Belmont Notebook

BELMONT PARK NOTEBOOK

SEPTEMBER 27, 2007

by Bernard T. Moore

Many runners possessing aspirations to compete in next month's Breeders' Cup

will have their final tune-ups at Belmont Park this weekend. This Sunday, four

Grade 1 contests will be run at Belmont Park. These races are the Jockey Club

Gold Cup Invitational (G1), the Vosburgh (G1), the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

Invitational (G1) and the Beldame (G1). The winners from each of these

aforementioned races are guaranteed a place in the starting gate for the

Breeders' Cup World Championships at Monmouth Park on October 27.

ANY GIVEN SATURDAY (Distorted Humor) stamped his ticket for the Breeders' Cup

Classic (G1) with a workmanlike 2 1/2-length triumph in the Brooklyn H. (G2) on

Saturday. Ridden once again by jockey Garrett Gomez, Any Given Saturday relaxed

nicely behind enterprising fractions carved out by Tasteyville (With Approval).

Gomez wisely elected to bide his time aboard the overwhelming odds-on favorite,

preferring to wait until the stretch before seizing command, gaining the lead in

the vicinity of the eighth-pole, and then drawing clear under a drive to score

by a daylight margin. Tasteyville held on grimly in the final yards to save the

place, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Helsinki (Distorted

Humor), who closed belatedly for the show. Awesome Twist (Awesome Again) and

Sightseeing (Pulpit) finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Neither runner was

ever a serious threat.

In stark contrast to the Brooklyn, the Gallant Bloom H. (G2) for fillies

and mares at six furlongs was an extremely contentious affair. An evenly-matched

race on paper, three runners were dispatched at 5-2 odds as handicappers found

it difficult to settle on a favorite. JAZZY (Arg) (Mutakddim) eventually came

away with the win, holding on gamely to the lead in deep stretch while posting a

hard-earned three-quarters of a length victory. Racing within striking distance

of the front-runners from the outset, Jazzy made her bid in earnest to displace

Pussycat Doll (Real Quiet) on the lead at the midstretch point. She began to

slowly edge away from that rival, and then had enough gas left in the tank to

stave off a late rally from Cuaba (Smoke Glacken), who was a lukewarm 5-2

favorite in the wagering. Cuaba reverted back to closing tactics for the Gallant

Bloom, rallying with good energy late to finish second in a much- improved

effort. Pussycat Doll disputed the early pace dictated by Great Intentions (Cat

Thief), and eventually gained a tenuous lead in the stretch. However, she

weakened under pressure in the stretch and wound up finishing third. Great

Intentions tired and faded in the stretch to finish fourth with Princess Janie

(Elusive Quality) reporting home last. Princess Janie was compromised by a

stumbling start and failed to exhibit her usual early speed as a result of that

incident. She never really got untracked in a disappointing effort.

Sunday's card at Belmont Park featured a couple of New York-bred contests for

juvenile runners. BIG TRUCK (Hook and Ladder) was a punctual odds-on winning

favorite, defeating Spanky Fischbein (Hook and Ladder) by two decisive lengths

in the Bertram F. Bongard S. Jockey Ramon Dominguez was content to stalk the

early fractions set by the eventual second-place finisher, Spanky Fischbein,

into the stretch. He gained command past the eighth-pole, and then drew clear. Spanky Fischbein quickly seized the lead despite stumbling leaving the gate. He

held well once displaced on the front end, and was clearly second best. Dazzling

Derek (Yankee Gentleman) was a distant third.

The Joseph A. Gimma S. provided a bit more drama with EXPECT THE END (Precise

End) and Meriwether Jessica (Freud) battling heads apart for the lead from the

opening bell, with both runners racing as team to the wire. Expect the End and

Meriwether Jackson, dispatched at odds of even-money and 2-1, respectively, were

virtually inseparable for the entire seven furlongs, with Expect The End eking

out a win by a scant nose in a race that neither horse deserved to lose. Beam of

Love (Prime Timber) closed belatedly to get the show. Honky Tonk Trick (Phone

Trick) raced within striking distance of the lead to the stretch, but began

dropping back steadily thereafter and finished fourth.

The main track was speed-friendly on Thursday and Friday. It returned to

normal over the weekend. Speed did well in turf sprints on Wednesday. Their did

not appear to be any other pronounced biases.

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (9/19)

2ND - ANLYN (High Yield) recorded a creditable third-place finish in her debut,

chasing a lively pace. Tired slowly in the stretch in a race she obviously

needed. Has a pedigree for a sprint and to win early in her career.

4TH - OUR RAFAELA (Dynaformer) received heavy tote action just prior to

post time to be sent off as the 9-5 favorite. Lacked early speed, but leveled

off nicely leaving the far turn to make a good bid into the stretch. However,

she was one-paced late to finish third in a solid effort. Probably would benefit

from added distance.

Thursday (9/20)

5TH - MUSHKA (Empire Maker) turned in an encouraging third-place finish in

her well-bet/well-meant career debut. Made a strong bid to gain command around the

far turn, only to weaken under pressure in the stretch. The juvenile filly should have derived

beneficial conditioning/experience from this effort. Bred on both sides of her

pedigree a for turf route.

9TH - GIANT STORM (Giant's Causeway) easily handled limited winners on the

drop, winning by a daylight margin. Could win right back stepping up into a

non-winners of three contest for a similar claiming price.

Friday (9/21)

2ND - COSMIC KRIS (Storm Creek) bettered his position leaving the far turn,

but was forced to rally into slow fractions in a race that quickened late. Would

obviously benefit from a livelier pace scenario and probably some class relief

as well in his second start off a layoff.

4TH - IRON CURTAIN (Boundary) offered a much-improved effort off the layoff switching

to turf. Chased a lively pace and then held well to save the show in a swiftly

run contest. Appears to have found his niche on the lawn.

Saturday (9/22)

9TH - Great Intentions recorded a creditable fourth-place finish off a

prolonged layoff. Set a pressured pace into the stretch and then tired slowly

late in a race she obviously needed. She usually at her best in her second or

third start back off a break.

11TH - RAYNICKS FAN (Lear Fan) displayed a dramatic reversal in form while returning to

Belmont Park and employing rating tactics. Finished with interest late in a race

that was fast for the class level. Appears set for a career best effort in

second start off a layoff.

Sunday (9/23)

2ND - FOREST TRAIL (Forest Wildcat) was hard used to dispute a lively early

pace, and then gave way readily as a result. Could improve dramatically if

allowed to settle, and then make one run. Those aforementioned tactics produced

a sharp second-place finish in her debut effort at Saratoga this summer.

9TH - Meriwether Jackson was a heartbreaking runner-up while stepping up

into a stakes contest, her initial effort vs. winners. The filly gave the even-money

favorite all she could handle, vying for the lead every step of the way only to

lose by a slim nose. Appears to have a bright future, and remains eligible for a

preliminary allowance contest.