Friday Evening Notes
– Jockey Cornelio Velasquez won four races today at Belmont, including one for trainer Linda Rice, who continued her hot streak with Meriwether Jessica in the day’s sixth. Making her debut, the two-year-old Freud filly with a modest string of works was no secret, getting bet down to 4-5 by post time and winning by 12 1/2 lengths. I was more interested in Saratoga Chance, also making her debut, who ambled out of the gate, angled out in the stretch, and still rallied for second. She’s by late sire American Chance, a decent miler with 54 winners from 100 runners, and out of a Private Account mare named Pierpont Account, whose 2004 foal, Saratoga Jet, won at Aqueduct last winter. She’s one for the watch list, eligible for a big improvement next start.
– For the second straight year, Naughty New Yorker defeated the favorite to win the General MacArthur Handicap at Belmont. “We got the old ‘Naughty’ back,” said trainer Pat Kelly. “He was right there at the quarter pole in 1:09. He just dragged Javier up there; that’s what he does when he’s good” (DRF) It’s alway nice to see a veteran like Naughty New Yorker in the winner’s circle, even if he’s one of those horses I can never time right. If I play him, he’s sure to finish out of the money. If I pass, he’s sure to win.
– Has any other rider pulled off this minor feat? On Saratoga’s closing day, jockey Garrett Gomez rode Majestic Warrior to an upset win in the G1 Hopeful for two-year-olds. He then flew cross-country to spring a mild upset on Del Mar’s closing day with Georgie Boy in the G1 Futurity for two-year-olds. Trained by Kathy Walsh, Georgie Boy defeated rival Salute the Sarge by coming off the pace, a tactical change Walsh credited to Gomez. “[Gomez] knew [Georgie Boy] wanted to come from off the pace,” Walsh said (Blood-Horse). Georgie Boy is by modest California sire Tribal Rule, whose offspring, like those of In Excess, Event of the Year, Lit de Justice, and Unusual Heat, showed an affinity for the Del Mar Polytrack surface.
– So, no, to answer commenter J.S., I didn’t hit the closing day Del Mar pick six. As soon as 13-1 shot Westerly Magic hit the wire in the first leg, I was playing for consolation money only, and that disappeared when neither Patch of Blue nor Chancellor won the meet’s final race. To je skoda, as my Czech landlady used to say in response to any complaint.
– Street Sense won’t run in the MassCap. Trainer Carl Nafzger said the Derby winner won’t run again until the last weekend in September (ThoroTimes).
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