Belmont Park Notebook

BELMONT PARK NOTEBOOK

JUNE 21, 2007

by Bernard T. Moore

Things returned to normal at Belmont Park last week after a thrilling renewal

of the Belmont S. (G1) and a great day of racing. Handicappers can take some

solace in the fact that once the Belmont is in the record books, opening day at

Saratoga continues to creep closer.

In the Ogden Phipps H. (G1) on Saturday, TAKE D' TOUR (Tour d'Or) won the

pace battle, and eventually the war as well, desperately holding on to the lead

in deep stretch to register a neck victory over a fast closing Ginger Punch

(Awesome Again). Last year's defending champion, Take D' Tour shadowed Teammate

(A.P. Indy) through torrid fractions down the backstretch. The winner wrestled

the lead away from the pacesetter around the far turn, and then drew away to 3

1/2-length advantage passing the eighth pole. However, she began to pay the

price for her early antics in the final yards, tiring noticeably as Ginger Punch

came running late. Nevertheless, the finish line appeared in the nick of time

for Take D' Tour as she posted a popular victory as the even-money favorite.

Ginger Punch rallied widest and best of all in the stretch, but had to settle

for second money. Promenade Girl (Carson City), obviously overmatched vs. this

caliber of competition, finished third. Teammate dropped back steadily once

displaced on the lead, and finished last in the field of six.

INDIAN FLARE (Cherokee Run), who had failed to win in both of her previous

starts over the Belmont Park main track, quickly remedied that with a determined

half-length triumph in the Vagrancy H. (G2) on Sunday. A slight favorite in the

wagering, Indian Flare sat an inside stalking trip behind the front-running Any

Limit (Limit Out). The Juddmonte Farms' homebred cut the corner turning for

home, moving to challenge for the lead along the inside in early stretch. She

ultimately proved gamest when she repelled a bid from Oprah Winney (Royal

Academy) in a hard-fought victory. The latter tracked the early pacesetters as

well after a bobbling start. She had the look of a winner as she drew alongside

Indian Flare in the stretch, but could not match strides with that runner late,

and settled for the place. Any Limit, who carved out very enterprising fractions

on the lead, gave way noticeably in the final furlong and got the show.

Front runners held huge an edge over the main track on Wednesday, and were

definitely advantaged in route contests on Thursday as well. On Friday, the

track returned to normal, and played that way on Saturday and Sunday. Both turf

courses appeared to play evenly the entire week. The inside paths were best on

Wednesday and Thursday.

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (6/13)

2ND - GREYSTONE WARRIOR (Monarchos) ran a creditable second in his well-bet

debut. The juvenile gave futile chase to an impressive daylight winner while

running greenly in the stretch. He should have derived beneficial experience

from this effort, and should only get better with more distance.

4TH - SPIRITUAL CALL (Phone Trick) finished a good fourth in a maiden claimer

while switching to the main track. The bay reduced his deficit late against the

grain of a speed-favoring track and could be poised for a career-best effort in

his next outing if properly spotted.

Thursday (6/14)

2ND - FORZA BRUTA (Military) put forth a much improved effort switching back

to dirt despite a rough trip. The bay gelding was forced to check down the

backstretch and then raced wide while rallying over an inside speed-biased

track. He showed some interest late despite racing well out in the track while

finishing on his wrong lead.

8TH - JUST STARTING (Northern Afleet) was hard used to set a quick and

pressured pace stretching out to seven furlongs. The bay miss understandably

tired late, but held on reasonably well to finish third. She would obviously

benefit if returned to six furlongs in her next start.

Friday (6/15)

6TH - LOVE COVE (Not For Love) has obviously found her niche in grass

sprints. The dark bay filly leveled off too late in the stretch between runners,

chasing home a wire-to-wire winning favorite. She needs a livelier pace scenario

to be at her best.

Saturday (6/16)

2ND - LEAP DAY (Gold Token) was clearly second best behind a daylight winner

in a fast time. The dark bay was forced to check down the backstretch in tight

quarters, losing valuable position. He moved to challenge the subsequent winner

in the stretch, but proved to be no match for that rival in a race that is

better than it will appear on paper.

8TH - Promenade Girl was clearly not disgraced, finishing third behind a

multiple graded stakes winner in a race that was fast throughout in her Belmont

Park debut. She would definitely benefit from some class relief in her next

start.

Sunday (6/17)

8TH - MATHEMATICIAN (Ire) (Machiavellian) exhibited fine early speed to

dispute a strong pace off a prolonged absence in his U.S. debut. The

five-year-old held well until midstretch, and his rustiness began to show

shortly thereafter. He should have derived beneficial conditioning from this

effort, and remains eligible to compete against limited winners in the allowance

ranks.

9TH - Any Limit set a very lively pace before understandably tiring late in a

race she obviously needed off a freshening. Half of her six career wins have

come at Belmont Park, and she has been victorious stalking the pace in the past.