Wednesday, August 29
8-29-01
Clean break. Norumbega was 3-wide on the clubhouse turn, traveled in midpack down the backstretch, put to an aggressive drive 3-4 wide halfway around the far turn, remained a chasing 3rd at the 3/16 pole, approached and collared the heavy chalk at the 1/8, gradually edged away from that one to score going away as clearly best with a busy ride. No excuse for odds-on Thane, who got first run on the winner, taking over from the tiring pacesetter turning for home but had no meaningful response when challenged at the 1/8 pole. Narrowly held the place over closing Western Sadler. Long way back after the top three.
8-29-02
Scofield broke several lengths slow. Brazilian Court tracked the pace from the pocket on the turn, was kept on hold inside at the 3/8, switched out entering the stretch, attempted to come through a narrow opening but was bounced around in so doing, continued to be pinned between horses in midstretch, finally got clear at the 1/8 and responded by kicking on best of a trio to hit the line first. Was subsequently taken down in a bogus DQ. It's extremely dubious that Brazilian Court caused any of the stretch contact. The initial bumping was mutual at best, while the second series of bumps was set off by the drifting Brother Bob. The fact that this merited a DQ while 8-path herding doesn't even draw an inquiry is why NY stewards are a running joke. Kind of a bummer that Scofield was put up, because he ran a very good hidden race, quickly rebounding from the significantly slow start, making a sustained wide move on the turn, bumping several times with the DQ'ed winner in midstretch and continuing on late to get the place. Now has to tackle graduates next out instead of getting another shot at maidens with a better trip. Nevertheless was way better than it looks here.
8-29-03
Awesome Weekend off a beat slow, Slot Play was bumped by Cay to Pomeroy coming out of the gate. Weekend Hideaway settled nicely in 2nd, coasted up 2-wide to even terms with the pacesetter turning for home, was let out past the 3/16 and opened up quickly, dominating this overmatched field in the final furlong. Very nice 2-year-old colt, clearly too good for these Empire breds - expect to see him in the Futurity or Champagne next. Slot Play and Mr Rodriguez each stepped forward nicely in their respective second starts to photo for the minors. The former rallied well after the unlucky break, the latter sustained a decent bid despite making the widest move on the turn.
8-29-04
Hearts of Red broke 1-2 lengths slow, was in a bit tight going into the turn, slipped to the rail early turn, came wide nearing the turn for home, entered into a four-way battle for the lead at the 1/8 pole and soon powered away from that group to score as much the best. Big step forward on the turnback for Nicks. No excuses for the others.
8-29-05
Break OK. Fredericksburg won a contentious early pace scramble, was pressed every step down the backstretch, was asked to fend off a stiff two-pronged challenge on the far turn, began to prevail past the 3/16 pole, was kept busy inside the 1/16 to comfortably hold off a bid from a tripped-out closer. Well done, had to run hard every step of the way. Summer Shiner was well off the contested pace while saving ground, had to check outwardly in early stretch, moved into contention at the 1/8 pole but couldn't run down the sharp winner. Fine trip and great setup, wasn't good enough. Brickyard Kitten arguably ran as well as the winner, had to go 4-5 wide on the first turn when part of the pace scrum, then was sent 3-wide on the far turn after the leader, understandably couldn't quite kick on with that one and got passed late by the tripped-out place horse, but hung in for the show in a much better than looks effort.
8-29-06
Perfect Footprint jumped at the start and lost several lengths. Swift Warrior saved ground on the first turn, traveled in a dual 2nd behind a loose leader, came off the inside to go 2-3 on the far turn, surged past the pacesetter near the 1/8 pole, put away a stubborn bid from that one at the 1/16 and pulled clear to score as best. Good job off the layoff for Terranova with a good trip. Yield Bogey set a clear, moderate pace, put up a decent fight with the winner until the 1/16 pole, then threw in the towel. Honest horse but he's clearly a nibbler at this level. Hoofit saved ground in the 3rd flight on both turns, slipped through an opening on the hedge turning for home, had no alley from 3/16-1/8, was clear from there and home a little better than evenly for the place. Pretty good ride from Velazquez until the traffic. Beau Choix had a similar trip to Hoofit, but was wider on both turns, was getting to that one late, lost a 3-way photo for the place. Nine O Wonderful was 2-wide on the first turn, on the rail on the far turn, was asked to quicken through a hole at the 3/16 but soon got bottled up when Beau Choix didn't let him out. Got stopped behind Right One as a result inside the 1/8 pole, had to alter course and re-rallied to get fifth, only beaten a half-length for second. Has a very good closing kick but wasn't allowed to show it today. A case of Alvarado more aggressive than Rosie here.
8-29-07
Everything Sweet broke outwardly at the start, affecting Coarsegold and especially Zadina. Hedonemewrongsong was bumped at the start, saved ground at the back 1st turn, was held up in tight when moving to midpack on the backstretch, continued a hedge run far turn, got shuffled back nearing the lane, had a big hole open up turning for home, came charging home and held off an outside bid gamely to win with a good trip. Coarsegold was bumped at the start, traveled in the last flight 2-3 wide on the 1st turn, got nudged along heading into the far turn, kept a big deficit into the stretch, swung widest and began to gain significantly in midstretch, appeared poised to run by the new leader but settled for the place in a good effort. Sandsarita was held up to run in midpack, in between horses 2-wide on the 1st turn, was jostled around like the winner when the pace slowed on the backstretch, continued to be on hold 2-wide around the far turn, was switched out turning for home and bumped off stride by Zadina, continued to be bottled up between that one and tiring Emotional Kitten, lacked room once again when the place horse crossed over, came on once clear to grab the show from a tiring pacesetter. Promising turf debut with not a lot of opportunity to run. Ruthie Blue Eyes beat a pretty fast horse to the lead from the outside, shook off all other pace players, started to wilt at the 1/8 pole, just lost 3rd in the last stride in a solid debut. Zadina was squeezed back at the start, 3-4 wide around both turns and never threatened. Emotional Kitten turned rank once she was denied the lead, was unable to produce her best run because of it.
8-29-08
No major trips here. Great stretch duel between Watsdachances and Broken Spell, who were clearly best.
8-29-09
Alcomatch hopped at the start, Gamblin Fever was checked in the early stages. Race dynamics a little screwed up because of a runaway leader. Top three, Gimme Credit, Cinnamon Beach and Dugan had similar trips. Big step forward for Cinnamon Beach. Wishingonadream ran a pretty impressive fourth considering he was 15-18 lengths faster early than anyone else.
8-29-10
Romolo's Juliet and Vicola each off 1-2 lengths slow. Corinzia was well off a moderate pace, 3-wide around both turns and jostled around near the 3/8 pole, closed strongly furthest outside to get up late. She Be Bunny got clear through a soft opening 1/4, continued to rate on a comfortable lead into the far turn, took on a strong 3-way challenge at the 5/16, cut the corner nicely, opened back up by midstretch, was nailed in the final jumps by the last mover. Slow race.
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