Belmont Notebook - 9/16

BELMONT

NOTEBOOK

SEPTEMBER 16

by John Mucciolo

Racing moved from upstate into the heart of the city this

weekend with the opening of Belmont Park on Friday. While

Saratoga always attracts many of the best horses in the United

States, it's the Belmont Fall Meet that generally lures the best

runners from here and across the globe. With a terrific slate of

prep races that include 14 Grade 1 events for the upcoming

Breeders' Cup World Championships, this is the best meet in

America.

Racing got off to a flying start on the opening weekend with a

quartet of Grade 1 races taking place. Stronach Stables'

GHOSTZAPPER (Awesome Again) was sent off a prohibitive 2-5

favorite in the $500,000 Woodward S. (G1) on Saturday, but he had

to fight each and every stride to earn the win.

Breaking alertly beneath a red-hot Javier Castellano, the

four-year-old was prominent throughout, as he and Saint Liam

(Saint Ballado) sped through splits of :45 3/5, 1:08 3/5 and 1:33

1/5 for the opening mile of the nine-furlong race. Turning for

home both colts went wide and fought tooth-and-nail to the wire,

with Ghostzapper getting a head up while stopping the clock in a

swift 1:46 1/5.

Trained by Bobby Frankel, the bay picked up his second Grade 1

tally, both over this surface, and ran his mark to 9-7-0-1. As

indicated by his conditioner, the winner will be trained up to

the October 30 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

Saint Liam, who is likely headed to the Breeders' Cup himself,

was unlucky in defeat while 9 1/2 lengths clear of Bowman's Band

(Dixieland Band).

In the previous race, Michael Tabor's MAGISTRETTI (Diesis

[GB]), last after a mile, exploded in the homestretch and

engulfed his seven rivals en route to a score in the $500,000 Man

o' War S. (G1) over the yielding turf course. The Arlington

Million (G1) runner-up (via DQ) closed his final three-eighths in

a splendid :35 2/5 beneath Edgar Prado. The Patrick

Biancone-trained colt passed the $1 million mark in earnings

following his triumph.

Epalo (Ger) (Lando [Ger]) made the pace and looked like a

winner when 3 1/2 lengths clear in the midstretch, but the

five-year-old could not hold off the winner. King's Drama (Ire)

(King's Theatre [Ire]) did well to secure the show spot.

Also on Saturday, one of the leading three-year-old fillies,

STELLAR JAYNE (Wild Rush), showed heart and determination in

repelling a challenge from Daydreaming (A.P. Indy) in the stretch

to take the top prize in the $250,000 Gazelle H. (G1). Trained by

D. Wayne Lukas and piloted by Robby Albarado, the sophomore lass

completed her nine furlongs in 1:48 1/5 to earn her second Grade

1 score, both upon this oval. The gray filly has really turned

the corner this summer and has put herself in the mix for the

champion three-year-old filly award.

Daydreaming made a nice move on the turn for home and had a

short lead in the stretch, but had to settle for the place, one

length back. He Loves Me (Not For Love) made a huge move while

wide, picking off runners while in hand, but couldn't match the

top pair late.

The fourth and final Grade 1 affair of the weekend took place

on Sunday, when seven went postward to contest the $264,000

Garden City Breeders' Cup H. (G1) over the Belmont lawn. An

international field was assembled for this year's running, but it

was a Kentucky-bred taking home the winner's purse. Team Solaris

Stable's LUCIFER'S STONE (Horse Chestnut [SAf]) found room in

midstretch and flew home to add a Grade 1 to her resume. The

three-year-old lass completed nine grassy furlongs over good turf

in 1:48 4/5 for trainer Linda Rice and jockey Jose Santos. The

final margin of victory was 1 1/4 lengths.

Barancella (Fr) (Acatenango) closed well from off the pace to

gain the place, while Noah's Ark (Ire) (Charnwood Forest [Ire])

garnered show honors.

TRACK WATCH

On or slightly off the pace was the place to be in the opening

weekend on the main track at Big Sandy. As is often the case here

because of the sweeping turns, being hung wide for any length of

time is not as detrimental here as it is at many venues across

the country.

The turf course, from a limited sample, appears to be playing

fairly as front-runners and closers alike have won races. With

wide turns on the turf courses (the Widener more than the inner)

as well, outside posts in big fields should not be automatically

dismissed.

HORSES TO WATCH

Friday (9/10)

8TH -- CLEVER ELECTRICIAN (Clever Trick) is in career form and

displayed that when easily taking this one over a good foe in

1:21 2/5 for seven furlongs. The five-year-old has now reeled off

consecutive stakes wins, and could be facing open company before

long. The bay has earned 102 and 103 BRIS Speed figs in his last

pair.

Saturday (9/11)

4TH -- BACHELOR'S GULCH (Thunder Gulch) made a huge

improvement from his debut, and was beaten just a head in a

quickly run race. The juvenile colt had an eventful break and

should be one to be reckoned with next out for trainer Mark

Hennig.

8TH -- The aforementioned He Loves Me made a visually

impressive move to gain contention in this one, and was not

disgraced when losing by just 2 3/4 lengths in her U.S. debut.

She'll likely be heard from in the Empire State.

Sunday (9/12)

5TH -- HANGING CHADS (Dixie Union) stumbled at the start,

rallied four wide turning for home, and powered clear to a facile

2 1/4 length maiden tally. The two-year-old filly completed 6 1/2

furlongs in a solid 1:18 and topped a potential good one.

8TH -- FAST COOKIE (Deputy Minister) didn't have the cleanest

break or trip and did well to get the show spot. "I think my

filly would have won if she had gotten a better break,"

jockey Cornelio Velasquez stated following the race.

A LOOK AHEAD

A pair of Grade 1s, a trio of Grade 2s and a Grade 3 tussle

await us next weekend at Belmont. On Saturday, the $150,000

Jerome H. (G2), the $200,000 Belmont Breeders' Cup H. (G2) and

the $100,000 Floral Park H. (G3) will be contested.

Sunday will put the babies in the spotlight, with the running

of the $300,000 Matron S. (G1) for two-year-old fillies and the

$300,000 Futurity S. (G2) for the boys. Not to be overlooked on

Sunday is the $300,000 Ruffian H. (G1) for older fillies and

mares.