Westchester

Belmont Park kicks off its 2009 meet Wednesday with the $100,000 Westchester
H. (G3), and the one-mile event will feature 10 runners. FORMIDABLE (Sky Mesa)
opened this year with an impressive pair of victories at Gulfstream Park,
breaking his maiden and winning an allowance race by open lengths, but he
weakened slightly when stepping up to face stakes rivals for the first time in
the Gulfstream Park H. (G2) last out, finishing third by two lengths. He’s
eligible to improve upon that educational experience and will receive first-time
Lasix from trainer Allen Jerkens. With his formidable BRIS numbers and promising
form, Formidable is our top choice.

BRIBON (Fr) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]) is a hard-hitting six-year-old gelding
from the shedrow of Robert Ribaudo. With BRIS Speed ratings of 107 and 106
(twice) in his last five starts, the chestnut is fast enough to challenge for it
all here, and Bribon has gained valuable stakes experience since making his U.S.
stakes debut with a close third in the Cigar Mile H. (G1) in November. He merits
serious respect.

DISCREET TREASURE (El Prado [Ire]) is going well presently, recording a pair
of wins over allowance rivals at Gulfstream, and he’s one for one at Belmont,
breaking his maiden my 12 1/4 lengths over a muddy track last year. Rain will
move up chances on Wednesday, and we give the Stanley Hough a shot to run well
regardless of conditions. We’ll use him in our top three.

MORE CHANCES (American Chance) has come to hand this season for Richard
Dutrow, recording a trio of victories at Aqueduct, and he’ll stretch out from
six to eight furlongs here. The five-year-old horse looks capable of handling a
one-turn mile, and he figures to sit a good stalking trip from the outside under
Richard Migliore. Mor Chances will bring excellent BRIS Speed and Class ratings
into the Westchester.

TALE OF EKATI (Tale of the Cat) returned to the races this season with a pair
of dull efforts, recording unplaced finishes in the Carter H. (G1) and Richter
Scale S. (G2), and we’re leery of his chances here. The Barclay Tagg trainee has
the back class to turn things around, recording a pair of Grade 1 victories in
2008, and the one-mile distance is a good fit, but we’ll have to let him beat
us. WISHFUL TOMCAT (Tactical Cat) will show speed for Dutrow, who could have him
ready for a top try, but we don’t like the four-year-old’s recent efforts. We
could see including him on the bottom of an exotic wager, but we’re more
inclined to stay away.

CAVE’S VALLEY (Stephen Got Even) steps up from a win over allowance/optional
claiming rivals at Laurel Park. His BRIS Speed ratings are solid, but the
four-year-old colt figures to receive a serious class check. PER INCANTO (Street
Cry [Ire]) was a successful Italian sprinter in 2007, but he ran poorly in three
English starts last season and shipped to the barn of Kiaran McLaughlin. He made
his U.S. bow a winning one when capturing a six-furlong allowance/optional
claiming event over the inner track at Aqueduct last out, but he barely held on
that day and still has questions to answer against better rivals on dirt.

WICKED B. HAVIOR (Unbridled’s Song) exits a couple of decent showing against
lesser company at Keeneland and Gulfstream, but his Speed figures don’t compare
favorably to the top contenders. We’ll just watch to see how he fares in his
stakes debut. Fair Grounds shipper SPIN MASTER (Distorted Humor) probably
prefers a little less ground.