Belmont Notebook

BELMONT NOTEBOOK

JULY 17, 2008

by Bernard T. Moore

This will be the final week of racing at Belmont Park as it concludes its

traditional Spring/Summer meet. Up next, the eagerly anticipated Saratoga meet.

Saratoga, affectionately called "The Spa," opens on Wednesday, July 23, for six

glorious weeks of racing. Closing day is Labor Day, September 1. In

between, there is something for every handicapper as Saratoga is well known for

its plethora juvenile and turf events, with many races more difficult to solve

than a New York Times crossword puzzle. I can hardly wait!

No, it wasn't a Breeders' Cup race. It just seemed that way. Three Breeders'

Cup winners

walked into the starting gate for the Man o' War S. (G1) on Saturday. RED ROCKS

(Ire)

(Galileo [Ire]), the 2006 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) victor, eventually proved best

in the

stretch to win by two decisive lengths. Adding blinkers and Lasix for his return

trip to

the United States, Red Rocks loped along down the backstretch as Mission Approved (With

Approval)

and Sudan (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) slugged it out on the front end, with Curlin

(Smart

Strike) and Better Talk Now (Talkin Man) biding their time from far off the

early pace as

well. The pack began closing in the pacesetters in the stretch, with Red Rocks

leading the

charge. The Irish-bred runner displaced a beleaguered Sudan on the lead past

midstretch,

and then continued to edge away to victory as he registered his first graded

stakes win

since April 2007.

No doubt, this was an experiment with Curlin on turf, as

his

connections were hoping for few more options with their prized runner. He

finished well to

take down the place, but his effort raised more questions than it answered.

Better Talk Now

closed belatedly to get third, with Sudan holding on remarkably well all things

considered

to finish a respectable fourth.

The Breeders' Cup theme continued on Sunday when KIP DEVILLE (Kipling), the

2007 Breeders'

Cup Mile (G1) hero and early favorite for the 2008 edition, made his second

start of the season and first start in New York. Trained by Richard Dutrow

Jr., Kip

Deville dusted an overmatched field in the Poker H.

(G3).

Dispatched as the odds-on favorite, Kip Deville instantaneously shot to the

lead, but was

immediately taken in hand by regular jockey Cornelio Velasquez. He simply

brushed aside an

overmatched pace rival turning the stretch, and then spurted away from the field

when asked

to win decisively, completing the mile in lively 1:32 4/5. For those keeping

score, Tam Lin

(GB) (Selkirk) raced with the pace from the outset, but ultimately no match for

the winner

while getting second. Operation Red Dawn (Miswaki) rallied mildly to outlast a

tired

Sensational Humor for the show, with Steppenwolfer (Aptitude) finishing a

non-descript

fifth.

The main track was definitely speed-oriented on Wednesday, but appeared to

play

honestly Thursday, and seemed to remain that way the rest of the week. The Widener and Inner turf courses were definitely speed friendly from Friday

on, but

it was not a severe bias by means.

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (7/9)

4TH -- SOAVE (Brahms) turned in a good showing in her career debut. Chased a superior

speed

runner who wired the field in a quickly run race. She was clearly second best

and

should have derived beneficial experience/stamina from this effort and

ultimately

might be switched to the grass.

6TH -- ARISTO (Adcat) lacked clear sailing in the stretch, and was forced to

await

racing room. Flew home for second once in the clear. Looks to be on the verge of

annexing her initial turf win.

Thursday (7/10)

3RD -- SPRITELY (Touch Gold) recorded a sharp effort off the layoff sans blinkers. Held

well to

save the place despite chasing a loose, front-running winner throughout. She

should

have derived beneficial conditioning from this showing and might be

stretched-out in

distance in subsequent starts.

8TH -- BIG AL (Repent) was ambitiously spotted while tackling multiple

winners

off his maiden special weight victory. Still, he closed with good energy to get the show despite a

rather ordinary pace up front. Remains eligible for a preliminary allowance

contest,

preferably at a shorter distance.

Friday (7/11)

6TH -- R FAST FAVORITE (Montbrook) easily handled an overmatched field of

restricted

winners in a smart wire-to-wire victory. Will make his next start for trainer

Rich

Schosberg off the claim, and he is extremely hard to run down when securing a

clear

early lead.

Saturday (7/12)

2ND -- SPANKY FISCHBEIN (Hook and Ladder) obviously was a tad short off the

layoff. He

disputed tepid fractions on the front end, but was unable to accelerate when

called

upon. He has every right to move forward in his next.

8TH -- Sudan won the pace battle but lost the war

to a trio

of fresh closers. He finished fourth in a creditable showing despite being

embroiled

in a vicious speed duel from the start. He has been victorious overseas without

the

lead in the past.

9TH -- RANGER JAMES (Street Cry [Ire]) recorded an encouraging third-place finish to begin

his

career in a turf route. He lacked racing room attempting to rally around the far

turn, but finished well once in the clear in the stretch to take down the show

in an

educational effort.

Sunday (7/13)

2ND -- TOUCH HERE (Touch Gold) gave futile chase to a dominant daylight

winner off

a freshening. Held well until upper stretch, and then weakened under pressure in

a

much-needed effort. Look for him to reunite with jockey Alan Garcia at Saratoga.

8TH -- ELUSIVE MOMENT (Ire) (Elusive Quality) tired noticeably after

exhibiting

much-improved speed while stretching out to 1 1/16 miles. Appears as if she

would be

most effective if returned to a turf sprint.