Notes on the Saturday Program

By Jude T. Feld

Michael House’s three-year-old gelding, Battle of Hastings, will be favored to win Saturday’s $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup (G2)
Benoit Photo

“Stormy Weather” is a great song but that forecast is usually not good for turf racing or the U.S. Open. Today’s best races are all scheduled for the sod, which makes handicapping more of a guessing game. Check course conditions before wagering!

The All Along (G3) is COLONIAL DOWNS’ 10TH RACE. The 5/2 morning line favorite, I LOST MY CHOO, is cross-entered in the New York (G2) at Belmont Park, where she is listed at 15-1. She won the Virginia Oaks (G3) last year, her lone Colonial start, and has the best turf figures in this field, so it would seem likely that she will run here and be a formidable foe. INDESCRIBABLE, from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Billy Mott, has run well in both of her 2009 races. She won the Cardinal (G3) at Churchill Downs last fall over a yielding course and with all the rain of late, the turf condition could be a huge factor. SALES TAX hasn’t been seen since November, but she sports competitive numbers. Her 20-1 opening price is way out of line with her chances.

Usually a showcase for the nations top three-year-old turf runners, the Colonial Turf Cup (G2) is COLONIAL DOWNS’ 11TH RACE. This year however, BATTLE OF HASTINGS is the lone graded winner in the field. The gelded son of Royal Applause won two stakes to kick off his 2009 campaign before finishing second to Orthodox in the Crown Royal American Turf (G2) at Churchill Downs on Oaks day. The Jeff Mullins trainee has posted some excellent drills preparing for this race and has won twice on “soft” turf. His favoritism is justified. STRAIGHT STORY has dangerous early speed and will undoubtedly be on the front end with talented speed jockey Chuck Lopez in the irons. The son of Ashford stallion Giant’s Causeway could be hard to run down if allowed to set some soft fractions. MARK S THE COOLER has run nine times but the two races he won were the two he ran on the turf. The son of Mill Ridge stallion Johar seems to be improving for trainer Doug O’Neill, so he could outrun his odds in this spot.

With the soggy weather in the Big Apple this week, it is hard to predict whether the New York (G2), BELMONT PARK’s 9TH RACE, will be run on the turf or the dirt. Dr. John Chandler’s DYNAFORCE would be the selection on the grass by virtue of her fondness for soft going. If switched to the main track, Team Valor International’s WINNING POINT would seem to have the edge, although Darley Stable’s CRITICISM has a sneaky off track dirt pedigree and could run away from the field if trainer Tom Albertrani opts to run her for the first time ever on the main track.

Sergio Garcia is the best golfer who has never won a major. David Hofmans is the best trainer not in the Hall of Fame. He will saddle recent acquisition FIDDLERS AFLEET in the Affirmed (G3), HOLLYWOOD PARK’s 9TH RACE. In a field laden with front runners, the New York-bred colt should get an excellent trip just behind the speed. SCOREWITHCATER is an accomplished closer who needs a speed duel to win. Jockey Joe Talamo picked him over FIDDLERS AFLEET and he might be right.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 19th, 2009 at 11:21 am and is filed under Featured Articles, Selections. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.