May 28, 2005. 8th Belmont Park - The Peter Pan - Grade 2 - 1 1/8 miles - 3 year olds Today's feature at Belmont Park, the Grade 2 Peter Pan, has taken on greater significance due to the lack of a potential Triple Crown winner and injuries to some of the top sophomores. A win today puts one or more of these second tier 3 year olds into the role of spoiler for the Belmont Stakes and into the upper echelon of the division. In 1999, Lemon Drop Kid turned a win in the Peter Pan into a dominating Belmont Stakes trip in which he spoiled Charismatic's Triple Crown hopes. Trainer James Jerkens will try to spin some magic with Sir Greeley, who has not raced beyond a flat mile yet in his career and moves from turf to dirt off a fading second at the N2X condition. Jerkens is hoping the gelded son of Mr. Greeley will race back to his allowance win here in April when he pulled away in the stretch to win by 7 lengths. The 9 furlong distance at Belmont is a one turn affair and a front runner like this one can potentially go gate to wire against this field. Keeping him company up front will be Reverberate, a Thunder Gulch colt who ran into Rockport Harbor last fall in the Grade 3 Nashua. Trainer Sal Russo has brought this $400k Keeneland purchase along slowly as a 3 year old and has enlisted Jose Santos to replace John Velasquez in the irons. Two starts back, he was outfinished after a front running trip by Noble Causeway. Mr Sword, racing out of the Paraneck Stable, had to be hauled down in the muddy stretch at Turfway Park in the Grade 2 Lanes End, but was badly outrun in the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland. Bailey defects in favor of Oratory and will be replaced today by the aggressive Norberto Arroyo Jr. The "wiseguy" pick today will be Pulpit colt, Chekhov, a Patrick Biancone trainee whose fifth in the $102k Sham behind Giacomo has become more impressive since the latter's win and show in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Despite entering this out of his maiden win, it is advisable to use this $3.3 million colt in all the gimmicks. Golden Man, a Florida bred gelding by Suave Prospect, could have been had for $12.5k last October. Top New York trainer, Richard Dutrow, turned this guy's career around by drawing out a career best performance on the rise to entry level allowance competition after claiming him for $60k in January. Although it makes a sweet Cinderella story, a bounce is very possible today. California shipper, Robador, breaking from the inside post, is a dead closer who benefited from a complete pace meltdown in a $250k stakes for Cal-breds last month. He will have to race a career topper today to make it to the winner's circle. Pulpit colt, Oratory, had every opportunity to close for the win against second level allowance company a month ago at Aqueduct and failed to fire. Despite the presence of Bailey in the irons, we feel this one could go off as the underlay of the day. Gorbash, who has only beaten $25k maiden claimers will be badly outclassed today. SELECTIONS #2. Sir Greeley #7. Reverberate PLACE 8.80 5.10 #4. Chekhov Under new rider, Jerry Bailey, Oratory (5-1) uncharacteristically hustled out of the gate, cleared the field and engaged pace setter, Reverberate (9-1) through an opening quarter in 24.05. The two dueled, unperturbed by a stalking Golden Man (5-1) on the rail, before Oratory switched gears and pulled away off the turn, speeding to the wire in a stakes record time of 1:46.35. For the sake of comparison, Bellamy Road finished the Wood Memorial in 1:47.16 and Preakness winner, Afleet Alex, took the Arkansas Derby in 1:48.80. The exacta paid $77.00 and the trifecta, with Golden Man hanging on for third, returned $396.00. May 27, 2005. 3rd Churchill Downs - Claiming (15-12.5) - 6 1/2 furlongs - 3+ Claimed 4 times this year, Tricky Intro gets moved up in price racing first off the claim for Jerry Quinn. The 4 year old Announce gelding broke his maiden at Fair Grounds in February en route to three consecutive victories a narrow defeat in his last over this track. The Kentucky bred, purchased at auction in Texas a year ago for $50k, has only missed the board once in his career, that coming in his debut at Lone Star Park. Robbie Albarado retains the mount for the new connections and will have them in a pace pressing spot, ready to take over for the drive. With Approval gelding, Darien's Approval, will likely be the front runner in the early going, but wants more distance. Right to Run has been facing similar horses at Turfway Park over the spring with limited success. Inside starter, American Token, is a horse on the rise. The Quiet American gelding suffered through a disappointing sophomore season before turning things around in the late winter at Turfway and hitting the board at 32-1 odds in the mud at Keeneland last month. He beat our top choice here a few weeks ago but will have to improve again to have much of an impact today. Dial for Speed had a rough trip here 2 weeks ago in a 5 1/2 furlong event under the same conditions. A couple of his best performances have come at 7 panels over this track and the 4 year old gelding by Accelerator was impressive at Turfway facing open claimers. Don's Revenge, a talented 5 year old gelding trained by Don Hughes Sr., isn't a sprinter. The cagey veteran of this field, Southlake Drive, breaks from the outside post, which suits his closing style perfectly. With an experience and class edge over this field, if the Steven Cahill trainee runs back to his form of the early spring, Tricky Intro will find it tough to fend him off in the stretch. SELECTIONS #5. Tricky Intro WIN 6.80 4.00 2.80 #7. Southlake Drive #3. Dial for Speed SHOW 3.80 The first quarter went in a sluggish 23.01, allowing our top choice, Tricky Intro (2-1), to overcome being banged around at the break and run a pace pressing trip 3-wide before taking control at the half and extending his lead through the stretch to hit the wire in 1:17.37 for his fourth victory in his last five starts. Dial for Speed (6-1) was used up in the early speed duel and was edged out for second by the late running Don's Revenge (9-2). The exacta paid $25.80 and the trifecta returned $172.40. Congratulations! May 26, 2005. 7th Pimlico - Alw N1X - 6 furlongs - f&m 3+ In the midst of dismantling his stable, owner Michael Gill is still sending out promising horses such as Golden Aura who could have things her own way today versus a suspect field of entry level allowance hopefuls. The 4 year old Gold Case filly didn't respond to being converted into a router by former trainer, Gary Hartlage. In her first start for her current connections, she beat conditioned claimers by nearly 9 lengths and was promptly moved up into allowance company. This Tim Hooper trainee should have the early legs to clear the field and force the pace. Double Covey broke her maiden over this course last spring as a sophomore and was putting together a decent 3 year old season before hitting the sidelines in June. Her return to the track was a fifth in the slop at Laurel Park in March, but she did show speed for a half mile. We expect the Florida bred to build off that performance and stay for the stretch run. Miss Lombardi, breaking from the inside post, might take a lot of support based on her 11 1/4 length maiden breaking victory as odds-on favorite here last month. Rider Eric Camacho replaces Ramon Dominguez for trainer Joe Delozier, who holds a hot hand so far at this meet. Psycho Gator was a fringe player when racing against 3 year old claimers last season. Her record in allowance races doesn't breed much confidence. Rangeley Ruby, who blew away $16k maiden claimers in her debut here 2 weeks ago gets a weight break under apprentice rider, Pedro Monterrey Jr, who should be able to work out a ground saving trip behind the front runners from the 2 post. Lightly raced 5 year old mare, Possible Punch, will have to improve her speed to compete on a serious level on the rise in class. Bred in California, Sharp as a Fox broke her maiden here in her East Coast debut after shipping from Santa Anita. The Scott Lake trainee needs to be sharper today. The wild card in this hand is South American shipper, Santa Catalina (Chi), who races first out after nearly a year on the bench following her debut victory in Chile in which she hit the wire in 1:14.20 down a 6 furlong straightaway. We will be watching the tote board. SELECTIONS #7. Golden Aura SHOW 2.40 #5. Double Covey PLACE 10.20 4.60 #1. Miss Lombardi WIN 4.00 2.80 2.40 Remarkably, the betting public allowed our second choice, Double Covey (26-1), to go off as the second longest shot on the board and she showed them up by grabbing control of the rail and getting the first quarter mile in 23.32. She fought off our top choice, Golden Aura (2-1), en route to 46.54 half before being caught mid-stretch by betting favorite, Miss Lombardi (1-1), who got a patient, pace-stalking trip from Camacho and got to the wire in 1:12.18 for her second consecutive victory at the meet. Double Covey was 2 lengths back for second and Golden Aura held the show. The exacta paid $68.60 and the trifecta returned $215.60. Congratulations! May 25, 2005. 3rd Belmont Park - Maiden Claiming (50-40) - 1 mile - f&m 3+ All but one of the 7 fillies entered in today's third race at Belmont Park are dropping down from maiden allowance company to race with a tag. Outside starter, Humorous Style, owned by Allen Iwinski, was competitive at the $80k claiming level in her debut at Gulfstream Park. After a 2 month break, she flashed some early speed at Aqueduct and was eased. The Distorted Humor filly gets a break with apprentice, Channing Hill, aboard and should be able to handle the distance. Her toughest rival on the front end will be Mr. Greely filly, Hennie's Melody, who suffered a tough loss on the turf in her latest at Aqueduct, outfinished by Sydneys Angel Face, who came back to beat entry level allowance foes her next out at Pimlico on Friday, winning by a 5 1/2 length margin. Richard Migliore is back in the irons for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and they break from the inside post. Trainer Allen Jerkens adds blinkers to Nurse Cleo, who has not improved from her debut at Aqueduct last month. Trainer Errol Mattis, winless on the year, sends out Polkadot, who looks to be outclassed at this level. Honey Fritters, the lone 4 year old in the field, is at risk of becoming a professional maiden with 16 starts to her credit. Racing the first time for new trainer, Gary Sciacca, the Helmsman filly is very useful on exotics tickets as she is 3 for 4 on the board at the distance and 5 for 7 on a fast dirt track. Over the winter she hit the board in 7 consecutive starts before being tried on the turf. Capote filly, Cap and Gown, didn't show much in her debut at Gulfstream Park in March. Dead closer, Joyeux Ruler, has been facing $62.5k claimers at Gulfstream on the turf and showed a strong late move around two turns in February. We shy away from this type of runner coming out of a long layoff. SELECTIONS #1. Hennie's Melody #6. Honey Fritters SHOW 4.40 #7. Humorous Style At the half mile pole this was already a 2 horse race and Joyeux Ruler (7-2) hit the top of the stretch with a 5 length lead en route to a 7 1/4 length victory in 1:39.17 in the slop. Easily best of the rest, Cap and Gown (5-1) held on for the place money and Honey Fritters (7-1) was a well beaten third. Scratches reduced the field to 5 starters and our top choice, Hennie's Melody (3-5), reared at the start and was never a factor. The exacta paid $47.00. May 21, 2005. 12th Pimlico - The Preakness - Grade 1 - 1 3/16 miles - 3 year olds The dust has settled on a baffling, unsettling Kentucky Derby and, two weeks later, we are faced with a full field of 14 competing for the second crown in the Triple Crown. There are more questions and fewer stars creating the potential for large payouts again. High Fly, the star of the most recent Gulfstream Park meet, got caught pressing the pace at Louisville and was stuck in the 11 post. Today, his post position leaves the rail within reach and the Atticus colt, with Jerry Bailey in the irons, should be the controlling speed. Of the front runners entered, this Nick Zito trainee is the most dangerous. Another Zito charge, Noble Causeway, couldn't catch High Fly in the Florida Derby and had a very rough time in Kentucky. Rider Gary Stevens sticks with the Giant's Causeway colt who will be along late if he is able to run his race. Rarely do non-entrants in the Kentucky Derby win the Preakness but Scrappy T has a shot to make some noise on the front end duelling with High Fly. He faded in the Wood Memorial, racing first off the bench after a 2 month layoff and improved dramatically in the Grade 3 Withers. Ramon Dominguez gets the call. Closing Argument ran a tremendous race in the Derby, just beaten for the prize. At 71-1, he was a bargain, particularly considering his pace pressing win over Kansas City Boy and High Fly in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream. The Blue Grass was used by cagey Kiaran McGlaughlin to get the Successful Appeal used to rating, something necessary at Churchill. We will be keying this one on many of our exotics tickets. Quickly becoming our favorite horse of 2005, Afleet Alex showed heart and determination in the face of his distance limitations. True, the Preakness is shorter than the Derby; however, this plucky colt is better used underneath on all tickets. Winning the Kentucky Derby is no mean feat, despite the cries from handicappers claiming it was a shambles. Giacomo was the best horse that day and Mike Smith timed his run perfectly. At 6-1, we wouldn't blame anyone for sticking with this son of Holy Bull against a less than stellar field. Malibu Moonshine brings in a record of 6 wins in 10 starts but couldn't beat the likes of Magna Graduate and Pavo in his toughest test at Turfway Park. Greeley's Galaxy freaked winning the Illinois Derby, but, still, the times don't match up with these. Jose Santos gets the mount aboard Hal's Image, a Halo's Image colt way out of his league here. Galloping Grocer has never won outside of New York state bred competition. We didn't like Wilco in the Breeders' Cup last fall and we still don't like the overachiever of the year. Another colt we have avoided all season is Sun King, who has regressed dramatically since a couple of strong starts as a juvenile. High Limit gets blinkers for this one and will try to match his performance from the Louisiana Derby. Going Wild, stuck on the far outside, doesn't belong here. SELECTIONS #7. Closing Argument #13. Giacomo SHOW 4.80 #5. Scrappy T PLACE 11.20 5.80 #12. Afleet Alex WIN 8.60 5.00 3.20 Afleet Alex (3-1) officially became our favorite horse of 2005, and slipped forever into the collective consciousness of all race fans who held their breath, shouted, pointed and moaned in dismay as soon as it appeared that the gutsy colt had lost his footing on the tail of Scrappy T (13-1) in the stretch after a stunning rally from the back of the pack and was about to go down in a heap and lose his rider. How long was it before you realized that, not only had he recovered, but he was going to win anyway? Few horses have deserved the recognition that Afleet Alex is due after this exemplary display of athleticism and determination. He hit the wire in 1:55.04, well clear of longshot, Scrappy T, who narrowly avoided going down in history with an asterisk beside his name. Kentucky Derby winner, Giacomo (6-1), off as the third choice today, got the show but was beaten nearly 10 lengths by the Preakness champion. The exacta paid $152.60 and the trifecta returned $872.00. May 20, 2005. 8th Pimlico - The Miss Preakness - Grade 3 - 6 furlongs - 3 year old fillies Lacking a clearcut pace scenario, this year's edition of the Grade 3 Miss Preakness sprint will be settled by the strongest tactical moves and many of the top East Coast riders are assembled, in town for the big Pimlico weekend of major stakes races. Missile Bay has not missed the board in 9 consecutive starts but the Florida bred Scott Lake trainee faces a much tougher crew today than he was up against in the overnight stakes here and at Laurel Park last month. She will have to compete early on with the speedy Menifee filly, Burnish, who exploded through the mud at Keeneland a month ago to win by over 10 lengths. Rafael Bejarano retains the mount for trainer Nick Zito and we feel this one will be tough to haul down in the stretch. The trainer/jockey combination of John Servis and Stewart Elliot team up with Cape Town filly, Flowerbud, who appears to be a little overmatched today. Our choice for the win from off the pace is Stormy Atlantic filly, Hot Storm, who surprised the California faithful with a 21-1 win in the $250k Sunshine Millions Oaks before lengthening out to 7 and 7 1/2 furlongs for three straight third place finishes in graded stakes races at Gulfstream Park, Keeneland and Churchill Downs. Once again, Jerry Bailey takes the reins and the price should be a bargain for a filly with this magnitude of ability. The favorite will be Maddalena, who could be a runaway winner if she races back to her winter form, with which she took the Grade 3 Old Hat at Gulfstream by 7 1/4 lengths. Her connections have to hope she held a lot back in her last, a 1 length victory in the slop at Delaware Park over some ambitious locals in an overnight stakes. Big race rider, John Velasquez, is back in the saddle aboard this Good and Tough filly who faces her stiffest challenge yet. Virginia bred Partners Due couldn't get close to Missile Bay last out. Loch Nessie, claimed for $25k as recently as January, is nowhere near talented enough to go with these. Likewise, home bred Miss Lombardi tries to make the jump from her maiden breaker. A longshot closer with some value at the bottom of the exotics is outside starter, Hear Us Roar, a Lion Hearted filly who attracts Jose Santos. She returns to sprinting after a couple of routes here and her only loss came in her return race from a 5 month layoff. SELECTIONS #6. Hot Storm SHOW 3.60 #4. Burnish WIN 5.60 4.20 3.30 #3. Maddalena Second choice Burnish (9-5) lived up to her pedigree and took a huge step forward when she swept past this graded stakes field to get to the wire through the slop in 1:12.40, finishing 2 lengths ahead of surprisingly tough Partners Due (16-1). It was another length and a quarter back to Hot Storm (4-1), who failed to fire in the stretch. As we expected, Maddalena (3-2) took the title of underlay of the day, finishing dead last after her worst performance to date. The exacta paid $50.20 and the trifecta returned $222.00. May 19, 2005. 3rd Churchill Downs - Claiming (20-17.5) N2L - 1 mile - 3+ Trainer Jeff Talley looks to have found a cozy spot for lightly raced 5 year old gelding, Long Run Road, to return to the winner's circle at Churchill Downs in the 3rd race facing non-winners of two races. The Katowice progeny missed his entire sophomore season due to injury and returned in fine form to defeat maiden allowance company at Turfway Park in his second career start. Predictably, he bounced when faced with a severe class rise at Keeneland and then couldn't get into gear after a tight start here on the first of May. Top rider Mark Guidry replaces Rafael Mojica Jr in the irons and will have the option of stalking a moderate pace or forcing the issue and trying to go gate to wire. Talley has an outstanding record lengthening out his charges. Western Bulldog, a 3 year old gelded son of Charismatic, will likely go off as the favorite despite regressing dramatically following his maiden victory at Turfway in February. That win was achieved around two turns setting very slow fractions and finding himself 4 lengths clear at the top of the stretch. The pace scenario today will be more challenging. Zorba looked like he was turning into a career maiden until producing a front running victory at Turfway over $12.5k maidens. The gelded 4 year old would need a career best performance and a lot of co-operation from the rest of this field to win it. One of our favorites from last summer's Churchill meet, Roger Wilco, is still trying to grab his second career victory. After a trio of solid performances here in April and June of 2004, the Victory Gallop gelding was bumped up to allowance company and gradually lost his form. The Paul McGee trainee, who attracts Rafael Bejarano for the mount today, was losing ground at this distance in the mud against conditioned claimers at Turfway 6 weeks ago. Shoo Brush, a 5 year old gelding with 12 in the money finishes after 20 starts, is capable of a huge closing bid but moves up in class today and is a risky proposition on his best day. A colt that could be overlooked by the betting public is outside starter, Soaringwitheagles, a $180k Kentucky bred purchase at auction 3 years ago who was campaigned in Ireland on the turf by Dermot Weld until last summer. The Woodman colt took a couple of outings to get things together before breaking his maiden in an "off the turf" event at River Downs and, today, makes his third start in less than 3 weeks. Huntin Gene will need a pace breakdown to capitalize upon. SELECTIONS #5. Long Run Road PLACE 2.80 2.40 #7. Soaringwitheagles WIN 8.20 3.40 2.60 #2. Roger Wilco SCRATCHED Soaringwitheagles (3-1) was able to overcome a rough start and engage our top choice and betting favorite, Long Run road (3-2), in a thrilling head to head stretch duel. The Woodman colt got the nod at the wire finishing the flat mile in 1:37.69. Longshot, Huntin Gene (11-1) was along late on the outside to get the show prize. The exacta paid $26.00 and the trifecta returned $127.40. Congratulations! May 18, 2005. 2nd Churchill Downs - Claiming (80-75) - 6 furlongs - 3 year old fillies A septet of lightly raced 3 year old fillies makes their Churchill Downs debut in the second half of the early double today carrying claiming tags of $80k down to $75k. Dixieland Band filly, Diamond Band, didn't get much respect at the windows at Keeneland last month after winning her debut at Gulfstream Park at 19-1 in March. The Ronny Werner trainee had trouble getting clear and faded after a half mile. She drops to the claiming ranks today and should be the controlling figure in the pace scenario. Her response to being challenged in the stretch will be the test of her mettle today. Maid for Speed earned some money as a juvenile racing in minor stakes at Assiniboia Downs in Canada last fall and was competitive in the entry level allowance condition at Turfway Park over the winter. Unless she has learned to rate, however, her early speed will not be enough to get her into the winner's circle against these. Winning trainer, Greg Foley, and top jockey, Rafael Bejarano, team up with Humor Her, a $75k purchase at auction last fall, who gets a big class check today after winning easily over maiden allowance company at River Downs a month ago. The Distorted Humor filly got 7 lengths clear going into the stretch in that victory and will have to be more comfortable in traffic to be competitive in this heat. Inside starter, Imaflashycat, arrives here out of her debut victory at Turfway. Out of action for 6 weeks, this Tale of the Cat filly gives up a lot of experience to this field. The filly most likely to capitalize from a heated duel up front is Space Cruise, a Dallas Stewart charge who has not lived up to expectations after a scintillating maiden victory at Fair Grounds in February. The Cape Canaveral filly got caught up with the speed in her last outing and Robby Albarado should be able to keep her off what promises to be a much quicker pace. Trainer William Connelly has been campaigning Carson's Clover as a miler, but she gave a fine account of herself at this distance at Turfway before hitting the bench in the spring. Her return was in the slop at Keeneland and she had a rough start. We expect a much more professional performance today. Spiritude is in tough trying to make the jump fromthe $40k maiden claiming ranks to this competition. SELECTIONS #2. Space Cruise PLACE 3.20 2.40 #6. Carson's Clover WIN 5.60 3.00 2.20 #7. Humor Her Space Cruise (2-1) was once again forwardly placed, chasing Imaflashycat (5-2) through moderate fractions of 23.37 & 47.26, before being overtaken by our second choice, favorite Carson's Clover (9-5), who got a smart trip from John McKee, stalking the front runners and slipping into the lead at the top of the stretch. The Lord Carson filly went on to win by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:17.86. The chalky exacta paid $15.00 and the trifecta, with Imaflashycat holding third, returned $36.00. Congratulations! May 14, 2005. 9th Churchill Downs - The Matt Winn $100k - 6 furlongs - 3 year olds Trainer Bill Mott has shipped Around the Cape in from Illinois for today's feature at Churchill Downs, the $100k Matt Winn stakes, a 6 furlong sprint for 3 year olds. Mott's Carson City colt has drawn the inside post and looks to be the speed of the speed. A $290k purchase at auction last August, he raced only twice as a juvenile and broke his maiden in the first week of January at Gulfstream Park. After graduating from N1X condition due to disqualification he ran into monster sprinter, Lost in the Fog, in the Grade 2 Swale. In retrospect, his second place finish looks pretty good and he was caught by a couple of good ones in his last at Hawthorne. Today, with Larry Melancon aboard, we like him to go gate to wire. Another sophomore who has never missed the board, Eyeforglory, is out to prove his triple digit Beyer figure at Turfway Park in February was legitimate. This will be a serious class check for the gelding who has not raced in nearly 2 months. Pat Day has returned from the infirmary and has picked up a strong mount today in Semaphore Man, a Formal Gold gelding trained by William Connely who has shown the ability to dig for more in the stretch after racing close to the front. Sir Laff Alot has regressed from a strong juvenile season, which culminated with an entry level allowance victory by 7 3/4 lengths at Keeneland in late October. While the $50k Mountain Valley stakes at Oaklawn Park, won by Afleet Alex, was better than most overnight stakes, his mild closing bid didn't breed much confidence in us. Another hoping to regain some of his 2 year old form is outside starter, Departing Now, who won the $50k Prairie Gold Juvenile stakes before finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Sanford at Saratoga. Cherokee Path gets his sixth different rider in six starts today when Brian Hernandez Jr takes the reins. A lot will have to go right for this Tom Amoss trainee to find room late for the victory. A strong win candidate from off the pace is Razor, trained by Steve Asmussen, who can go with the best sprinters of his generation. Kentucky Derby winning jockey, Mike Smith, is in the irons and will have to negotiate a closing bid for this Concorde's Tune colt. Rafael Bejarano replaces Robby Albarado aboard Crimson Stag, whose 3 wins other than his maiden victory have all come against Louisiana bred company. Social Probation, who went off at 5-1 in the Kentucky Jockey Club stakes, races for the the first time since that event, a 5 1/2 month break. We will be watching this one closely. SELECTIONS #1. Around the Cape SCRATCHED #4. Razor WIN 4.20 3.00 2.60 #5. Semaphore Man SCRATCHED Due to scratches, only one one of our choices, Razor (1-1), the overwhelming favorite, broke from the starting gate and he proved much the best, opening up a length and a half lead in a sizzling 21.70 and raced well off the rail en route to a 4 length victory in 1:09.48, a time which can match up with the best sprinters of his age. Best of the rest was Crimson Stag (5-1), who chased the winner from start to finish and Sir Laff Alot (7-1) got up for the show. The exacta paid $22.00 and the trifecta returned $99.80. Congratulations! May 13, 2005. 2nd Churchill Downs - Claiming (10-9) - 1 1/16 miles - 4+ Today's first Pick 3 at Churchill Downs kicks off with a route for claimers carrying tags of $10k down to $9k. Judgemeister, a 5 year old gelding racing first off the claim and rising in price, has a penchant for finishing second. He's been a bridesmaid in 1/3 of his career races and will be one of the controlling factors of the pace today. This one has not fared well outside of the conditioned claiming ranks. Likely to take a lot of betting support, Mean Kisser enters this out of a win at the same price here over 9 furlongs a month ago. Today, as well as cutting back to a distance at which the 4 year old gelding has two victories, he attracts top Kentucky rider, Rafael Bejarano. Racing second off the claim for the Tom Amoss stable, the deciding factor regarding this Kissin Kris progeny will be his ease in clearing Judgemeister and Scheduled Event, another starter on the inside who likes the lead. Scheduled Event, a 5 year old horse, held on for second at this price at Mountaineer Park in March but doesn't regularly string together quality starts. We will upgrade outside starter, Bold Crypto, if the track comes up muddy but this 5 year old gelded son of Cryptoclearance doesn't have the class to beat many of these on a fast surface. Our choice for the win is veteran 6 year old, Vacancy, who cuts back in distance from a 1 3/16 miles marathon at Keeneland in which he quit after the half mile. Primarily a sprinter, this lightly raced Don Winfree trainee has been competitive against entry level allowance company at Fair Grounds and at Turfway Park. The class relief today should get him home the winner. The second place finisher in that Keeneland race, A Table for Three, also finds himself in this field. Still eligible for N3L claiming races after 47 tries, we won't even be using this old fella to fill out the gimmicks. A closer with some room for improvement, Lil Man, is a 4 year old gelding who has been racing below this price at Turfway over the winter and just missed here two weeks ago at 13-1 odds and retains Dean Sarvis for the ride. SELECTIONS #1. Vacancy #6. Mean Kisser WIN 3.60 2.80 2.20 #5. Lil Man SHOW 2.60 Justin Vitek sent our top choice, Vacancy (7-2), through an opening on the rail in the early going and they set a moderate pace before tiring after 6 furlongs. Longshot Judgemeister (27-1) pressed the pace and was well placed entering the stretch but was no match for favorite Mean Kisser (4-5), who swept past the field en route to an 8 length victory in 1:44.28, a clear indication that this will be a big season for the 4 year old gelding who was claimed from the Amoss stable by Joe Woodard for Billy Hays. Lil Man (7-2) was up for the show. The exacta paid $54.20 and the trifecta returned $175.80. May 12, 2005. 8th Belmont - The Voodoo Dancer $60k - 1 mile (turf) - f&m 4+ Today's feature at Belmont Park, the $60k Voodoo Dancer stakes is restricted to older fillies and mares who have never won a graded stakes on the turf. There is very little early speed evident in this field, which is a relief to Lord Avie filly, My Lordship, who, with Jerry Bailey in the irons, will be trying to clear the field en route from the chute to the main turf track. Campaigned as a 2 year old in Canada, she rattled off 4 consecutive victories to jump start her career. Transferred to the William Mott stable last fall, she made her U.S. debut in the Grade 1 Gazelle here against some of the toughest sophomore fillies of 2004. There is no shame in being defeated by Ashado, as she was in the Grade 2 Cotillion at Philadelphia Park in October of last year. Her connections are sound and she displays a strong pedigree and back class deep enough to use her in the top three. South American bred, Brunilda (Arg), who arrived in North America last summer and has not yet found her niche, will benefit from the soft pace. This is a tough spot for a horse coming out of a 6 month layoff, as is the case with Humoristic, a turf specialist who won 4 as a sophomore. Defending champion of this event, With Patience, a 6 year old veteran, loves to close on a fast pace and won this race last year under exactly those circumstances. This year she is at a great disadvantage. Popular state bred mare, Board Elligible, once again tries the turf in a race which looks a lot like a tune up for a longer event down the road. Pattiano, who was on the front end in this race last year, enters today out of a skimpier schedule and doesn't show a lot of promise as a closer. Inside starter, Literacy, can look brilliant, particularly in longer events on the turf. His winter was dismal, culminating in a couple of disasters at Keeneland in April. Lightly raced 5 year old, Broad Hopes, ran a career best at this distance on the turf in Lexington last month. Today's effort could be a bounce. Our choice for the win, Asti (Ire), makes only her third North American start and faces easier competition than she did in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Woodbine last fall or the Grade 3 Beaugay Handicap at Aqueduct 12 days ago. Last year, she only missed by a neck in a Grade 1 event at Longchamp and should be able to put these away quickly. SELECTIONS #2. Asti (Ire) SHOW 2.20 #6. Brunilda (Arg) #9. My Lordship WIN 6.10 4.20 2.50 My Lordship (2-1) got back on the winning track in her 4 year old debut with a decisive 3/4 length victory over defending champion, With Patience (3-1), after a smart stalking trip under the guidance of Jerry Bailey. She put away Brunilda (Arg) (8-1) and Pattiano (16-1) at the top of the stretch and got to the wire in 1:33.95. Our top choice, Asti (Ire) (8-5) had trouble at the start and left herself too much to do while getting up for third. The exacta paid $21.60 and the trifecta returned $46.00. May 11, 2005. 6th Pimlico - Claiming (16-14) - 5 1/2 furlongs - 3+ The two speed horses in this 5 1/2 furlongs sprint will likely get away from the field on the backstretch but will be greeted at the top of the stretch by a wall of closers trying to bump them from the money spots. Inside starter, Semoran's Decision, a former high priced claimer in the Bruce Levine stable at Belmont Park, fell on hard times over the winter and the 5 year old gelding was reduced to racing at Charles Town with a $5k tag on New Year's Day. Trainer Scott Lake claimed him for $16k in the midst of a 4 race winning streak and tried him twice at this distance at Laurel Park in Starters' Allowances. This gelding likes to win and is tough in a duel. He might draw a fair price, as well. His probable pace partner will be fellow 5 year old, Windham Flash, a gelding by the great Saint Ballado who is a "need the lead" type racing at exactly his appropriate claiming level for trainer/owner Donald Soulder. The first, and most dangerous horse, to make a move in the stretch will be Devil On the Moon, who only needs to duplicate his stunning victory here off the bench in October for the top prize today. The Devil On Ice gelding got stuck trying to protect the lead on a soft pace and just held on for the victory at $12.5k over 6 furlongs here 2 weeks ago. The cut back in distance should get him in position for the win. A very dangerous up and comer, The Polski Prince, drops in from a win at the entry level allowance level and goes for his fourth consecutive victory in his return to the site of his maiden breaker in January. The drop to the claiming ranks is a curious move by trainer, Don Haughton, who has been rewarded for his $8k investment with 4 wins in 6 races from this Maryland bred gelded son of Peteski, who has only missed the board once at Pimlico in 10 tries. Veteran 6 year old gelding, Medieval Trick, fits at this level but is useful only on the bottom of exotics today. Outside starter, Dr. Dubai, racing in the Michael Gill colors, will take some support at the betting windows based on his 2004 record, but, with only one start since November and Gill ready to fold up shop, he scares us away. Formal Event, a popular claimer below this price, couldn't get to Devil On the Moon last month and also moves up in class. SELECTIONS #5. Devil On the Moon PLACE 6.20 2.80 #4. The Polski Prince WIN 8.00 4.80 2.80 #1. Semoran's Decision The expected speed duel took place between heavy underlay, Semoran's Decision (7-5), and Windham Flash (7-1), producing quick fractions of 22.52 & 45.58. Devil On the Moon (5-1), our top choice, was well placed behind the leaders and made a bold 5-wide move after the turn but couldn't turn back our second choice, The Polski Prince (3-1), who finished inside Devil On the Moon for the victory in a neat 1:04.35, a half length up on that rival. It was another length back to Dr. Dubai (4-1), who finished gamely on the rail for the show. The exacta paid $45.20 and the trifecta, with the favorite out, paid $292.00. Congratulations! May 7, 2005. 10th Churchill Downs - The Kentucky Derby - Grade 1 - 1 1/4 miles - 3 year olds A full field of 20 has been assembled for the 131rd running of the premiere event for 3 year olds, the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Our column has followed this generation of colts closely and, while there is no monster such as Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000 or even War Emblem in 2002 to focus on, we feel the key to this race is Wood Memorial winner, Bellamy Road. We will be playing against him to win although it would be foolish to leave him out of the top three spots all together. His performance at Aqueduct was awesome and winning as important a stakes as that one by 17 1/2 lengths gets us thinking that this could be a special athlete. Our negative angle is that this Concerto colt has not faced top shelf competition yet in his career. He will be a pace factor and will be the horse to take down in the stretch. The surprising betting favorite in the Oaks/Derby double is Afleet Alex, tough as nails Florida bred who rebounded from illness to dominate the Grade 2 Arkansas Derby. We have been touting this Tim Ritchey trainee since his maiden victory at Delaware Park last summer and has been our Derby pick (and, unfortunately, our Breeders' Cup Juvenile choice) for nearly a year. Much has been made of his less than regal pedigree but we feel the best prepared colt wins this race and the Northern Afleet progeny has consistently been facing the best of his generation. The progression of Bandini from his 9 length allowance victory at Gulfstream Park to a close second to High Fly in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth to his runaway victory at 3-1 in the Blue Grass stakes makes this Todd Pletcher trainee our choice for the win today at a neat price. The $500k colt, sired by Fusaichi Pegasus has clearly not peaked and the bounds are limitless for this one. It will be tough to throw out Wilko, who tries to break the streak of BC Juvenile winners unable to win the Kentucky Derby. He showed an ability to close in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby and is among the toughest of the field in the deep stretch. We will certainly be using him on all the exotics plays and even on top of a couple of tickets. Nick Zito's second stringer, Noble Causeway, is closer who will be valuable to use filling out the trifecta and some wise guys may even want to use him on top. Like Bandini, it appears this well bred $1.15 million colt has not yet reached his potential as a sophomore. The longshot choice on our trifecta and superfecta tickets is another Pletcher trainee, Flower Alley, who couldn't keep up with Afleet Alex in the Arkansas Derby. The also rans today will include Sort It Out, whom we don't believe can make the jump from a win in the $84k Whirlaway on the inner track at Aqueduct; show horse in the Arkansas Derby, Andromeda's Hero, gets top Kentucky rider, Rafael Bejarano; we have never been an advocate of Sun King; Coin Silver will likely have great trouble with the added distance; High Limit will get used up early going for the lead; Greater Good has had a fine run which ends today; Greeley's Galaxy is wild card that could hurt us; likewise, it is difficult to determine which race Giacomo will deliver today; Jerry Bailey won yesterday on the front end in the Oaks with Summerly and will try for the riding double with another forwardly placed overachiever, High Fly; Spanish Chestnut will be outrun early; Don't Get Mad hasn't shown much around two turns; it doesn't appear that Closing Argument is quite ready for this level of competition; Going Wild seems to want to high tail it back to California; Buzzard's Bay beat Wilko by a half length in gate to wire fashion at 9 furlongs in the Santa Anita Derby. SELECTIONS #15. Bandini #12. Afleet Alex SHOW 4.60 #16. Bellamy Road #14. Wilko An excruciatingly slow Kentucky Derby was won by a dogged effort from unheralded Holy Bull colt, Giacomo (50-1), whose only other career victory had come against maidens last October. The winner went wide after the pace broke down and was allowed to stroll to the wire in a time of 2:02.75 over a lightning fast track. Closing Argument (71-1) lived up to his breeding and delivered an upgrade to his solid victory in the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park. Afleet Alex (9-2) was the lone heavily touted entrant who lived up to expectations, but couldn't get by Closing Argument in the stretch and had to settle for third after a strong closing trip. The exacta paid $9,814.80, the trifecta returned $133,134.80 and the superfecta paid an astounding $864,253.50 on a $1 ticket. May 6, 2005. 10th Churchill Downs - The Kentucky Oaks - Grade 1 - 1 1/8 miles - 3 year old fillies The premiere event for sophomore fillies, the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, establishes the high water mark for 3 year old fillies for the rest of the season. Many of today's participants knocked heads in the Grade 1 Ashland or the Grade 2 Beaumont at Keeneland. Winner of the Beaumont, In the Gold, a Golden Missile filly trained by Nick Zito, finished 16 lengths back of today's probable favorite, Sis City, in the Grade 2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park in February. After learning to rate and facing some tough fields since then, this is a horse with great potential on the verge of a huge breakthrough with the top Kentucky rider, Rafael Bejarano in the irons. This is our only shot against Sis City, who is clearly the class of the field, with front running wins in the Ashland, the Davonal Dale and the Demoiselle at Aqueduct under her saddle. With an abundance of tough speed in this field, we consider the favorite to be at her most vulnerable since her juvenile season. Inside starter, Runway Model, has not really progressed from the exciting form she displayed as a 2 year old. Two of her four wins have come over this surface and top California rider, Patrick Valenzuela, takes the reins. Even an exorbitant price won't get us on this wagon. Dance Away Capote got some backing in the Breeders' Cup and finished an undistinguished fifth. She has raced sparingly since then and gives up an awful lot of experience coming into this heat. Summerly tore up the Fair Grounds meet but hasn't made much of an impression elsewhere in her career. She couldn't overcome a troubled trip in the Ashland. Arkansas shipper, Rugula, appears to be well out of her league among these. The best closer in the field, and a good choice to use on the gimmicks, is Memorette, who shipped from California for the Ashland where she got stuck 5-wide after a rocky start. We expect a more patient ride from Kent Desormeaux, who rode her to victory at Santa Anita and finished second to Sweet Catomine in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks and second to Sharp Lisa in the Grade 1 Las Vergennes. Gallant Secret finished ninth in her only other graded stakes attempt, last season at Keeneland in the Alcibiades. SELECTIONS #3. In the Gold PLACE 6.20 5.00 #4. Sis City #8. Memorette The Churchill track is, once again, speed favoring in early May and wily rider, Jerry Bailey, was able to manoeuvre Summerly (9-2), who had a rough trip in the Ashland, to the lead and kept ahead of heavy favorite, Sis City (3-5), en route to a gate to wire victory in 1:50.23. Sis City simply got worn out by the intense stretch duel with the winner and was passed late by our top choice, In the Gold (6-1), who got to within 2 lengths of the victor, and longshot, Gallant Secret (43-1), who was up for the show money. The exacta paid $60.40 and the trifecta, with the favorite out, returned $1,301.60. May 5, 2005. 9th Churchill Downs - The La Troienne - Grade 3 - 7 1/2 furlongs - 3 year old fillies While the top sophomore fillies will be running tomorrow in the Kentucky Oaks, today's stakes race features some of the best 3 year old milers and middle distance fillies. The Grade 3 La Troienne, now run at 7 1/2 furlongs, has attracted three of the beaten horses in the Grade 2 Beaumont, run 3 weeks ago at Keeneland. The third place finisher that day, Hot Storm, will be a primary speed horse today and should be able to control the rail under the handling of top rider, Jerry Bailey. This Florida bred Stormy Atlantic filly shocked the California faithful in January taking the $250k Sunshine Millions Oaks at odds of 21-1. That was a career best effort by the Dallas Stewar trainee and she benefited by the outside post and a searing speed duel up front. Today's pace scenario and the added distance will work against her. She's That Cat came alive at Turfway Park over the winter and nearly took a second level allowance as the 21-1 longshot in a 7 panel try at Keeneland a month ago. An improving filly by American Chance, she is still in deep with this field. Our choice for the win is Seek a Star, trained by John Ward, who raced only once as a juvenile, then exploded onto the scene with a couple of dominating allowance victories at the Gulfstream Park meet. The Mutakddim filly retains regular rider, Jorge Chavez, and they should be tough to catch in the stretch. Aspen Tree has hit the board in three straight graded stakes races and the only time she wasn't really close in the late going was in the Grade 3 Old Hat stakes when she ran into the phenomenal Maddalena. She wasn't able to close the deal in the Beaumont, but she be in the mix again today. Cool Spell finished nearly 9 lengths back of She's That Cat last month and has not begun to progress the way trainer John Hennig had expected of the Grand Slam filly. We are interested in Our Kes (Ire), a Bobby Frankel charge making her first North American start after rattling off three straight victories in England. You should be able to get a decent price on the unknown quantity who will be rallying late. Punch Appeal has already won 6 races in her young career and accumulated over $400k in earnings. The Successful Appeal filly defeated a few of these at a mile over this surface last November in the $109k Pocohontas stakes. That performance and her subsequent win at Delta Downs in $250k Delta Princess stakes seem to have been her high water mark. She will need a form reversal to make an impact today. The third place finisher in the Pocohontas, Kota, went on to finish second to Runway Model here in the Grade 2 Golden Rod stakes and has turned into a very dependable closing type at this level. Culinary made a splash last year by winning the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Lassie stakes and then hung around for a half mile in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Lone Star Park. Out since then, we'd like to see one race before we back her against fit and primed horses. SELECTIONS #6. Seek a Star WIN 7.40 5.20 4.60 #4. Aspen Tree #1. Kota Seek a Star (5-2) is on the verge of becoming a star among this year's crop of sophomore fillies, after disposing of this group in gate to wire fashion, duelling 4-wide through the turn, then putting away Hot Storm (7-1) and Aspen Tree (9-5), getting 6 furlongs in a quick 1:09.43, and finishing 2 3/4 lengths ahead of longshot closer, Cool Spell (55-1) in a near record time of 1:28.75. Hot Storm held on for third. The exacta paid $249.60 and the trifecta returned $2,178.20. Congratulations! May 4, 2005. 8th Belmont - The Westchester Handicap - Grade 3 - 1 mile - 3+ A very tough and quick field has been assembled for today's running of the Grade 3 Westchester Handicap, at a flat mile, the feature race on opening day of this, the 100th season of racing at Belmont Park. At least 4 of the inside starters could be scrambling early on for control of the pace. There won't be value to be found with the speediest of the bunch, Value Plus, the winner of the $100k Artax Handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs a month ago at Gulfstream Park. This Todd Pletcher trainee finished second to Cuvee in the Grade 1 Futurity as a juvenile and was only 3/4 of a length back of Florida Derby winner, Friends Lake, before falling off the Triple Crown trail last year with a disappointing showing in the 2004 Wood Memorial. The rest of his 3 year old season was a write off but the $1.1 million son of Unbridled's Song appears to be back in peak form after besting Gygistar by 4 lengths in the Artax. Lightly raced 5 year old, Bahama John, makes his stakes debut after breaking through the N3X condition with an 8 length romp as 2-1 favorite in the mud at Aqueduct. Today's speed duel will provide a serious class test for this Saint Ballado progeny. Also making his first appearance in a stakes race is another previously unheralded 5 year old, Seeking the Glory, who is trained by Michael Hushion, currently holding a hot hand. The son of A.P. Indy displayed an ability to rate when racing switched back to the Aqueduct main track. As potentially the longest shot on the board, we are willing to take a flyer on opening day and back this New York bred who already has a couple of victories at 7 panels. Unforgettable Max won a couple of minor stakes at Delaware Park and Monmouth Park last season but has consistently been unable to get the lead he craves when moved up into graded stakes competition. Boston Harbor colt, Swingforthefences established himself as a second rung player in the handicap division last year with strong showings in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby, the Wood Memorial and the Grade 2 Peter Pan. He surprised many of us by proving the middle distances are within his reach in a strong late rallying victory at the N3X allowance level at 7 furlongs at Keeneland. Canadian Triple Crown winner of 2003, Wando, is looking for his first victory as a 5 year old and attracts top New York rider, Richard Migliore, away from Seeking the Glory. Not particularly suited for the distance, the multi-millionaire appears, also, to be declining in ability. Inside starter, Kennel Up, is badly overmatched in this group. One of the likely favorites, and winner of last year's edition of this race, Gygistar, will be charging late. Despite few wins over the last couple of years, it would be wise to use him on all exotics tickets. SELECTIONS #6. Seeking the Glory #4. Gygistar WIN 7.80 3.70 2.60 #2. Value Plus SHOW 2.80 This race belongs to Gygistar (5-2), and he proved it once again with a sweeping, 5-wide move on the turn en route to a second consecutive Opening day win in the Westchester at Belmont. Underlay of the day, Value Plus (1-1), set brisk fractions of 22.43 & 44.61, but he and Seeking the Glory (35-1) were through by the quarter pole. Value Plus held on for the show but was well beaten for place by Swingforthefences (4-1), who came through on the inside for the place money. The exacta paid $35.40 and the trifecta returned $82.50.