Notes on the Saturday Program
May 8th, 2009By Jude T. Feld
Preakness week oddly kicks with a couple of big races for three-year-olds – the Peter Pan (G2) and the Lone Star Derby (G3) while unbeaten Rail Trip puts his streak on the line in the Mervyn Leroy (G2) – a race you won’t want to miss. With showers everywhere, track conditions could be a factor this afternoon.
IMPERIAL COUNCIL opens as the 2-1 morning line favorite in the Peter Pan (G2), BELMONT PARK’s 9TH RACE. New York’s traditional prep for the Belmont Stakes (G1) also attracts former Derby hopefuls HELLO BROADWAY and CHARITABLE MAN. ‘COUNCIL should get a great trip right behind the speed. ‘BROADWAY gave Garrett Gomez fits when he won an allowance race at Keeneland, but America’s favorite jockey sticks with him. CHARITABLE MAN tanked in the Toyota Blue Grass (G1), his first attempt at two turns, but he should be better off for the experience.
ACTING ZIPPY makes a quick turn-around after demolishing a stakes field at Delaware Park. A repeat effort finds him in the winners’ circle in the Decathlon Stakes, MONMOUTH PARK’s 10TH RACE.
ARCTIC CRY was scratched out of a much tougher Derby weekend spot at Churchill Downs to run in the Chester House Stakes, ARLINGTON PARK’s 10TH RACE. Expect big things from the Eddie Kenneally trainee.
The Lone Star Derby (G3) is LONESTAR PARK’s 10TH RACE. West Coast invaders MYTHICAL POWER (Bob Baffert) and CAPE TRUTH (Doug O’Neill) head the contention. ‘POWER, a son of Congaree, just finished second in the Sunland Derby, giving him a slight edge.
Trainer Ron Ellis has developed RAIL TRIP into one of the top older horses in the country. The gelded son of Jump Start is a perfect five-for-five in his late starting career and can easily make it six in-a-row with his favorable 119-pound impost in the Mervyn Leroy Handicap (G2), HOLLYWOOD PARK’s 8TH RACE.
RING OF GREATNESS returned off a layoff and posted a wire-to-wire Woodbine allowance score, earning a hefty 96 Brisnet speed figure in the process. He returned from that effort to work a “best of the morning†1:00 flat, relieving any fears of a bounce. He looks solid in the Tom Ridge Stakes, PRESQUE ISLE DOWNS’ 7TH RACE.
