Belmont Notebook

BELMONT NOTEBOOK

OCTOBER 17, 2014

by John Mucciolo

A pair of graded stakes on turf led the way at Belmont Park.

Knickerbocker S. (G3): Walter Swinburn's LEGENDARY (Exceed and Excel)

continued his affinity for the Belmont lawn with a big run into and through the

lane to post the 1 1/4-length score for Niall Seville. The five-year-old import

clocked 1 1/8 miles on the yielding lawn in 1:51 3/5 under the guidance of

Sheldon Russell.

Athenia S. (G3): Salvador Hernandez's homebred LA TIA (City Place) led

from the opening bell and gamely held sway late to post a neck score under Joel

Rosario. The Armando de la Cerda trainee stopped the teletimer in 1:43 1/5 for 1

1/16 miles on the yielding ground.

Track Stats

A total of 57 races were held at the Elmont, New York venue, with favorites

winning at a 26 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 47

percent of the wins during the week. From 29 races on the main oval, seven

animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (24 percent), while five of the 28 races on

the lawn were taken all the way on the front (18 percent).

Five of the seven main-track wire jobs came in sprints. For the week, the

dirt surface seemed mostly fair to all, with all types of winners breaking from

all differing post slots.

The turf ovals also seemed to be playing kindly to all types for the most

part, even on the yielding ground. Three wire-to-wire winners on the sod came in

the form of route runs on the inner, with the other pair occurring in dashes on

the outer course.

Meet Totals

RACES:		278
DIRT:		151
TURF:		127
FAVORITES:		92 (33 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		54 (19 percent)
TURF WIRE:		18 (14 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		36 (24 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (10/8)

6TH -- SAINT JOSEPH (Flatter) battled for the lead and stayed on well late in

a much improved showing from his latest at Saratoga. The juvenile colt was

beaten just more than a length in this fine effort and should graduate with

continued improvement for Chad Brown.

8TH -- BAY OF PLENTY (Medaglia d'Oro) made a much anticipated return to the

racetrack in this allowance test and proved to be an easy winner for Kiaran

McLaughlin. The well-bred sophomore has a world of talent and we think he will

be a major factor in the handicap ranks in 2015.

Thursday (10/9)

6TH -- BROKEN BORDER (Broken Vow) was never getting to the winner in his

debut offering for Jason Servis, but the juvenile filly made a big late run

behind a dawdling early tempo from a wide post, and will be very tough next time

in a properly run race.

Friday (10/10)

8TH -- STRONG IMPACT (A.P Jet) was stuck well back behind a soft pace but

rallied well to garner the place spot beneath Cornelio Velasquez. The

eight-year-old gelding might turn out to be a nice claim for trainer Michelle

Nevin.

Saturday (10/11)

4TH -- Trainer Bruce Brown shelled out $80,000 to halter race winner DAWLY

(Awesome Again) out of this heat and this looks like another good claim in our

estimation. The six-year-old has superb form and can run with some of the better

sprinters in the East.

6TH -- MAWTHOOQ (Distorted Humor) ran into a fine prospect in this debut run

but was clearly second best and is cut out to be a runner who improves with a

bit more experience and ground to work with. The McLaughlin pupil should be

graduating before long, and possibly heading for the turf.

Sunday (10/12)

7TH -- MARBRE ROSE (Smart Strike) overcame the widest post and yielding

ground to post a mostly facile tally in her U.S. debut for conditioner

Christophe Clement. The Irish-bred sophomore filly was in hand late and could be

almost any type going forward.

Monday (10/13)

7TH -- CLASSIC POINT (Flatter) led out of the gate and never looked back in

posting one of the better efforts of her career in our view. The five-year-old

mare had plenty left late and could be in lifetime form going forward for

trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

9TH -- LADY LARA (Excellent Art) showed little early foot in her U.S. bow but

really turned it on late in driving home a fine stakes winner for Bill Mott. The

Irish-bred sophomore filly earned a healthy 102 BRIS Late Pace figure and looks

to have a bright stateside future.

A Look Ahead

No graded races will be contested at Belmont Park this weekend.