BELMONT
NOTEBOOK
SEPTEMBER 16
by John Mucciolo
Racing moved from upstate into the heart of the city this
weekend with the opening of Belmont Park on Friday. While
Saratoga always attracts many of the best horses in the United
States, it’s the Belmont Fall Meet that generally lures the best
runners from here and across the globe. With a terrific slate of
prep races that include 14 Grade 1 events for the upcoming
Breeders’ Cup World Championships, this is the best meet in
America.
Racing got off to a flying start on the opening weekend with a
quartet of Grade 1 races taking place. Stronach Stables’
GHOSTZAPPER (Awesome Again) was sent off a prohibitive 2-5
favorite in the $500,000 Woodward S. (G1) on Saturday, but he had
to fight each and every stride to earn the win.
Breaking alertly beneath a red-hot Javier Castellano, the
four-year-old was prominent throughout, as he and Saint Liam
(Saint Ballado) sped through splits of :45 3/5, 1:08 3/5 and 1:33
1/5 for the opening mile of the nine-furlong race. Turning for
home both colts went wide and fought tooth-and-nail to the wire,
with Ghostzapper getting a head up while stopping the clock in a
swift 1:46 1/5.
Trained by Bobby Frankel, the bay picked up his second Grade 1
tally, both over this surface, and ran his mark to 9-7-0-1. As
indicated by his conditioner, the winner will be trained up to
the October 30 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
Saint Liam, who is likely headed to the Breeders’ Cup himself,
was unlucky in defeat while 9 1/2 lengths clear of Bowman’s Band
(Dixieland Band).
In the previous race, Michael Tabor’s MAGISTRETTI (Diesis
[GB]), last after a mile, exploded in the homestretch and
engulfed his seven rivals en route to a score in the $500,000 Man
o’ War S. (G1) over the yielding turf course. The Arlington
Million (G1) runner-up (via DQ) closed his final three-eighths in
a splendid :35 2/5 beneath Edgar Prado. The Patrick
Biancone-trained colt passed the $1 million mark in earnings
following his triumph.
Epalo (Ger) (Lando [Ger]) made the pace and looked like a
winner when 3 1/2 lengths clear in the midstretch, but the
five-year-old could not hold off the winner. King’s Drama (Ire)
(King’s Theatre [Ire]) did well to secure the show spot.
Also on Saturday, one of the leading three-year-old fillies,
STELLAR JAYNE (Wild Rush), showed heart and determination in
repelling a challenge from Daydreaming (A.P. Indy) in the stretch
to take the top prize in the $250,000 Gazelle H. (G1). Trained by
D. Wayne Lukas and piloted by Robby Albarado, the sophomore lass
completed her nine furlongs in 1:48 1/5 to earn her second Grade
1 score, both upon this oval. The gray filly has really turned
the corner this summer and has put herself in the mix for the
champion three-year-old filly award.
Daydreaming made a nice move on the turn for home and had a
short lead in the stretch, but had to settle for the place, one
length back. He Loves Me (Not For Love) made a huge move while
wide, picking off runners while in hand, but couldn’t match the
top pair late.
The fourth and final Grade 1 affair of the weekend took place
on Sunday, when seven went postward to contest the $264,000
Garden City Breeders’ Cup H. (G1) over the Belmont lawn. An
international field was assembled for this year’s running, but it
was a Kentucky-bred taking home the winner’s purse. Team Solaris
Stable’s LUCIFER’S STONE (Horse Chestnut [SAf]) found room in
midstretch and flew home to add a Grade 1 to her resume. The
three-year-old lass completed nine grassy furlongs over good turf
in 1:48 4/5 for trainer Linda Rice and jockey Jose Santos. The
final margin of victory was 1 1/4 lengths.
Barancella (Fr) (Acatenango) closed well from off the pace to
gain the place, while Noah’s Ark (Ire) (Charnwood Forest [Ire])
garnered show honors.
TRACK WATCH
On or slightly off the pace was the place to be in the opening
weekend on the main track at Big Sandy. As is often the case here
because of the sweeping turns, being hung wide for any length of
time is not as detrimental here as it is at many venues across
the country.
The turf course, from a limited sample, appears to be playing
fairly as front-runners and closers alike have won races. With
wide turns on the turf courses (the Widener more than the inner)
as well, outside posts in big fields should not be automatically
dismissed.
HORSES TO WATCH
Friday (9/10)
8TH — CLEVER ELECTRICIAN (Clever Trick) is in career form and
displayed that when easily taking this one over a good foe in
1:21 2/5 for seven furlongs. The five-year-old has now reeled off
consecutive stakes wins, and could be facing open company before
long. The bay has earned 102 and 103 BRIS Speed figs in his last
pair.
Saturday (9/11)
4TH — BACHELOR’S GULCH (Thunder Gulch) made a huge
improvement from his debut, and was beaten just a head in a
quickly run race. The juvenile colt had an eventful break and
should be one to be reckoned with next out for trainer Mark
Hennig.
8TH — The aforementioned He Loves Me made a visually
impressive move to gain contention in this one, and was not
disgraced when losing by just 2 3/4 lengths in her U.S. debut.
She’ll likely be heard from in the Empire State.
Sunday (9/12)
5TH — HANGING CHADS (Dixie Union) stumbled at the start,
rallied four wide turning for home, and powered clear to a facile
2 1/4 length maiden tally. The two-year-old filly completed 6 1/2
furlongs in a solid 1:18 and topped a potential good one.
8TH — FAST COOKIE (Deputy Minister) didn’t have the cleanest
break or trip and did well to get the show spot. “I think my
filly would have won if she had gotten a better break,”
jockey Cornelio Velasquez stated following the race.
A LOOK AHEAD
A pair of Grade 1s, a trio of Grade 2s and a Grade 3 tussle
await us next weekend at Belmont. On Saturday, the $150,000
Jerome H. (G2), the $200,000 Belmont Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) and
the $100,000 Floral Park H. (G3) will be contested.
Sunday will put the babies in the spotlight, with the running
of the $300,000 Matron S. (G1) for two-year-old fillies and the
$300,000 Futurity S. (G2) for the boys. Not to be overlooked on
Sunday is the $300,000 Ruffian H. (G1) for older fillies and
mares.