Belmont Notebook

BELMONT PARK NOTEBOOK

JUNE 18, 2009

by Albie Johnson

A lot of moisture fell on Belmont this past week as racing returned to a

steadier beat after all the excitement of the Belmont S. (G1) quieted down.

A pair of graded stakes headed by the Ogden Phipps H. (G1) highlighted the

weekend with seven runners, headed by a three-horse entry squaring off in the 1

1/16-mile contest worth $300,000. The entry was comprised of the Godolphin pair

of Seventh Street (Street Cry [Ire]), Music Note (A.P. Indy) and the Darley

representative of Sea Chanter (War Chant). The trio was backed down to heavy

favoritism with SEATTLE SMOOTH (Quiet American), who was bidding for her fifth

consecutive victory, the solid second choice.

The race set up perfectly for that runner as a pace battle ensued with

Seventh Street eventually winning the duel up front, drawing clear in

midstretch. However, she was unable to hold off Seattle Smooth, who tracked in

hand, swung out turning for home and proved best late to win going away by 1 1/4

lengths.

The four-year-old filly is undefeated since coming under the care of Tony

Dutrow and has been impressive in all of her victories. Ramon Dominguez

contributed a patient and well-timed move and has been aboard in four of her

five wins.

Seventh Street raced gallantly in defeat and stablemate Music Note looked

like a runner who was badly in need of a race.

Sunday's feature, the Poker S. (G3), was run on the Widener turf course over

ground labeled soft after more rain fell on Saturday night. The race looked like

a two-horse affair with Kip Deville (Kipling) and Tam Lin (GB) (Selkirk), who

had finished one-two in this event last year, squaring off in a small field of

five runners in the one-mile contest.

Kip Deville took the early lead with Tam Lin stalking while saving ground on

the rail. The pace quickened just past the three-eighths pole with the former

unable to open up and his rival holding his position on the hedge. Meanwhile,

SAILOR'S CAP (Distant View) began to make up ground racing wide approaching the

stretch and as they straightened away it became obvious that it was not Kip

Deville's day. While Sailor's Cap went by on the outside Tam Lin slipped through

on the inside to secure the place spot with last year's winner fading to fourth.

A Grade 3 winner, Sailor's Cap was making his seasonal bow after racing well in a number of

three-year-old stakes last season. Trainer Jimmy Toner did a great job by having

him ready off the layoff and Alan Garcia always had plenty of horse underneath

him the entire race. Unfortunately, however, the ill-fated four-year-old colt

won't have the opportunity to go on to greater glory in the future. He died

suddenly in his stall at Belmont on Wednesday from unknown causes.

As for the vanquished, Tam Lin ran very well and Kip Deville, after training

superbly, looked like either a short horse or one who did not care for the soft

going.

Earlier in the week, COMMENTATOR (Distorted Humor) made his second start of

2009 a successful one by going wire-to-wire on a track labeled muddy in an

overnight stakes on Friday. The veteran gelding ran his local record to 8-5-1-2

and trainer Nick Zito has the August 8 Whitney (G1) as the main goal of his

runner's summer campaign. The speedy eight-year-old will be seeking his third

triumph in that traditional Saratoga event.

Track Conditions

Wednesday: good and yielding

Thursday: sloppy and sealed, soft turf course

Friday: sloppy and sealed, off the turf

Saturday: good and soft

Sunday: fast and soft

The main track favored speed and stalkers with the turf course playing to

runners from coming from off the pace.

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (9/10)

3RD -- Making his first start since early December, UNITY (Tiger Ride)

stumbled badly at the start and was hard used from his inside post to attain the

lead. He proceeded to set fast fractions and only tired in the last sixteenth. A

miscue cost him the win.

4TH -- ROARING GHOST (Roaring Fever) raced a bit erratically while in between

runners much of the race. The effort was only his second lifetime start, first

in three months and first on the turf. He finished a close-up third in this spot

and should get his maiden win soon.

Thursday (9/11)

5TH -- Debuting filly FLASHY AND FAST (Double Honor) had a rather poor star,

was quickly rushed to chase a fast pace on the sloppy track and predictably

tired from that effort turning for home. Not pushed the last quarter-mile, she

should run well at a square price next out.

Friday (9/12)

9TH -- Running in a race switched to the main track, NAVEDANO (Western

Expression) chased a fast pace in the off going and held well until they

straightened away and tired thereafter. She should be tighter next out with a

likely return to the infield.

Saturday (9/13)

3RD -- LAUREATE CONDUCTOR (Bernstein), who had showed some talent in his

three previous starts, relished the soft turf in this spot. The sophomore colt

broke on top, was pressed early while well in hand and sprinted clear once

Dominguez asked him for some run. He drew away late to win by 7 1/4 lengths in

an impressive maiden score. Trainer Christophe Clement, who is having an

outstanding meet, looks to have another quality grass horse in this dark bay

colt.

9TH -- After failing in a pair of stakes on turf and Polytrack, MASALA (Lion

Heart) was returned to the dirt, dropped into an allowance and looked sharp in

victory in this 1 1/16-mile contest and did so despite some trouble at the

break. The colt was also making his first start for Allen Jerkens after a recent

transfer to his barn from the Todd Pletcher outfit. The three-year-old may be a

late bloomer.

Upcoming Stakes

The New York S. (G2) for distaffers going 1 1/4 miles on the turf is set for

Saturday.

Have a nice week!