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BELMONT NOTEBOOK JUNE 13, 2013 by John Mucciolo The final leg of the Triple Crown highlighted this huge weekend at Belmont Park. Belmont S. (G1): Dogwood Stable's PALACE MALICE (Curlin) tracked behind a solid pace, took over at the top of the lane and pulled clear to a convincing 3 1/4-length score for trainer Todd Pletcher. The sophomore colt, who was ridden by Mike Smith, completed the 1 1/2 miles on the fast main oval in 2:30 3/5 to earn his first stakes win. Just a Game S. (G1): Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred STEPHANIE'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy) surged through an opening along the inside and got up by a half-length to post a game score under John Velazquez. The classy four-year-old champion stopped the teletimer for the one-mile test on the yielding lawn in 1:36 1/5 for trainer Wayne Catalano. Manhattan H. (G1): Phipps Stable's homebred POINT OF ENTRY (Dynaformer) took the lead in early stretch and held off a pair of challengers en route to a 1 1/2-length victory for trainer Shug McGaughey. The classy five-year-old, who unfortunately exited the race with a leg injury, stopped the teletimer in 2:02 2/5 for 1 1/4 miles on the yielding oval under Velazquez. True North H. (G2): Zayat Stables' FAST BULLET (Speightstown) took the lead a few jumps out of the gate and was never seriously threatened in a commanding 2 1/2-length score. The Bob Baffert pupil sped six panels on the "good" oval in 1:08 1/5 under the guidance of Joel Rosario. Woody Stephens S. (G2): Perretti Racing Stable's FORTY TALES (Tale of the Cat) was well back early but put in a strong stretch run to post a fine three-quarters of a length score for Pletcher. The sophomore colt endured seven panels on the fast main oval in 1:22 2/5 beneath Rosario. Brooklyn H. (G2): Dona Pancha's CALIDOSCOPIO (Luhuk) was more than 20 lengths back in last after a mile but kicked it in approaching the turn for home and got up by a length for trainer Mike Puype. The 10-year-old Argentine got the 1 12 miles on the sloppy, sealed main oval in 2:31 3/5 beneath Aaron Gryder. Track Stats A total of 41 races were held at the Elmont, New York, venue, with favorites winning at a 32 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 44 percent of the wins during the week. From 26 races on the main oval, eight animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (31 percent), while one of the 15 races on the lawn were taken all the way on the front (7 percent). The main oval, in our opinion, was very speed-favoring on Saturday through the big one. Four of the nine winners on that day led at every call on the main oval. Just one runner went wire-to-wire on the lawn this week, coming in a turf sprint on the inner turf oval on Thursday. Closers seemed to have a slight edge on both turf ovals. Meet Totals
HORSES TO WATCH Thursday (6/6) 2ND -- PURE ATTITUDE (Aptitude) dueled to the top of the lane, opened up an edge throughout and narrowly fell short in a pretty strong runner-up performance in this spot. We think this could be a useful claim for conditioner David Jacobson. 4TH -- BEER IS GOOD (Bob and John) dueled through wicked splits and we thought this one hanging on for a nice third here was a very nice effort by the Richard Schosberg trainee. The four-year-old gelding will always be a player with the early speed he showed in here. 7TH -- JETER (Lawyer Ron) simply tired late after showing good speed to the turn for home and he should bounce back well out of this after his first run since the fall. We'll tab the Kelly Breen pupil for a big move forward next out. Friday (6/7) 2ND -- The Bruce Levine-conditioned COALTOWN LEGEND (Jump Start) looked hopeless after breaking so slowly, but the eight-year-old kicked it into gear approaching the final turn and ran down a clear leader late to post a fine tally. The gelding still has plenty of run left at his age and could stretch out in ground a bit next time after this powerful late showing. 9TH -- SOUPER SPEEDY (Indian Charlie) returns to this list after gamely running on late and winning (via DQ) when looking defeated in midstretch on this occasion. The Tom Albertrani trainee has now put together back-to-back fine showings and could get a graded look in the very near future. Saturday (6/8) 6TH -- POWER BROKER (Pulpit) was always in the mix and pulled away like a good thing in a sharp stakes win for trainer Bob Baffert. The sophomore colt is in very good form right now and could have a strong second half of the season with continued improvement. The Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth Park on July 28 is next. 7TH -- FAST BULLET (Speightstown) was always in front on this occasion and finished off six panels on the good oval in a fine 1:08 1/5 in this one for Baffert. The lightly raced five-year-old has only been defeated once in his lifetime and could evolve into one of the top sprinters in the U.S. with continued improvement. 8TH -- Grade 1 queen BETTER LUCKY (Ghostzapper) did everything right but win this race, though the Tom Albertrani charge showed another dimension in handling this ground in a fine field. The four-year-old will be a player in all of the big races throughout the summer and into the fall this campaign. A Look Ahead A pair of Grade 3 races will highlight the weekend at Belmont. Saturday will play host to both the $150,000 Hill Prince Stakes and the $150,000 Bed O' Roses Handicap.
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