Belmont Notebook

BELMONT NOTEBOOK

OCTOBER 31, 2008

by John Mucciolo

A trio of graded tilts led the way during the final week of the fall meet at

Belmont Park.

Knickerbocker H. (G3): Godolphin's FORMAL DECREE (Ger) (Diktat [GB])

responded when engaged approaching the final turn and rolled home a clear winner

for conditioner Saeed bin Suroor and jockey Jean-Luc Samyn. The classy gelding

negotiated nine firm furlongs in 1:47 2/5 in posting his second consecutive

score.

Turnback the Alarm H. (G3): Alexander, Groves and Matz's homebred

ALTESSE (A.P. Indy) was passed in the lane by the odds-on Spring Waltz, but

rallied back bravely to annex this affair for Shug McGaughey. The five-year-old

lass, who was guided by John Velazquez, was a neck clear under the wire while

clocking the nine panels in an honest 1:50.

Sport Page H. (G3): Fox Hill Farms' KODIAK KOWBOY (Posse) proved that

his close third in the recent Vosburgh S. (G1) was no fluke when taking this one

confidently under Gabe Saez. The smart sophomore colt quickly gained the edge

when asked in early stretch and held well for Larry Jones, reaching the

seven-eighths in 1:24 4/5.

Track Stats

From a total of 43 races held over the Long Island racetrack during the

five-day week, favorites won at a 24 percent clip and the top two betting

choices combined for 55 percent of the wins. From 22 frays contested on the vast

main oval, four animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (18 percent), while seven of

the 21 grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (33 percent).

The final week of racing at Belmont Park concluded as much of the previous

weeks had, playing fairly for the majority on the main oval and turf course. We

noted that saving ground was important, not necessary, for winning on the grass,

and that was evident as seven winners won in wire-to-wire fashion over the final

21 grass tests.

Inside posts were pretty strong over the weekend, with 9 winners breaking

from post 1-3 over the 16 races. This was not the case of a bias in our opinion.

For the entirety of the meeting, favorites won at a 33 percent clip,

dispelling any notion of a severe bias at any time. The oft-chalky meet was

mostly on par to the totals of previous seasons.

Meet Totals

RACES:		309
DIRT:		187
TURF:		122
FAVORITES:		103 (33 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		65 (21 percent)
TURF WIRE:		24 (20 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		44 (23 percent)

Post Positions (wins)

RAIL:		54
1-3:		133
4-6:		95
7-out:		81

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (10/23)

1ST -- PAPA BEAR (Distorted Humor) tracked a nice colt for much of the

running in here before taking over for Michael Hushion, posting a solid win

under top turf pilot Channing Hill. The winner is now proven over turf and

synthetic, and is a major factor over each surface.

5TH -- Trainer Tom Albertrani struck again at a price when JASMINE GARDENS

(Mineshaft) blew past her foes in the lane at 16-1. The well-bred Delaware

shipper didn't set the teletimer on fire in here, but she's much improved as of

late and could develop into a stakes runner in 2009.

8TH -- SLAMBINO (Grand Slam) loves the Belmont lawn and rallied strongly in

the lane to just miss in here for Frank Alexander. The sophomore has one run,

but the energy he displays late should find him finishing in the top three on

many occasions, with even a small amount of pace to run at.

Friday (10/24)

3RD -- TEMPORARY SAINT (Awesome Again) won his second race in eight days in

incredibly game fashion for David Jacobson, relentlessly holding on late under

Jeffrey Sanchez. The Grade 3-winning gelding finished off his final

five-sixteenths in a smart :31 2/5 and should be a menacing force on the speedy

inner dirt at Aqueduct.

7TH -- Past "Watch List" horse MASALA T (Tale of the Cat) put in yet another fine

closing run to finish second in this test at a square price for Jacobson. He

will be playable at big odds if he finds his way into a race with an abundance

of early pace signed on.

8TH -- ENGLISH COLONY (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) got back on the winning

track with a dusting of this field of turf dashers for Angel Penna, Jr., leading

at every call while giving his backers no reason to worry. The graded quality

winner finished just one tick off the track mark for seven-eighths.

Saturday (10/25)

4TH -- STRIKE A DEAL (Smart Strike) is a sucker win bet for Allen Goldberg,

but the consistent four-year-old is almost assured a paycheck when placed in the

right spot. The talented turf runner is a cut below when it comes to upper

echelon of his division, but he often caps exactas and trifectas.

Sunday (10/26)

5TH -- The heavily backed LEAP DAY (Officer) was no mystery in this dash, but

the gelding got his final quarter-mile in a brisk :23 2/5 and is a strong

win-back candidate. The Hushion trainee was not persevered with much in the lane

and should have plenty in the tank for his debut versus winners.

9TH -- Trainer Scott Schwartz doesn't get too many like THAT'S RICH (Chapel

Royal) winning like he did at first asking, so we'll tab this one for success in

the near future. The colt should not be overlooked in his return engagement,

regardless of where he shows up.

A Look Ahead

The action shifts to the Big A for its 39-day fall meet.