Belmont Notebook

BELMONT PARK NOTEBOOK

MAY 7, 2010

by Albie Johnson

Belmont Park opened its long spring-summer meet last Friday and the long

session will run through July 18, when there will be a four day dark period

heading into the start of the Saratoga meet that begins on July 23.

Before getting into the action that highlighted the first three days of

racing here ,we'd like to go back to the final week of the Aqueduct main-track

meet and recap the running of the Withers S.(G3) at a one-turn mile.

Race looked like a two-horse affair on paper between heavy favorite,

D'Funnybone (D'wildcat) who was coming off victories at Gulfstream in the Swale

(G2) and Hutcheson (G2); and second-choice Ibboyee (Medallist), who had finished

second and third to D'Funnybone in the aforementioned races.

The public choice broke a bit tardily and was quickly put into a pace-chasing

position just off the early leader Castaneda (Yonaguska), who was setting

suicidal fractions :21.60, :43.82 and 1:07.45 up front. D'Funnybone poked his

head in front at the top of the stretch but the pace had taken its toll on the

top pair, with the other three runners in the field sweeping by him as they

straightened for the wire. Ibboyee looked the winner in midstretch when opening

a 1 1/2-length lead, but he was passed in the last sixteenth by AFLEET AGAIN

(Afleet Alex), who would prove best by that same margin, with Spangled Star

(Distorted Humor) another 4 1/4 lengths back of Ibboyee in third.

The winner's best previous race was a runner-up in the Whirlaway S. on the

inner-dirt track this winter and he was hard to come up with from a betting

standpoint.

Veteran mid-Atlantic trainer Bob Reid saddled the winner, with

Philadelphia-based rider Abel Mariano having the winning mount.

At the short meet on the main track at Aqueduct, Ramon Dominguez won his

eighth straight riding title and Steve Asmussen topped the trainer standings to

win his first meet title on the NYRA circuit.

Belmont's opening day feature was once again the Westchester S. (G3) for

older runners going a mile and the eight-horse field was headed by last year's

winner, Bribon (Fr) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]).

The early pace was set by the lightly-raced Ironman Jon (Mineshaft) and was

moderate for the level. He was shadowed by one of two uncoupled runners from the

barn of H. Allen Jerkens, LE GRAND CRU (Dynaformer). Approaching the

three-eighths pole, "Cru," his stablemate Convocation (Pulpit) and Bribon were

all threatening to launch menacing moves. Bribon was the first one to call it a

day as he just did not go on in the stretch drive. "Cru" passed "Jon" by

midstretch and was kept busy by rider Cornelio Velasquez, winning rather handily

over his barnmate by 2 1/2 lengths, with Ironman Jon another head back in third.

The winner has been a useful performer for his Hall of Fame conditioner but

most all would have said before the race that Convocation was the better horse.

Whatever the case, "Cru" was clearly best on this day.

A pair of turf stakes highlighted Saturday's card with the the Beaugay S.

(G3) for fillies and mares and the Fort Marcy S.(G3) for older males.

A field of eight distaffers faced the starter in the $100,000 Beaugay with a

very slow pace set by DYNASLEW (Dynaformer) leading to an eventual easy

wire-to-wire win. The fractions told the story as the homebred from Live Oak

Plantation got away with :25.87 and 50.98 splits, and the race was essentially

for the place, which would go to Scolara (Quiet American), who wound up 3 1/4

lengths behind the winner and two in front of veteran state-bred mare Chestoria

(Chester Town).

The winning filly had been victorious in her seasonal bow at Gulfstream and

is now two for two following a trainer switch to Seth Benzel.

One race later another field of eight went to the post in the $100,000 Fort

Marcy with only two of the octet being double-digits odds.

A much faster pace than in the previous stakes was set by Brother Nick

(Malibu Moon), who went the half in :47.88 and that gave the back-markers a

fighting chance. Dynamoor (Dynaformer) grabbed the lead in midstretch but could

not hold off the late charge of BALETTI (Gulch), who proved best by a

half-length with the early pacesetter another two lengths back in third.

Winning gelding returned from a lengthy layoff with a win at Gulfstream and

was then unplaced in a stakes at the Fair Grounds. Trainer by Angel Penna Jr.,

the six-year-old had hinted at some talent last June when he third in the King

Edward (Can G2) at Woodbine and recorded his first stakes victory here.

Track conditions

Fast and firm were the order of the day for the first weekend of racing with

both the main-track and the two turf courses playing fairly.

HORSES TO WATCH

Friday (4/30)

3RD -- Impressive maiden win by CHRISTMAS FOR LIAM (Saint Liam), who rated

nicely early and just exploded when set down to win this mile contest as easy as

can be for trainer Todd Pletcher. Sophomore colt had traffic trouble at the

start of his debut at Gulfstream but still finished a solid third. Colt looks to

have a bright future.

9TH -- Dropped in for a price in his second off a layoff, PARKINSON FIELD

(Strategic Mission) rated early while wide, took the lead in late stretch but

was out-finished by a head. He should win soon at the same price-tag ($25,000).

Saturday (5/1)

2ND -- Nice effort by state-bred maiden FIDDLER'S CHAPARITO (Northern Afleet)

as he battled through a fast pace while down inside and, although no match for

the "much the best" winner, he held down the place. He'll win soon.

6TH -- Making his first start since winning his debut last October, SHREWD

ONE (Smarty Jones) finished a game second in this first-level allowance for

state-breds to a wire-to-wire winning favorite who had a recency edge. The

three-year-old runner-up has some talent.

Sunday (5/2)

2ND -- Race favorite BY M K (Chapel Royal) raced between runners for most of

the contest and rallied strongly once clear to finish fourth, beaten about a

half-length. A stretch-out in distance may get the job done.

Upcoming stakes

Saturday: the Dwyer S. (G3), three-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles

Have a Nice Week!!