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BELMONT PARK NOTEBOOK JUNE 12, 2009 by Albie Johnson Fine weather and a crowd of 52,861 racing fans made Belmont Stakes Day one that was both enjoyable and exciting as most in attendance were anxious to see jockey Calvin Borel become the first jockey to sweep the "Triple Crown" events while riding different horses. This year's running proved to be one of the most competitive in recent memory with four horses having legitimate shots at the top prize turning for home. The surprise early leader was Dunkirk (Unbridled's Song) and he would prove to be a very tough foe to pass as the race unfolded. Lightly raced and talented, he set legitimate fractions of :23.41, :47.13 and 1:12.43 before both Charitable Man (Lemon Drop Kid) and Derby (G1) winner Mine That Bird (Birdstone) both made their moves at the same time just past the three-eighths pole. Turning for home both colts move up to challenge Dunkirk and it looked like a prolonged stretch battle would ensue. Meanwhile, SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone) had commenced a strong rally from the back of the pack around the far turn while racing well out in the track and was about three-four lengths off the top trio as they straightened away. First to give way was Charitable Man as he was forced to steady slightly in midstretch while racing between Dunkirk and Mine That Bird. Then, just in side the eighth pole, it became clear that Dunkirk had enough left to repulse the bid of Mine that Bird and dug in yet again as Summer Bird swept toward the lead. However, the leader had nothing left to give and Summer Bird went by and drew off to a 2 3/4-length victory under right-handed encouragement from his rider Kent Desormeaux. Final time on a very fast surface was a fine 2:27.54 as trainer Tim Ice had the chestnut colt ready for the best performance of his career. The second-, third-, and fourth-place finishers, Dunkirk, Mine That Bird and Charitable Man, all ran their "heart's out" and their connections should be proud of all three efforts. In a post race note, Dunkirk was found to have come out of the race with a small fracture in his left hind cannon bone and is through for the year. Given his purchase price ($3.7 million), I would assume that if he's not 100 percent after the fracture heals that the Belmont (G1) could be his final race. The New York Racing Association put together a very strong under-card with five graded stakes, all with competitive fields loaded with talent. In the race previous to the Belmont, a dozen older turf runners faced the starter in the $400,000 Manhattan H. (G1) going 1 1/4 miles on the "yielding" inner turf course. As expected, Cowboy Cal (Giant's Causeway) broke running from an outside post and was quick to clear and secure the hedge. Colt set reasonable fractions before being challenged around the far turn by Cosmonaut (Lemon Drop Kid). In the meantime the many were launching bid from the back of the pack headed by GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat) and Marsh Side (Gone West). The pace began to collapse in midstretch with Marsh Side sweeping by and looking like the winner until Gio Ponti who was closing furiously while far out in the track went by in the last 100 yards to win going away by 1 1/2 lengths. Nice training job by Chris Clement to have him ready for his first race since March 7 when bay colt won the Kilroe Mile H. (G1) at Santa Anita. Garret Gomez contributed a well-timed ride in getting him up in time after being last of 12 early on. The Acorn (G1) for sophomore fillies at a "flat" mile pitted Justwhistlindixie (Dixie Union) against a field that appeared overmatched on paper as she was seeking her sixth victory in a row. She was put into a perfect position to win by jockey Julien Leparoux as they approached the top of the stretch, but early leader GABBY'S GOLDEN GAL (Medaglia d'Oro) refused to stop and held the public choice safe by 1 3/4 lengths at the wire. Filly was the best on this day as she set fast fractions from start to finish, stopping the clock in 1:34.79. She was expertly prepared by trainer Bob Baffert to rebound off a very poor performance in the Kentucky Oaks(G1). Jockey Javier Castellano should also be applauded by taking the race right to the favorite and saving enough late to get the job done. The seven furlong Woody Stephens S. (G2) drew a very interesting field of sophomore colts with a pair of undefeated runners in Hull (Holy Bull) and Everyday Heroes (Awesome Again) squaring off against MUNNINGS (Speightstown) and This Ones For Phil (Untuttable). Munnings, who was coming off his seasonal debut, had shown a lot of promise at two, finishing in the money in a pair of Grade 1s after breaking his maiden at Saratoga. The $1.7 million two-year-old purchase raced in close range of the leaders in this spot, waited for a seam at the top of the stretch while under a firm hold and once clear accelerated by to win impressively by 5 1/4 lengths, stopping the timer in 1:20.63, just .46 off the track record. Everyday Heroes held gamely for the place while Hull did not fire despite having a perfect position to strike from. This Ones For Phil had to steady inside the winner while both were awaiting room just as he looked "full of run." Winning colt resides in the Todd Pletcher barn and looks to have a big summer-fall ahead of him. The stables main rider, John Velazquez, may have won this one by out-riding Gomez on This Ones For Phil at the top of the stretch. Older fillies and mares took to the Widener (main turf) course for the one-mile Just a Game S. (G1), headed by Forever Together (Belong To Me). The champion turf mare was heavily favored in this spot but encountered a rather "tough" trip, racing in heavy traffic early and being "blocked" at a crucial point just before the quarter-pole and was out-kicked late once clear by the fast-closing DIAMONDRELLA (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar [Ire]). Winning mare went flying by late to win by 1 3/4 lengths. She's has been a solid performer for trainer Angel Penna Jr. and seems to be improving with age. To this point she had been utilized as a sprinter/middle-distance type, but this win over quality opponents going eight furlongs may indicate her talent is not limited. Older male sprinters took to the track for the True North H. (G2) and the two horses with the best credentials, FABULOUS STRIKE (Smart Strike) and Benny the Bull (Lucky Lionel), finished in that order in the six-furlong, $250,000 contest. Fabulous Strike broke running from his outside post in the small group (six runners), quickly got over to the rail and was never seriously threatened, holding off a late charge from "Benny" to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:07.85, only .19 off the track record. Second-place finisher was coming off an 11-month layoff and put in a solid effort off the bench. Penn National-based Todd Beattie trains the winner and regular rider Ramon Dominguez was aloft. The previous day, Belmont featured a pair of graded events with the Brooklyn H. (G2) run at the Belmont S. distance of 1 1 /2 miles on the main event. The $200,000 race was contested over a track labeled "sloppy and sealed." Nite Lite (Thunder Gulch), a distance loving but rather "fragile" runner, took the early lead and was in front nearly all the way to the wire when ELDAAFER (A.P. Indy), who had raced well back early on, caught him in the very last stride. Effort was gelding's first for former exercise rider Diane Alvarado, who had taken out her trainer's license earlier this year. Strong ride in the last sixteenth by veteran Jorge Chavez was a major factor in the win as the nose margin left no room for error. The Hill Prince S. (G3) for sophomore males originally scheduled for the grass, was switched to the main track and turned into a virtual match race with the top two finishers racing that way from start-to-finish as none of the other four runners ever got involved. Maryland invader DESPITE THE ODDS (Speightstown) took command at the start, was pursued by Affirmatif (Unbridled's Song) and held him safe all the way around, with the final margin being 7 1/2 lengths. Midatlantic regular Mike Trombetta saddled the winner with his main jockey Jeremy Rose having the arm-chair ride. Track Conditions Wed: fast & firm On Thursday and Friday, with the main-track sealed, front runners held the edge, while on Belmont Day a pretty strong inside bias was discernible on the main track, while those coming from well back on the "yielding" turf course holding the advantage. HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday (6/3) 3RD -- After finishing second in her first pair, DYNASLEW (Dynaformer) had little trouble breaking her maiden in this 1 1/16-mile race, stalking early before bidding and drawing away to an easy two-length win. Mott trained filly looks to have a bright future. Thursday (6/4) 1ST -- Making his first start in three months, ELUSIVE GIFT (Elusive Quality) took an early lead in this six-furlong contest, was quickly challenged and was involved in a fierce pace battle before drawing clear from his rival only to be passed lat by a runner who had trailed early. Effort was a strong one. Friday (6/5) 8TH -- Moving back to the main track in this switched contest, J Z WARRIOR (Harlan's Holiday) rated early, made a strong move along the inside on the turn and won this in the last sixteenth with a determined rally. Filly has a strong dirt resume and believe she'll be a force down the road in future sprint and middle-distance stakes events. Upcoming Saturday will feature the Ogden Phipps (G1) for older distaffers at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. Sunday's main event is the Poker H. (G3) for older males at one mile on the turf. Have a Nice Week!!
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