Westchester

Wednesday's $100,000 Westchester H. (G3) kicks off the Belmont Park

spring/summer meet in fine style, attracting two notable three-year-olds from

last season. GRASSHOPPER (Dixie Union), an outstanding second to Street Sense in

the Travers S. (G1) last summer, will be a strong favorite here and on several

points should have the edge over SIGHTSEEING (Pulpit), who captured the Peter

Pan S. (G2) over this track nearly a year ago.

The Travers was the stakes debut for the late-developing Grasshopper, and he

gave the Kentucky Derby winner all he could handle that day when losing by only a

half-length. Grasshopper was upset in the Super Derby (G2) in his next start,

but still ran second that day and was rested for a winter campaign at Fair

Grounds. His two starts over the New Orleans oval were solid, a 2 1/2-length

score in the Mineshaft H. (G3) and a hard-fought second by a neck to Circular

Quay (Thunder Gulch) in the New Orleans H. (G2) after dueling much of the way.

Having demonstrated his quality over the winter, Grasshopper looks tough in

the Westchester, and there are plenty of speed elements in the field to give him

the right set-up from just off the pace.

MINER'S LAMP (Seeking the Gold), absent from the races since February 1, has

fired fresh in the past and might fare better than expected here. As a nearly

63-1 longshot in the Hal's Hope H. (G3) over Gulfstream's one-turn mile two

starts ago, Miner's Lamp finished a good second behind the talented yet fragile

Chatain (Forest Wildcat). Miner's Lamp's most significant flaw is his tendency

to run second, but that can be exploited in using him in the appropriate spots

in exotics.

Sightseeing generally disappointed following his Peter Pan score last year,

with his best finish being a 2 1/4 lengths third in the Jim Dandy S. (G2). He

was beaten 11 lengths in the Travers, and finished last of five in the Brooklyn

H. (G2) in his seasonal finale. Sightseeing started only once at Gulfstream over

the winter, racing evenly throughout in a fifth-place performance against

allowance foes on the grass. The Shug McGaughey trainee might perk up on the

return to Belmont, site of his two career victories, but Grasshopper appears to

have more momentum going in.

The pace of the Westchester figures to be provided by the likes of MR.

UMPHREY (Jules) and DIVINE PARK (Chester House). Mr. Umphrey finished second at

nearly 41-1 in the 1 1/8-mile Skip Away H. (G3) at Gulfstream last out, and

should appreciate shortening up in distance. Divine Park, winner of the Withers

S. (G3) last year, has been a feast-or-famine type so far, but with only six

career starts he has a fair amount of upside and perhaps could be rated higher

in this field.

The Westchester is rounded out by SAINT DAIMON (Saint Ballado), trained by

famed upset specialist Allen Jerkens. Saint Daimon was out of action all of last

year, but earned a belated third-level allowance victory two starts ago. He was

most recently beaten 8 3/4 lengths when second in a Florida-bred stakes, and

will have to improve dramatically to contend here.