Notes on the Fourth of July Program

By Jude T. Feld

Stars and stripes and fast horses are the focus on Independence Day. Fantastic stakes action from coast-to-coast will keep horseplayers on their toes all afternoon. As usual, check the weather and track conditions before plunking your money down.

Who better than MAGIC MECKE to bet in the Mecke Handicap, CALDER’s 5TH RACE? He sports excellent turf numbers, runs well fresh and has hot-riding Elvis Trujillo in the saddle.

Trainer Dale Romans is as hot as a firecracker right now. He saddles HE WILL SHINE in BELMONT PARK’s 8TH RACE, the Tom Fool (G2). Already a Grade 2 winner, the son of Silver Deputy should get a great trip right behind the early pacesetters with jockey Garret Gomez aboard.

Prior to the Kentucky Derby (G1), many racing pundits thought NOBIZ LIKE SHOWBIZ was the best three-year-old in the country. It seems like trainer Barclay Tagg and jockey Cornelio Velasquez conspired to rate their charge in the Derby rather than let him run free. NOBIZ LIKE SHOWBIZ revolted. Revolutionary War hero Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty or give me death.” Those should be the instructions for the son of Albert the Great in the Dwyer (G2), BELMONT PARK’s 9TH RACE.

PRINCIPLE SECRET was considered one of the best juveniles in the country last year. The California-based runner has finished second in both his races in 2007 and should be set for a corker in the Jersey Shore (G3), MONMOUTH PARK’s 9TH RACE. Hopefully jockey Joe Bravo doesn’t gun the son of Sea of Secrets from the rail but lets him settle and make one run at the plethora of speed horses tiring in the lane.

Every year, trainer Jeff Bonde comes up with a nice two-year-old. The 2007 edition is SIERRA SUNSET entered in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship (G3), HOLLYWOOD PARK’s 7TH RACE. He has earned two massive Brisnet speed figures in his only two races and should appreciate the six furlongs of today’s event.

CLOUDY’S KNIGHT does his best running in Chicago. Reunited with his favorite rider, Ramsey Zimmerman, this afternoon, look for the old gelding to resume his winning ways in the Stars N Stripes Handicap (G3), ARLINGTON PARK’s 9TH RACE.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007 at 8:00 pm and is filed under Featured Articles. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.