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BELMONT NOTEBOOK MAY 23, 2013 by John Mucciolo A Grade 2 event for fillies and mares sprinting headlined the weekend of racing at Belmont Park. Vagrancy H. (G2): Laue Ranch's homebred GLORIOUS VIEW (Pleasant Tap) led soon after the start and never looked back in posting her first graded win for trainer Bill Mott. The four-year-old lass, who finished a half-length clear under the line, sped 6 1/2 panels on the fast main oval in 1:15 4/5 beneath Junior Alvarado. Track Stats A total of 48 races were held at the Elmont, New York, venue, with favorites winning at a 35 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 54 percent of the wins during the week. From 22 races on the main oval, seven animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (32 percent), while two of the 26 races on the lawn were taken all the way on the front (8 percent). It was surely tough to lead at every call on the lawn this week, with just a pair of wire-to-wire winners. Of those, one came in a sprint on the inner, the other in a sprint on the outer lawn. We did see a lot of grassy winners prompting the pace, as well as a slew of first placers closing from well back. Though the numbers might not fully back it up, we thought Wednesday and Thursday were good days for speed. Four of the eight dirt races were won in wire-to-wire fashion, while three other winners tracked in second early on. Meet Totals
HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday (5/15) 4TH -- The Bill Mott-trained ASSURED (Empire Maker) had no chance with the sharp winner on this occasion, but the first timer offered a nice late run to be a clear second and we surely consider her one to watch going forward. The sophomore hails from a dynamic female family and could be a nice one if this was any indication. 6TH -- STAR CHANNEL (English Channel) was full of run in this 10-furlong race, driving clear to an emphatic score for conditioner Todd Pletcher. The four-year-old colt got away with running for a tag in here, but following this run, we'd imagine he won't be offered anytime soon. His final half-mile was clocked in a solid :47 3/5. Thursday (5/16) 2ND -- ZIP UP (Ghostzapper) made a mostly sustained run to gamely get second in this debut run for conditioner Shug McGaughey, who is better with horses having a start or two under their belt. We consider the three-year-old filly an obvious one to watch coming back, likely at a trip a bit longer, as well. 7TH -- YES IT'S PINK (Yes It's True) has now bagged two in a row in impressive fashion and could be stakes bound soon for conditioner Christophe Clement. The four-year-old filly was last early but flew home to dust this field in the lane, getting her final quarter-mile in a rapid :22 4/5! 8TH -- The Bruce Brown-trained NIGHT OFFICER (Officer) rallied in a big way in the lane to win this stakes event and beat a very nice field in the process. The five-year-old showed nice early foot and a big late kick, clocking six grassy panels in a wicked 1:07 4/5 in the process. Friday (5/17) 8TH -- NOTMYFIRSTTIME (Scat Daddy) put in a superb run in his first start since July in winning for conditioner Steve Asmussen. The four-year-old colt dueled on the lead, took a slight lead in early stretch and kept his main foe at bay late in fine allowance tally, reaching the wire in a swift 1:08 2/5. If this one improves throughout the summer, he can be a very useful one-turn runner. Saturday (5/18) 3RD -- The nine-year-old TEMECULA CREEK (Gulch) showed he has plenty of run left in him with a dominating 8 1/4-length tally for trainer David Jacobson. The old timer was visually impressive in easily going by the early leaders in here and should be tough right back with anything close to this performance. A class rise is likely in his subsequent outing. Sunday (5/19) 8TH -- COUSIN MICHAEL (Greeley's Galaxy) had no chance to win in here in trying to rally from last on this sloppy, sealed oval, but the Charlton Baker pupil did make a little run and we'll back him on a dry oval at a price next time. A Look Ahead Memorial Day is one of the bigger days on the calendar in the Empire State and this Monday will host a fantastic slew of stakes events. The Grade 1, $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap leads the way and will be joined by the Grade 1, $400,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes; the Grade 1, $300,000 Acorn Stakes; and the Grade 2, $200,000 Sands Point Stakes. Saturday will be headlined by the Grade 2, $200,000 Sheepshead Bay Stakes.
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