BELMONT NOTEBOOK
JULY 16, 2015
by John Mucciolo
There was no graded racing this week at Belmont Park.
Track Stats
A total of 47 races were held at the Elmont, New York venue, with favorites
winning at a 30 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 51
percent of the wins during the week. From 22 races on the main oval, six animals
won in wire-to-wire fashion (27 percent), while seven of the 25 grassy races
were taken all the way on the lead (28 percent).
We thought the racing all around was fair this past week. We witnessed
runners on the main oval win from up top and rally from last, both along the
fence and when wide. All six of the wire-to-wire winners on the main strip came
in sprint runs.
The turf was superb in our view, as we also witnessed last-to-first winners,
as well as wire jobs. From seven who led at every call on the green, a trio came
in sprint runs and four going long.
Meet Totals
| RACES: | 506 | |
| DIRT: | 267 | |
| TURF: | 239 | |
| FAVORITES: | 192 (38 percent) | |
| 2ND CHOICES: | 111 (22 percent) | |
| TURF WIRE: | 47 (20 percent) | |
| DIRT WIRE: | 65 (24 percent) |
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (7/8)
3RD — IRONICUS (Distorted Humor) continued his consistently good run on the
turf with a facile allowance tally for trainer Shug McGaughey. The four-year-old
Grade 2 hero has never finished out of the money on the green and is evolving
into one of the better grass runners on the coast.
7TH — INDIAN TRAIL (Indian Charlie) tracked close to a fast pace, took a
short lead near midstretch and gamely held well in the lane to be a clear second
under John Velazquez. The Todd Pletcher pupil won’t be a maiden for long.
8TH — SPEEDING COMET (Sky Mesa) broke slowest from the rail in this
allowance and never had smooth sailing until late, surging near the line to get
third with a real tricky voyage for John Toscano Jr. The four-year-old colt
looks like a heady claim because he seems to belong at this level.
Thursday (7/9)
3RD — Trainer Kenny McPeek doesn’t saddle too many first-out juvenile
winners, so when WONDERMENT (Cosmonaut) came home best in this dash, we took
notice. Tab this New York-bred filly as one to watch with expected improvement.
7TH — BULLHEADED BOY (Bullsbay) was last to the top of the lane but put in a
sharp rally in the lane to win by a length beneath Irad Ortiz Jr. The Pletcher
trainee has won two in a row since adding blinkers and sports a 3-2-1-0 line
overall on the turf — a surface he seems better upon.
Friday (7/10)
6TH — TOKEN OF LOVE (Cape Cross) sat in last behind a fast early pace before
rolling to a 2 1/2-length decision for conditioner Graham Motion. The
four-year-old import ran easily her best race since coming to the U.S. and might
be stakes bound once again after this showing.
Saturday (7/11)
2ND — TANGO TIME (Danehill Dancer) was stuck behind a dawdling early pace
but still ran well in the lane to be fourth, an effort that is better than it
appears on paper. The Pletcher trainee, who was off for more than one year,
should build upon this going forward.
3RD — PROVEN COMMODITY (Bernardini) sped to the front soon after the break
and left no doubt in a powerful graduating run for trainer Tom Albertrani. The
sophomore colt didn’t beat the best field ever assembled, perhaps, but looked
good in victory, nonetheless.
9TH — Grade 1 star WICKED STRONG (Tapit) ran a bit spotty in his grassy
debut but still showed life once clear, finishing second to a sharp winner, and could have a future on the lawn with
more experience. The classy four-year-old deserves another chance on the turf in
our view.
Sunday (7/12)
6TH — MIDNIGHT CITRA (Midnight Lute) was impressive in this graduating
performance for Bill Mott, running down the odds-on choice who was clear in the
lane. The three-year-old miss showed no rust off the break since December and
will be very tough with winners in her subsequent outing.
A Look Ahead
There is no graded racing on tap at Belmont this week.