Sunny skies, a light wind and temperatures in the 70’s most of the day for a great card at Belmont Stakes. Some quick reaction to all the stakes action.
Brooklyn Handicap: Ground Transport set moderate fractions. Micromanage with a 3 wide move approaching the turn, a late run by Norumbega took the money right at the wire. Norumbega has flashed ability for a couple of years and another example of Tiznow being a late developing – true distance sire.
Jaipur: Fast fractions set the race up for a closer. Ben’s Cat was the sentimental choice and post-time favorite. But Ben was probably outclassed in this spot. Marchman moved a few strides to soon, Undrafted got a clear run down the center of the course and won going away. Looks like turf sprinting may be his game the rest of the year.
Woody Stephens: Social Inclusion was bet down to EVEN money in a 13 horse field. Havana 2nd favorite and 2nd race off the layoff at 9/2. Social Inclusion looked noticeably better warming up for the race than he did at Pimlico and the Wood Memorial. The race was a cornonation of a powerful sprinter. Bayern ran them off their feet. 1:08 and 1 for 6 furlongs and Social Inclusion threw in the towel halfway down the stretch. The Pride Of Arizona Top Fortitude ran a nice race from the 12th post and nabbed 2nd place money on the line. Social Inclusion is not enough of a sprinter to hang with these guys and is not a router either. He’s a Grade 3 horse at 8.5 furlongs and with his body build not sure how many races he has left. Following the race DRF reported that Bayern may point for the Haskell. A race that Bob Baffert has owned in recent years. Bayern put it all together today. Gary Stevens rode a strong race put the horse into the race and ran the “other” speed out of the race at top of stretch. Bayern now 3 for 4 when Gary Stevens rides.
Acorn Stakes: My Miss Sophia bet off the board at 4/5. This was a bad bet – was going to get contested and quick pace. She set all the fractions in weak Gazelle, set easy fractions in the Oaks. Today she was pressured from the start and melted down on the turn. 50Shadesofgold ran a huge race, made a move on the turn to open up on the field and then felt the effects of the fast fractions. Sweet Reason was always within reach. Patient Ride and cut back. She is a nice hose and got the perfect trip and pace set up today. Still some improvement in this filly and this is the type of filly that likes a big oval and full fields. Small fields and slow fractions completely neutralize her fractions. My Miss Sophia is another horse who most likely has peaked, summer is here and the late developers and full fields and no longer the speed of the speed. Unbridled Forever closed late and she still has some room for improvement.
Phipps: Beholder rated off the speed by 4 lengths. Close hatches also went off the pace. Close hatches made the first move on the turn. Beholder moved 2nd. Hatches took the lead going into the turn, Beholder ranged up on the turn but Close Hatches was game the whole stretch and held off Princess of Sylmar. Beholder made a move coming into the turn, but Gary Stevens elected to lay 5-6 lengths off the pace and spent the entire backstretch looking at Princess of Sylmar. Meanwhile when Rosario pushed the button and Close Hatches made a decisive move the lead. Close Hatches now 6 for 6 at the 8.5 furlong distance.
Just a Game: Discreet Marq took the late money and went off favored. A clean start for all – Somali Lemonade and Coffe Clique and Unlimited Budget engaged for the lead with Somali Lemonade taking command a quarter mile into the race. 23 and 2 for the quarter. 46 and 3 for the half mile. Somali lemonade led into the stretch. Coffee Clique went 3 wide and made a nice move going into the turn. Somali gutted it out half way down the stretch but was overtaken by Coffee Clique. Strathhaver made a move down the lane and briefly may have had the lead, but Coffee Clique got the head bob. Better Lucky made a mid race move that was wide but was farther back than usual and seems to be off form. Stephanies Kitten had nothing for the 2nd straight race. Overall a good race. Somali Lemonade and Coffee Clique both with solid efforts. Favorites now zero for 8 on the day.
Met Mile: Palace Malice came in 3 for 3 on the year and was bet down to the 7/5 favorite. A wide open tote board on some proved horses. Capo Bastone, Declan’s Warrior and Clearly Now all going off at high odds. This looked like a 4 horse race on paper. Palace, Goldy, Clearly Now and Shakin It Up. The race played out as expected. Goldy sat 2nd chasing the speed. Palace Malice got the dream trip at the rail. Goldencents took the lead entering the stretch in hand, opened up on the field and Palace Malice ran him down at the rail. First favorite on the day. Palace Malice now 4 for 4 on the year and probably goes Whitney next at Saratoga. Goldencents might try to find a 9 furlong race as well. Plenty of options for him as well.
Manhatten: Wide Open betting affair with Seek Again taking money early and late. Imagining and Real Solutions also were expected to run well. Five Iron was expected to take the lead and open up. But Five Iron opened up a 10 length lead with a 48 half mile. This spread out the field. Imagining was trapped at the rail. Seek Again was forced to lead the “2nd” pack of runners which is not his ultimate running style. Kaigun made a mid race move to get even with Seek Again. On the turn it was over for Five Iron and Real Solutions was coming with his move. Grandeur did not fire and Rookie Sensation is still running. Kaigun battled for the lead for a moment but Real Solutions finally got the fast pace and spread out field that works to his style. More Kittens’ Real Solutions caps a big weekend for the Kittens. Favorites now 1 for 10.
Belmont Stakes: Chrome at 4/5 and very popular with the fans. Frank Sinatra Jr – sang New York, New York – to lead them onto the track. Chrome had the purple warrior mask on. The Post Parade was pretty uneventful, nothing to report, all were calm. Track was watered down a lot before the race. California Chrome broke a bit akwardly and basically sat the same race for 8 furlongs. He was never given a chance to win. Medal Count made 3 moves to get into position and wash blocked in the stretch. Commissioner was on the leader and just kept on plodding along. Tonalist made move to get to the leaders on the turn and then won a long drive over California Chrome. Chrome was tired. Didn’t fire. But he also wasn’t given a chance to win. Commissioner and Tonalist were the two best distance horses.