Belmont Notebook

BELMONT NOTEBOOK

OCTOBER 24, 2013

by John Mucciolo

There was no graded racing this past weekend at Belmont Park.

Track Stats

A total of 39 races were held at the Elmont, New York venue, with favorites

winning at a 44 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 64

percent of the wins during the week. From 19 races on the main oval, 12 animals

won in wire-to-wire fashion (63 percent), while three of the 20 races on the

lawn were taken all the way on the front (15 percent).

Speed and the rail were especially good this week at Belmont, with 12 of 19

horses who led at the first call coming home first under the wire. We considered

this a very biased oval, especially Thursday-Saturday, when 10 of 15 races on

the dirt resulted in wire jobs. Keep a close eye on the way this surface is

playing early in the week.

Meet Totals

RACES:		313
DIRT:		153
TURF:		160
FAVORITES:		97 (29 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		70 (23 percent)
TURF WIRE:		25 (16 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		56 (33 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (10/17)

2ND -- The Eddie Kenneally-trained ULLAPOOL (Langfuhr) makes this list

following a huge tally after she ran this field off their feet, in what was her

first start in 13 months. The four-year-old filly held a big edge early and

never looked back, clocking six panels in a swift 1:09 3/5 under moderate urging

late. The four-year-old could be any kind this season.

4TH -- FLORES ISLAND (Giant's Causeway) finally broke through after four

straight runner-up performances for conditioner Bill Mott, driving home an

impressive winner beneath Joel Rosario. The sophomore filly led throughout and

got her final quarter mile in a strong :24 2/5 without feeling the whip.

Friday (10/18)

2ND -- PURE SENSATION (Zensational) had faced a pair of superb fields to kick

start his career, and the colt finally landed in a good spot to showcase his

ability and win for trainer Christophe Clement. The capable juvenile was a

facile winner under Jose Lezcano, smashing 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02 4/5, just

three ticks off the track mark. The youngster looks to be stakes quality at

sprint trips.

Saturday (10/19)

3RD -- EMPIRE DREAMS (Patriot Act) had little chance with the winner who is a

real good one, yet the Tom Albertrani charge ran a big one while a clear second

under the wire. We'll keep an eye on this colt going forward.

10TH -- LUBASH (Freud) couldn't corral the favored winner in the lane in this

solid field of New York-bred runners, but the six-year-old proved he had plenty

of run left in him with a fine second, more than three lengths clear of his

nearest foe. The Clement pupil got his final five-sixteenths in a sharp :29 1/5.

Sunday (10/20)

2ND -- SUMMERTIME FRIEND (Medaglia d'Oro) broke best to lead, was passed at

the top of the lane but found another gear and pulled away in the lane in a fine

first showing for conditioner Kiaran McLaughlin. The juvenile filly was very

professional and is bred to run much longer, so we consider the Kentucky-bred to

be a fine prospect going forward with steady improvement.

7TH -- INDUSTRIAL POLICY (Harlan's Holiday) sat in last after the opening six

furlongs of this turf fray, and then the sophomore filly uncorked a big late run

to inch clear late under Jose Ortiz. The Chad Brown pupil finished up her final

three furlongs in a wicked :34 1/5!.

A Look Ahead

A pair of Grade 3 races will be on tap this Saturday at Belmont Park. The

$200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap and the $200,000 Turnback the Alarm Stakes

highlight the weekend.