BEL (Sat): Matron/Futurity
 

$250,000 Matron Stakes (gr. II, Race 6, 3:36 p.m.), 2yo Fillies, 7f

1. Sabooh (KY), 119, Alan Garcia
2. Syriana's Song (KY), 119, John R. Velazquez
3. Proud Spell (KY), 119, Gabriel Saez
4. Dagger (KY), 119, Stewart Elliott
5. Miss Red Delicious (KY), 119, Kent J. Desormeaux
6. Armonk (KY), 119, Eibar Coa
7. Maren's Meadow (ON), 119, Mario G. Pino



$250,000 Futurity Stakes (gr. II, Race 8, 4:40 p.m.), 2-Year-Olds, 7f

1. Stand Pat (KY), 120, Channing Hill
2. Mythical Pegasus (KY), 120, Rafael Bejarano
3. Tale of Ekati (KY), 120, Eibar Coa
4. The Leopard (KY), 120, John R. Velazquez
5. Paint (KY), 120, Alan Garcia
6. Kodiak Kowboy (KY), 120, Shaun Bridgmohan

Very interested in two of the 'lesser lights' in these races...

In the Matron, KMc's ARMONK had an impossible debut and could be a 'jump up' candidate here...

In the Futurity, do not discount Nick Zito's PAINT, from at least exotics consideration, based on the Beyer.. He was stunning in a 5.5f debut that he should not have won. Will only be better stretching out. Pinhooked by the Fastok family for $100,000 as a yearling and sold for $400,000 as a 2yo in training.. Could be a really nice horse..

Paint is a big boy. It's very possible he could move forward and be a little quicker here- as well as enjoy the distance.

My instincts are saying toss the Posse horse, but he was game at 6.5...

This race probably sets up for The Leopard. He didn't knock my socks off in his debut although he got rave reviews. In his last he lagged a little and had a duel set up for him in front, but was game and much the best. Pletcher will want this guy to finish well.

The Leopard would be far more inpressive if Immortal Eyes could win. After seeing IE stop like he was tied to the 1/16 pole last time, I'm starting to question The Leopard's "determined close."
Tale of Ekati ran well behind Ready's Image and bucked his shins that day, his training indicates that he's back. I liked Mythical Pegasus' game maiden win. As for Kowboy, well he looks like a sprinter but 7f is still a sprint. He's shown ability to pass horses and even though he's by Posse, his damsire is Coronado's Quest who won a pair of G1 routes, including the 10f Travers.

Where the frick is Sargent Seattle? Is that horse ever going to run again?

For those of you who like to analyze the quality of two year-old races by the performances of the also-rans in their next starts, here is what the runners from that August 11th heat did next out:

THE LEOPARD- Futurity BEL 9/15
IMMORTAL EYES- 2nd MSW BEL 9/7
LEGACY THIEF- OTB MSW BEL 9/8
SAADA- 1st MSW SAR 9/1
AQUARIAN- 3rd MSW BEL 9/8
BIG STICK- 3rd MSW DEL 9/8
VERIFY- OTB MSW BEL 9/7
LIEUTENANT- 2nd MSW(T) BEL 9/13
SHIP'S PIANO- OTB MSW(T) SAR 8/29
WORKING MAN BLUES- UNRACED

Just a bit of information for those of you who might have liked to have it, but didn't see the legwork as worthwhile.

NT

He missed the Special with a cough and a temperature. Hough hoped to have him ready for this but I guess not.

The desert

I totally agree about Paint. He completely missed the break in his debut, spotted a decent field of maidens a couple of lengths, and still came wide to win comfortably in a style that suggests he might like 7f more than the 5.5 of his debut. He could be a factor.