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BELMONT NOTEBOOK JUNE 6, 2013 by John Mucciolo There were no graded races last weekend at Belmont Park. Track Stats A total of 38 races were held at the Elmont, New York, venue, with favorites winning at a 37 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 63 percent of the wins during the week. From 19 races on the main oval, four animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (21 percent), while four of the 19 races on the lawn were taken all the way on the front (21 percent). We witnessed a lot of runners winning from off the pace all week, many of which came from the second or third flight while making a move a few paths into the stretch. We'll watch how the track unfolds early in the week coming up to see if closers have an edge for the big day of racing on Saturday. Of the four turf wire jobs, three came on the outer turf (two in sprints), and the lone winner on the inner oval leading at every call came in a route race. Friday's card produced back-to-back dead heats in Races 3 and 4, something we've never seen before. Meet Totals
HORSES TO WATCH Thursday (5/30) 6TH -- HENNY LUVS SHRIMP (Henny Hughes) set a rapid early pace and had little left in the lane in this maiden run, but we expect this sophomore filly to forget to stop one day and graduate, possibly sooner than later. 8TH -- WALTZING CAT (More Than Ready) put in a fine run through the lane to be a good second on this occasion, an impressive showing in her first start in the U.S. The five-year-old import surely needed the race in her first since the fall, so we envision the mare being ultra tough if put in a similar spot next time for trainer George Weaver. Friday (5/31) 2ND -- CARNIVAL COURT (Street Sense) took the lead soon after the start and never looked back in posting a superb 12 3/4-length romp in this affair under Irad Ortiz Jr. The Kiaran McLauhglin trainee got her final five-sixteenths in a solid :31 while never being ridden hard, and she could become a nice one with more seasoning, as her half-sister, dual champion Royal Delta did. 5TH -- Florida import HARDEST CORE (Hard Spun) was tons the best in this turf test for McLaughlin, pulling clear late while getting his final quarter-mile in a swift :22 3/5. The sophomore colt overcame a slow pace to dust these, and he could be a stakes player on the turf with further improvement. 8TH -- The fine day for McLaughlin with arguably his sharpest performance on the day, when his pupil NORTH SLOPE (Elusive Quality) swept to the front in a huge move and strode home a daylight winner. This well-bred colt came flew home in a fast closing and final time, and could be any type going forward as he's a runner on the rise. Saturday (6/1) 3RD -- LOVELY SYN (Lemon Drop Kid) continues her ascension through these ranks with a most impressive romp in here at 1-5 odds. The Dominick Schettino trainee was super fast from the get-go, reaching six panels in a rapid 1:08, to basically put this race away. This was a very sharp performance for this sophomore filly. 4TH -- SAGINAW (Peruvian) did it again with a game half-length tally in this stakes spot. The ageless wonder was all heart late once again and continues to be one of the better stories in Thoroughbred racing. 6TH -- SHAKEIRA (Freud) may not be of graded stakes quality as of yet, but the Chad Brown vixen always runs big and got a well deserved stakes tally in this spot from off the pace. The five-year-old never throws in a clunker and must be lauded for her consistency. Sunday (6/2) 6TH -- REAL ESTATE (High Yield) returns to this list after pulling clear to a fine tally at a nice price in this one for conditioner Allen Jerkens. The nine-year-old might not be at the level of his dynamic siblings, but he's a hard-knocker who is capable when spotted correctly. A Look Ahead The signature of the meeting is upon us at Belmont Park, as Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes will top a big weekend of racing in the Empire State. Also on tap for Saturday is the Grade 1, $500,000 Manhattan Handicap; Grade 1, $500,000 Just A Game Stakes; Grade 2, $400,000 Woody Stephens Stakes; and the Grade 2, $400,000 True North Handicap. Friday's co-features are the Grade 2, $200,000 Brooklyn Handicap and the Grade 3, $150,000 Jaipur Stakes.
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