October 31, 2004. The opening of the Churchill Downs 4 week autumn meet features a tough Grade 3 matchup at the in-between distance of 7 1/2 furlongs. Lightly raced 4 year old Hennessy colt, Slate Run, will be on the lead as he tries to lengthen out in his 6th career start and second off the bench. On the dirt, this one has never had any company in the late going, with winning margins of 14 1/4 and 7 1/2 lengths. We'll be interested to see this talented speedster handles the extra real estate and the appearance of closers in the deep stretch. Trainer Charles Simon moves Battle Won from the turf to the dirt after two minor stakes wins on the lawn at Kentucky Downs and Keeneland. Concerns are raised by the defection of jockey Rafael Bejarano, winningest jockey in North America this year, and another Graded stakes failure this summer over this track. The gelded son of Honour and Glory has yet to prove he can compete against even the second rung sprinters, losing twice last year to Posse, once in the Grade 3 Lafayette and then again, at Belmont Park, in the Riva Ridge BC Handicap. There is value to be found from the inside post, where Private Horde will get a ground saving trip from Bejarano. The mutuel price will go up based on his seemingly dull 7th place finish in the Phoenix BC Handicap three weeks ago. But, don't fail to notice that the top three finishers in that Grade 3 race ran in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, elevating the value of Private Horde's inclusion in that one. Plus, the 5 year old finished a close second to Lion Tamer at 7 furlongs over this oval in the Grade 2 Commonwealth BC Handicap in April. His main competition today will be Fire Slam, making his second start against older horses. The Grand Slam sophomore colt was briefly considered for the Triple Crown trail before failing to fire at two turns in the Grade 2 Lexington. Trainer David Carroll then shifted gears and moved the colt back to the sprints. A winner of a slow mile in the Grade 3 Lecomte at Fair Grounds, we fear this once could be a dangerous underlay. Last year's winner of this race, Cappuchino, enters out of a win in the Grade 3 Turfway Park Fall Championship Stakes, just as he did last year, but faces a much tougher bunch today. Claimed for $100k by Joe Woodard for Billy Hays, Sterling Gold is entered to make back his claim price in one shot today. The 5 year old has never really competed beyond the optional claiming and allowance ranks but he is a useful closer on exotics tickets. Winning the 2003 edition of the Grade 2 Arkansas Derby was the highlight of and injury shortened sophomore season for Sir Cherokee. As a 4 year old, the Cherokee Run colt has only a win at Sam Houston Park in the $100k Maxim Gold Cup Handicap. While dangerous at his best, we will be seeing the former phenom in his first start after a 5 month layoff. SELECTIONS #1. Private Horde #5. Fire Slam PLACE 2.60 2.20 #7. Sterling Gold Sir Cherokee (6-1) was rated patiently, well off the brisk pace, then brought along by Calvin Borel as they approached the stretch and drew off for a 5 1/4 length victory, his third in a row off the bench, getting to the wire in 1:29.48. The winner of last year's Arkansas Derby exceeded the $100k mark in earnings for this season in his 7th start of 2004. Betting favorite, Fire Slam, an underlay at 3-5, got caught pressing the frontrunners, came again but finished well back for place, edging out Slate Run (12-1), who was game in holding show. The exacta paid only $32.00 but the trifecta returned $278.20. October 30, 2004. With most of the top fillies and mares of the handicap division in Texas for the Breeders' Cup, some of the lesser lights will go 7 furlongs in a $150k Grade 2 event in the feature of a short Aqueduct card. Tough on the lead from the inside post will be Smokey Glacken, going for her sixth win in her ninth career start. Jockey Joe Bravo drops two in this field to keep his regular mount aboard the speedy Forestry filly who didn't handle the tight turns at Pimlico after winning a stakes race at Saratoga in August over Grand Prayer and Feline Story. She'll be pressed early by New York bred Sensibly Chic, who seems to be a step or two below these in terms of class and speed. A win in the spring in a restricted stakes race over this oval doesn't match up with the graded stakes wins that some in this field have achieved. Trainer Alan Goldberg shortens Schedule (GB) from a trio of two turn stakes races in which she was on the front, dueling for the lead. Today's pace scenario and the outside post gives this sophomore a chance to stalk and Stewart Elliot should have her in good position at the top of the stretch. Closer Bending Strings overtook Smokey Glacken in the Safely Kept stakes after dropping down from four attempts versus Grade 1 opponents. The winner of the Grade 2 Nassau Co. BCH finds ways to lose and, while we can't dismiss this one, at short odds we won't key her on top. Out for 4 months, Passing Shot tries 7 furlongs in her return to action. This is not her distance and we would have to bet against her under these circumstances. Trained by Mark Hennig, Silver Ghost filly Hidden Ransom, hasn't quite edged up into graded stakes territory. We have to pass. SELECTIONS #6. Schedule (GB) #1. Smokey Glacken PLACE 3.50 2.50 #5. Bending Strings WIN 6.00 3.10 2.30 An extremely hot pace, set in the fog by Sensibly Chic (23-1), forced Schedule (GB)(5-1) and Smokey Glacken (2-1) to pursue the leader through fractions of 22.43 & 44.65. This set up a classic closing move by Bending Strings (2-1), mirroring his performance in the Safely Kept, sweeping past the field at the top of the stretch, hitting 6 furlongs in 1:09.33, then drawing away to a 5 3/4 length lead in 1:22.13. Smokey Glacken held place and Passing Shot (3-1) was up to complete the trifecta, which returned $49.80. The exacta paid $18.00. Lone Star Park Race 1 1 mile - The Dr. Horton Metroplex Mile - $100k - 3+ #1. Pie N Burger 3-1e #3. During 5-1 #9. Snorter 12-1 #11. Absent Friend 30-1 SCRATCHED Race 2 1 1/8 miles - The Breeders' Cup Distaff - Grade 1 - f&m - 3+ #7. Storm Flag Flying 9-2 PLACE 7.00 4.00 #1. Ashado 7-2 WIN 6.00 3.60 2.80 #2. Elloluv 10-1 #9. Bare Necessities 30-1 EXACTA 34.80 Race 2 1 1/16 miles - The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies - Grade 1 - fillies - 2 year olds #10. Sweet Catomine 5-2 WIN 6.60 4.00 3.00 #4. Runway Model 12-1 SHOW 5.00 #1. Balleto (UAE) 5-1 PLACE 7.00 4.00 #9. Sense of Style 7-2 TRIFECTA 174.20 Race 4 1 mile (Turf) - The Breeders' Cup Mile - Grade 1 - 3+ #11. Six Perfections (Fr) 5-1 SHOW 5.00 #8. Diamond Green (Fr) 20-1 #4. Soaring Free 20-1 #12. Nothing to Lose 7-2 Race 5 6 furlongs - The Breeders' Cup Sprint - Grade 1 - 3+ #5. Kela 8-1 PLACE 5.00 4.00 #2. Speightstown 3-1 WIN 9.40 5.20 4.00 #3. Champali 12-1 #9. Gold Storm 15-1 EXACTA 41.60 Race 6 1 3/8 miles - The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf - Grade 1 - f&m - 3+ #5. Ouija Board 8-5 WIN 3.80 3.00 2.80 #7. Light Jig (GB) 7-2 #11. Yesterday (Ire) 6-1 #12. Wonder Again 8-1 SHOW 6.60 Race 7 1 1/16 miles - The Breeders' Cup Juvenile - Grade 1 - 2 year olds #3. Afleet Alex 7-2 PLACE 5.00 3.60 #6. Proud Accolade 5-2 #1. Sun King 8-1 SHOW 5.60 #8. Wilko 20-1 WIN 58.60 18.20 6.80 PICK 3 1,114.40 Race 8 1 1/2 miles (Turf) - The Breeders' Cup Turf - Grade 1 - 3+ #4. Kitten's Joy 1-1 PLACE 2.80 2.20 #6. Magistretti 4-1 #1. Powerscourt (GB) 3-1 SHOW 3.00 Race 9 1 1/4 miles - The Breeders' Cup Classic - Grade 1 - 3+ #1. Ghostzapper 3-1 WIN 7.00 4.00 3.60 #12. Pleasantly Perfect 5-2 SHOW 3.00 #13. Dynever 15-1 #4. Perfect Drift 15-1 Race 10 1 1/8 miles (Turf) - The Texas Turf - $100k - 3+ #4. Waupaca 12-1 #6. Royal Regalia 5-2 WIN 4.80 3.40 2.80 #2. Gentleman JJ 15-1 #11. Maysville Slew 10-1 Race 11 7 furlongs - Lone Star Park Juvenile Stakes - $100k - 2 year olds #1. Storm Surge 3-1 WIN 6.20 2.40 2.20 #7. Spanish Chestnut 4-5 PLACE 2.20 2.20 #3. City Code 8-1 SHOW 2.60 EXACTA 14.40 TRIFECTA 47.20 PICK 3 117.20 Race 12 1 mile (Turf) - OC 25k/NC - 3+ #9. Rock Harbor 6-1 #8. Home Made Soup 7-2 #3. Distorted Cat 20-1 #1. Stauch 4-1e WIN 7.60 3.60 2.80 PICK 3 115.20 PICK 4 528.80 October 29, 2004. Only one of the juveniles in this field has raced over the dirt track at Keeneland in his career. Toast and Jolly, starting from the inside post, has a victory over $25k claimers to his credit and will be one of the horses to catch. The gelding won his maiden race over a flat mile at Turfway Park and the win here came at 7 furlongs indicating a preference for more distance and jockey Justin Shepherd should get him a clean, ground saving trip along the rail. Also vying for the lead will be Banker's Gold colt, Banker's Holiday, who also has a 7 panel victory under his belt. James Graham, who was aboard a longshot winner here yesterday, inherits the mount on a colt who has regressed trying to make his way up the claiming ladder into allowance company. Ohio bred Lac Ouimet gelding, I'lltellyounolies, may appear to have a class edge over these after winning his maiden in a maiden allowance for state breds at River Downs and being entered in the $60k Ohio Juvenile stakes at Thistledown. Robbie Albarado is up and, while the drop in class will help, we don't see enough speed to endorse him for the win. Buzzisa Niner finished 3 1/2 lengths back of Toast and Jolly at Turfway in September and now must handle a class jump and a new track. Our choice for the win is Horse Chestnut*Saf progeny, Fort Chestnut, a Bernard Flint trainee who won impressively at Turfway at a mile last month, finishing ahead of the place horse by 16 lengths. With Rafael Bejarano already in Texas, hot jockey Calvin Borel takes over and the move from turf to dirt along with the drop from allowance company makes this one a formidable foe. We'll be watching Kenneth's Cat closely, as the Catienus gelding enters here out of a rather slow maiden claiming win at Turfway. Owned by the Ramseys and trained by Mike Maker, he doubles in price in his first against winners with John McKee up. A more enticing colt trying winners for the first time is well-bred New Opportunity, trained by Hal Wiggins and getting a weight break with outstanding apprentice, Brian Hernandez Jr, aboard. The son of Formal Gold is bred for the distance and should be a competitor in the late going. SELECTIONS #5. Fort Chestnut #1. Toast and Jolly #7. New Opportunity SHOW 5.00 Our "horse to watch" in this one, Kenneth's Cat (7-1), was gunned to the lead by John McKee, in control of the rail, and engaged our top choice and bettors' favorite, Fort Chestnut (1-1), in an early speed duel. Fort Chestnut had a slight lead after a half mile in 48.26 and was overtaken by I'lltellyounolies (9-2) coming out of the backstretch. In an example of hard nosed racing, Kenneth's Cat stayed on to fight back for the lead at the top of the stretch and continued on for the win by a nose in 1:49.54. New Opportunity (7-1) came along late for the show. The exacta paid $80.80 and the trifecta returned $497.80. October 28, 2004. One 4 year old will take on a half dozen sophomores in this 1 mile contest which features a field relatively inexperienced at the distance. New York based trainer, Joe Aquilino, ships his own horse, 3 year old gelding, Bluesman, from Philadelphia out of his 7 furlong maiden win as 4-5 favorite. Stewart Elliot keeps the mount on the Proud and True progeny who had some success at the distance a year ago at Aqueduct. While not out of the question as a contender, we feel the jump up in class today will necessitate the kind of sudden improvement usually not characteristic of a horse in his tenth career start and his first against winners. While trainer John Tamarro has had a fine year, his entry today, Dance Away Home, will be in tough. The Dance Brightly colt has shown good tactical speed at Charles Town but hasn't impressed anyone since arriving in New Jersey in September. He may have to be dropped in class even further than this. While trained by Steve Klesaris, Anamericanbid broke from the far outside post to win at 6 furlongs at Saratoga over New York bred maiden allowance rivals. Today, he breaks once again from the outside and new conditioner, Robert Mosco, stretches out the American Chance gelding from a 5 1/2 furlong dash in Philadelphia a few weeks ago. This tactic has worked well for Mosco in the past and a relatively weak field gives this one a chance to hit the board. A winner at the distance under these conditions at Monmouth Park in August, Sun Stroke is our choice to pick up the win at a generous price. Owned and trained by Charles Harvatt, the $16k claim has faltered twice over "off" tracks here and at Philadelphia. Over a fast track, we rate him highly. Jockey Richard Bracho jumps to Ponche Line from Dance Away Home. A winner at Delaware Park, the Ponche colt failed miserably at Belmont Park and drops way down in price on the move here. Certainly capable on his best day, this one delivers too many duds for us to back him today. With a 1 for 21 win record, Shady Deal has developed into the type of horse which finds ways to lose. Regardless of whether the Lasting Approval 4 year old is racing against allowance company or claiming horses, he doesn't get involved. An obvious win candidate, Pass the Puck is the lone multiple winner in the field. The Mary Hartman trainee has an entry level allowance win to his credit and finished just a neck back of our top choice, Sun Stroke, in a midsummer contest at Monmouth. SELECTIONS #2. Sun Stroke SHOW 2.60 #6. Pass the Puck WIN 7.60 3.40 2.60 #7. Anamericanbid Jockey Edwin King Jr kept our second choice, Pass the Puck (5-2), well off the pace then angled him out on the turn and brought home through the stretch four-wide for his fourth career win, a length and three quarters up on surprising favorite, Bluesman (2-1), who stalked a moderate pace and hung tough for the place money. Our top choice, Sun Stroke (7-2), stayed close throughout and got up for third was clearly no match for the winner. The exacta paid $26.60 and the trifecta returned $64.80. October 27, 2004. There are three heavy hitters in this field of eight entry level allowance fillies who will be jockeying for position to pounce on the tiring frontrunners, Sharp Insult and Isabella's Crown (Jpn). Leading North American jockeys in wins, Rafael Bejarano makes a strange choice in this race, going with Sharp Insult, a 3 year old Grindstone filly who won a very slow maiden allowance "off the turf" in the mud at Philadelphia last month. Trainer, Philip Oliver, shipped her to Keeneland for a try against winners on the grass a week and a half ago and she showed some early interest before fading to eighth. Oliver hasn't had much success with the turf to dirt move and we feel this one is in a little tough today. Outstanding apprentice, Brian Hernandez Jr, hooks up again with trainer Steven Asmussen aboard Japanese bred Isabella's Crown (Jpn) entered here out of her maiden win in the slop over $40k claimers. She wired the field that day but must go another quarter mile today. One of the triumvirate of menacing stalkers is Mae Rules, who looked like a different horse off the bench at Turfway Park 3 weeks ago. She picked up 14 lengths to get the place money at 24-1 under Anthony D'Amico. The Defrere filly obviously needed the rest after a pair of disappointing performances at Churchill Downs in the late spring. She had shown some serious potential last winter that may be coming to fruition now. Lightly raced Wild Again sophomore, Uncontrollable, makes just her third start of the season and lengthens out from a 7 panel try here a few weeks ago. Trainer Ken McPeek calls upon Pat Day to guide this one home in her first attempt at the distance. Both of her more impressive races were run at a flat mile. Our choice to win is Silent Oath, who has hit the board in 8 of 11 career starts. A duplication of either her near miss at Saratoga at 9 furlongs in August or her first off the bench near miss at Churchill Downs in May gets her the big prize here without much effort. Her class is indisputable; however, this Neil Howard trainee has a habit of finding trouble out there. Last out, she stumbled out of the gate. Still, her raw ability should be enough to get her to the winner's circle today. Jockey Calvin Borel has finally started winning and takes the mount on outside starter, Daddy's Petunia, a Bobby Barnett trained 3 year old who needs to rediscover her midsummer form to even make any kind of impact against these. Inside filly, Intrepid Queen, will need to be intrepid indeed as she has never finished higher than fourth against maidens, let alone trying winners. SELECTIONS #5. Silent Oath #3. Uncontrollable PLACE 2.80 2.20 #4. Mae Rules The scratch of Sharp Insult left Isabella's Crown (Jpn) (7-1) to set the pace in soft fractions of 23.99 & 48.12. The rejuvenated Calvin Borel, meanwhile, had hustled Daddy's Petunia (24-1) out of the gate quickly and settled in behind the front runner before getting clear at the top of the stretch and pulling away for the upset victory in 1:46.65. Betting favorite, Uncontrollable (3-5), was rated well off the slow pace and she and jockey, Pat Day, had too much ground to make up in the stretch and settled for second place, beaten by 3/4 length. The exacta paid $147.40 and the trifecta returned $806.80.October 24, 2004. The opening of the The Tropical at Calder meet ushers in the winter racing season in South Florida and an 11 race card is on top today. This contest, with a field of 5 sophomores facing 3 older non-winners of three races, features some of the 3 year olds we've been following all season at Calder. Tarascon Diligence makes his second start at the distance after finishing second to Kid Quixote 2 weeks ago at odds of 8-5. Trainer Gerald Procino removes the blinkers hoping jockey Gary Boulanger can get the colt to open up early and shoot for the lead. He will be met immediately by Heckofanactofollow, with new rider Jose Ferrer starting second off the bench following a tough speed duel at 7 furlongs at this class level. The 4 year old colt has a dozen 2nd and 3rd place finished to show for 20 starts, but we feel that the pace scenario sets up nicely for him today and he will graduate from this condition in his third try. Lightly raced 5 year old gelding, Jam for the Lamb, drops down from optional claiming company after a two month layoff. The World Stage*Ire progeny does his best running on the grass. Inside horse, Mattssutterrun, held on for third behind Tarascon Diligence on October 8th, but has a habit of losing ground late and there are a number of better closers running today. One of those closers is Bridge Jumper, who will take some action at the wickets. The Notebook colt drops in class and delivers big perfomances once in a while. He throws in enough clunkers, however, that we will have to stay away unless the price is right. Jockey Eduardo will have difficulty getting David Vivian trainee, Misty Wonder, close enough to the front early to keep him interested. The value play is Silver Ghost colt, Stars of Silver, who has been campaigned primarily on the turf this season, despite an excellent "off the turf" performance against better than these. Icy Banker was beaten 5 1/2 lengths by Tarascon Diligence just two starts ago. SELECTIONS #4. Heckofanactofollow #2. Stars of Silver #6. Tarascon Diligence WIN 8.20 5.20 4.60 Tarascon Diligence (3-1) obviously learned a lot in his first try at two turns on the dirt two weeks ago. Today, he stalked an unhurried pacesetter, Heckofanactofollow (5-2), took over on the second turn and held on for the win in a slow final time of 1:48.84. Closing quickly only to lose by a neck was longshot turf specialist, Jam for the Lamb (12-1), who will probably be moved back up into the allowance ranks after that performance. Misty Wonder (9-2), a well beaten third, completed the trifecta which paid $457.60. The exacta returned $101.40. October 23, 2004. One of seven stakes races for New York breds today at Belmont Park is the Iroquois Handicap, a 7 furlong sprint for fillies and mares featuring Sugar Punch, a winner of 5 straight coming into today. The 3 year old, partly owned by New York Yankees manager Joe Torre, has improved with every start as a sophomore here and at Saratoga. Trainer Richard Dutrow is having another excellent meet, sitting third in the standings, and Edgar Prado is back for the ride. A winner already at 7 panels over this track, there's no reason to suggest the probable favorite will disappoint today. She'll be dueling early with Then She Laughs, winner of the Miss Woodford stakes at Monmouth Park in August. The Distorted Humor filly was then entered in the Grade 3 Safely Kept stakes and was put away by top fillies, Bending Strings and Smokey Glacken. The extra furlong today is the one stumbling block in our view. A tough nut in this field is Beautiful America, a winner of nearly $500k, mostly in stakes races for state-breds. Last summer, the Dixie Brass filly won the NY Stallion $250k stakes for 3 year olds, but has only an optional claimer victory in the slop in the spring to show for herself since then. Obviously a shade below these in class, she is, nevertheless, worth using in the gimmicks. Fleet Indian, a daughter of the outstanding stallion, Indian Charlie, is another on the improve who cuts back in distance from a narrow defeat at two turns after being demolished by the best of her generation in the Grade 1 Alabama at a mile and a quarter in the slop at Saratoga. This is a more suitable condition for the James Toner trainee and we expect her to be involved the whole way. So Sweet a Cat, winner of this year's NY Stallion $250 stakes, put away South Wing that day, a filly who broke through the "S" N2x condition yesterday. She has also won at 7 furlongs at Belmont and will need a bit of a pace breakdown in front of her to hit the board. Starting from the outside post, You Promised has been beaten by three of these since June and will have to deliver a career-best performance to make an impact. Distinctive Kitten has lost ground late in every start since the spring. SELECTIONS #6. Sugar Punch WIN 3.30 2.50 2.30 #4. Fleet Indian #2. Beautiful America PLACE 3.90 3.10 Sugar Punch didn't let the public down. Our top choice and the betting favorite at 3-5 was kept just off the pace by Edgar Prado through an opening quarter in 23.25. He got a head in front, racing 3-wide, at the half mile and pulled away professionally from there, winning easily in 1:23.10. Beautiful America (6-1), who had dueled first with Then She Laughs, stayed with the winner till the deep stretch. She was beaten by 3 3/4 lengths. Up for third was longshot, Distinctive Kitten (49-1), who managed to stave off a late bid by Fleet Indian (5-1), who stumbled out of the gate. Congratulations! October 22, 2004. An accomplished group of veteran sprinters is assembled for today's high-priced claiming tilt at Belmont Park. Four year old gelding, Gracious Humor, was acquired by the Scott Lake stable for $65k out of a 7 panel contest at Saratoga in August in which he was beaten just a length by Spooky Mulder. The Distorted Humor gelding has had difficulty getting the early lead this season, but there is a lack of speed in this field and Aaron Gryder should be able to get him clear. Since failing in the Grade 3 Maryland BCH, 3 lengths back of winner Gators n' Bears, the gelding has not been rising to the heights he hinted he could reach at the beginning of the year. Today's class is a perfect fit and we suspect he will be the one to catch in the deep stretch. Wheaton's Aly has been losing to lower rated horses than these for the past year at Calder Race Course and Monmouth Park. Trainer Tim Hills has enlisted Jerry Bailey to replace Eibar Coa on the mount and that will assuredly negatively affect his numbers on the board. We'll bet against him. One or our "horses to watch" this past summer was Parhelion (GB), who just missed at this level after setting a blistering pace over a track listed as "good" here in July. After a two month layoff, trainer Tom Albertrani sent him on the turf at a mile and he was interested only briefly. The blinkers come off and Richard Migliore is the new rider for a colt who is tantalizing but dangerous. Our choice to win is First Blush, who started his season in a key race won by Alke, then went on to win high end optional claimers at Gulfstream Park and Aqueduct before being moved into the graded stakes ranks. The French Deputy colt never got involved against Speightstown in the Grade 2 True North BCH, then was benched by Allen Jerkens for 4 months. We'll ignore the return race, a 5 furlong sprint marking his turf debut in a $60k stakes race at the Meadowlands. The price will be right and we feel this still has a lot to accomplish. Multiple Choice, the 14-1 winner of the Grade 3 Jaipur Handicap has dropped off the national radar as quickly as he blipped on. Patrick Reynolds claimed the 6 year old gelding for $100k and, obviously doesn't feel he's conditioning a future stakes winner, willing to take a $25k loss on him. One positive note is the reappearance of jockey Javier Castellano, who was aboard for the Jaipur win in the spring. Once well-regarded New York bred Trial Prep would need his best effort to win against these and we don't feel 6 furlongs is his best distance. The one pure closer in the group is Dubai Sheikh, now trained by Steven Asmussen, with John Velasquez in the irons. While we don't pick the 5 year old veteran as a prime win candidate, he is always a threat to hit the board at a decent price. SELECTIONS #1. First Blush PLACE 4.00 3.00 #3. Gracious Humor #7. Dubai Sheikh SHOW 2.70 Once again, Gracious Humor (5-2) was unable, or unwilling, to go to the front, leaving our top choice, First Blush (2-1) to set the pace through fractions of 22.39 & 45.06. He was pressed the whole way by Jerry Bailey and Wheaton's Aly (5-1), who was able to find a bit more in the deep stretch to win his Belmont debut by a nose in a time of 1:10.13. Dubai Sheikh (3-1) was too late and got the show. The exacta paid $50.00 and the trifecta returned $147.00. October 21, 2004. Eight maiden colts, two of whom are first-time starters, will make their Keeneland debut today. Stormin Fever progeny, Bluegrass Fever, has had the lead in 4 of his 6 lifetime starts and held on fairly well when he raced 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass at Ellis Park. New trainer, Jerry Orm, makes the turf to dirt move and hopes to pick up just his 7th win on the year. Jockey Calvin Borel jumps ship and we have a suspicion the early pressure might knock this one out of contention. Talented apprentice jockey, Brian Hernandez Jr, picked up 3 wins yesterday and sticks with Can't Trick Jake today in his 2nd career start. The Mazel Trick colt, trained by Randy Morse, moves up from the claiming ranks, but showed enough in his debut at Turfway Park that we wouldn't be afraid to use him underneath. Our choice to win is Belmont shipper, Kansas City Boy, for whom we've had an eye out since his fine race a month ago at Belmont during which he was outfinished by Better Than Bonds, who closed to within a length of Cowdin stakes winner, Flamenco, on Sunday. Trainer Ken McPeek has gone to veteran Pat Day to ride the Boston Harbor colt to victoory today. Dash of Class showed some tenacity off the bench at Ellis Park in August, but, overall has been a disappointment and hasn't raced longer than 5 1/2 furlongs yet in his career. Your Cousin J J, a son of Vicar, hasn't shown much in two starts and moves from the turf at Kentucky Downs. The higher profile first-time starter is High Yield colt, High Profit, who was a $525k purchase at auction last August by WinStar Farm. Trainer Elliot Walden has enlisted the services of top North American jockey, Rafael Bejarano, for what should be an auspicious debut. We expect a big splash. Trainer Ron Potts doesn not typically have runners ready to win first out, but the pedigree of Chuckling indicates strong sprinting ability. We'll be watching closely and, probably, using him underneath. Another Vicar colt, Jacktown, closed well at Turfway and trainer Carl Nafzger thought enough of that effort to move him up in class. Brian Peck is again on the mount. SELECTIONS #8. Kansas City Boy PLACE 2.10 2.10 #6. High Profit #3. Can't Trick Jake WIN 11.80 2.60 2.20 #5. Chuckling Brian Hernandez hustled Can't Trick Jake (9-2) into contention, took over after a half, and held off heavy favorite, Kansas City Boy (1-5), in the stretch for an upset victory on the rise in class from the claiming ranks at Turfway Park. Another Turfway shipper, Jacktown (18-1), closed for the show money. The exacta paid $25.80 and the trifecta returned $102.80. October 20, 2004. This race features a strong field of multiple winners with speed on the inside and a few tough closers. One of the likely favorites will be Ms Shawcolat, starting from the inside post with Larry Sterling in the irons. This 5 year old mare is making her first start for the Michael Reavis stable after being claimed, at this level, out of a race at Arlington Park in September. She stumbled out of the gate in that one and only finished ahead of one other. Reavis has rested her for 6 weeks and enters at the same price she was claimed for. A winner this season at River Downs, Lone Star Park and Arlington, this one throws in enough clunkers that we're scared off at the anticipated low price. A 6 furlong specialist, Richter's Emblem will be tough on the lead following two second place finishes for this price here and at Arlington. While an "on the board" finish is, by no means, out of the question we suspect she will get caught in a speed duel with Ms Shawcolat. Also starting off the bench is our choice to win, She's the Fashion, trained by Roger Brueggermann, who holds a very hot hand right now at this Hawthorne meet. All of the 4 year old Gold Case filly's wins have come over this surface at this distance and, despite the move up in class, the pace scenario sets up perfectly for Shane Laviolette to run a ground saving stalking trip tucked in along the rail behind the two frontrunners. Another Reavis charge in this field is Spur Creek, a 5 year old who was transformed last year into a successful miler. She ran into injury problems over the winter and is hitting the track today out of another 2 month layoff. On her best, she could easily dominate these, but will we be seeing her best? Streets of Fire caught the slop and endured a rough start in her Hawthorne debut a week and a half ago. Bret Calhoun claimed her out of that one for just $10k and, we feel, is justified trying her against these based on her solid summer at Arlington at which she hit the board in 6 straight races. Outside horse, Fox Valley Toots, has had some luck at Hawthorne and drops in from the allowance ranks. It's hard to back Ozilda's Nancy Lee based on a couple of wins at Great Lakes Downs over the summer. She doesn't appear to fit in this class. One horse who could surprise with a big late move is Pioneer Inn, who went up against some tough customers over the winter, such as Bijou, Alchemist and Wonder Again. Tough luck trainer, Richard Hazelton, has been campaigning this 6 year old on the grass most of the summer and she has occasionally shown flashes of the ability that provoked Timothy Ritvo into entering her in the Grade 3 Noble Damsel Handicap a year ago. SELECTIONS #4. She's the Fashion #3. Pioneer Inn #5. Streets of Fire WIN 23.00 7.40 4.00 #2. Richter's Emblem Bret Calhoun's decision to claim Streets of Fire (10-1) for $10k turned out to be a masterful example of bargain hunting, as the Mountain Cat filly bounced back from a tough trip two weeks ago to pick up the win today using her standard stalking strategy behind frontrunners Richter's Emblem (5-1) and Ms Shawcolat (2-1), who held on for show. A surprise was the strong closing effort delivered by Ozilda's Nancy Lee (15-1), who needed a bit more ground, missing the win by a nose. The exacta paid $259.20 and the trifecta returned $964.80. October 17, 2004. After twice encountering Afleet Alex at Saratoga, Flamenco drops out of graded stakes competition to face a solid, if unspectacular, group of juvenile sprinters. The young star of the Peachtree Stable, conditioned by Todd Pletcher, with Jerry Bailey back in the irons, will be looking to wire the field today and will receive huge support at the betting windows. He'll be engaged early on by Florida shipper, Magoo's Magic, who was formerly trained by William White while racing at Calder Race Course. Allen Jerkens is now the trainer of record for the Awesome Again colt who needs to improve by more than a few lengths today. Upscaled finished fourth in the Grade 2 Futurity at Belmont, a race which has lost a lot of lustre in retrospect. Leading Belmont jockey, John Velasquez, jumps ship and Pletcher adds blinkers to the Sir Cat colt, purchased at auction by Bob & Beverley Lewis for $425k in February. Out of the same race is Fusaichi Rock Star, who was shipped from California for the Grade 2 tilt, only to have him run rank and fade to fifth. Trainer Bob Baffert attracts Velasquez for the ride and we expect a much improved performance, more in line with his win at Del Mar. Better Than Bonds surprised us with a maiden win here 3 weeks ago at odds of 42-1. Trainer Robert Reinacher hopes to ride that wave into stakes company and this isn't the toughest spot he could have found for the Sweetsouthernsaint colt. Our choice for the upset today is Doctor Voodoo, starting from the inside post, who races for the first time away from Monmouth Park. A win at a mile over Killenaule in August was an impressive tuneup for his victory in the Rockhill Native stakes, when cut back to 6 furlongs. We'll try to catch lightning in a bottle. SELECTIONS #1. Doctor Voodoo SCRATCHED #4. Flamenco WIN 3.00 2.50 2.10 #6. Fusaichi Rock Star Our top choice, Doctor Voodoo, was scratched, leaving Flamenco (1-2) to go off at impossible odds, then proceed to run a professional race, making his bid 3-wide on the turn and pulling away in the stretch for the win in 1:17.20. Better Than Bonds (14-1) once again came up big at long odds, closing gamely to get within 3/4 length of the winner without really threatening. Upscale (10-1) completed the trifecta, which generously returned $60.30. The exacta paid $20.60. Keeneland Race 1 6 1/2 furlongs - Cl 50k - 2yr old fillies #6. Charlie My Boy 7-2 #7. Johns Place 5-1 WIN 9.20 5.00 3.20 #9. Show Me the Town 5-1 PLACE 5.60 3.80 Race 2 About 7 furlongs - Md Sp Wt 50k - 2yr olds #3. Andromeda's Hero SHOW 4.00 #1A. Musha Cay #4. Buckjano Race 3 6 furlongs - Cl 50k - 3+ #6. Padlock 4-1 PLACE 4.80 3.80 #5. Formal Decree 6-1 #1. Are You Down 15-1 Race 4 7 furlongs - Alw N3x - 3+ #6. Hasslefree #1. Jeffries Bay WIN 12.00 4.00 3.40 #3. Ministers Wild Cat PLACE 3.00 2.40 Race 5 1 mile (Turf) - Alw N2x - F&M - 3+ #7. Bridal Path 5-1 PLACE 6.00 4.40 #1. Leopard Hunt 7-2 #3. Larger Than Life 2-1 Race 6 1 1/8 miles - Md Sp Wt 50k - F&M - 3+ #10. Unbridled Temper 12-1 #5. Explicitly 12-1 #12. Moon Dolly (GB) 7-2 Race 7 6 1/2 furlongs - Alw N2x - 3+ #5. Bull Market 6-1 WIN 5.00 3.40 3.20 #3. Ozzie Cat 3-1 #6. Ominous 8-1 Race 8 6 furlongs - The Thoroughbred Club of America stakes - Grade 3 - F&M - 3+ #6. Molto Vita 3-1 WIN 7.20 3.00 2.60 #3. Summer Mis 5-1 #2. My Trusty Cat 9-5 PLACE 2.40 2.40 Race 9 1 1/16 miles (Turf) - Alw N1x - F&M - 3+ #6. Sweet Science WIN 9.60 4.40 3.60 #7. Dowry PLACE 4.80 4.60 #14. High Speed Access #11. R Lady Deputy EXACTA 34.60 PICK 3 146.80 DAILY DOUBLE 37.40 Belmont Park Race 1 6 1/2 furlongs - Cl (25-20) - 3yr old fillies #2. Miss Crafty Pal 3-1 PLACE 4.50 3.40 #6. Bella Bourie 2-1 #8. Valkyrie 15-1 Race 2 1 1/16 miles (Turf) - Md Sp Wt 46k - 2yr olds #8. Vitruvian 5-2 WIN 2.70 2.30 2.10 #9. Dixie Slew 4-1 #12. Interpatation 8-1 SCRATCHED #11. Fishy Advice 5-1 SCRATCHED Race 3 1 1/16 miles (Inner Turf) - Cl (50-40) - 4+ #1. Morning Watch 5-1 #3. Indian Card 8-1 SCRATCHED #4. Fast Decision 4-1 Race 4 1 1/16 miles - "S" Md Sp Wt 42k - NY breds - 3+ #9. Got My Geht 12-1 #5. Rapid Rickey 2-1 WIN 3.30 2.60 2.40 #3. Fixcall 10-1 PLACE 6.60 3.70 Race 5 1 1/6 miles (Turf) - Md Sp Wt 46k - 2yr olds #9. Better Than Ever 5-2 SCRATCHED #4. Piety 7-2 PLACE 3.00 2.30 #11. Zurich (Ire) 2-1 SCRATCHED #1A. Belknap County 12-1 SCRATCHED Race 6 1 1/16 miles (Inner Turf) - Alw N2x - F&M 3+ #8. Shoot (GB) 2-1 PLACE 2.60 2.30 #4. Savage Beauty 4-1 #2. Cupid's Arrow 6-1 SCRATCHED Race 7 6 1/2 furlongs - The Cowdin Stakes $75k - 2yr olds #1. Doctor Voodoo 6-1 SCRATCHED #4. Flamenco 4-5 WIN 3.00 2.50 2.10 #1. Queens Plaza 6-1 Race 8 6 1/2 furlongs - The Astarita Stakes - Grade 3 - 2yr old fillies #3. Im a Dixie Girl 5-2 PLACE 3.40 2.60 #4. Summer Raven 8-5 SHOW 2.40 #1. Queens Plaza 6-1 Race 9 1 mile (Turf) - "S" Md Sp Wt 42k - F&M - 3+ #9. Round the Horn #4. Little Miss Amanda SHOW 3.50 #10. Where's Bobby B SCRATCHED #11. My Nina Rose SCRATCHED October 16, 2004. The winner of the Juvenile on Cal Cup day at Santa Anita could earn himself a trip to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in Texas at the end of the month. Top jockey Victor Espinoza has wisely chosen to stick with trainer Carla Gaines aboard Cee's Tizzy colt, Lucky J.H., who has drawn the inside post and will be tough on the lead after a 7 length maiden victory at 6 1/2 furlongs over state breds at Del Mar. Starting from the outside, Generalist will be hard pressed to keep up and it's notable that he has lost ground in both tries at 6 furlongs or more against stakes company. Undefeated Top Money will take a lot of action at the windows, but is a vulnerable favorite stretching out against the toughest field he's met. Our choice for the win is Texcess, still technically a maiden after finishing a close second in his debut in the $108k Barrett's Juvenile stakes at Fairplex after a difficult trip in which he was rank early, then caught outside. With that race under his belt, we expect a much more disciplined performance from this In Excess*Ire gelding. Another of Cee's Tizzy progeny, gelding Nickel Silver, took 5 races to break his maiden and appears to lack the speed to compete with these. Tizmanian Devil was beaten 7 lengths by Lucky J.H. two races back and didn't move forward in his next out. This Wizard Rocks should be arriving late, but we have to demand quite a big price to even include him in the exacta. Conspirator tries to make the jump from maiden claiming ranks and won't find the going easy. SELECTIONS #6. Texcess WIN 8.00 4.00 3.00 #5. Top Money SCRATCHED #1. Lucky J.H. With Top Money scratched and Lucky J.H. (1-1) under a tight hold from jockey Victor Espinoza, Tizmanian Devil found himself on the lead, setting fractions of 23.14 & 47.32. Our top choice, Texcess (3-1), stalked the leader, then made his move on the turn, pulling away to win by 6 lengths over Generalist (4-1), who got up for second, 3 lengths up on a tiring Tizmanian Devil. The winning time was 1:44.02. The exacta paid $16.10 and the trifecta returned $62.30. Congratulations! Belmont Park Race 1 1 mile - Cl 35k - F&M 4+ #2. Covincing 6-1 SCRATCHED #3. Paula Smith 5-2 SCRATCHED #4. Sentimental Miss 10-1 #10. Right Out Ro 8-1 SCRATCHED Race 2 6 furlongs - Cl (50-40) - 3yr olds #1. Stonewood 2-1 WIN 9.00 4.30 3.30 #6. Must Win Soon 7-2 #3. Snub the Devil 3-1 Race 3 6 furlongs - Md (75-65) - 2yr olds #7. Sounds Impossible 15-1 WIN 9.90 5.30 3.90 #5. Shepherdsville 5-2 #4. Motor Home 2-1 Race 4 1 1/8 miles - Alw N1x - 3+ #1. Manipulator 5-2 #3. Exaggerate This 8-5 WIN 5.20 3.30 2.30 #4. Cuba 4-1 SHOW 2.50 Race 5 7 furlongs - Md Sp Wt 45k - 2yr olds #4. Malheur 9-5 WIN 3.80 3.00 2.80 #2. Going Wild 4-1 PLACE 4.90 3.70 #9. Precision Strike 15-1 #7. Sweetiewheatie 10-1 SHOW 5.00 EXACTA 16.00 Race 6 7 furlongs - Cl (60-50) - F&M - 3+ #2. Stacy's Squaw 6-1 #1. Traci Girl 3-1 WIN 7.10 4.90 3.40 #6. Artist Johanna (Arg) 9-2 Race 7 6 furlongs - Alw N1X - NY breds - 3+ #5. Jet Prospector 2-1 WIN 3.50 2.80 2.10 #6. Fiddlers Cat 4-1 SCRATCHED #7. Scenic Wonder 3-1 SHOW 2.50 Race 8 6 furlongs - OC 100k/C - 3+ #2. Mike's Classic 4-1 WIN 5.70 2.60 2.20 #5. Wacky for Love 15-1 #3. Vinemeister 6-1 SHOW 2.60 Race 9 1 1/2 miles (Turf) - The Lawrence Realization - Grade 3 - 3yr olds #5. Second Performance 4-1 SHOW 3.30 #6. Dark Equation 6-1 #1. Generous One 12-1 #8. Gunning For 8-1 WIN 34.00 9.40 4.80 Race 10 1 1/16 miles - Cl (35-30) - 3+ #4. Beau Tie 9-2 #9. Dawn of the Condor 10-1 #7. Runaway Russy 8-1 Santa Anita Race 4 1 1/16 miles - The California Cup Juvenile - $125k Cal-bred colts & geldings 2 years old #6. Texcess 12-1 WIN 8.00 4.00 3.00 #5. Top Money 6-5 SCRATCHED #1. Lucky J.H. 9-2 Race 6 6 furlongs - The California Cup Sprint Handicap $150k - Cal-bred - 3+ #2. Areyoutalkintome 3-1 WIN 7.00 4.00 2.80 #8. Green Team 5-2 SHOW 3.40 #5. Ride and Shine 15-1 #1. Palmerton 20-1 Race 8 1 1/8 miles - The California Cup Classic Handicap $250k - Cal-bred - 3+ #3. Excess Summer 5-2 #7. Kedington 10-1 #4. Yougottawanna 5-1 #5. Calkins Road 6-1 Race 10 1 1/16 miles - The California Cup Juvenile Fillies $125k - Cal-bred fillies 2 year olds #7. Short Route 4-1 #8. Cee's Irish 15-1 PLACE 7.40 5.20 #5. Lunar Flight 3-1 #11. Lady Truffles 8-1 WIN 9.40 5.40 3.80 Keeneland Race 1 6 furlongs - Cl 15k - 3+ #6. Big Bad George 7-2 #1. Rainbow Boy 8-1 #4. Shotgun Fire 3-1 Race 2 6 1/2 furlongs - Cl 50k - 2yr olds #3. Cat Tourn 3-1 WIN 4.40 2.80 2.40 #6. Billybeck 5-2 #7. Brighton Bull 6-1 SHOW 3.40 Race 3 1 1/8 miles - Md Sp Wt 50k - 3+ #12. Seductive View PLACE 3.20 2.80 #4. Sky Brio #1. Honest Chance Race 4 7 furlongs - Cl 35k - 3+ #6. Somethingdangerous #3. Big Talkin Man WIN 5.80 3.40 2.80 #1. Stone Age SCRATCHED Race 5 1 1/16 miles (Turf) - Alw N1x - 3+ #2. Intemperate 8-1 #5. Prized Cat 10-1 #1. Dynaruler 6-1 Race 6 1 1/16 miles - Alw N3x - F&M - 3+ #4. Sweet Lips 9-5 WIN 3.80 2.40 2.40 #1. Holiday Lady 4-1 SHOW 3.40 #6. Fircroft 5-2 Race 7 About 7 furlongs - Md Sp Wt 50k - fillies - 2yr olds #10. Beaugeste 3-1 #7. Peppermint Lilly 5-2 WIN 3.60 2.60 2.40 #2. Dynabin 20-1 PLACE 14.60 8.40 Race 8 1 1/8 miles - The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup - Grade 1 - 3yr old fillies #3. Barancella 5-2 PLACE 3.00 2.80 #4. Island Sand 9-2 #1. Mambo Slew 6-1 Race 9 6 1/2 furlongs - Alw N2x - F&M - 3+ #2. Shellseeker #11. Noble Place #8. Unbridled Sidney Race 10 1 1/16 miles (Turf) - Alw N1x - 3+ #2. Kandula #1. Cambaco SCRATCHED #6. Orlik #4. Heroic Deed October 15, 2004. In today's feature race in South Florida, half the field has owns early speed, the other half owns tactical speed and, oh yeah, there's also the Peruvian 5 year old making his first North American start. Champagne Account loves the lead and was just nudged out at the wire by today's inside horse in their last start. Today, the 4 year old Barry Croft trainee stretches back out from 5 1/2 furlongs and takes a second stab at the condition. Always game, we'd prefer him on top if there wasn't so much competition early. Trainer Chris Gatis adds the blinkers to Sami's Majic, who will be engaging Champagne Account from the bell. Stakes placed in a turf sprint in the spring, this 3 year old was ill-advisedly sent up against some tough sprinters in the Grade 3 Carry Back stakes (Weigelia, Bwana Charlie) and finished dead last. Back in a class more appropriate to his talent, the Kipper Kelly colt will find many backers today. We don't like the pace set up for him starting on the outside. Entered with a claiming price of $40k, Rufustheroadrunner must be used in the exotics as he just won at this level over three of these. He'll likely receive a smart ground saving trip from jockey Julio Garcia and will be in striking distance in the stretch. Our choice to win today is Lawbook, who hit the board 7times last year as a 3 year old without winning a race and has continued that string of futility this season with 3 "in the money" finishes but no trip to the winner's circle. A heated pace duel would help this closer who has been facing better in minor stakes races and conditioned allowance heats this summer. Count Montbrook, a quarter million dollar purchase at auction in March of last year, has been a disappointment so far for trainer Edward Plesa Jr. Other than a freakishly good showing in the slop here in July, the Montbrook colt has shown a tendency to give it up early and he'll be in tough to even remain in contact with the leaders today. Barnacle Steve was beaten in a $50k claimer at Delaware Park by Cumby Texas who went on to win a 3 horse starters allowance at Philadelphia a couple of weeks later. A winner of over $80k last year, the Emanuel Tortora charge has been a bust as a 5 year old. Filling out the field is Ocasa (Per), making his first start in North America. SELECTIONS #4. Lawbook PLACE 3.20 2.10 #1. Rufustheroadrunner WIN 6.00 3.40 2.20 #5. Champagne Account Scratches left us with a short field, and with plenty of room, Rufustheroadrunner (2-1) got the perfect trip we anticipated, taking over with a furlong to go and pulling away for a 3 1/4 length victory over Lawbook (5-2) in 1:11.16 for his second straight win at this level. We gave you the chalky exacta, which returned $20.00. Congratulations! October 14, 2004. Four of the ten starters in today's feature at Keeneland are making their first start off a significant layoff. Weigalia, winner of the Grade 3 Carry Back stakes over Bwana Charlie at Calder in July, exits a game second to Pomeroy in the Grade 1 King's Bishop at this distance at Saratoga. Working in South Florida, the Safely's Mark colt has fired 3 bullet works in a row and attracts Robbie Albarado for today's ride, replacing John Velasquez, who is riding Colita for Todd Pletcher at Belmont Park today. An earner of $342,680 as a 3 year old, he is truly one of the top sprinters of his generation and is the horse to catch in this one. From the inside, Wimplestiltskin will be trying to keep up to the early leader. A deserved 41-1 in the Haskell Invitational and then an 83-1 longshot in the Pennsylvania Derby, this Petionville progeny cuts back to a more comfortable distance today, but we must warn you that this horse has never actually finished first in a race. His maiden win (and lone career victory) came by disqualification. Buckram Oak Farm's star sophomore, Eurosilver, trained by Carl Nafzger, returns to the fray after being sidelined since March with a mysterious ailment. The winner of the Breeders' Futurity over this course at last year's fall meet and a close second to the now deceased Wynn Dot Comma in the Grade 3 Swale at Gulfstream Park, puts this son of Unbridled's Song right on target for a victory here. Conditioning is the only concern we have regarding him. If we get double digit odds on Commentator, making the jump from New York bred allowance company, we'll bite. The Nick Zito trainer, with Rafael Bejarano up, has big league speed. Our choice to win is Fire Slam, an earner of over $650k, starting today from the outside post. Pat Day became the Grand Slam colt's regular rider in his second place finish to Quinton's Gold Rush in the Grade 2 Lexington in the spring. They proceeded to rattle off three consecutive wins together, including an impressive rail ride in the Grade 2 Riva Ridge, in which he defeated the talented Teton Forest. His performance in the KIng's Bishop was compromised by a terrible start. Two Down Automatic, trained by Steven Asmussen, finished a close second to Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park in the $100k Southwest stakes and, subsequently, started to specialize as a miler. His breeding (a son of Smoke Glacken) suggests that 7 panels might just be his preferred distance. Colonel Day barely eked out a second level allowance victory in Philadelphia and appears to be a few notches below these. Mass Media beat Smokume in the Fly So Free stakes at Belmont Park last out. The Bobby Frankel trainee will get some support, but we'll play against the lightly raced Touch Gold colt, even with Edgar Prado up. Level Playingfield won the Kentucky Cup Sprint but didn't beat many that could hold a candle to this bunch. Trainer Angel Medina has consistently been entering Caiman in spots that are too competitive for him and, consequently, he has only $80k in purse money to show for 12 starts as a 3 year old. Once again, he's in over his head. SELECTIONS #10. Fire Slam SCRATCHED #7. Weigelia SHOW 2.40 #5. Commentator WIN 5.80 3.80 2.60 #2. Eurosilver PLACE 4.20 3.00 Commentator (9-5) didn't go off at double digit odds after the scratch of Fire Slam, but the New York bred went a long way towards establishing himself as a major player among the top sprinters in the country, by remaining undefeated and extending a streak in which no horse has been closer than 7 lengths to him at the wire. Eurosilver (3-1) made a successful return to competition, closing well for third, edging out betting favorite, Weigelia (7-5), who couldn't catch the winner. The exacta paid $25.60 and the trifecta returned $49.60. Congratulations! October 13, 2004 We've been closely following trainer Mark Fusco's stable since the end of the Monmouth Park summer meet and have noticed his charges winning consistently at Philly. Yesterday, he saddled the 8-1 winner in the opener and today sends out veteran 8 year old gelding, Brother Love, a $12.5k claim in July. This surface was kind to front-runners yesterday and the Fusco trainee, getting a weight break with Frankie Pennington up, has had great success here in the past. One entry he'll have to outduel early will be inside starter, Jelly Roll Romp, who has yet to hit the board in six starts this year as a 7 year old. Mountain Pride won at this distance over this oval in June but needs the lead and will have trouble catching either of the projected front-runners. A horse we fear may be overbet is Black Lagoon, who won't benefit from the pace scenario. The 5 year old seems to fit with these but needs the perfect trip. We'll be playing against him. One to watch closely is Pam Shavelson trainee, Matts Pic, a gelded 4 year old son of Afternoon Delites who has shown a strong affinity to this distance. He moves up in price after facing open claiming company in his last three starts here. High Priced will be well-backed by the bettors based on his gate to wire win last out at 1 mile & 70 yards in addition to his win at this distance at Aqueduct over New York breds in the spring. King Matthew won an entry level allowance race here at the distance in April, was dropped to conditioned claiming ranks for a win at 6 1/2 furlongs here in July and enters this race after 7 weeks away from competition. Harry Vega gets the call from trainer Guadalupe Preciado, a trainer going very well at Philly right now. Regal Justice won at this distance over this surface under exactly these conditions in July. With three seconds already this year, we will feel confident using this one underneath. Baby Shaq has earned just under $200k in his career, but most of his success has come in routes. The best may be behind this 7 year old gelding. Starting from the outside post, Aleutian Frost will once again be compromised as a slow front runner. SELECTIONS #4. Brother Love SCRATCHED #9. Matts Pic #5. Regal Justice SCRATCHED #8. King Matthew When two of our top picks, one of them being the main pace participant, were scratched, all bets were off. Enjoying the lead was Mountain Pick (14-1) who only gave way grudgingly in the stretch and settled for second, beaten a half length on the inside by Aleutian Frost (20-1), who was given a gaping hole to fill on the rail after the turn. As we expected, Black Lagoon (6-5) went off as an underlay who once again came up short after a closing try. The exacta paid out $474.80 and the trifecta returned $1,549.40. October 11, 2004. Five three year olds take on a couple of older horses in this second tier allowance race. One of the sophomores likely to be on the lead is Rockhewn, a Formal Dinner colt who was highly regarded enough in the spring to have been entered in the Grade 3 Gotham stakes with such big players as Pomeroy and Eddington. There will be a lot of pressure on the front-runner in this contest and this one has had trouble against older horses. Our choice to press the pace and work out a clean trip is Major Leaguer, switching from turf to dirt, a surface with which the Grand Slam colt is clearly more comfortable. Trainer John Kimmel has had success with the surface change and Tom Turner gets the mount. Dancin Dusty stretches out from 6 furlongs and makes the jump from state-bred allowance company. Despite winning 3 of his last 4 races, we think the jump in class and distance might be too much for the late-blooming colt. Veteran 7 year old gelding, Ruby Brad, starting from the outside post, gets a weight break with apprentice jockey Rajiv Maragh, who is having a fine meet. The old-timer is lightly raced, so don't be put off that he's still eligible at this condition. In his last 6 starts, the only time he missed the board was a 9 furlong turf try. At a price, we must include him on the exotics tickets. Another 3 year old moving back from the turf is well-bred Titanius (Halo's Image - Ritzy Blitz, Kris S.), going third off the bench with Stewart Elliot aboard after finishing fourth in a minor stakes at Monmouth. There will be a much quicker pace than this guy is used to and our play today will be to bet against him. From the inside, With Probability will be a part of the pace but we don't see him hanging around in the stretch. A horse that could take advantage of the quick pace is closer, Play Bingo, a Polish Numbers colt who has shown great closing ablility at Delaware Park. SELECTIONS #4. Major Leaguer #1. With Probablity #5. Play Bingo WIN 5.40 4.00 2.80 #7. Ruby Brad PLACE 22.60 6.00 How did the betting public overlook Ruby Brad (28-1) at that price? The 7 year old closer wasn't able to catch favorite Play Bingo (8-5) in the stretch, but finished a clear second to pump up the gimmicks. Titanius (5-2) got caught in a three horse speed duel early on and was through at the top of the stretch. With his third win in a row, Play Bingo has now exceeded his purchase price at auction with earnings of over $60k and might start showing up in overnight stakes races. The exacta paid $83.20 and the trifecta returned $324.80. October 11, 2004. Five three year olds take on a couple of older horses in this second tier allowance race. One of the sophomores likely to be on the lead is Rockhewn, a Formal Dinner colt who was highly regarded enough in the spring to have been entered in the Grade 3 Gotham stakes with such big players as Pomeroy and Eddington. There will be a lot of pressure on the front-runner in this contest and this one has had trouble against older horses. Our choice to press the pace and work out a clean trip is Major Leaguer, switching from turf to dirt, a surface with which the Grand Slam colt is clearly more comfortable. Trainer John Kimmel has had success with the surface change and Tom Turner gets the mount. Dancin Dusty stretches out from 6 furlongs and makes the jump from state-bred allowance company. Despite winning 3 of his last 4 races, we think the jump in class and distance might be too much for the late-blooming colt. Veteran 7 year old gelding, Ruby Brad, starting from the outside post, gets a weight break with apprentice jockey Rajiv Maragh, who is having a fine meet. The old-timer is lightly raced, so don't be put off that he's still eligible at this condition. In his last 6 starts, the only time he missed the board was a 9 furlong turf try. At a price, we must include him on the exotics tickets. Another 3 year old moving back from the turf is well-bred Titanius (Halo's Image - Ritzy Blitz, Kris S.), going third off the bench with Stewart Elliot aboard after finishing fourth in a minor stakes at Monmouth. There will be a much quicker pace than this guy is used to and our play today will be to bet against him. From the inside, With Probability will be a part of the pace but we don't see him hanging around in the stretch. A horse that could take advantage of the quick pace is closer, Play Bingo, a Polish Numbers colt who has shown great closing ablility at Delaware Park. SELECTIONS #4. Major Leaguer #1. With Probablity #5. Play Bingo WIN 5.40 4.00 2.80 #7. Ruby Brad PLACE 22.60 6.00 How did the betting public overlook Ruby Brad (28-1) at that price? The 7 year old closer wasn't able to catch favorite Play Bingo (8-5) in the stretch, but finished a clear second to pump up the gimmicks. Titanius (5-2) got caught in a three horse speed duel early on and was through at the top of the stretch. With his third win in a row, Play Bingo has now exceeded his purchase price at auction with earnings of over $60k and might start showing up in overnight stakes races. The exacta paid $83.20 and the trifecta returned $324.80. October 10, 2004. There isn't a real speedball in this field mostly comprised of 4 year old colts and geldings and, so, we like the inside horse, Heneresa, an old favorite who drops back to the claiming ranks after winning once in three tries against allowance company at Monmouth Park. The Hennessy colt already has 4 victories this season and his last over this track was a win against better in June. Trainer Scott Lake has had a tough meet so far and, today, ships in Hit Now from Delaware Park, a 5 year old gelding who was a winner against N3x foes in the spring. His lone try at Belmont was an impressive second place finish in which he defeated Polish Jewel, but, he seems to have strayed off form since then. Claimed 4 times this year, Jump for Joyeux makes his first start at Belmont Park and first start for the Frank Labocetta stable. Labocetta has saddled 5 winners at this meet already and sent out Delaware shipper, Fitting Tribute, to victory in yesterday's opener. We'll just watch this one and tab for later. The lone 3 year old, Sully's Silver, is a front-runner stuck in the outside post who appears to be at least one claiming level below this field. Bruce Levine is another hot conditioner, sending out winners at nearly a 40% clip, who has entered veteran 7 year old gelding, Cozy Man, second off the bench and hoping for his third straight victory and 4th on the season. Jockey Richard Migliore won't be able to let up as this old pro will need as fast a trip as he can run to hit the board. Torre and Zim has won his last two at this distance and drops back to a claiming level more appropriate for the Richard Dutrow trainee. A win, with John Velasquez up, wouldn't be a surprise. California shipper, Fourth and Long, tries his second trip in New York after a dismal performance at 7 furlongs a week and a half ago. Trainer Jeff Odintz may be confident of a rebound but we're not. Promising as a two year old, Stong, has managed only a maiden win and a victory over conditioned claimers but has hit the board 11 times in 14 races. Trainer John Parisella goes to jockey Cornelio Velasquez for another try at this level and it's probably a good idea to use him in the exotics. SELECTIONS #1. Heneresa #3. Cozy Man #5. Torre and Zim SCRATCHED #2. Stong WIN 12.80 6.00 5.20 Trainer Frank Laboccetta seems to have the Midas touch at this Belmont meet and, while Jump for Joyeux (5-2) wasn't able to hang on today, he hung tough after setting fractions of 22.66 & 45.46, then was just nosed out by Stong (5-1), who was a bargain at that price. Hit Now (6-1) held on for show, just ahead of Cozy Man (9-5), who left himself too much to do late. The exacta paid $71.00 and the trifecta returned $211.00. October 9, 2004. The most important Breeders' Cup Juvenile prep race goes to today at Belmont Park. The Grade 1 Champagne features 8 two year olds trying the 1 1/16 miles for the first time. All the early speed is on the outside. Silver Train exploded onto the scene at Saratoga, winning at 6 1/2 furlongs in late August after a promising debut at Calder and then a Spa debut during which he hit the fence but still managed to hold place. Veteran jockey, Mike Smith, replaces Jerry Bailey in the irons aboard the Old Trieste colt who will have plenty more company today in the stretch than he did in his maiden win when he had a 7 length cushion. Another tough front-runner will be Todd Pletcher trainee, Proud Accolade, who breaks from the outside post. Padua Stables purchased the colt for $450k at the Ocala sale this past March and we feel he can live up to the big price tag. The choice for the win is Afleet Alex, already a Grade 1 winner and undefeated in four starts. Unusual for a 2 year old, every win for this Northern Afleet colt has come from off the pace. We think trainer Tim Ritchey has a special athlete under his care and talented jockey Jeremy Rose retains the mount. We wouldn't argue anyone off Grand Slam colt, All Trumps, who won impressively on Labor Day weekend going 7 panels at Saratoga and will assuredly get a big price here today. One of two horses exiting the Grade 2 Futurity at Saratoga, Wallstreet Scandal (the place horse) looked like he needed more ground and will try to circle the field today, starting from the inside post. One Fein Dad has yet to beat maidens and is badly outmatched today. Sun King, another of the surprisingly strong crop from new stallion Charismatic, will be heavily backed due to his big maiden win at a flat mile here 3 weeks ago. That was a slow heat and he will be much more heavily tested today. A potential underlay, Park Avenue Ball loses jockey Javier Castellano to Sun King and will have to improve on his winning performance in the Futurity to catch some of the speedballs he'll encounter here. SELECTIONS #6. Afleet Alex PLACE 2.80 2.30 #5. Silver Train #8. Proud Accolade WIN 6.80 3.10 2.40 There were two unbeaten horses in this field and those two horses were battling in the stretch today, with front-runner, Proud Accolade (2-1), refusing to give up the lead to the late charging Afleet Alex (6-5). Proud Accolade had emerged from the turn 4-wide and responded when asked to dig in through the stretch drive. Afleet Alex ran his race, found room in the stretch, but couldn't reach the winner, finishing a half length back. Sun King (7-2) had done the dirty work, softening up the pacesetter and had little left when challenged by the closers, settling for third much the best of the rest. The exacta paid $13.40 and the trifecta returned $38.00. Congratulations! October 8, 2004. Despite the plethora of stakes races happening around the country and the opening of the fall Keeneland meet, we will stay one more day in Florida and look for Tarascon Diligence, with Gary Boulanger up, starting from the inside post, to go gate to wire over 8 1/2 furlongs for his second straight victory here. There's very little other speed in the field and the Diligence colt, who is on the improve should have a sizable advantage at the top of the stretch. What a Shocker raced on the front end for a win in the slop here 2 weeks ago, but is more often racing off the pace and was soundly beaten by our top choice two back. Kid Quixote will be chasing the front runner and must step it up if the Dawn Quixote gelding means to hit the board. Mattssutterrun has lost ground late both times he has been stretched out. With some improvement, he can be on the bottom of the exotics. Keep Crusing looks like he could have beaten this bunch a few months ago but appears to be badly off form after two disastrous trips with no apparent excuses. Outside horse, Royal Master, a gelded son of Master Bill, will likely take a lot of action at the windows, but we fear this one will turn out to be a dangerous underlay. In the spring he was beating much better, but we're going to be very cautious about this one on the big drop. The only older horse in the field today is 5 year old, Flaming Spare, who will be arriving late. SELECTIONS #1. Tarascon Diligence PLACE 3.60 3.00 #3. Kid Quixote WIN 23.60 7.00 5.00 #2. Mattssutterrun SHOW 4.40 EXACTA 90.60 TRIFECTA 442.60 As we expected, the public loved Royal Master, who went off as 6-5 favorite then failed to hit the board. Surprisingly, Gary Boulanger rated our top choice, Tarascon Diligence (8-5) behind our second choice, heavy overlay Kid Quixote (10-1) who ran a ground saving trip and found a hole on the rail to slip by tiring pacesetter Keep Crusing (13-1) and cruise home for the upset win in 1:47.71, a good time for this class. Tarascon Diligence finished 3 lengths back for the place and Mattssutterrun (8-1) completed the trifecta. The exacta paid $90.60 and the trifecta, using all of our picks, returned $442.60. Congratulations! Belmont Park Race 1 6 furlongs - Md (45-35) - 2yr old fillies #8. Brilliant Success 2-1 PLACE 2.60 2.40 #5. She Can Punch 10-1 SHOW 3.90 #7. Honoring Carolyn 8-1 Race 2 6 furlongs - Cl (65-55) 3+ #2. Bailero (Arg) 12-1 #1A. True Passion 2-1e 2.90 2.50 #7. Pud 8-5 Race 3 1 mile (turf) - Md Sp Wt 46k 2yr olds #3. Wing Kai 4-1 #9. Sku 2-1 #8. Broadway Idol 8-1 #2. Crown Point 3-1 WIN 14.60 8.30 4.50 Race 4 1 mile - Md Sp Wt 46k - 2yr old fillies #5. Salute 8-5 WIN 2.80 2.50 2.20 #7. Money Helps 10-1 #8. Shop Again 4-1 #3. Classy Charm 5-1 Race 5 1 1/8 miles (inner turf) - "S"Alw N2x NY Bred 3+ #4. Confident Gal 3-1 #3. Gryffindor 8-5 #5. Atticus Star 4-1 WIN 11.20 6.40 4.80 #7. Ryan Is Flying 12-1 Race 6 1/18 miles (inner turf) - Md Sp Wt 46k - F&M 3+ #9. Unchecked Melody 10-1 #1. She's Sterling 2-1 #4. In the Park 7-2 #7. Dinah's Pearls 12-1 PLACE 20.60 12.00 Race 7 1 1/16 miles - "S"Alw N2x - NY breds - 3+ #1. River Spirit 2-1 #7. Rosie's Big Boy 3-1 PLACE 4.70 3.10 #5. Citizenship 4-1 WIN 7.20 4.00 2.80 #4. Tomorrows Banquet 10-1 SHOW 3.70 Race 8 1 mile (Turf) - Gaviola stakes 60k - F&M 4+ which have not won a sweepstakes on turf in 2003-2004 #7. Lentil 5-1 PLACE 4.40 3.50 #5. Vespers 9-2 SHOW 3.10 #6. Bijou 6-1 #9. Pocus Hocus 15-1 SCRATCHED Race 9 1 1/8 miles (inner turf) - Cl (75-65) - 3 year olds #4. Sabre Baby 9-2 PLACE 2.90 2.60 #11. Ball Four 4-1 SCRATCHED #1. The Penny Drops 5-2 WIN 7.60 3.50 2.70 #8. Big Booster 7-2 SCRATCHED EXACTA 19.00 October 7, 2004. We've been following our New Jersey thoroughbreds as they have been shipped north to the Big M following the end of the Monmouth Park meet. An interesting mix of Jersey regulars and shippers from Delaware, Philadelphia and beyond will be chasing the speed of lightly raced 6 year old homebred, Havasu Canyon. This veteran, who hasn't won a race in a couple of years, is usually a prominent pace player who folds up in the stretch. Even on the drop, we don't like him that much on top. Aaron Gryder, who rides at Belmont Park in the daytime, makes the commute to pick up the mount on Michael Gill's well-bred 4 year old gelding, Sean's Pride. Trainer Mark Shuman often has success with horses first off the claim, but this might be a tougher case as the son of Pentelicus has raced only once this season and has repeatedly tanked when facing older horses. Apache Dance, an Indian Charlie progeny won here almost a year ago and hasn't been able to get a lead since. Gram's Addiction races for the second time under the tutelage of Mark Fusco, who shortens him up from a route and moves him from turf to dirt in an attempt to discover what it is, exactly, that this 4 year old gelding does well. His maiden win came at this distance on the dirt and the drop from allowance company can't hurt. Still, we're sceptical. Owner/trainer, Charles Harvatt, has been campaigning Texan Hadtoomuch at Philadelphia this summer with mixed results. Although not much of a win threat, the presence of hot apprentice jockey, Rajiv Maragh, and a ton of experience, make us want to use him underneath. Trainer Scott Lake and jockey Joe Bravo team up with Charismatic Caller, a 3 year old who went up against Tapit in the Grade 3 Laurel Futurity last fall. Another of the large crop of Charismatic offspring populating North American tracks this fall, this one has seemingly fallen upon hard times since leaving Florida in the spring. He is, however, much the best horse in this field and starts from the outside post, giving him a good view of the field before he uses his stalking style to begin picking them off. Roll On Big Ball appears to be well out of his league. Entushab, trained by John Forbes, has been racing against better his whole 4 year old season so the cut in his claiming price by half, should put him in position to hit the board. SELECTIONS #8. Charismatic Caller PLACE 2.40 2.20 #2. Havasu Canyon #3. Entushab SHOW 2.40 #1. Hadtoomuch Trainer Mark Fusco continues with his hot hand at the Meadowlands, sending Gram's Addiction (6-1) to victory under Michael Baze, after dueling with a game Sean's Pride (15-1) through brisk early fractions, then pulling away in the stretch. Our top choice, Charismatic Caller (3-5), made his move late and left himself too much to do, finishing 3 1/2 lengths back in second. He just held place ahead of Entushab (9-2), who closed with a rush for the show money. The exacta paid $25.60 and the trifecta returned $71.00. October 6, 2004. There is very little pace to hang one's hat on in this field. The likely front-runner will be outside horse, Smart Babe, who beat Baymont here in June at 9 furlongs on the grass with a $40k price tag. She was claimed out of her next start by Dominic Galluscio and her form went south. Her price is nearly cut in half today, her second start after 6 weeks on the sidelines. She flashed brief speed in her return to action a few weeks ago, but we'd like to give her another start. Trainer Peter Walder, having a very strong season, ships in with Get Crackin, who had been stationed at Monmouth Park for the summer after breaking her maiden at Gulfstream Park in April. Apprentice rider, Michael Baze, commutes in for mount before returning to the Big M for night racing. There would have to be a serious form reversal as she looked awful on the Jersey shore last month competing against a cheaper field. Captain Bodgit filly, Cub n' Rum, will attract a lot of attention at the windows because top Belmont jockey, John Velasquez, has joined the team. Her win in Philadelphia over 1st level allowance company was strong but she hasn't shown much of an affinity for this oval. On the other hand, Excitable has been brilliant at Belmont and was literally stolen from the Hennig stable for $25k by trainer Greg Martin and her current owners. She makes her first start for her new connections over her favorite course at a distance she was bred for. We like her to hit the board. A potential overlay is Exist, a Bob Klesaris trainee who makes the move, once again from turf to dirt. A winner at the distance, the Exploit filly exits a tough loss in which she had the lead late in the stretch. Edgar Prado stays with the gal for a second straight contest. Fusionista was outmatched by allowance rivals in her last but has the kind of late kick which can get her in the money. Another closer worth watching is Patrick Reynolds' Roanoke filly, Sunshine Johanne, a 5-time winner who took a 9 furlong race at Saratoga at 6-1 in early August. A couple of rough starts behind her and she finds herself in the perfect spot to work outthe ground saving trip she needs. SELECTIONS #3. Exist WIN 12.60 6.50 3.30 #2. Sunshine Johanne PLACE 5.60 3.00 #5. Excitable #4. Fusionista EXACTA 63.50 As we anticipated, our first choice, Exist (5-1), running a route over a dry track for the first time since May, rediscovered her solid form of the spring, wiring the field with moderate fractions, then holding off a late challenge from our second choice, Sunshine Johanne (4-1), winning in 1:39.74. Betting favorite Cub n' Rum (2-1) was up for third. The exacta, which we handed our readers today, paid a princely $63.50 and the trifecta returned $201.00. Congratulations! October 3, 2004. Caribbean Cruiser makes his debut at Belmont Park after 3 straight victories to start his career, including a demonstrative victory in his last, the NY Breeders' Futurity, at Finger Lakes. The modestly bred colt has drawn the deadly inside post and faces a field of tougher competition than he's encountered yet in his young career. A win here would be well-earned, but we think we'll play against him. Accurate, trained by Steve Klesaris, tries to make the jump from his maiden victory, as will Carminooch, a Todd Pletcher trainee with John Velasquez up. Carminooch disposed of the rest of the field at the top of the stretch and cruised home at 5 1/2 furlongs in his debut at Saratoga in August. Any improvement over that performance puts him squarely on the fast track to victory today. Our choice for the victory is War Chant colt, Up Like Thunder, who overcame a tough start to win his debut, then finished ahead of next-out winner, Pelham Bay, in the mud after another rocky start. Big Apple Candy arrives with Carribean Cruiser from Finger Lakes after finishing second to that one in two consecutive races. Stewart Elliot gets the call on Conquistador Cielo colt, Geyser Road, who picked up his maiden victory two weeks ago in the mud. Starting from the outside post is Philadelphia based Distinctive Pro progeny, Distinctive Trick, who went off at 104-1 in his debut, then was shipped here by trainer Uriah St. Lewis to scratch out a maiden win at 7-1. Arriving late will be Freddy the Cap, another trying to jump from the maiden ranks. SELECTIONS #5. Up Like Thunder WIN 13.40 6.60 7.70 #4. Carminooch #1. Caribbean Cruiser As we expected, Caribbean Cruiser (3-5), the underlay of the week, set the pace under pressure and wilted in the tough Belmont stretch. It was our top choice, Up Like Thunder (5-1), virtually ignored at the betting windows, who pressed the pace and took over on the turn and was prompted to the wire by Javier Castellano in a time of 1:24.63, nearly 5 lengths ahead of closing longshot, Freddy the Cap (14-1) and Steve Klesaris trainee, Accurate (14-1). With the top two choices out of the gimmicks, the exacta paid a generous $145.50 and the trifecta returned $1,096.00. Congratulations! Calder Race Course Race 1 #2. Luke's Halo WIN 4.80 2.60 2.10 #5. Blues Mountain PLACE 3.00 2.40 #3. Sky Missile EXACTA 16.40 Race 2 #3. Glorious Raj WIN 2.80 2.10 2.10 #6. Dream Fleet PLACE 2.40 2.10 #1. Dodi N Me EXACTA 7.20 DAILY DOUBLE 9.40 Race 3 #10. Champagne Brunch WIN 5.00 3.40 3.00 #6. Dream On Dream On #1. Running Deniro PICK 3 21.00 Race 4 #2. Sprinfield Boy SCRATCHED #3. Warning Sun PLACE 2.60 2.20 #4. Mr. Rajiv SHOW 2.80 Race 5 #6. Puchungo (Per) SHOW 3.20 #2. Boomer Creek #7. Davesday Race 6 #2. Triple Tiara WIN 3.80 2.60 2.40 #4. Lovely R R PLACE 5.00 3.40 #7. Clever Note EXACTA 16.80 Race 7 #12. Crimson Socks SCRATCHED #9. Ringaroundarosie #1. Crimson SHOW 2.60 #8. Another Chapter Race 8 #7. Sans Win SCRATCHED #2. Wish and Try PLACE 4.20 3.20 #4. Bring Him Gold Race 9 #4. Model Home #7. Love That Moon WIN 10.00 5.80 4.00 #10. Misguided Left SCRATCHED #1. Scrubs Race 10 #2. Laughing Luke WIN 4.60 3.00 2.20 #6. Nirav #7. Windsor Dickens Race 11 #6. Saintly Sue SHOW 2.60 #3. Lady True #5. Wheresyourheadat Belmont Park Race 1 #8. Seneca Bunny #5. Mecke's Presence #3. Roses N Bows SHOW 2.90 Race 2 #4. Credit Gal WIN 6.10 3.50 2.80 #1. Burst of Dawn #6. Halfway to Heaven Race 3 #6. Misty Appeal SHOW 2.50 #3. Diligent Gambler WIN 5.00 3.40 2.20 #1A. Bubba Sparks Race 4 #5. Gemilli WIN 5.50 3.10 2.50 #2. Victory Lap #10. Mountain Mambo SHOW 4.00 Race 5 #2. Winsome WIN 6.60 3.40 2.60 #7. Amoureux PLACE 3.80 2.90 #1. Lake Champlain EXACTA 22.60 Race 6 #2. Bellanique PLACE 3.60 3.10 #6. Little Buttercup WIN 5.10 3.00 2.60 #8. Nurse Culkin SHOW 4.70 EXACTA 13.60 TRIFECTA 55.50 Race 7 #8. Sailaway PLACE 6.70 4.80 #9. Potomac Chase #2. Fortune Writers #5. Dreadnaught WIN 21.00 9.90 5.80 Race 8 #1. Megascape WIN 6.20 4.70 3.30 #5. Hoosick Falls #9. Smokin Sylvia SCRATCHED #4. Reddy for Rubys Race 9 #5. Up Like Thunder WIN 13.40 6.60 7.70 #4. Carminooch #1. Caribbean Cruiser Race 10 #9. Broad Base #2. King's Coronation WIN 4.40 2.90 2.40 #10. Mackinac #6. Restigouche PLACE 4.70 3.60 October 2, 2004. Some of the Triple Crown castoffs have been assembled in Indiana to compete for a half million dollar purse in Anderson, Indiana at Hoosier Park for the Grade 2 Indiana Derby. D. Wayne Lucas has curiously entered Hasslefree, a Forestry colt who struggled stretching out in the spring. John McKee will have the Saratoga shipper on the lead early. Maryland bred A Perfect Moon looked good winning a restricted stakes at Del Mar a month ago and is a serious threat today. Avid Skier will appreciate the extra distance but doesn't appear to have the speed to compete with these. Homebred, Edgerrin, will be badly outclassed. Quinton's Gold Rush, out since the Kentucky Derby, has a soft spot for his return. The winner of the Grade 2 Lexington at Keeneland would certainly be a top choice if he were in mid-season form. The only time Pollard's Vision finished out of the money this year was on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs. The pace scenario doesn't set up well for him today as there is a lot of speed, potentially pinning him to the rail on the tight turns. Suave will be heard from late. Winner of the West Virginia Derby and the Derby Trial, Sir Shackleton is our choice to win today. Leading North American jockey, Rafael Bejarano, retains the mount for the Nick Zito trained winner of over half a million dollars. Brass Hat hasn't raced since taking the Ohio Derby in June. SELECTIONS #2. Sir Shackleton #4. Perfect Moon #7. Suave PLACE 9.80 7.20 #1. Pollard's Vision Suave (9-1) turned in a remarkabe performance, going 5-wide on the long backstretch and leading through the second turn, only to be caught by Ohio Derby winner, Brass Hat (10-1), under Willie Martinez, who cruised the stretch to win in 1:44.04, a length and three quarters up on Suave. It was another three quarters of a length back to Hasslefree (29-1). The exacta paid $109.00 and the trifecta returned $3,024.40. The superfecta, with a disappointing Sir Shackleton (2-1) fourth, delivered $10,253.60 on a $2 ticket. Belmont Park Race 1 #1. Shady Devil SHOW 3.40 #4. Midnight Summit #10. Break the Barrier WIN 8.60 4.10 3.40 #2. Pa Pa Da PLACE 3.80 2.70 Race 2 #11. Excellent Charisma #1. Curly's Pride WIN 6.60 3.70 2.80 #7. Storm in Augusta #10. Nicoise SHOW 3.40 Race 3 #9. Bachelor's Gulch PLACE 3.80 2.40 #5. Defer WIN 15.40 6.60 3.50 #7. Argento #2. Our Friend Timmy EXACTA 64.00 Race 4 #8. San Telmo #7. Intimidator PLACE 7.20 5.30 #1. Go Now WIN 7.60 3.90 3.10 #6. Consecrate Race 5 #8. Mutamayyaz SCRATCHED #9. Love to Tango WIN 5.70 3.10 2.40 #4. Serial Bride SCRATCHED #5. Sovereign Kit (Arg) Race 6 #1A. Muguet PLACE 4.30 3.30 #8. Minni Sangue #5. Tuesday Prayer WIN 14.60 6.50 5.90 #2. Rowdy Race 7 #7. Aubonne (Ger) #9. Riskaverse WIN 19.40 7.10 4.60 #5. Wonder Again #3. Film Maker Race 8 #2. Speightstown SHOW 2.10 #3. Watchem Smokey #6. Pico Central (Brz) WIN 6.40 5.00 2.10 Race 9 #4. Magistretti PLACE 2.90 2.50 #1. Kicken Kris #5. Kitten's Joy WIN 6.80 3.30 2.80 Race 10 #1. The Cliff's Edge SHOW 2.90 #4. Evening Attire #7. Funny Cide WIN 7.60 4.80 2.50 #2. Love of Money Race 11 #4. Scenic Wonder SCRATCHED #10. Runingforpresident PLACE 3.80 2.70 #6. Calculator WIN 9.60 4.00 2.90 #8. Texas Pro October 1, 2004. Some of the hardest working 3 year old fillies descend upon Anderson, Indiana and the oddly configured Hoosier Park today, competing for a purse of $400k. With it's long back and home stretch and tight turns, front runners and pace pressers have an advantage, which sets up nicely for probable favorite, Capeside Lady, entered here out of a spectacular 6 1/2 length victory in the Grade 2 Monmouth BC Oaks in August. The 7 week layoff is a bit of a concern, but trainer Todd Pletcher knows how to prepare them for big races and he sticks with jockey Chris DeCarlo. The lightly raced filly was beaten by Feline Story in a sprint at Belmont in June and has been able to avoid the top runners of her age until today. She is a vulnerable contender. Texas-bred Slewpy's Storm has been campaigning in Kentucky and is looking a lot like a mile specialist. The Storm Creek filly doesn't have the pedigree for this distance at this class and her one try over a mile resulted in a disastrous showing at Oaklawn Park as a deserved 50-1 longshot in the Grade 2 Fantasy stakes. She will serve to keep Capeside Lady honest. The toughest sophomore filly in the game just might be Stellar Jayne, the current star of D. Wayne Lucas' stable. The two-time Grade 1 winner has only been beaten by two horses in her last five races, dating back to Kentucky Derby weekend. Those two fillies were Society Selection and Ashado, and we doubt that there is that much class in this field. We have to use her on virtually every ticket. David Carroll-trained Broad Brush filly, Lenatareese, will be trying to close on the leaders in her first start after 2 months on the sidelines. Brice Blanc gets the call. Our wiseguy choice to win today is Daydreaming, conditioned by Shug McGaughey, who punched in with a most impressive nine furlong duel with Stellar Jayne in the Grade 1 Gazelle Handicap. Her performance at Aqueduct in the Grade 3 Comely stakes, chasing Bending Strings and Society Selection, was strong, as was her fourth last year in the Grade 1 Frizette. But, without a graded stakes win, she has become the ugly stepsister of the division. The price might be very generous today and top New York jockey, John Velasquez, makes the trip to America's bread basket tonight for the ride. Another grandson of Storm Cat, Storm's Darling, will try to race against pedigree tonight. Worse, the outside post will force her to try to clear a very quick field. We feel the jump from second level allowance company will prove to be too high. Adobe Gold, along with regular rider Eddie Castro, ship north from Calder and will encounter speed like she has never seen in south Florida. We'll be watching Family Business closely. The Dallas Stewart trainee, a daughter of Saint Ballado, was purchased for $200k two years ago at auction by Overbrook Farm and has developed slowly. A breakthrough race wouldn't be a surprise. SELECTIONS #7. Daydreaming WIN 7.20 5.20 2.10 #6. Stellar Jayne SHOW 2.10 #4. Capeside Lady PLACE 4.20 2.10 #2. Family Business SCRATCHED TRIFECTA 44.20 Our top choice, Daydreaming (5-2), was given the perfect trip by John Velasquez, just staying off the pace toward the middle of the track and handled the turns perfectly, mounting her challenge on the final turn for the win in 1:43.65, Capeside Lady (2-1) and Stellar Jayne (1-1) finished second and third, a head apart, after bumping in the stretch. The exacta paid $28.80 and the trifecta returned $44.20. Congratulations! Calder Race Course Race 4 #3. Ready Prospect #6. Stormy Trial #1. Bill Is in Love WIN 5.40 3.00 2.20 Race 6 #1. Belle of Claxton #7. Commit Me #3. Magnolia Light WIN 13.40 7.20 4.80 Race 7 #5. Consent #2. Race With a Plum PLACE 2.60 2.60 #1. El Gran Marco WIN 4.00 2.40 2.40 Race 8 #3. Her Song SCRATCHED #1. Cash Settlement PLACE 2.40 2.10 #6. Running Bobcats WIN 5.00 2.60 2.10 EXACTA 9.20 Race 9 #1. Samir SHOW 2.40 #3. Moon Warrior SCRATCHED #4. Bob's Proud Moment WIN 4.40 3.40 2.20 #6. Stormy Rockette September 30, 2004. There is a lot of tactical speed in this field and most of that speed will be used to chase probable front-runner, Chachacharlie, another strong son of Indian Charlie whose grandsire happens to be Wolf Power*Saf. The young speed merchant, a $20k purchase at auction two years ago, makes his first start for Rebecca Maker, who claimed him for $30k out of a sprint at Churchill Downs in April. He's been on the bench since and will be compromised by the lack of serious competition over the summer. Rafael Bejarano, still leading all North American jockeys in wins, sticks with Bourbon Cowboy, a gelding facing winners for the first time. His maiden victory at Ellis Park was solid, if unspectacular. But, we'll upgrade this one's chances because Bejarano sticks around. Inside horse, Patriot Station, tries to graduate from this condition for the sixth time after breaking his maiden at this track almost a year ago to the day. That race was run at a mile, but since then, turf seems to be his preferred surface. Our choice for the win tonight is Boston Harbor colt, Away to Boston, who won his debut in a gutsy performance over this strip in the mud last December. After a few unsuccessful route attempts at Gulfstream Park and at Churchill, he responded to a layoff with a couple of decent tries from off the pace at Ellis Park. He makes his third start off the bench and, although Bejarano jumps ship, the very capable Calvin Borel returns to the irons. Five year old gelding, Southlake Drive, has consistently been unable to deliver a decent performance at this level and should probably return to the claiming ranks, where he can beat up on $15k claimers. Kiss the Groom was getting pretty good at Churchill before he was dropped to the maiden claiming division and shipped to Ellis Park in July. He finally got his maiden win with a $50k price tag last month, and, while he may not be a legitimate win candidate, he is useful underneath in your gimmicks. Intrinsic Danielle has been unable to beat non-winners of two claimers. Tonight's field will prove too tough. The fly in the ointment in this bunch is California bred shipper, Port Hueneme, who delivered a top notch closing trip at a flat mile at Santa Anita in a starters' allowance in February. The gelded son of Stage Colony has been out of action since March and makes his first start outside of the Golden State. We'll be watching closely but, just watching. SELECTIONS #2. Away to Boston #6. Kiss the Groom #7. Bourbon Cowboy PLACE 4.20 3.40 #5. Chachacharlie WIN 4.60 3.00 2.40 Betting favorite Chachacharlie (6-5) came out of his layoff flying, setting quick fractions of 22.94 & 45.77 while racing outside a game Bourbon Cowboy (3-1). The speedster angled in on the turn and pulled away in the stretch for the win in 1:18.02, a length and three quarters up on Bourbon Cowboy. It was another half length back to late charging California shipper, Port Hueneme (10-1). The exacta paid $18.40 and the trifecta returned $94.00. September 29, 2004. Front speed has been magic so far at the fall Belmont meet and, if that trend continues, Dynaformer progeny, Dynamic Vision, would be well served on the rise in the sophomore claiming ranks. Bred for the distance, he won his debut gate to wire at 6 furlongs on the Aqueduct main track in April. He was immediately promoted to allowance races, where he lengthened out with limited success. His strong closing performance in a freshener a few weeks ago suggests that another move forward is in order. Trainer Richard Violette looked like he had a live one with Exploit Echo until the colt's form went south after a disaster on the turf. Richard Migliore replaces Sean Bridgmohan in the irons, but this one is very vulnerable as a pace participant. Well-travelled Brite Memory gets wheeled right back after a strong third at this claiming level on Saturday. The Steve Klesaris trainee has won at the distance so the stretch out shouldn't be a problem. Starting from the inside post, Harbor the Gold, a winner at this distance, has the class to be able to toy with a field such as this. He has gone up against many of his generation's best, including Pollard's Vision, The Cliff's Edge and Borrego. Trainer D. Wayne Lucas drops the price on the Seeking the Gold colt and moves him from turf to dirt. This is a potentially heavy underlay. Magnum Jazz has yet to even come close to breaking his maiden. Edgar Prado gets the call on Ponche Line, who exits his maiden win out of a key race at Delaware Park. The move up in class is substantial but we'll have a close look at the trip he gets. Gibbons Terrace opened his Belmont season in the spring with a win at the new 7 1/2 furlong distance and has proved he fits perfectly at this level. Bridgmohan sticks with this guy and trainer Kelly Breen is coming off a strong Monmouth Park meet. We'll jump if we can get a decent price. Another potential darkhorse is Kyle's King, who's closing style could easily get him a small slice. SELECTIONS #6. Dynamic Vision SCRATCHED #8. Gibbons Terrace #1. Harbor the Gold WIN 4.30 2.50 2.30 #4. Kyle's King SHOW 3.00 The scratch of our top choice and main pace player, Dynamic Vision, left longshot Exploit Echo (22-1) to set a soft pace over the harrowed track listed as good and playing slow. Harbor the Gold (1-1) was able to easily stalk the front runner and put in a strong move on the turn, cruising home for the win, unchallenged, in 1:38.20. Brite Memory (2-1) held on for the place, just ahead of late-running Kyle's King (7-1). The chalky exacta paid $11.20 and the trifecta returned a mere $33.80. September 26, 2004. The state-bred sprinting division has been competitive all season and today's race will be no exception as 4 of the best New Yorkers knock heads once again. Trainer Scott Lake made an astute claim in February, picking up Cologny for $25k, and the Go for Gin filly has gone on to win four races and has missed the money only once in 10 starts. She was nipped at the wire by Feline Story in the Grade 3 Floral Park Handicap last weekend in the slop and she'll be in tough on the front again today, with much of the field right on her flank. Starting from the outside post, 3 year old High Peaks suddenly matured at Saratoga, demolishing two fields of state bred allowance competition. The move up in class is not indomitable. The trouble for the Tom Bush trainee will be in her attempt to clear a quick field early. A clean start is a must today. Travelator has been trading wins over the year with Cologny and will be in a strong stalking position along the rail today under Cornelio Velasquez. We couldn't blame anyone for backing this one. Beautiful America overcame a bad start to nearly grab the $66k Union Avenue stakes, defeating Cologny by nearly 5 lengths, losing to hotshot up and comer, Sugar Punch, who comes into this race off 4 straight wins. We expect these two to be close at the wire once again today. Rodeo filly, Front Line, has a strong late move at her disposal but lacks the speed to stay in range. Distinctive Kitten is out of her league. SELECTIONS #6. Beautiful America SHOW 2.30 #5. Sugar Punch WIN 5.30 3.00 2.20 #2. Cologny PLACE 5.90 2.80 TRIFECTA 56.00 Cologny (6-1) impressed us once again, getting out of the gate quickly, setting fractions of 22.20 & 44.98 and hanging tough in the stretch when challenged by the eventual winner, Sugar Punch (8-5), who proved with the win today that she's ready to represent the Richard Dutrow barn in graded stakes events in the near future. Beautiful America (9-5) once again left herself too much to do and had to settle for the show prize after rallying late. The exacta paid $34.60 and the trifecta returned $56.00. Congratulations! September 25, 2004. A lack of any true front-runners in today's feature at Belmont will produce a crowded backstretch with, potentially, graded stakes veteran, Yell, on or near the lead. Making her turf debut, the winner of over $400k last year as a 3 year old, has been better served by staying off the pace over the course of her somewhat disappointing career. The former star of the Shug McGaughey stable hasn't been in the winner's circle since a 7 panel win as the chalk over a suspect bunch of sophomores at last year's Keeneland fall meet. The A.P. Indy filly has never beaten older horses and today is going to be a pedigree check, as this one should be strong on the lawn. We'll be watching closely. All of Irish-bred Coney Kitty's 6 career victories have come on the grass and Jose Santos returns to the mount. This 6 year old veteran mare came off the bench with a strong win at Monmouth in a minor stakes race after a couple of tough draws over the summer which resulted in losses to bigshot Intercontinental. With 3 wins over this course in her career, we like her to hit the board. Trainer Barclay Tagg is known for being patient with his stable, so he must have confidence that Changing World can make the jump from an optional claiming win over the likes of Alchemist and Ocean Silk at Saratog. Finery looks like a talented filly but will have to make drastic improvements to go far in this comppany today. Woodbine shipper, Hour of Justice, returned this season as a monster for the Stronach Stable and trainer, Mike Keough, ships the Lit de Justice filly south to face international competition and should get a great trip under top Canadian jockey, Todd Kabel. A potential underlay will be former Grade 1 winner in South America, High Court (Brz), who exploded onto the U.S scene with a win in the $60k Fort Monmouth stakes at this distance, but hasn't been able to move forward in graded stakes company. Trainer Bobby Frankel shipped Personal Legend from California this summer and the Awesome Again filly has adapted well to East Coast competition, producing two wins and a second here and at Saratoga, notably winning the Grade 3 Balston Spa Handicap over some of these. Dedication(Fr), one of two mares in this field, finished fourth in this race last season, but enters here out of a 4 month layoff. We're opting to just watch this one today. Ocean Drive, starting from the outside post, has gone up against some of the best in the division this summer, including a tough loss over a yielding Saratoga course to Wonder Again and Riskaverse. She got the perfect trip under John Velasquez (back again) in the Balston Spa Handicap and will be going well late today. SELECTIONS #4. Hour of Justice SHOW 2.80 #2. Coney Kitty (Ire) #1. Personal Legend #9. Ocean Drive WIN 7.50 4.80 2.60 Our top choice, Hour of Justice (5-2), set a moderate pace on the inside, pressed through a half mile by Finery (38-1), and dug in valiantly through the stretch. But, Ocean Drive (5-2), the bettors' choice, by virtue of his outside post, was able to race close up on the outside and sweep by the leaders 4-wide on the turn and pull away in teh stretch for the win in 1:34.71. Richard Migliore brought High Court (Brz) (21-1) from last place to catch the place prize, 3/4 length ahead of Hour of Justice. The exacta paid $117.00 and the trifecta returned $573.00. Belmont Park September 25, 2004. Race 1 - 7 furlongs - Cl 18k - 3yr. olds #8. Illusionary Magic 7-5 PLACE 2.40 2.10 #6. Sully's Silver 8-1 SHOW 4.20 #4. Mountain Ridge 8-1 #9. Kirby Mac 4-1 WIN 13.40 3.80 2.80 Daily Double 8 with 1,3,7 and 6,8 with 1,2,3,7 Race 2 - 1 mile - Cl (25-20) - 3yr old fillies #1. Smart Babe 3-1 SHOW 2.10 #7. Excitable 2-1 PLACE 3.40 2.20 #3. Wheezer 6-1 Race 3 - 6 furlongs - Md Sp Wt 46k - NY bred f&m 3+ #7. Maidez 7-2 WIN 7.50 4.20 3.10 #9. Vermont Summer 5-1 #10. Sweet Juliet 8-1 SHOW 4.20 #14. Curly's Pride 6-1 SCRATCHED Pick 3: 7 with 1,2,5 with 1,3,6,8 Race 4 1 1/4 miles (turf) - OC 75k/N3x - 3+ #1. Halawelifin Hala (GB) 7-2 WIN 4.30 2.90 2.30 #2. Celtic Memories 2-1 PLACE 4.70 3.20 #5. Balustrade 6-1 EXACTA 17.60 Race 5 - 6f - Md Sp Wt 45k - 2yr olds #1. Prime 8-5 #3. Kansas City Boy 6-1 PLACE 5.30 5.20 #6. Premium Tap 15-1 #8. Port Chester 12-1 Pick 6: 1 with 7 with 8 with 1,6,8 with 1,2,4 with 3,13 Race 6 - 1 mile (turf) - Alw N2x - 3+ #7. Royal Affirmed 2-1 WIN 4.90 3.20 2.80 #4. Parhelion (Ger) 6-1 #3. Erin's Storm 3-1 Race 7 - 6f - Cl (25-20) 3+ #8. Golden Diamond 7-2 #6. Doubly Hard 5-2 #10. Ringold 6-1 WIN 14.60 6.80 4.00 #2. The Great Buzzenie 15-1 Pick 4: 6,8 with 6 with 1,2,4,9 with 13 Race 8 - 1 1/8 miles (inner turf) - The Ashley T. Cole Hdcp. - NY bred 3+ #6. Foreverness 5-2 #1a. Golden Commander 2-1e 5.70 3.50 2.50 #8. Certifiably Crazy 15-1 PLACE 12.00 5.40 #4. Irish Colonial 3-1 SHOW 3.10 Race 9 - 1 mile (turf) - The Noble Damsel Hdcp. - f&m 3+ #4. Hour of Justice 6-1 SHOW 2.80 #2. Coney Kitty (Ire) 10-1 #1. Personal Legend 9-2 #9. Ocean Drive 5-2 WIN 7.50 4.80 2.60 Race 10 - 1 1/8 miles (inner turf) - Cl 35k - 4+ #13. Severado (Brz) 5-1 SCRATCHED #3. Tubrok 5-2 PLACE 4.80 4.00 #12. Hourly Storm 5-2 SCRATCHED #11. Ravaro (Brz) 2-1