Philadelphia Park Notebook

PHILADELPHIA PARK NOTEBOOK

MAY 27, 2005

by Bernard T. Moore

Saturday's featured contest was a six-furlong sprint contest for fillies and

mares who have never won two races in their lifetime. And, while the race was

obviously dwarfed by Afleet Alex's (Northern Afleet) acrobatic effort in the

Preakness S. (G1) at Pimlico, these fillies nevertheless put on a respectable

show for the fans in attendance at Philly Park, as EXEMPT (Exploit) outgamed

runner-up Formalities Aside (Awesome Again) in a stirring stretch battle to post

a well-deserved length victory.

Exempt, an invader from Delaware Park, began to challenge the pacesetting

Formalities Aside at the half-mile pole. At that point, the 10th and featured

event at Philly Park was reduced to a virtual match race, with both runners

proceeding to distance themselves from the rest of the field. There was little

to choose between them in midstretch. However, Exempt, the recipient of an

energetic ride by jockey Victor Carrero, began to assert herself while edging

away slowly in deep stretch. She's My Lady (Grand Slam) was a non-threatening

third as the 3-2 favorite while racing evenly throughout the race.

Despite getting away with snail-like fractions on the front end, Catlike Move

(Tabasco Cat), the odds-on favorite in an optional-claiming contest on Sunday,

could not stave off a determined late rally by VALLEYMAN (Valley Crossing) in

the final yards. The winner, ridden by jockey Todd Glasser, raced within

striking distance of the pacesetter down the backstretch, rating off the

pedestrian pace. He continued to track that rival into the stretch, and when

asked in earnest for a final bid, responded willingly to overhaul the leader in

deep stretch to win by a neck. Catlike Move really had no excuse while finishing

second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Nittany Express (Quarry), who ran third.

Valleyman had been winless the last two years, but has earned a boatload of

second- and third-place finishes during his racing career. I guess its true that

things do come to those who wait.

Those runners who stalked or closed from just off the pace did well on Monday

and Tuesday. That prevailing bias seemed to disappear on Saturday, but on

Sunday, stalkers did very well once again, especially in route contests. There

was an outside path bias all week which varied in intensity.

Harry Vega continues to hold a sizeable lead in the jockey standings over

Josiah Hampshire Jr. Jose Flores, Frankie Pennington and Victor Molina

maintained their positions in the standings.

Scott Lake owns a 10-win cushion over Jayne Vaders in the race for leading

trainer. Robert Seeger remains in third with Patricia Farro in fourth and

Guadalupe Preciado in fifth.

HORSES TO WATCH

Monday (5/16)

5TH – RUN N COKE (Line in the Sand) was a fine close-up, second-place

finisher despite a wide trip. Finished with good energy late while racing wide

as the race quickened.

7TH – DENIM DEBUTANTE (Vermont) held well while carving out a quick and

pestered pace toward the deeper inside. Finished with interest once displaced on

the front end.

Tuesday (5/17)

8TH – PARADE OUT FRONT (Eskimo) was sent to dictate the early pace, and was

then wrangled back down the backstretch. Re-rallied once moved off the inside to

gain the show in the stretch.

9TH – GADACE'S KHAMSEH (Piccolino) was clearly a tad short sprinting off the

layoff. Gained a tenuous lead after stalking the lead, but was unable to match

strides with the winner. Should have derived beneficial conditioning from this

effort.

Saturday (5/21)

3RD – SPOOKY GIRLFRIEND (Spectaculardynasty ) finished a strong second

chasing home a wire-to-wire winner in an abbreviated sprint that quickened

noticeably late.

7TH – SKIPPER JACK (Kelly Kip) dropped back into a conditioned claimer and

ran a much-improved second. Closed strongly in the stretch, overcoming rather

ordinary fractions on the front end. May be set for a career best effort if kept

at this level with Carrero up in next start.

9TH – BLUEBERRY PATCH (American Chance) was zealously spotted in first effort

meeting winners. Unfortunately encountered a multiple-race winner who was

dropping down and stretching out in distance. Exits an extremely quick race and

is better suited to conditioned claiming rivals.

Sunday (5/22)

2ND – BUSHY'S JULE (Ocean Splash) outran his 20-1 odds in his debut effort.

Bad actor prior to the start, refusing to enter the gate. Was then forced to

overcome an extreme outside post and a wide trip in a race that was quick from

start to finish while reporting home a creditable third.

3RD – BIG WAGNER (On Target) switched to a dirt sprint on the drop and

finished a heartbreaking second in Philly Park debut. Yielded grudgingly in deep

stretch after exhibiting much improved early speed. Most recent win came at a

mile.

9TH – PULPIT HARBOR (Nicholas) was a good third in second start over the

Philly Park oval. Carved out a lively pace and held well despite racing along

the deeper inside. Might benefit from a little class relief.