Wednesday Wrap-up

In race 8 at Belmont, half the field scratched, including Hotstufanthensome and Extra Zip. Didn’t matter, though, as chalk came in and it wasn’t Winstella who did seem to get squeezed abit along the rail. Still, it was obvious he wasn’t best, as 5-2 second choice Prince Rahy defeated 3-4 Sir Lowry and his stablemate Trimaran. Winstella was last, but hopefully will be fitter next up.

In race 5 at Churchill, Fast Draw was a late scratch after being injured at the gate so Pletcher’s Bullion Cache went wire-to-wire ($5.60). Silver City looked good coming from fourth around the turn, but raced erratically to finish third, beaten by a neck by Who’s the Rockstar ($12.80 place). Indyama Jones scratched early, and Atsatsuki flipped and threw Julien Leparoux behind the gate, and thus was also scratched late. Most impressive to my eye was Nice Ring (45-1) who was interfered with at the start, settled way back in last around the turn, but showed a lot of speed to close for fourth, just ¾ length behind Silver City. And Calvin Borel didn’t even ride the rail with him! His late close was well-out in the middle of the track. Nice Ring is by Dixie Union out of the Forty Niner mare Forty Carats who is a half-sister to G3 winner Minister’s Melody—dam of G1 Wood Memorial winner Bob and John.

In race 8, Indeedingly scratched, and Buzzin and Dreamin and Masked Man finished well back. Buzzin looks a handful to ride, as he acted up before and during the race. The winner, Steve Asmussen-trained Star of David out of the Zayat Stables, looked quite impressive. Over on the DRF Form Blog yesterday, the Zayat connections posted a photo of Star of David; something about his eye appealed to me so this is one going in my Virtual Stable.