Belmont’s Fall Championship Meet comes to an end on Sunday, but there is no
shortage of stakes action on closing day. The two turf stakes originally slated
for Saturday’s New York Showcase Day program, the $150,000
Mohawk S.
and the $150,000
Ticonderoga S. for distaffers, were moved to Sunday to escape an adverse
weather forecast, and they will be joined by a quartet of open stakes for
juveniles.
New York-bred turf kingpin BANROCK (Go for Gin) tops an overflow field of 16,
including one also-eligible and three main-track only hopefuls, entered in the
nine-furlong Mohawk. The Tom Bush charge is in fine form, having successfully
defended his titles in both the West Point H. and Ashley T. Cole S. in his past
two outings. His only reverses this season have come in open company — a
photo-finish loss to the classy Presious Passion (Royal Anthem) in the Monmouth
S. and a more distant fifth to the same rival in the United Nations S. (G1).
Despite his prowess among state-breds, Banrock is 0-for-2 so far in the Mohawk.
Sixth in the 2007 edition, he was a closing fourth last year. Javier Castellano,
who has not ridden Banrock since last summer, has the call.
PENNINGTON (Western Expression), a close second in the West Point and third
in the Ashley T. Cole, will try to turn the tables on Banrock, as will
HANGINGBYATHREAD (Giant’s Causeway), who just missed when third in a three-way
photo in the 2008 Mohawk, but hasn’t threatened Banrock this campaign. An
intriguing new shooter is the sophomore UNCLE T SEVEN (Freud), winner of the Cab
Calloway division of the New York Stallion S. at Saratoga. Last seen finishing
sixth in the Saranac S. (G3), he has been transferred to John Kimmel and will
make his debut for his new barn in this spot.
The top three from last year’s Ticonderoga — defending champion LOVE COVE
(Not for Love), runner-up YOU GO WEST GIRL (Mr. Greeley) and third-placer
NEHANTIC KAT (Tomorrows Cat) — will square off again in Sunday’s renewal.
Love Cove is winless from five starts in 2009, however, and was most recently
third to You Go West Girl and CHESTORIA (Chester House) in the John Hettinger S.
Nehantic Kat ran a subpar sixth in the Hettinger, but over the summer, she had
won the Sabellina S. and Yaddo H. in good fashion. The nine-furlong test on the
inner turf has drawn a bumper crop of 15, with three relegated to the also-eligibles
list.
The juvenile turf set, which had lost opportunities when the October 4
Pilgrim S. and Miss Grillo S. were transferred to the main track, will get
another chance in a pair of Sunday stakes carded at 1 1/16 grassy miles. The
$65,000
Vision S. features 10 in the main body of the field, plus three main-track
only entrants. DEAN’S KITTEN (Kitten’s Joy), a troubled fourth in the With
Anticipation S. (G3) at Saratoga two back, trailed in the off-the-turf Pilgrim
last time out and could rebound back on the grass. SHRIMP DANCER (Kitten’s Joy)
and MR. VEGAS (Freud), who were both scratched from the Pilgrim, are seizing the
opportunity to make their stakes debut in this spot. Other notables include
recent maiden winners ZAPSTER (Ghostzapper), fifth in the With Anticipation two
back, and KRYPTON (Rock Hard Ten), as well as the once-raced maiden IMAGING (Dynaformer)
from the Shug McGaughey barn and Bill Mott’s first-time starter MEDAGLIA STRIKES
(Medaglia d’Oro).
The $65,000
Good
Mood S. for two-year-old fillies has not attracted any refugees from the
Miss Grillo, but SPEIGHTFUL LADY (Speightstown) will stretch out and switch
surfaces after winding up a remote seventh in the Matron S. (G2). CAMINADORA
(More Than Ready), who had run well in a couple of deep maidens, comes off a
first score on the turf, as do MS. THANKSGIVING (Formal Dinner), AGAPANTHA (Dynaformer)
and KHANCORD KID (Lemon Drop Kid). SMOOTH TALKING (Dixie Union) is the only
two-time winner in the group, having wired a pair of turf sprints at Laurel. The
Good Mood has attracted a nine-filly field, two of them entered on a main-track
only basis.
Five juveniles will line up in the $65,000
Bold Lad
S. at six furlongs on the main track, with Pilgrim runner-up WESTERN FLYER
(More Than Ready), Hopeful S. (G1) fifth WESTOVER WILDCAT (Forest Wildcat) and
smashing maiden winner SOARING EMPIRE (Empire Maker) the likely threats. The
$65,000
Wings of Jove S., also at six furlongs, pits Adirondack S. (G2) third MAGIC
APPEAL (Successful Appeal) against 10-length debut romper FORTY MOONS (Malibu
Moon) and the promising SIMPLY SPITEFUL (Speightstown) and FEMALE DRAMA (Indian
Charlie).