BELMONT PARK NOTEBOOK
JUNE 18, 2009
by Albie Johnson
A lot of moisture fell on Belmont this past week as racing returned to a
steadier beat after all the excitement of the Belmont S. (G1) quieted down.
A pair of graded stakes headed by the Ogden Phipps H. (G1) highlighted the
weekend with seven runners, headed by a three-horse entry squaring off in the 1
1/16-mile contest worth $300,000. The entry was comprised of the Godolphin pair
of Seventh Street (Street Cry [Ire]), Music Note (A.P. Indy) and the Darley
representative of Sea Chanter (War Chant). The trio was backed down to heavy
favoritism with SEATTLE SMOOTH (Quiet American), who was bidding for her fifth
consecutive victory, the solid second choice.
The race set up perfectly for that runner as a pace battle ensued with
Seventh Street eventually winning the duel up front, drawing clear in
midstretch. However, she was unable to hold off Seattle Smooth, who tracked in
hand, swung out turning for home and proved best late to win going away by 1 1/4
lengths.
The four-year-old filly is undefeated since coming under the care of Tony
Dutrow and has been impressive in all of her victories. Ramon Dominguez
contributed a patient and well-timed move and has been aboard in four of her
five wins.
Seventh Street raced gallantly in defeat and stablemate Music Note looked
like a runner who was badly in need of a race.
Sunday’s feature, the Poker S. (G3), was run on the Widener turf course over
ground labeled soft after more rain fell on Saturday night. The race looked like
a two-horse affair with Kip Deville (Kipling) and Tam Lin (GB) (Selkirk), who
had finished one-two in this event last year, squaring off in a small field of
five runners in the one-mile contest.
Kip Deville took the early lead with Tam Lin stalking while saving ground on
the rail. The pace quickened just past the three-eighths pole with the former
unable to open up and his rival holding his position on the hedge. Meanwhile,
SAILOR’S CAP (Distant View) began to make up ground racing wide approaching the
stretch and as they straightened away it became obvious that it was not Kip
Deville’s day. While Sailor’s Cap went by on the outside Tam Lin slipped through
on the inside to secure the place spot with last year’s winner fading to fourth.
A Grade 3 winner, Sailor’s Cap was making his seasonal bow after racing well in a number of
three-year-old stakes last season. Trainer Jimmy Toner did a great job by having
him ready off the layoff and Alan Garcia always had plenty of horse underneath
him the entire race. Unfortunately, however, the ill-fated four-year-old colt
won’t have the opportunity to go on to greater glory in the future. He died
suddenly in his stall at Belmont on Wednesday from unknown causes.
As for the vanquished, Tam Lin ran very well and Kip Deville, after training
superbly, looked like either a short horse or one who did not care for the soft
going.
Earlier in the week, COMMENTATOR (Distorted Humor) made his second start of
2009 a successful one by going wire-to-wire on a track labeled muddy in an
overnight stakes on Friday. The veteran gelding ran his local record to 8-5-1-2
and trainer Nick Zito has the August 8 Whitney (G1) as the main goal of his
runner’s summer campaign. The speedy eight-year-old will be seeking his third
triumph in that traditional Saratoga event.
Track Conditions
Wednesday: good and yielding
Thursday: sloppy and sealed, soft turf course
Friday: sloppy and sealed, off the turf
Saturday: good and soft
Sunday: fast and soft
The main track favored speed and stalkers with the turf course playing to
runners from coming from off the pace.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (9/10)
3RD — Making his first start since early December, UNITY (Tiger Ride)
stumbled badly at the start and was hard used from his inside post to attain the
lead. He proceeded to set fast fractions and only tired in the last sixteenth. A
miscue cost him the win.
4TH — ROARING GHOST (Roaring Fever) raced a bit erratically while in between
runners much of the race. The effort was only his second lifetime start, first
in three months and first on the turf. He finished a close-up third in this spot
and should get his maiden win soon.
Thursday (9/11)
5TH — Debuting filly FLASHY AND FAST (Double Honor) had a rather poor star,
was quickly rushed to chase a fast pace on the sloppy track and predictably
tired from that effort turning for home. Not pushed the last quarter-mile, she
should run well at a square price next out.
Friday (9/12)
9TH — Running in a race switched to the main track, NAVEDANO (Western
Expression) chased a fast pace in the off going and held well until they
straightened away and tired thereafter. She should be tighter next out with a
likely return to the infield.
Saturday (9/13)
3RD — LAUREATE CONDUCTOR (Bernstein), who had showed some talent in his
three previous starts, relished the soft turf in this spot. The sophomore colt
broke on top, was pressed early while well in hand and sprinted clear once
Dominguez asked him for some run. He drew away late to win by 7 1/4 lengths in
an impressive maiden score. Trainer Christophe Clement, who is having an
outstanding meet, looks to have another quality grass horse in this dark bay
colt.
9TH — After failing in a pair of stakes on turf and Polytrack, MASALA (Lion
Heart) was returned to the dirt, dropped into an allowance and looked sharp in
victory in this 1 1/16-mile contest and did so despite some trouble at the
break. The colt was also making his first start for Allen Jerkens after a recent
transfer to his barn from the Todd Pletcher outfit. The three-year-old may be a
late bloomer.
Upcoming Stakes
The New York S. (G2) for distaffers going 1 1/4 miles on the turf is set for
Saturday.
Have a nice week!