Sunday Odds & Ends
– I almost didn’t play the Count Fleet Stakes, so sure was I that the undefeated Giant Moon would end up a post-time underlay of 6-5 or so, but the money poured in on Roman Emperor, winner by open lengths in open company at Philadelphia, and Giant Moon, whose previous three starts came in NY-bred races, ended up a decent overlay at 5-2. Breaking from the far outside, Giant Moon hooked up with rival state-bred Spanky Fischbein and showed a new willingness to stalk before pulling ahead in the stretch to win by a neck. “I thought he showed big improvement today,” said regular rider Ramon Dominguez. “I thought he was overall a stronger horse. Having a target, something to run at, made it easier on me. I didn’t have to ride him every step of the way like I did last time” (DRF). Final time was 1:41.14, good for a Beyer of 92.
– Unlikely Hutcheson winner Smooth Air is the first graded stakes winner for both his sire Smooth Jazz and dam Air France. Smooth Jazz’s first crop of 42 foals hit the track in 2007, yielding 17 starters and nine winners to date. Smooth Air is Air France’s second foal to race; half-sister Super Phoebe, a 2004 filly by Malabar Gold, is a stalwart member of the claiming ranks at Camarero Race Track, where she’s earned $57,551 and a record of 22-9-5-4.
– With the cancellation of weekend cards at Santa Anita due to ongoing Cushion Track problems, officials are considering moving racing to Hollywood (LA Times).
– Curlin breezed four furlongs in :53.4 at Fair Grounds this morning. “We’re progressing nicely,” said trainer Steve Asmussen of the move, Curlin’s first since winning the Breeders’ Classic last October.
