Belmont Park Race Track
Friday, June 4th, 2003
by kg
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Best Bet: 2nd Race = #3 - WELCOME MATT
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Race #1.
PANINA improved off troubled debut to narrowly miss on the stretch to one mile last out, in which she displayed good speed and battled back bravely while outfinishing next out winner Tough City Girl. Fresh, she gets Lasix.
SABELLINA will be sharper off useful debut at this trip in May 8 debut behind South Wing, who remained unbeaten with a next out score.
ROCKCIDE ships in for career debut. By Personal Flag, she is out of Belle's Good Cide, whose two runners are winners, including Derby-Preakness winner Funny Cide, who went unbeaten in his first three outs.
DR BOO BOO BETTER was a nose behind Sabellina in May 8 return.
Selections: 3 - 10 - 8
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Race #2.
WELCOME MATT was claimed for the third time in four starts while failing as the favorite Jan. 2, 2003 over mud. The P. Klesaris trainee returned from over sixteen months on the bench to win decisively at Delaware May 16 and appears well placed for his first start over this course.
TOP BUNK rebounded last out when shipped to Philadelphia, chasing home the streaking Eloquent Wager, who in his past seven starts has won five, including his past three outs, with two seconds.
STONG will be stronger with a slight cut back exiting a game effort.
ALTER EGO has raced consistently competitively since latest return for Contessa.
Selections: 3 - 4 - 6
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Race #3.
PHILANTHROPIST displayed improvement when stretched out here May 6 exiting his Apr. 10 sprint debut at Aqueduct, in which he rallied for third when dismissed at 16-1. The Kris S. colt should appreciate the added ground as he tries nine furlongs.
CONFIRMED has clearly done his best work when tested beyond seven furlongs. Second in four of six outs, the Zito trainee has raised his game since adding blinkers and will be a threat in the lane.
BANDIT NAILHEAD, second in four of 10 starts, outran his 18-1 odds when back on dirt after a respectable first try on turf.
RUNAWAY CHRIS can once again take a share in the lane.
Selections: 8 - 6 - 7
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Race #4.
TITANIUM gained useful experience while wide in May 8 unveiling going one mile here. The three-year-old colt stretches out to 10 furlongs and can improve for Turner.
INCOGNITO exits his greenly-run May 2 debut, in which he was tested at nine furlongs when dismissed at 13-1. The Bond trainee keeps Luzzi and has a pedigree that suggests the distance is within his scope.
SETTLE UP returned May 8 to earn his third consecutive runner-up finish. The McGaughey trainee adds Lasix.
TROMP exited an encouraging debut to miss by just a nose with Lasix as the tepid favorite at Aqueduct May 2.
Dirt: STRETCH, TITANIUM, SETTLE UP
Selections: 6 - 2 - 3
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Race #5.
ROLLED STOCKING improved second off the break with a win last out at Calder. The eight-year-old returns to this circuit going third off the break and will be going well in the lane under Castellano.
TUBROK typically gives an honest try. The seven-year-old can move forward off most recent, in which he returned to New York first off the claim.
TSAR CZAR gamely prevailed at this tag at Aqueduct two back. He will be sharper after cutting back to this trip last out when in higher for Hough.
NOVELADO was beaten just over three lengths at 55-1 when back on turf for latest.
Dirt: RUNAWAY RUSSY, CLASSIC ENDEAVOR, NATIVE RHYTHM
Selections: 1 - 3 - 8
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Race #6.
SIMPLY BRILLIANT drew clear to win when unveiled at Gulfstream Mar. 21. A $300k yearling buy, the Pulpit filly narrowly missed when third as the clear favorite here in May 15 return. She has a pedigree to handle the added distance for McGaughey and is in with a solid breeze.
PALAESTRA was a decisive winner in her only start over a fast track. Never tested in sprints, the Atticus filly shortens for her first try at one mile.
DIAVLA improved with the addition of blinkers and Lasix and could appreciate the switch back to dirt.
DOUBLE LOCK has failed as the favorite in two latest going the one-turn mile at Aqueduct.
Selections: 4 - 6 - 8
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Race #7.
EUROPEAN, a debut winner June 29, 2002, has had his five career starts well spaced. The four-year-old has returned this year with a pair of solid efforts after disappointing in U.S. debut last summer.
MIESQUE'S APPROVAL, a failed favorite when returned to this circuit for latest, stretches back out to nine furlongs and will be going well turning home.
L'OISEAU D'ARGENT suffered his first U.S. defeat when beaten one length in his third start since making the switch to American racing.
FAST DECISION has improved significantly with the transition to turf.
Dirt: L'OISEAU D'ARGENT, LIMERO
Selections: 7 - 5 - 2
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Race #8.
ARGENT FRANCAIS displayed ability with a professional-looking winning debut here last summer going this trip when dismissed at 15-1. The Silver Hawk filly has trained with steady frequency and keeps Samyn.
SEDUCER'S SONG has improved with Lasix and could appreciate the surface switch off the short rest; mate SEASIDE DREAM was a decisive debut winner in her lone turf test when 10-1. Returning from the sidelines, she adds Lasix.
SAREE has the ability to finish well late.
FORTISIMA goes beyond five furlongs for U.S. debut after showing turf and dirt ability.
Dirt: TAITTINGER ROSE, EVERY TRICK, SEDUCER'S SONG
Selections: 9 - 1/1a - 8
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Race #9.
WINNING EXPRESSION flashed good early ambition and drew off to a decisive victory going this trip in May 6 unveiling. The Serpe trainee has had time to recover, adds Lasix and has continued working well.
PRIMAL STORM was a six-length winner in his debut, from which the runner-up exited to win next out. The Storm Boot colt is in for Asmussen.
DUBLEO, favored in both starts, improved for a front-running score after breaking from the rail at this trip May 21.
DEPARTING NOW, exiting a sharp debut score in the slop, and GOLD JOY, who improved for the clear score last out, complete the compact field.
Selections: 3 - 4 - 2
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Race #10.
GREY TRAFFIC disappointed when second as the choice first out for Frankel in the G2 Nassau County May 8 after drawing clear to a decisive score in Apr. 4 debut at Santa Anita. The lightly-raced filly has room to improve.
VICTORY U.S.A. has had time to recover since checking in fourth going nine furlongs in the G1 Kentucky Oaks.
ISLAND SAND made a solid move into contention to manage second in the G1 Kentucky Oaks and has displayed versatility.
BOHEMIAN LADY, a winner in three of five, exits a career top as she adds another sixteenth.
PAWYNE PRINCESS chanced tactics last out and typically runs well.
Selections: 6 - 8 - 5 - 7
Friday, June 4th, 2003
by kg
-------------------------
Best Bet: 2nd Race = #3 - WELCOME MATT
-------------------------
Race #1.
PANINA improved off troubled debut to narrowly miss on the stretch to one mile last out, in which she displayed good speed and battled back bravely while outfinishing next out winner Tough City Girl. Fresh, she gets Lasix.
SABELLINA will be sharper off useful debut at this trip in May 8 debut behind South Wing, who remained unbeaten with a next out score.
ROCKCIDE ships in for career debut. By Personal Flag, she is out of Belle's Good Cide, whose two runners are winners, including Derby-Preakness winner Funny Cide, who went unbeaten in his first three outs.
DR BOO BOO BETTER was a nose behind Sabellina in May 8 return.
Selections: 3 - 10 - 8
------------------
Race #2.
WELCOME MATT was claimed for the third time in four starts while failing as the favorite Jan. 2, 2003 over mud. The P. Klesaris trainee returned from over sixteen months on the bench to win decisively at Delaware May 16 and appears well placed for his first start over this course.
TOP BUNK rebounded last out when shipped to Philadelphia, chasing home the streaking Eloquent Wager, who in his past seven starts has won five, including his past three outs, with two seconds.
STONG will be stronger with a slight cut back exiting a game effort.
ALTER EGO has raced consistently competitively since latest return for Contessa.
Selections: 3 - 4 - 6
------------------
Race #3.
PHILANTHROPIST displayed improvement when stretched out here May 6 exiting his Apr. 10 sprint debut at Aqueduct, in which he rallied for third when dismissed at 16-1. The Kris S. colt should appreciate the added ground as he tries nine furlongs.
CONFIRMED has clearly done his best work when tested beyond seven furlongs. Second in four of six outs, the Zito trainee has raised his game since adding blinkers and will be a threat in the lane.
BANDIT NAILHEAD, second in four of 10 starts, outran his 18-1 odds when back on dirt after a respectable first try on turf.
RUNAWAY CHRIS can once again take a share in the lane.
Selections: 8 - 6 - 7
------------------
Race #4.
TITANIUM gained useful experience while wide in May 8 unveiling going one mile here. The three-year-old colt stretches out to 10 furlongs and can improve for Turner.
INCOGNITO exits his greenly-run May 2 debut, in which he was tested at nine furlongs when dismissed at 13-1. The Bond trainee keeps Luzzi and has a pedigree that suggests the distance is within his scope.
SETTLE UP returned May 8 to earn his third consecutive runner-up finish. The McGaughey trainee adds Lasix.
TROMP exited an encouraging debut to miss by just a nose with Lasix as the tepid favorite at Aqueduct May 2.
Dirt: STRETCH, TITANIUM, SETTLE UP
Selections: 6 - 2 - 3
------------------
Race #5.
ROLLED STOCKING improved second off the break with a win last out at Calder. The eight-year-old returns to this circuit going third off the break and will be going well in the lane under Castellano.
TUBROK typically gives an honest try. The seven-year-old can move forward off most recent, in which he returned to New York first off the claim.
TSAR CZAR gamely prevailed at this tag at Aqueduct two back. He will be sharper after cutting back to this trip last out when in higher for Hough.
NOVELADO was beaten just over three lengths at 55-1 when back on turf for latest.
Dirt: RUNAWAY RUSSY, CLASSIC ENDEAVOR, NATIVE RHYTHM
Selections: 1 - 3 - 8
------------------
Race #6.
SIMPLY BRILLIANT drew clear to win when unveiled at Gulfstream Mar. 21. A $300k yearling buy, the Pulpit filly narrowly missed when third as the clear favorite here in May 15 return. She has a pedigree to handle the added distance for McGaughey and is in with a solid breeze.
PALAESTRA was a decisive winner in her only start over a fast track. Never tested in sprints, the Atticus filly shortens for her first try at one mile.
DIAVLA improved with the addition of blinkers and Lasix and could appreciate the switch back to dirt.
DOUBLE LOCK has failed as the favorite in two latest going the one-turn mile at Aqueduct.
Selections: 4 - 6 - 8
------------------
Race #7.
EUROPEAN, a debut winner June 29, 2002, has had his five career starts well spaced. The four-year-old has returned this year with a pair of solid efforts after disappointing in U.S. debut last summer.
MIESQUE'S APPROVAL, a failed favorite when returned to this circuit for latest, stretches back out to nine furlongs and will be going well turning home.
L'OISEAU D'ARGENT suffered his first U.S. defeat when beaten one length in his third start since making the switch to American racing.
FAST DECISION has improved significantly with the transition to turf.
Dirt: L'OISEAU D'ARGENT, LIMERO
Selections: 7 - 5 - 2
------------------
Race #8.
ARGENT FRANCAIS displayed ability with a professional-looking winning debut here last summer going this trip when dismissed at 15-1. The Silver Hawk filly has trained with steady frequency and keeps Samyn.
SEDUCER'S SONG has improved with Lasix and could appreciate the surface switch off the short rest; mate SEASIDE DREAM was a decisive debut winner in her lone turf test when 10-1. Returning from the sidelines, she adds Lasix.
SAREE has the ability to finish well late.
FORTISIMA goes beyond five furlongs for U.S. debut after showing turf and dirt ability.
Dirt: TAITTINGER ROSE, EVERY TRICK, SEDUCER'S SONG
Selections: 9 - 1/1a - 8
------------------
Race #9.
WINNING EXPRESSION flashed good early ambition and drew off to a decisive victory going this trip in May 6 unveiling. The Serpe trainee has had time to recover, adds Lasix and has continued working well.
PRIMAL STORM was a six-length winner in his debut, from which the runner-up exited to win next out. The Storm Boot colt is in for Asmussen.
DUBLEO, favored in both starts, improved for a front-running score after breaking from the rail at this trip May 21.
DEPARTING NOW, exiting a sharp debut score in the slop, and GOLD JOY, who improved for the clear score last out, complete the compact field.
Selections: 3 - 4 - 2
------------------
Race #10.
GREY TRAFFIC disappointed when second as the choice first out for Frankel in the G2 Nassau County May 8 after drawing clear to a decisive score in Apr. 4 debut at Santa Anita. The lightly-raced filly has room to improve.
VICTORY U.S.A. has had time to recover since checking in fourth going nine furlongs in the G1 Kentucky Oaks.
ISLAND SAND made a solid move into contention to manage second in the G1 Kentucky Oaks and has displayed versatility.
BOHEMIAN LADY, a winner in three of five, exits a career top as she adds another sixteenth.
PAWYNE PRINCESS chanced tactics last out and typically runs well.
Selections: 6 - 8 - 5 - 7
