Belmont Notebook

BELMONT PARK NOTEBOOK

OCTOBER 26, 2006

by Bernard T. Moore

Belmont Park presented its annual card of racing dedicated exclusively to the

New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Racing Program last Saturday. The day's feature

race was the Empire Classic H. for New York-bred runners, three-year-olds and

up.

ORGANIZER (Raffie's Majesty), a 22-1 longshot trained by Dominick Galluscio,

responded favorably to the rating tactics employed by jockey Eibar Coa to

register a stunning upset in the Empire Classic. The winner settled into third

racing down the backstretch as Run Red Run (Afternoon Deelites) and Naughty New

Yorker (Quiet American) slugged it out on the front end. Coa subsequently sent

Organizer to the lead in the stretch, and the dark bay colt held on gamely to

his advantage as he turned away late bids from Carminooch (Tomorrows Cat) and

West Virginia (Tomorrows Cat) to win by three parts of a length. Carminooch was

with the early pace from the start while racing wide and then outfinished West

Virginia, who suffered a troubled trip to get the place. The third-place

finisher broke awkwardly, hitting the side of the gate and stumbling as well. He

managed to recover and finished with interest for the show. Funny Cide

(Distorted Humor) finished fourth in yet another non-descript effort, with Run

Red Run checking in fifth and Naughty New Yorker tiring to finish sixth.

Belmont Park concluded its meet on Sunday with juvenile runners taking center

stage on the turf.

Pilgrim S. - PICKAPOCKET (Mecke) ran like a thief in the night as he spurted

away to an insurmountable 4 1/2-length lead in midstretch and then managed to

hold on to annex his second stakes triumph in succession. Trained Frank

Alexander, Pickapocket was with the pace from the outset prior to seizing

command in the stretch. He was then able to withstand a belatedly rally from

Strike a Deal (Smart Strike) to win by 1 1/2 lengths. The runner-up lacked clear

sailing at strategic points in the race, but finished strongly once securing

racing room along the inside in the stretch. Giant Chieftan (Giant's Causeway)

improved his position in the stretch, but failed to sustain his bid and settled

for third as the 9-5 betting favorite.

Miss Grillo S. - CHESTORIA (Chester House), a New York-bred runner exiting a

maiden win, kept her unblemished record on grass intact with a determined

one-length victory. Ridden once again by Coa, Chestoria swept to

the lead in the stretch and held on grimly as she repelled a bid from Mystic

Soul (Bahri) to triumph. The second-place finisher closed strongly in the lane

to get the place, finishing 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Christmas Kid (Lemon Drop

Kid). Christmas Kid stalked a fast pace over the yielding course, and held well

to take down the show in her initial effort beyond six furlongs. Chestoria's

final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1 4/5 seconds faster than her male

counterparts would take to negotiate the same distance in the 9TH race.

Edgar Prado and Coa finished in a dead heat for leading rider honors,

with each jockey piloting 38 winners. Cornelio Velasquez rounded out the top

three. Todd Pletcher won the training title with 15 victories, saddling two more

winners than Bill Mott and Bruce Levine who were deadlocked for second place.

The main track was labeled good when racing commenced on Wednesday, and

continued to dry out during the day and was labeled fast for the 7TH race. It

favored early speed throughout the day. Speed continued to fare well through

Friday. The track seemed to return to normal on Saturday and Sunday. All paths

played honestly all week.

There was no turf racing on Wednesday. Closers held an edge over both grass

courses when turf racing resumed on Thursday. Grass racing was suspended again

on Friday due to extremely wet conditions. There was no pronounced bias over

either turf course during the weekend.

When racing returns on Wednesday, Aqueduct will begin its 45-day Fall Meet.

First post has been pushed ahead to 12:30 p.m. (ET), with a traditional

Wednesday through Sunday race schedule. The highlight of the meet is Aqueduct's HolidayFest, which will take place this year November 23-25.

Horses to Watch

Wednesday (10/18)

8TH - FIDDLERS PLEASURE (Tomorrows Cat) ran a good second in a race

originally meant for the grass. She showed improved speed, albeit against a slow

pace, to contend for the early lead, and held well in a race that finished up

late. The four-year-old may prefer dirt, as she broke her maiden over the

Aqueduct main track at one mile last year.

9TH - TWAUMMY (Ormsby) showed dramatic reversal in form returning to the main

track on the drop. The sophomore exhibited surprise speed to set a pressured

pace and continued on well in the stretch one displaced on the front end. He

clearly has a pedigree for a dirt sprint.

Thursday (10/19)

4TH - SMART HALORY (Halory Hunter) put forth a much improved effort on the

drop in her second career outing. She was clearly second best closing against

the grain of a speed favoring track in a swiftly run race. It appears as though

she will improve with added distance.

9TH - MCCALMONT (Carson City) gave a good showing stretching out to a mile.

The sophomore carved out a lively pace and held well late to nearly save the

place. He might benefit from a cutback to seven furlongs going forward.

Friday (10/20)

4TH - TECHNO STAR (Five Star Day) was hard used setting a very quick and

pressured pace over an extremely wet main track. The bay may appreciate a change

in venue with Aqueduct opening.

Saturday (10/21)

1ST - GULCH FEVER (Stormin Fever) closed nicely from well off the pace in a

swiftly run contest. He appears poised for a lifetime best effort in his next

start.

2ND - SAGAMOON (Malibu Moon) was a decisive winner in a fast time annexing

her initial career victory. The dark bay miss might able to handle winners if

not too ambitiously spotted in her next start and should continue to improve

with distance.

Sunday (10/22)

6TH - Christmas Kid ran a good third tackling winners for the first time in a

stakes contest. Chased a very fast pace and held reasonably well yielding to a

pair of fresh closers in the stretch in a quickly run contest. She definitely

has a future over the lawn, and remains eligible for much softer competition.

7TH - JORDANS LANE (Montbrook) was clearly a tad short in her well-bet career

debut. She tracked a lively early pace before retiring, and obviously derived

beneficial conditioning and experience from this effort. The bay should be worth

following with a change in venue to her Aqueduct homebase.