Saturday Round-Up

My Typhoon ($8.10) impressed me in the Diana today, holding very strongly to win against tremendous pressure from Argentina ($7.60) on the inside. The firm turf probably aided her effort, but as Bill Mott said in his post-race interview with Jeannine Edwards, she appears to have learned to rate this year. Boy, what a nice job Edgar Prado did on Argentina, muscling her past Magnificent Song as they entered the stretch. In my opinion, Edgar Prado is huge on turf. Makderah ($2.40) finished third; Meribel finished fourth.

Attila’s Storm ($9.80) just missed winning the Vanderbilt to Diabolical ($7.00)—darn! I had Attila’s Storm in the DRF’s public handicapper contest, and, boy, at 13-1, he would have paid well! Simon Pure ($5.20) finished third, and Benny the Bull was fourth. Commentator finished sixth.

Favorite Ginger Punch ($4.50) blew away the rest of the field in the Go for Wand—very impressive! Miss Shop ($5.70) got second and Teammate ($3.70) hung on for third. Disappointing fourth for Plaid who I thought looked good in the post parade, very attentive. Ermine was a total non-factor, never engaged with the leaders and made no drive at the end, finishing last. That’s two disappointing races in a row for her—Ronny Werner’s got to be concerned.

The only scratch in the Whitney was Student Council, so my second pick in the DRF’s contest was Wanderin’ Boy ($25.20) who ended up second. The winner, in track record time (1:46.64 for the 1-1/8 mile), was Lawyer Ron ($13.00). Wow! Diamond Stripes ($5.30) finished third.

Southwestern Heat could not last again, losing to Cherokee Country in the Oh Say Stakes at Delaware. He has one gear—all-out—and it is a damn shame because he has such glorious speed. Without the ability to rate, I can’t see wasting time entering him in any race beyond six furlongs. I still like him in the $150,000 Turf Monster Handicap at five furlongs on turf, at Philly Park on Labor Day.

Two-year-old Lantana Mob did defeat Spanky Fischbein in the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth, a race that really was only between the two of them, as Run Sully Run finished well back in third.