Notes on the Saturday Stakes – Facing the Facts
August 13th, 2010
Golden Itiz will try to win his grass debut for trainer Ron Ellis, “Where the turf meets the surf!”
Benoit Photo
As my old friend Jack Karlick would say, “Wipe the chalk off your face.”
None of these will be long prices but to use my brother Mark’s quote, “Better a short price than a long face.”
Monmouth Oaks (G3) – MON RACE 11
NO SUCH WORD has been near the top of her division all of 2010. The daughter of Canadian Frontier has hit the board in every race this year, posted a career high 111 Brisnet speed figure in her last race, the Delaware Oaks (G2), and has worked two bullets since. It all adds up to a big performance.
Sword Dancer Invitational (G1) – SAR RACE 10
EXPANSION has faced Gio Ponti and Winchester, two of America’s best turf runners, in his last two starts. With them absent from the field this afternoon, the door is wide open for his first Grade 1 victory. Having Chad Brown tighten the girth is just icing on the cake as the young trainer is “hotter than Grandma on a Saturday night.â€
Gardenia Handicap (G3) – ELP RACE 9
The only bad race RAVI’S SONG has run was her first, when she broke slowly, rushed up and tired as the favorite. Since then, she has won four of six and finished second twice. Her speed figures are on the rise and there is little entered against her in this spot. She is favorably weighted as well.
La Jolla Handicap (G2) – DMR RACE 9
Trainer Ron Ellis has done his usual masterful job of developing a racehorse with GOLDEN ITIZ. The son of Tiznow has improved his speed figures in every start and has learned to rate and finish. He’s bred to relish the turf and gets the services of Patrick Valenzuela while Tyler Baze is on the mend.
