Belmont Notebook

BELMONT NOTEBOOK

JUNE 16, 2010

by Albie Johnson

We're in of a bit of a recapping mode with a look back at the Belmont S. (G1)

and the other graded events that took place on June 5.

This year's edition of the Belmont lacked "star" power but that was made up

by an exciting running that left the crowd of 45,243 cheering loudly as the 11

three-year-olds crossed the finish line in the 142nd renewal of the 1 1/2-mile

classic.

As expected the pace was set by Preakness (G1) runner-up First Dude (Stephen

Got Even) and just like in that contest he would prove a tough and determined

foe to pass down the lane. Around the far turn, the lightly-raced Game on Dude

(Awesome Again) mounted a serious run for the top and a bit farther back both

DROSSELMEYER (Distorted Humor) and Fly Down (Mineshaft) were also beginning to

make up good ground on the leaders. As they turned for home, "Dude's" rally

began to level off just a bit as the front-runner dug in, but Drosselmeyer was

ranging up on the outside around the eighth-pole and proved best in the last

sixteenth of a mile to win by three-quarters of a length over Fly Down, who

looked beaten in midstretch but re-rallied for the place by a neck over the very

game pacesetter.

The winner gave Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott his first classic win and he

was ridden for the first time by former New York regular Mike Smith, whose

career seemed over several years back before being resurrected into national

prominence once again.

Of the vanquished, Fly Down, First Dude and Game on Dude all did themselves

proud and the threesome should be heard from again as this season progresses.

One race earlier on the stakes filled undercard, a field of 11 older runners

took to the inner-turf course for the $400,000 Manhattan H. (G1). Race was

headed by multiple Grade 1 winner Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat), who was looking

for a repeat in this important event.

As expected, the pace was set by Jet Propulsion (Double Honor), who led until

just past the mile-marker of this 12-furlong contest, and when he called it a

day it left at least eight runners with a solid win shot as they straightened

away. As is the case in a lot large grass fields, many had traffic issues during

the running, including Gio Ponti, Take the Points ( Even the Score), Court

Vision (Gulch) and Strike a Deal (Smart Strike), who all could have have

challenged for the win with a clean trip, but the one to benefit was WINCHESTER

(Theatrical [Ire]), who raced far back early and rallied down the center of the

track to prove best by a half-length over uncoupled barnmate Gio Ponti, with

Expansion (Maria's Mon) another length back in third.

Winchester ran his best race since taking the 2008 Secretariat (G1) in his

North American debut.

It was nice to see the colors of Mr. And Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone in the

winner's circle again, as they were a fixture back in the 70s and early 80s,

with top performers like Foolish Pleasure, Honest Pleasure and, of course, the

Derby-winning filly Genuine Risk. Winner is trained by Chris Clement and

received an incident free ride by Cornelio Velasquez.

Backtracking another race on the card, a field of a dozen three-year-old fillies

took to the track in a wide open renewal of the Acorn S.(G1) run at a "flat"

mile on the 1 1/2-mile main track.

Breaking in stride from her outside post, CHAMPAGNE D'ORO (Medaglia d'Oro) set

solid fractions, put away several challenges down the backstretch  and turned

for home with tepid race favorite Amen Hallelujah (Montbrook) beginning to rally

in the center of the track. "Amen" looked the winner in midstretch, but the

front runner dug in gamely to prevail by a very hard-fought half-length win, with California invader Tanda (Sweetsouthersaint) another length back in

third. The third-placer may have been best as she was away

slowly and was forced to check sharply midway through the turn before closing

strongly after being forced six-wide into the stretch.

The winning filly is trained by Eric Guillot and jockey Martin Garcia gave a

flawless front-running ride while saving just enough to get the job done.

Eight older sprinters faced the starter in the True North H. (G2), a race that

lost much of its luster when pre-race favorite Custom for Carlos (More Than

Ready) was a late scratch. It was a rather ordinary group after that defection

and it left Checklist (Gone West) with the early advantage which he held until

midstretch when both Snapshot (Awesome Again) and BRIBON (Fr) (Mark of Esteem [Ire])

came charging down the center of the track, with the latter proving best late.

Bribon drew clear to a 1 1/2-length win over Snapshot, with the early pacesetter

another 4 1/4 lengths back in the show spot.

Nice training job by Todd Pletcher to have this middle-distance expert ready

off of some solid drills to win this six-furlong sprint.

A compact field of six older fillies and mares faced off in the one-mile Just a Game

S. (G1) on the main (Widener) turf course for a purse of

$400,000.

As expected, the pace was set by part of a Marty Wolfson-trained entry, Speak

Easy Gal (West Acre), and it was a rather ordinary one for the level. She was

tracked intently on the outside every step by race favorite PROVISO (GB) (Dansili

[GB]), who bid to the front in midstretch and under a strong ride by Mike Smith

prevailed over a fast-closing Phola (Johannesburg) by a half-length, with My Princess

Jess (Stormy Atlantic) another neck back in third.

Winning mare captured a Group 3 event in France last year before coming to the states and

she beat males last out in the Frank Kilroe Mile H. (G1) at Santa Anita in March.

Bill Mott saddled the Juddmonte homebred, who still may have her best ahead of

her.

Sophomore males hit the main track to start the stakes-filled day in the

Woody Stephens S. (G2) with a field headed by D'FUNNYBONE (D'wildcat), who had won the Hutchinson

(G2) and Swale (G2) earlier this year at Gulfstream and captured both the Saratoga Special

(G2) and the Futurity (G2) last year.

Pace was set by Eightyfiveinafifty (Forest Camp) and Discreetly Mine (Mineshaft), who dueled through fast fractions with D'Funnybone sitting just off that pair

heading around the far turn. Eightyfiveinafifty called it a day turning for home

and D'Funnybone quickly forged to the front over a stubborn Discreetly Mine, who

held gamely for the place spot 3 1/4 lengths behind the winner, while Remand

(Successful Appeal) had the length of the stretch to catch "Discreetly" but fell

a half-length short.

Richard Dutrow trains the winning sophomore and the talented colt has the looks

and style of a very good "miler."

Track conditions

Fast and firm on all four days of racing with the

main-track and both turf courses playing fairly.

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (6/2)

7TH -- Nice effort by CHICK IN SLACKS (Whywhywhy) as she moved up in class

off a win racing for $25k and finished a rallying third despite being

forced wide on the far turn. Encouraging run.

9TH -- Veteran sprinter SLY (Elusive Quality) had his second straight

"troubled" outing as he raced in heavy traffic most of the race and once clear

was forced to swing wide turning for home. He closed strongly, but had to settle

for the place spot behind a wire-to-wire winner.

Thursday (6/3)

5TH -- Nice race by STRATEGIC MOVE (Strategic Mission) as he raced on the

inside while involved in a pace duel and after losing that battle to the

eventual winner he held well for the place spot. Effort was his second off a

five-month break and first with blinkers added.

6TH -- Nice rail move here by PEARLY BLUE (Empire Maker) as filly broke

her maiden in this spot when the Mott barn dropped her into a claimer for the

first time. She raced well back until turning for home when she commenced a

hedge rally and went by them all to win going away. Race may have given her some

confidence and if spotted correctly she could win right back.

Have a Nice week!