JC / Railbird

Belmont Archive

Sunday Morning Notes

– Zenyatta may be most exciting horse racing this year (and yes, I’m including Big Brown in the also-rans; he’s a Triple Crown season comet). The 4-year-old filly ran her unbeaten streak to five in the G2 Milady at Hollywood on Saturday. Bumped and squeezed at the start, Zenyatta showed a super turn of foot, closing from last into a slow pace (the first quarter in :24.74, the first half in :48.19) and kicking away to a 2 1/2-length win. “She always makes everyone look like they stopped,” said co-owner Ann Moss after. “It’s like she’s out for a gallop and everyone else is stopping” (LA Daily News).
– The power of having a Triple Crown contender in your barn made manifest: NYRA track superintendent John “Fast Track” Passero has adjusted Belmont track maintenance at the request of trainer Rick Dutrow, who was concerned about the recent condition of the dirt surface:

Passero said the track was graded less, harrowed more in the last week, giving it an additional quarter inch of cushion.
– Tale of Ekati breezed six furlongs in 1:11.19 this morning over the muddy main track in his final prep for the Belmont Stakes. “This was the move I was hoping for last week,” said trainer Barclay Tagg. In other Belmont news, Tomcito is out with a “reaction” and Casino Drive worked in company with stablemates Spark Candle and Champagne Squall.
– Frank Amonte, now 72 and riding at Suffolk Downs, continues in his quest to be the oldest jockey to win a race.
– When Romenesko posted the memo from Lexington Herald-Leader publisher Tim Kelly announcing a voluntary buyout program meant to cut 4% of the newspaper’s staff, I wondered if turf writer Maryjean Wall might be among those accepting the deal. Unfortunately for readers, she is:

Wall, who plans to finish her PhD in history and teach, landed the racing beat in 1973 and was one of the first women to cover the sport full-time. Given the state of the newspaper industry and declining racing coverage, she might also be one of the last to do the same …
– Bill Handleman declines to get caught up in Triple Crown excitement: “I cannot bring myself to root for Big Brown … I cannot bring myself to utter his name in the same breath with Affirmed and Seattle Slew, much less Secretariat.”

Posted in Belmont, Horses on June 1, 2008

New York State of Mind

Well, it was touch and go for awhile, but I’ve managed to convince the powers that be that our coverage of the Belmont Stakes just wouldn’t be the same without my insights. So, rather than watching Big Brown’s quest for history at Keeneland I’ll be live on the scene.
While I’m not a big fan of the racing-needs-a-Triple-Crown-winner line of thinking, I can say that a Triple Crown winner would help my business because more advertisers would want to be a part of the issues devoting to covering such a historic event.
Offshore gambling site Bodog sums up why I don’t think Big Brown winning the Triple Crown would be good for the sport: It lists odds on whether Big Brown will race past the Belmont Stakes. “Yes” is at 5-to-2 (+250) while “no” is at 1-to-4 (-400). That’s not a lot of confidence that we’ll see him in the Travers let alone in a showdown against Curlin.

Posted in Belmont on May 29, 2008

Wednesday Morning Notes

– The bird who chirped to Ernie that I preferred Divine Park over Commentator in the Met Mile had it right, although I profited little from the opinion, getting knocked out of a small pick three the leg before and missing the (logical in hindsight) $15.40 favorites’ exacta, cashing only a straight win bet on the 2-1 Kiaran McLaughlin trainee. I can’t claim any great handicapping insight: It seemed likely that Commentator would be pressured through torrid early fractions (as happened, with First Defence pushing the 6-5 favorite into first half fractions of :22.48 and :44.52) and Divine Park, coming off a superb win in the Westchester Handicap last month, seemed the obvious beneficiary in the stretch (as was the case, with the colt getting an ideal setup, closing in :26.94 into a final quarter timed in :27.30). I’ve also been partial to the son of Chester House since he debuted over the Aqueduct inner dirt two winters ago, and while Divine Park hasn’t given any sign he’s capable of brilliance — unlike the occasionally flashy Commentator, gallant in second — he has developed into a solid, game miler as a 4-year-old. The Met was Divine Park’s third straight win this year; a skeptical Mike Watchmaker reports a Beyer of 109 for the race (DRF+).
– Those wondering how seriously to take Big Brown’s latest quarter crack should take note of the recent success of another Ian McKinlay patient:

And trainer Shug McGaughey told the Times Union:

Good to know. So, if Big Brown loses the Belmont, the hoof is a handy excuse, but the reason may well be the distance or the rigors of pursuing the Triple Crown or anything else.
– Wagering security, just not a priority. Maybe the upcoming congressional hearings on horse racing should be expanded.

Posted in Belmont on May 28, 2008