Belmont Notebook

BELMONT NOTEBOOK

MAY 21, 2015

by John Mucciolo

A single graded affair headlined the week of racing at Belmont Park.

Vagrancy H. (G3): Lady Sheila Stable's LA VERDAD (Yes It's True) got the

jump out of the gate, opened a clear lead in upper stretch and held late to post

a half-length tally under Jose Ortiz. Trained by Linda Rice, the five-year-old

mare finished off 6 1/2 panels on the fast main oval in 1:16.

Track Stats

A total of 48 races were held at the Elmont, New York venue, with favorites

winning at a 33 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 54

percent of the wins during the week. From 27 races on the main oval, six animals

won in wire-to-wire fashion (22 percent), while six of the 21 grassy races were

taken all the way on the lead (29 percent).

All six of the wire jobs on the main oval this week came in sprint events. Of

the six wire-to-wire winners on the green, five did so in route runs, with the

other in a seven-furlong dash.

Both ovals appeared to play fairly for all run styles during the majority of

the week.

Meet Totals

RACES:		141
DIRT:		80
TURF:		61
FAVORITES:		53 (38 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		31 (22 percent)
TURF WIRE:		14 (23 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		22 (28 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (5/13)

6TH -- TOUCH THE MOON (Malibu Moon) was wide throughout but still finished

best of all in a nice debut tally for conditioner Todd Pletcher. The

three-year-old filly won at a tough trip for a first-time runner and could be

one to watch with more seasoning.

The well-bred I'LL TAKE CHARGE (Indian Charlie) broke slowest of all but put

in a big late run to be a clear second in her debut and the Bill Mott trainee

looks like a decent prospect going forward.

Thursday (5/14)

1ST -- TOOHOTTOEVENSPEAK (Stonesider) showed little rust from the one-year

layoff in dominating this group for trainer John Terranova, drawing clear by 11

lengths under the wire. The four-year-old gelding will surely not be offered for

a tag next time after this display.

8TH -- Mott's big week continued with a pair of winners on this card,

including the sharp SYCAMORE LANE (Artie Schiller), who was much the best in

this turf test. The four-year-old toppled a solid field and should be stakes

bound in his subsequent outing.

Friday (5/15)

3RD -- THE BIG DELUXE (Silver Wagon) pressed the pace, took a short lead

nearing the top of the lane and finished up swiftly in a powerful allowance

tally under Eric Cancel. The five-year-old Empire State-bred has run a pair of

huge ones since being claimed by Rudy Rodriguez, earning BRIS Speed figures of

100 and 101 along the way.

6TH -- Michael Matz's STRIKING STYLE (Smart Strike) couldn't reel in the

wire-to-wire winner in this one but did run big late to be a clear second off

the long layoff. Tab this four-year-old filly to be very tough second time off

the shelf.

Saturday (5/16)

7TH -- ELMAZEED (Bernardini) was challenged at the top of the lane but found

another gear and blew away his foes in a sharp debut offering for trainer Kiaran

McLaughlin. The four-year-old Kentucky-bred got his final quarter mile in a

zippy :23 2/5 and could be almost any kind going forward.

Sunday (5/17)

6TH -- The Charlton Baker-trained SO NOTED (Read the Footnotes) was way back

early on but finished with good energy to be second in a big field behind a

sharp winner. The sophomore colt will be awfully tough next time out with even

slight improvement.

A Look Ahead

There is no graded racing on tap this week at Belmont Park.