The lack of grass racing has definitely had a
negative impact at the Meadowlands. Dry and seasonably warm weather
has been forecast this week, and a stretch of good weather would undoubtedly be
embraced by management, horsemen and handicappers.
Friday’s night feature brought together two-year-old fillies for the Holly
S. at six furlongs. Odds-on favoritism in the race was bestowed upon CELESTIAL
LEGEND (City Zip), and she did not disappoint, accelerating in the stretch to
overhaul the leader and draw clear to win impressively by 3 1/2 lengths. Wild
and Proud (Wild Again) closed belatedly from off the pace to finish second, five
lengths ahead of Primary Motive (Prime Timber).
The winner, trained by Dale Capuano, kept her unblemished record intact while
registering her initial stakes victory in the Holly. She was originally
scheduled to be ridden by Jeremy Rose, but Chris DeCarlo filled in quite capably, completing a riding double on the card.
RICARDO A (Out of Place), ridden by jockey Aaron Gryder, took full advantage
of a speed biased course to take his field gate to wire in the Alysheba S. The
winner was able to dictate modest fractions while running along the best part of
the course, and then had enough gas in the tank to hold all of late challengers
to score by a half-length. Trueamericanspirit (Is It True) stalked the winner
throughout and finished gamely in the stretch. Pushed (Double Niner) raced in
the second flight of runners while saving ground, and finished with interest
late, but lacked the necessary punch in the stretch to overtake the top two
finishers.
The Witches’ Brew H., originally meant for turf, was decimated when the race
was switched to the main track. Originally, 18 runners were entered for
the five-furlong grass contest for fillies and mares, but only six runners
actually made it to the starting gate. PLATINUM PERFECT (Jules) made a shambles
out of the race when she wired the field to score by nine widening lengths over
Spring Rush (Wild Rush). The runner-up dueled with the winner to the stretch,
but was ultimately no match for that rival late. Chez Audra (Northern Afleet)
finished a non-threatening third.
Joe Bravo leads Jose Lezcano by two victories in the jockey standings. DeCarlo, Channing Hill and Jose A. Velez Jr. are all tied for third.
Todd Pletcher and Tim Hills share the top spot in the trainer standings. Pat
Farro hold down third place, with Kelly Breen, Jason Servis and Jim Ryerson all
in a dead-heat for fourth.
After Tuesday’s cancellation, racing returned on Wednesday. Early speed
dominated the results in sprints and routes. That trend became more intense as
the week progressed as the course resembled a paved highway.
Speed ruled on the grass course as well when it was in use.
The inside paths were definitely the place to be all week. Those runners
relegated to an outside trip appeared as though they were running in beach sand.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (10/26)
7TH – ROYAL DOVE (DOVE HUNT) finished a good second off the shelf. Improved
her position over a course favoring inside speed in a swiftly run race for the
class level. Obviously fits well in a preliminary allowance contest for a top
barn.
9TH – VELOCITY (Running Stag) offered an improved effort in his first dirt start,
which is not his preferred surface, for trainer
George Albright. Finished with
interest over the speed-biased track and is better suited to the turf.
Thursday (10/27)
3RD – THOSE SHOES (Mutakddim) failed to exhibit her usual tactical speed.
Suffered a wide trip over an inside speed biased track. Did well to finish third
and appears better suited to a sprint.
4TH – CHRISTIAN ANTHONY (Demaloot Demashoot) showed an improved effort on the
drop for trainer Scott Lake. Raced in the deeper part of the course disputing
the pace and continued on well late to finish second.
Friday (10/28)
6TH – PAMMIE FROM MIAMI (Cozzene) rebounded nicely while switching to the
Meadowlands. Finished with interest to get third over the intense speed bias.
7TH – CELESTIAL LEGEND (City Zip) was caught three wide contesting a fast
pace in the deeper part of the track. Dropped back a bit but then leveled off
strongly in the stretch, covering the last furlong in :12.68 — an extremely
impressive effort.
Saturday (10/29)
2ND – TASTING CHAMPAGNE (Halo’s Image) finished a much-improved second facing
limited winners once again. Held well dictating the pace in a race that was fast
from start to finish. Has dangerous tactical speed.
7TH – ITSAWONDERFULIFE (Skip Away) was caught four wide making his bid versus
modest fractions over an inside speed biased track. Has been overmatched in both
starts at the Meadowlands and needs only some class relief for a better effort.