BELMONT NOTEBOOK
SEPTEMBER 29, 2011
by John Mucciolo
Another sophomore filly stole the headlines this weekend at Belmont Park.
Gallant Bloom H. (G2): Trainer Amy Tarrant’s POMEROY’S PISTOL (Pomeroy) passed her first
test against elders with flying colors in powering home a four-length winner in
this one under Javier Castellano. The speedy Florida-bred endured 6 1/2 panels on
the good main oval in 1:16 3/5.
Track Stats
A total of 47 races were held over the Elmont, New York, venue, with favorites
winning at a 26 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 60
percent of the wins. From 35 races on the main oval, 14 animals won in
wire-to-wire fashion (40 percent), and three runners led at every call on the
lawn from 12 races (25 percent).
The main oval played very well for speed types over the last three days of
the week, with 12 winners leading at every call from 28 dirt runs. The tracks
varied from sloppy, sealed, to muddy, sealed, and on Sunday, good. We’d
recommend giving speed types an extra long look when the main track is off.
All three grassy wire-to-wire winners were on the inner turf, two in routes
and one in a sprint.
Meet Totals
| RACES: | 114 | |
| DIRT: | 67 | |
| TURF: | 47 | |
| FAVORITES: | 37 (32 percent) | |
| 2ND CHOICES: | 30 (26 percent) | |
| TURF WIRE: | 7 (15 percent) | |
| DIRT WIRE: | 20 (30 percent) |
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (9/21)
3RD — STEEL BRIDGE (Arch) defeated what could be a useful runner with a solid
closing run in this one, and the Shug McGaughey trainee could be one to watch
right back with winners. This one could probably excel on turf, and with more
distance.
4TH — EDIT (Unbridled’s Song) was a very nice third at first
asking behind a pair of good ones, and should graduate in the very near future
for Richard Dutrow.
6TH — McGaughey unveiled another good one on this day in IMAGINING
(Giant’s Causeway), who toyed with this group in a stout maiden score under
Castellano. The sophomore colt got his final three-eighths in :35, the
last furlong of which was recorded in :11 3/5 under a virtual hand ride.
Friday (9/23)
3RD — ROMAN TREASURE (Roman Ruler) made short work of this field,
taking over at the half-mile mark and gliding home an emphatic eight-length
winner under Ramon Dominguez. The Michael Hushion-trained three-year-old will
surely jump back into graded competition next out.
7TH — ALARMIST (Hook and Ladder) showed big improvement off of his
last at Saratoga and was a bit unlucky not to have won this race for conditioner
Leah Gyarmati. The gelded New York-bred was five lengths clear of third and
should get the job done very soon.
Saturday (9/24)
2ND — SPRING TO THE SKY (Langfuhr) put in one of the better juvenile
performances of the young meeting with a 9 3/4-length thrashing of his foes at
first asking for trainer Bruce Brown. The colt is bred to run longer, and handle
the lawn, and seems to have a very bright future ahead of him.
Sunday (9/25)
2ND — LEAD ME ON (Broken Vow) was more than eight lengths clear in second in
a fine debut run for conditioner Mark Hennig. The juvenile filly doesn’t hail
from a barn that excels with debuting types, so we will surely keep tabs on this
miss as she progresses.
A Look Ahead
Super Saturday is upon us — the top racing day at the Belmont fall meeting.
Leading the way on the star-studded afternoon is the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold
Cup (G1). Also on tap for Saturday are the $500,000 Flower Bowl Invitational
(G1), $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational S. (G1), $350,000 Beldame
Invitational S. (G1), $350,000 Vosburgh Invitational S. (G1) and $200,000
Kelso H. (G2).
The Sunday features include the $150,000 Nashua S. (G2), $100,000 Miss Grillo
S. (G3), $100,000 Pilgrim S. (G3) and $100,000 Tempted S. (G3).