Thursday, August 23
8-23-01
STEEPLECHASE
8-23-02
Break OK. Saginaw was unhurried early, ran along in the second flight down the backstretch, rolled up within a length of the lead at the 5/8 pole, stalked the leader around the turn, was given his cue near the 3/8, eventually discarded the pacesetter at the 3/16, was put to a heavy drive thereafter, held a safe margin over the others to the wire while not appearing nearly as dominant as in many of his recent wins. Tough criticism maybe, but have to think the clock will strike midnight with this claim eventually. Private Tale was also part of the second flight early, ended up a clear third going into the turn, was asked around the 7/16, took dead aim on the top two in midstretch, could not get to the winner but stayed on late to make the chalkeaters sweat it out a bit. Indy Scent loped along towards the back behind a tepid pace, was urged along early on the turn, produced a 3-4 wide bid on the turn, moved into third late while proving no match for the top two. Could have saved way more ground than Velazquez did, but needs more pace to run at to show his best.
8-23-03
Scratches decimated this field. Original Art and Crooked as Can Be broke significantly better than the other two runners, proceeded to run 1-2 around the track after jogging through slow 1/4 and 1/2 splits. Not much to see here.
8-23-04
Torment missed the break yet again, spotting the field 4-5 lengths. Black Ace was checked back off the speed early, settled well off a quick pace, was kept in reserve when Torment was getting his typical premature wide ride, was asked past the 3/16, began to eat up ground on the new leader nearing the 1/16, passed that one late to win with a good trip and ride. Meet the new Torment, same as the old Torment. The claim by Levine and the blinkers coming off didn't do anything for his gate issues. However, for the third straight time, even with the poor break, he ran well enough to win with a more patient, ground-saving ride. There's no reason Castellano couldn't have given him the ride that Lezcano gave the winner, but instead he made the nearly identical wide, premature move with him that Castro made the last two times. This may be the unluckiest horse on the circuit. D'tiger was taken back off the speed in the opening stages, had to check slightly entering the turn, was angled 2-3 wide on the turn, had no alley at the top of the stretch, altered course to the outside at the 3/16, could not keep up with the top pair inside the final 1/8 but got up for the show after altering course a second time late. Not an ideal trip, but he was supposed to handle this field on figures. Strong pace in here predictably collapsed.
8-23-05
Break OK. Wandering Kitten was brushed after the start, settled in the second flight early, was given his cue around the 1/4 pole, came 3-wide off the turn, inched towards the leader at the 1/8 pole, was put to a full drive in an attempt to grind past that one, dug in to win a close 3-way photo between rivals with a good trip. Bundestag, one of the lovable losers on the circuit, saved ground on the first turn, loped along covered up down the backstretch, switched off the rail to come over the top on the near side of the far turn, produced a good late punch to engage the top pair inside the 1/8 pole, couldn't quite get past the winner but won the place. Current Design got loose on an average pace, battled back gamely when headed by the winner in midstretch, fought on through the final yards to miss the money by a neck. Top three were clearly best of a poor group.
8-23-06
Hightail and Kamchatka collided a stride or two out of the gate, otherwise break clean. Central Banker showed speed in the first furlong but soon backed off of a developing pace duel, dropped back to a ground-saving fourth on the turn, was asked past the 3/16, came through a big opening when one of the pace players packed it in, poked a head in front of Hightail at the 1/16, beat that one and troubled Mico Margarita to the line in a 3-way photo. Good turf debut with a trouble-free trip. Hightail was pushed through a good pace by Redwood Kitten, disposed of that one approaching the 1/8 pole, responded when confronted by the winner inside the 1/16 but came up just short. Honest colt ran well in spite of lacking turf pedigree, prevailed in a pace dispute before narrowly succumbing to the tripped-out winner. Mico Margarita was unhurried in fifth down the backstretch, went 3-wide around the turn, was urged around the 5/16, swung widest entering the stretch, was affected when Kamchatka drifted out sharply in midstretch, was then bumped by that one when tiring Redwood Kitten came out, recovered nicely to kick on with the top two late and finish a close and clear third. Encouraging debut overcoming trouble. Ran a winning race.
8-23-07
Good start. Lunar Victory was carried a bit wide entering the first turn, soon moved closer to the inside, ran in a distant third behind a suicidal frontrunner, remained in midpack heading into the far turn, willingly cruised up and past the retreating pacesetter at the 5/16, was asked to go after the new leader turning for home, came wide into the stretch, surged past Golden Gulch nearing the 1/8 pole, was kept busy while drawing clear late. Another sharp win in real racehorse time for this talented NY-bred. Golden Gulch was hustled into the first turn, was a distant second down the backstretch, hustled into the second turn, was the first to tackle the runaway leader on the far turn in an apparent attempt to get the jump on the favorite, could not keep pace with the much-the-best winner inside the 1/8 pole but held the place in another good effort for a quality horse who will eventually land in a spot without a buzzsaw entered alongside him. Praetereo saved ground on both turns while near the back of the pack, came off the fence turning for home, rallied well to nab the show with a good trip and setup. Self Control was 2-wide on the first turn, covered up down the backstretch, 2-wide around the far turn, tried to follow the winner's bid into the stretch, couldn't keep up with the top pair in the lane and was nailed late for third. Another nice horse who simply was overmatched by the winner. Arthur's Tale was 3-4 wide on the first turn, 3-wide on the far turn and came up empty in the stretch. Doubt he was doing much damage in this group but the overland trip put the nail in his coffin. Joan's Choice set a crazy pace and threw in the towel midway on the far turn. More dirtied up form to help this Aqueduct specialist's price once he gets back to his preferred oval.
8-23-08
Break OK. Pianist was 2-3 wide around the first turn, kept under a tight hold down the backside, allowed to creep closer to the leader heading into the far turn, got asked in earnest 2-wide around the 3/8, appeared to be one-paced in early stretch but gradually tracked down the leader under a full drive, quickened in the final furlong, leaving the frontrunner in her wake and pulling clear to score well as best. Clearly hated the wet turf last out, much better today back on firm. Interested to see where she goes from here. Antonia Autumn stuck to the hedge on the first turn, came off the inside slightly down the backstretch before deftly being steered back to the hedge on the far turn, made a steady advance in the stretch to grab the place late. Ran against the grain of the race but also saved all the ground and didn't encounter a pebble in her path. OK filly, just not in the same class as the winner. Kitty Wine quickly made the lead from her inside draw, shook off the brief challenge of longshot Mongos Expression onto the backstretch, maintained a measured edge into the lane, was challenged by the winner at the 1/8 pole and had no meaningful response, faded a bit late to end up third with the best of it. Race held together up front, 1-2-3 runners at the 1/2 split ended up 3-1-4.
8-23-09
Break OK. Yes She Rules was in a bit tight early, saved ground near the back of the field on the first turn, eased into midpack on the far turn, was given her cue 2-wide approaching the stretch, swung out at the top of the stretch, swept to the lead at the 1/8 pole, narrowly held off a late bid to score by a nose with a good trip. Donttangowithmango had to take back briefly when Belle Gallantey came in after the start, saved ground in last on the first turn, gradually moved up inside on the far turn, had to be held up slightly turning for home, lacked room past the 3/16, shifted out into the clear once the winner went by, closed well from there only to drop a close photo. Useful turf debut, did save all the ground but gets it done with a clean stretch run. Pace completely collapsed in here. 6-7-8 runners early ran 1-3-2 and finished well clear of the rest.
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