Saratoga Daily Notebook

SARATOGA DAILY NOTEBOOK

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2006

by Bernard T. Moore

The P. G. Johnson S. for two-year-old fillies, originally to be run at 1 1/16

miles over the Mellon Turf Course, lost some of its luster once it was

transferred to the main track and contested at seven furlongs because of recent

rain.

The primary beneficiary of the switch in surfaces was CHANGEISGONNACOME

(Cherokee Run), who humbled an overmatched field of maidens on the dirt at

Colonial Downs on August 6 in her most recent effort. Here, the Michael

Trombetta trained-runner made every pole a winning one as she wired the field to

win by three lengths.

The winner literally dragged jockey Edgar Prado to the lead as Luxury Class

(Gone West), with Julien Leparoux aboard, was content to stalk the early pace.

Changeisgonnacome maintained the lead to the far turn as Meadow Breeze (Meadowlake)

began to move closer under jockey Eibar Coa. Luxury Class was unable to keep

pace when asked and began dropping back. Changeisgonnacome responded willingly

when set down in the stretch, spurting away to a daylight advantage. Meadow

Breeze did her best to match strides with the leader in the lane, but was no

match for that rival while clearly second best. Easy Start (Jump Start) was

never a factor and finished a well-beaten third while taking down the show.

Brushed Gold (Touch Gold) was absolutely awful as the 6-5 favorite. She

clearly did not handle the Saratoga main track, and was badly outrun for most of

the race. She was one-paced to the finish and finished fourth. I guess when a

horse begins his or her career on the grass, it speaks volumes. Luxury Class

gave way badly and finished last.

The main track favored speed throughout the card. Once again, turf racing was

canceled because of rain.

Horses to Watch

4TH - INDIAN CAMP (Forest Camp) ran a much improved race in his second-career

start with the addition of Lasix. Exhibited surprise early speed while racing

wide to chase fast fractions, and continued on well to get the place late. He is

bred for a sprint and to win early in his career, but he may need some time to

recoup from this taxing effort.

7TH - TRADING PRO's (Distinctive Pro) third-place finish is better than it

will appear on paper. He dropped back along the rail after an alert beginning

from his inside post. Raced well off the lead before picking up the pace and

making up ground around the far turn. The sophomore really started to take off in the

stretch once maneuvered off the inside while racing well out in the track. He

might prefer to run outside of horses, as he rallied best of all in a race vs. a

speed favoring course in a race that finished up well late. He continued to

gallop out well after the wire.

Outlook for Thursday, August 31

Clear skies with a high of 74 is forecast for Thursday.

The stakes action continues at Saratoga on Thursday with the New York Turf

Writers Cup Steeplechase H. (NSA-G1) at 2 3/8-miles. HIRAPOUR (Ire) (Kahyasi),

who won last year's renewal of this race, demonstrated that he has not lost a

step in 2006 when he revisited Saratoga on August 10 to annex the A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase S. (NSA-G2) by

daylight. Hirapour will pick

up six pounds off that winning effort and will tote highweight of 164 pounds,

which includes jockey Matt McCarron. He should definitely appreciate the added

distance of today's contest.

TOP OF THE BILL (Lear Fan), a winner of two Grade 2 steeplechase events this

spring, will receive 10 pounds from Hirapour, the 6-5 morning-line favorite.

This five-year-old gelding ships into Saratoga off a layoff for trainer James

Day, but he has clearly demonstrated an ability in the past to fire his best

shot when fresh. Top of the Hill has been training steadily of late at Charles

Town, and will be reunited with Carl Rafter, who seems to know him and ride him

well.

Hoping to derail the favorite as well is MIXED UP (Carnivalay), trained by

former steeplechase kingpin Jonathan Sheppard. Mixed Up tuned-up for the Turf

Writers Cup with a victory in the Flatterer H. at Philadelphia Park last month.

He sports a bullet five-furlong breeze on Monday, indicating his current level

of sharpness. He will be ridden as usual by jockey Danielle Hodson.

UNDERBIDDER (Awad), MARK THE SHARK (Summer Squall), TOUGHKENAMON (Maria's

Mon) and ERIN GO BRAGH (NZ) (Desert Sun [GB]) round out the field.

Thursday's Plays

3RD - THIS JUST IN (Pulpit) was able to register her initial career effort in

a swiftly run five-furlong contest with the addition of Lasix and apprentice

rider Leparoux on August 17. This homebred runner maintained her position along

the rail under a rating hold and, when given her head by Leparoux in the

stretch, she drew away to a convincing daylight victory. This Just In is bred on

both sides of her pedigree to improve with distance, and appears well spotted

facing winners today for the first time. She projects to sit a good stalking

trip from a beneficial outside post while receiving weight from her main

competition.

6TH - MERIBEL (Peaks and Valleys), and horses like her, are the reason

trainer Christophe Clement is quietly having a very successful Saratoga meet.

This Kentucky-bred runner overcame modest fractions to win her Saratoga debut

effort going away under jockey Garrett Gomez. She unleashed an impressive burst

of late speed leaving the far turn, and reached contention in midstretch before

subsequently drawing clear late. Although she is stepping up today, she draws a

much better post and the extra distance should work to her advantage as well. A

livelier pace scenario is anticipated to set up her strong closing kick.