Belmont Notebook

BELMONT NOTEBOOK

OCTOBER 9, 2014

by John Mucciolo

A handful of graded stakes led the way at Belmont Park.

Champagne S. (G1): Let's Go Stable's DAREDEVIL (More Than Ready) assumed

command at the top of the lane and spurted clear to a 2 1/2-length score to

remain unbeaten for trainer Todd Pletcher. The talented Kentucky-bred colt

stopped the teletimer in 1:36 3/5 for the one-mile test on the sloppy oval

beneath Javier Castellano.

Frizette S. (G1): Jay Em Ess Stable's homebred BY THE MOON (Indian

Charlie) took the lead nearing the top of the lane and was never seriously

challenged thereafter in posting a 2 1/4-length tally under Jose Ortiz. The

Michelle Nevin trainee landed her initial Grade 1 tally when completing one mile

on the sloppy track in 1:39 2/5.

Hill Prince S. (G2): St. Elias Stable et al's RING WEEKEND (Tapit)

spurted through an opening in late stretch and held off a stern test in posting

a half-length victory with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the silks. The Graham Motion pupil

finished up nine panels on the soft turf course in 1:55 2/5.

Futurity S. (G2): Glencrest et al's BLOFELD (Quality Road) geared down

in the lane and proved best under the wire in a three-parts of a length score

for Pletcher. The talented juvenile colt, who is two-for-two lifetime, sped six

panels on the fast main oval in 1:09 2/5 with John Velazquez.

Matron S. (G2): Vincent Scuderi's homebred PAULASSILVERLINING

(Ghostzapper) made a big move approaching the turn for home and inched clear

late in securing a 1 1/4-length victory under the guidance of Jose Ortiz. The

juvenile lass, who is trained by Michelle Nevin, got six furlongs on the fast

main strip in 1:10 4/5.

Track Stats

A total of 49 races were held at the Elmont, New York venue, with favorites

winning at a 43 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 57

percent of the wins during the week. From 35 races on the main oval, seven

animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (20 percent), while none of the 14 races on

the lawn were taken all the way on the front.

Speed on the main oval was very good over the weekend, especially on Saturday

when the oval was a mess. We saw three horses get passed along the inside only

to come back and win, and this main oval does get speed-favoring fairly often

when moisture is in the ground, as we have stated in the past.

No runners led throughout on the green all week.

Meet Totals

RACES:		221
DIRT:		122
TURF:		99
FAVORITES:		77 (35 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		42 (19 percent)
TURF WIRE:		13 (13 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		29 (24 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (10/1)

3RD -- We're not sure what PUCA (Big Brown) beat in this maiden run, but the

Bill Mott trainee was surely on her game in drawing off by 16 lengths under

Junior Alvarado. This prospect has proven capable on the dirt and turf and could

evolve into a stakes runner with more seasoning.

7TH -- BLUE PIGEON (Mizzen Mast) put in a second straight runner-up

performance on this main oval for Christophe Clement, falling just short after a

nice late rally in this affair. Tab this lass for a victory at the level before

long.

8TH -- THREE ALARM FIRE (Pyro) tracked in third, moved to the fore in the

lane and poured it on late in a fine repeat win for conditioner Tom Albertrani.

The talented gelding has now put in a trio of big runs to kick start his career

and should be a stakes player in the near future.

Thursday (10/2)

6TH -- We knew KERJILLION (Freud) would be very tough in this turf test but

we did not expect a 7 1/4-length romp where he displayed a huge turn of foot,

putting this field to rest in the blink of an eye. The Chad Brown-trained colt

came home swiftly on the "good" lawn and looks like a nice one going forward.

Friday (10/3)

1ST -- GOLD SHIELD (Medaglia d'Oro) burned a lot of money in this maiden run

but fought all the way to the wire in a vastly improved showing second time out.

Trainer Shug McGaughey does not pound on his juveniles, so for this one to run

this well gives reason for optimism going forward.

6TH -- TRUE ROMANCE (Yes It's True) made a big move in the early stretch, led

by a half-length in midstretch and fell just short while hanging a bit in what

we thought was a superb debut offering. The Tim Hills pupil should not be a

maiden for long after finishing more than three lengths clear of her nearest

foe.

Saturday (10/4)

8TH -- UPSTART (Flatter) had little chance with a fine winner but ran a huge

one for conditioner Richard Violette, finishing more than 12 lengths clear of

his nearest foe in what looked like a talented field. The New York-bred must be

taken seriously from here on out.

Sunday (10/5)

1ST -- GRANDPA'S PRINCESS (Bluegrass Cat) tracked a clear leader, took over

in early stretch and left little doubt late in a fine maiden tally for Carlos

Martin. The juvenile miss didn't set the teletimer on fire but she was very

professional in her score and we think she will run longer as a nice prospect to

keep an eye on.

4TH -- We have a very high opinion of BLOFELD after a pair of sprint wins and

think he is the type who could be a major player in the sophomore stakes next

spring. The Kentucky-bred might just be scratching the surface of how good he

is.

A Look Ahead

Saturday will play host to the Grade 3, $200,000 Knickerbocker Handicap,

while the Sunday headliner is the Grade 3, $200,000 Athenia Stakes.