Belmont Notebook

BELMONT NOTEBOOK

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

by John Mucciolo

A star sophomore filly was all the rage this weekend at Belmont Park.

Garden City S. (G1): Phillips Racing's homebred WINTER MEMORIES (El

Prado [Ire]) put in a sensational run inside the final furlong after being

blocked for most of the stretch to bag this one for conditioner James Toner. The

standout sophomore turf performer won by a measured neck under Javier Castellano

in a final time of 1:51 for the 1 1/8 miles on the firm inner lawn.

Noble Damsel S. (G3): Live Oak's homebred UNBRIDLED HUMOR (Distorted

Humor) took the lead early and was never threatened on her way to a 1 1/2-length

win beneath Ramon Dominguez. The Graham Motion charge went one mile on the firm

lawn in a strong 1:34 to make up for her lone loss last out.

Track Stats

A total of 47 races were held over Elmont, New York venue, with favorites

winning at a 34 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 55

percent of the wins. From 19 races on the main oval, three animals won in

wire-to-wire fashion (16 percent), and three runners led at every call on the

lawn from 28 races (11 percent).

Speed wasn't especially good on either surface this week, and the amount of

closers we saw on the turf, notably on the inner oval, makes us think we should

follow this trend until something changes. All three turf wire-to-wire winners

came on the Widener course (outer turf) in route races. We witnessed at least a

handful of grassy winners go last to first this week.

The main oval is among the fairest in racing in general terms, as horses

floated wide aren't at a very big disadvantage here as they might be elsewhere.

Tactical speed is still quite useful here and we prefer horses that are in the

hunt approaching the final turn.

Meet Totals

RACES:		67
DIRT:		32
TURF:		35
FAVORITES:		25 (37 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		14 (21 percent)
TURF WIRE:		4 (11 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		6 (19 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (9/14)

3RD -- EMCEE (Unbridled's Song) made a real nice debut to racing in this one,

taking over in early stretch en route to a fine 4 1/2-length score under Alan

Garcia. The sophomore colt is cut out to be a good one and could be any type.

6TH -- Trainer Bruce Levine doesn't win that often with first time starters,

so we take the debut tally by UNDAUNTED ELLA (Half Ours) in here as a very good

one. The juvenile miss led early, was passed, opened up a big lead in midstretch

and held on late in a smart performance.

Thursday (9/15)

4TH -- FIRE ASSAY (Medaglia d'Oro) was last turning for home and in

midstretch, but close with a powerful run to win this one, running down a clear

odds-on runner in the process. The filly showed good improvement in her second

turf outing here and could factor right back for a conditioner (Toner) whose

runners get better with time.

6TH -- Levine also scored with another first timer this week, when the

juvenile filly SCAT'S LASSIE (Scat Daddy) overcame a tough post and slow start

to pull away late beneath Kent Desormeaux. The well-backed filly could be of

stakes quality in time and is a big threat in her debut with winners.

Saturday (9/17)

5TH -- SLEW (Tiznow) put in a nice first run while being hard ridden in this

one for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, rallying late to give a small scare into the

well-meant winner on this occasion under Garcia. The juvenile colt should be

dangerous next time, and might be better with more distance to work with in

time.

9TH -- THEYSKENS' THEORY (Bernardini) ran into a monster in here but still

finished 1 1/2 lengths clear of third in a fine effort for conditioner Brian

Meehan. The sophomore lass, who had been competing against the likes of Immortal

Verse in England this season, is reportedly staying in the states following

this, and will be a force to be reckoned with going forward.

Sunday (9/18)

4TH -- Meehan's FASHION'S FLIGHT (Dixie Union) let her backers down at 2-5

odds in this one, but the filly ran pretty well to be second and shouldn't be a

maiden for long.

A Look Ahead

Saturday's $150,000 Gallant Bloom H. (G2) is the lone graded race to be held

this weekend.