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BELMONT PARK NOTEBOOK JULY 3, 2009 by Albie Johnson For the most part, the weather cooperated during the previous week and the main track was labeled "fast" for the eagerly anticipated return race of Preakness (G1) heroine RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro). Filly's connections had their sights set on the Mother Goose (G1) since declining to participate in the Belmont S. (G1) and the presence of this "rising star" limited the line-up to four other sophomore's when entries were drawn, with a pair of race day scratches reducing the starting field to three. Race couldn't have set up better for the prohibitive favorite with the other two runners, Malibu Prayer (Malibu Moon) and Flashing (A.P. Indy), setting a fast and somewhat contested pace with interior fractions of :44.66 and 1:08.86. Rachel Alexandra quickly moved on the top pair after three-quarters and was going by just as they hit the quarter-pole. From there, it was only a question of how fast the race would go and how many lengths she would win by. The answers were 1:46.33 (a new stakes record for the 1 1/8-mile distance) and 19 1/4 lengths. It's always hard to put performances like this in a perspective, but she did what was expected and could now be pointed for the August 22 Alabama (G1) at Saratoga or another match-up against males. Her connections have already ruled out the Breeders' Cup weekend at Santa Anita, which means Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]) will have to come east and race on conventional dirt for them to meet. On Sunday, older distaffers took the stage in the in the six-furlong First Flight H. (G2) with Carolyn's Cat (Forestry) and PORTE BONHEUR (Hennessy), the one-two finishers in the May 24 Vagrancy (G2), heading the six-horse field. As expected, the former broke running from her rail post but was never able to clear and was under heavy pressure before tiring badly to last in the small gathering. Meanwhile, Porte Bonheur tracked the action up-front from close range, bid four wide at the top of the stretch and just got up in the last few strides to nip Spritely (Touch Gold) by a nose. That filly won the pace battle, clear around the eighth-pole and was dead game in defeat. Porte Bonheur is a quality, lightly-raced filly, and was well prepared for her second start back off a long break by her trainer Dave Duggan. Jockey Ramon Dominguez was a strong factor in the win as he swung out on the turn at just the right moment. Her connections can either keep her at middle distances or at least see if she has any two-turn ability down the road. Track Conditions Despite rain on several days, management was able to run selective turf contests on every card while switching others (depending on the make-up of the field). Friday's final race was cancelled due to an intense storm that swept through the area on the twilight card. The main-track was fast every racing day but Wednesday, when it was labeled "good." Dirt played fairly on each of the five cards, with Saturday's program run on a lightening fast surface. Turf varied from good, to yielding and soft with and showed a preference to those runners coming from "off the pace." Horses to Watch Wednesday (6/24) 2ND -- Making her first start, MINERALOGIST (Mineshaft) was heavily backed but had to "check" at the start and, after being forced to play a game of catch-up, did well to finish a distant fourth. Homebred wasn't asked for much from the eighth-pole home and should do much better next out. 6TH -- STORM HOPE (Judge T C) had a rather eventful trip in his first start since last October. He raced down along the inside in the large field (11 runners), swung out turning for home but was temporarily "blocked" just before midstretch. He moved farther out at that point and closed strongly to be beaten less than a length. Nicely prepared by the Barclay Tagg barn off the long layoff, the state-bred shouldn't be long in winning. Thursday (6/25) 3RD -- Moving back to the dirt after a pair of turf contests LE GRAND CRU (Dynaformer) was a very sharp winner in this "allowance/optional $75K claiming contest. He quickly sprinted clear in the mile event, set moderate early fractions, but really kicked it in late, running his last two furlongs in :23.59 for a final time of 1:34.26. Like many of his sire's runners, he's a bit of a late developer. The H. Allen Jerkens runner may be stakes-bound soon. 7TH -- With none of the other runner wanting the top, LISA B (Grindstone) took the initiative and swept to an early lead, but former one-run type did not appear to like that role and tired once under pressure about midway through the far turn. A return to her former style should make her more competitive. Friday (6/26) 4TH -- FLYING BY THE POLE (Pleasant Tap) made a strong "middle-move" that carried him to the attending spot, but he weakened under pressure from that point on. Lightly raced and in a great turf barn (Angel Penna Jr.), he's headed in the right direction and shouldn't be a maiden for long. 6TH -- Dropping into a claimer for the first time and moving turf to dirt, WORLD EXPRESS (Western Expression) "stumbled" at the break, quickly reached a spot on the outside just off the top, attempted to run with the eventual winner but began weakening approaching the stretch. She held well late to finish a distant third and should do much better next out. Saturday (6/27) 2ND -- Purchased privately by the IEAH Stables last year after a strong second-place finish in his debut at Calder in July, BURLEY'S GOLD (Touch Gold) made his first start for trainer Richard Dutrow an impressive one. Chestnut colt rated early, bid to the front, and won much more easily than the final margin (2 3/4 lengths) suggested. On the lightening fast strip, the sophomore colt completed seven furlongs in 1:21.88, and looks to have a very big future. Sunday (6/28) 3RD -- Running for the first time since last August at Saratoga, DULCET TONE (Empire Maker) pressed the pace of the wire-to-wire winner (who was taking her third in a row) and tired under heavy pressure turning for home. Bob Frankel-trained filly should have gotten a lot of conditioning out of it and will be tough next out. Upcoming Stakes On Saturday, Belmont will offer the the Suburban H. (G2) at 1 1/4 miles; the Prioress S. (G1) for three-year-old fillies at six furlongs; and the Dwyer S. (G2) for three-year-old at 1 1/16 miles. On Sunday, the Tom Fool H. (G2), for three-year-olds and up at seven furlongs, will be offered. Have a Nice Week!!
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