DRF.com Blogs: Dave Litfin http://www.drf.com/blogs/92565/feed en Belmont: Getaway day http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-getaway-day

Mandatory pick-6 payout at Belmont on Sunday

 Track Reports Sun, 17 Jul 2011 16:29:29 +0000 Dave Litfin 125059 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  Fast and firm for the final day of the spring-summer meet. There is a mandatory pick-6 payout, and a carryover of $46,459 from Saturday.</p> <p>  Todd Pletcher leads Linda Rice 25-24, but he has no horses in today and Rice has horses in the 1st, 3rd and 9th races, including an uncoupled entry in the 3rd.</p> <p>  Ramon Dominguez, who rode at Delaware Park yesterday, has a 69-67 lead on Javier Castellano, who whittled the margin with four winners yesterday including the Jaipur Stakes on Right One.</p><p><a href="http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-getaway-day" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Belmont: Fast & firm; $26k pick-6 carryover http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-fast-firm-26k-pick-6-carryover

Main track fast, turf firm at Belmont on Friday

 Track Reports Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:55:53 +0000 Dave Litfin 124901 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  The main track is fast and the turf courses are firm for the third and final twilight Friday card of the meet, with first post at 3:00 p.m.</p> <p>  There is a $26,015 pick-6 carryover that begins with race 4 at 4:30 p.m.</p> <p>  The Linda Rice-trained mares Karakorum Elektra and Lady Rizzi ran one-two in Thursday's nightcap, and she enters the day just one win behind meet leader Todd Pletcher, at 24-23.</p><p><a href="http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-fast-firm-26k-pick-6-carryover" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Belmont: Fast & firm http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-fast-firm-24

Main track fast, turf firm at Belmont on Thursday

 Track Reports Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:16:44 +0000 Dave Litfin 124804 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  The main track is fast and the turf courses are labeled firm as the final week of the spring-summer meet gets under way.</p> <p>  With four days remaining, the trainer and jockey races are still very much up for grabs. Todd Pletcher has a 24-22 lead on Linda Rice. However, Rice has three runners today (after scratches), five entered tomorrow and five more Saturday. Pletcher has two in today, two tomorrow and just one Saturday.</p> <p>  Ramon Dominguez rode three winners Sunday to take a 64-62 lead on Javier Castellano. It's 15 back to Cornelio Velasquez in third.</p><p><a href="http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-fast-firm-24" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Belmont: 8th & 9th off the turf http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-8th-9th-turf

Off the turf at Belmont

 Track Reports Fri, 08 Jul 2011 20:04:56 +0000 Dave Litfin 124487 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  The 8th and 9th races have now been taken off the turf, joining the 4th, 6th & 7th races, which were taken off the turf earlier.</p> Belmont: Sloppy & good; accelerated post times http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-sloppy-good-accelerated-post-times

Main track sloppy, turf good, accelerated post times at Belmont Friday

 Track Reports Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:18:17 +0000 Dave Litfin 124463 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  The main track is sloppy and the turf courses are labeled "good" for the second of three twilight Friday programs, with first post at 3:00 p.m. Eastern.</p> <p>  The 4th, 6th & 7th races have been taken off the turf; the 6th race gets a distance change to 1 1/8 miles.</p> <p>  The 8th & 9th races remain on the turf for now, but more rain is in the forecast. As a result, post times have been accelerated as follows: 2nd - 3:20; 3rd - 3:52; 4th - 4:18; 5th - 4:44; 6th - 5:12; 7th - 5:48; 8th - 6:08; 9th - 6:36.</p> <p> </p> Belmont: Fast & good http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-fast-good-7

Main track fast, turf firm, pick-6 carryover at Belmont on July 4th

 Track Reports Mon, 04 Jul 2011 16:14:28 +0000 Dave Litfin 124172 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  The main track is labeled fast and the turf courses are labeled good for the July 4th program, with only four of the 10 races scheduled to be run on dirt including the Grade 1 Prioress Stakes (9th) for 3-year-old fillies at 5:17 p.m. Eastern.</p> <p>  Those taking a shot at the $45,866 pick-6 carryover may want to think about spreading in the Prioress, given the fact that stakes winners paid $33.80, $30.20, $29.20, $15.80 and $15.60 during the first two days of the holiday weekend.</p> <p>  The pick-6 begins with race 5 at 3:08 p.m.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> Belmont: Fast & firm http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-fast-firm-23

Main track fast, turf firm at Belmont Sunday

 Track Reports Sun, 03 Jul 2011 16:40:58 +0000 Dave Litfin 124107 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  Despite some rain overnight, and a 60 percent chance of scattered t-showers this afternoon, the main track is fast and the turf courses are labeled firm for Sunday's 10-race card, which begins with the 2 1/4-mile William Entenmann Stakes for "novice" steeplechasers.</p> <p>  Also on tap are the Futurity (4th) and Matron (5th), a pair of six-furlong stakes for 2-year-olds; and the Grade 3 Bed O'Roses Handicap (9th) for older fillies and mares.</p><p><a href="http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-fast-firm-23" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Belmont: Fast & firm http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-fast-firm-22

Main track fast, turf firm at Belmont Saturday

 Track Reports Sat, 02 Jul 2011 15:09:45 +0000 Dave Litfin 123999 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  The main track is fast and the turf courses are firm for Saturday's 11-race program.</p> <p>   There is a $300,000 guaranteed late pick-4 that begins with race 8 - the Recording overnight stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the inner turf - at 4:44 p.m. Eastern.</p> <p>  The 94th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Dwyer Stakes for 3-year-olds is race 9 (5:16 p.m.)</p> <p>  The 125th running of the Grade 2, $300,000 Suburban Handicap is race 10 (5:49 p.m.)</p> Belmont: Fast & firm http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-fast-firm-21

Main track fast, turf firm, 3:00 p.m. first post at Belmont Friday, pick-6 carryover

 Track Reports Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:19:01 +0000 Dave Litfin 123898 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  The main track is fast and the turf courses are firm for the first of three "Twilight Friday" programs, with first post at 3:00 p.m. Eastern.</p> <p>  There is a $26,198 pick-6 carryover that begins with race 4 at 4:30 p.m.</p> <p> </p> Belmont: Fast & firm http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-fast-firm-20

Main track fast, turf firm at Belmont Wednesday

 Track Reports Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:53:41 +0000 Dave Litfin 123743 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  The main track is fast and the turf courses are firm as a six-racing-day holiday week gets under way.</p> <p>  With 14 days of racing left at the meet, Javier Castellano has a tenuous 52-51 lead over Ramon Dominguez atop the standings, after both rode a pair of winners Sunday. They have opened up daylight on Cornelio Velasquez (41) in third.</p> <p>  Todd Pletcher (18 wins) is one up on Linda Rice (17) for the training title, with Dominic Galluscio (16), Gary Contessa (14) and Rudy Rodriguez (14) within striking range.</p> <p> </p> Belmont: Four horses covered in pick-6 http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-four-horses-covered-pick-6

Four horses covered in pick-6 at Belmont.

 Track Reports Sat, 11 Jun 2011 22:00:32 +0000 Dave Litfin 122454 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  Four horses are covered in the last leg of the pick-6, but Belmont Stakes favorite Animal Kingdom is not among them.</p> <p>  The covered horses are Master of Hounds, Santiva, Nehro and Mucho Macho Man. If any of them win, the pick-6 will pay $1,130,718.</p> <p>  If anyone else wins, there will be a triple carryover into the next racing day, which is Wednesday.</p> <p> </p> Belmont: Muddy & good; $144k pick-6 carryover http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-muddy-good-144k-pick-6-carryover

Main track muddy, turf good, $144k pick-6 carryover at Belmont Saturday

 Track Reports Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:10:30 +0000 Dave Litfin 122389 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  After overnight rain and sporadic showers this morning, the main track is muddy and sealed and the turf courses are labeled good for a 13-race Belmont Stakes Day program.</p> <p>  The $1 million guaranteed pick-6 has a $144,003 head-start, thanks to a double carryover. The all-stakes sequence begins with race 6, the Acorn Stakes, at 2:34 p.m. Eastern.</p> <p>  There is also a $1 million guaranteed pick-4 that begins with race 8, the Woody Stephens Stakes, at 3:59 p.m.</p><p><a href="http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-muddy-good-144k-pick-6-carryover" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Belmont: ...And we're back http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-and-were-back

Main track fast, turf good, pick-6 carryover at Belmont Friday

 Track Reports Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:01:19 +0000 Dave Litfin 122310 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  After a cancellation Thursday due to excessive heat, racing resumes with a 10-race card and a pick-6 carryover of $36,667.</p> <p>  The main track is fast, and the turf courses are labeled good in the wake of last night's rain and accompanying thunder-and-lightning fireworks display.</p> <p>  The pick-6 begins with race 5 at 3:03 p.m. Eastern.</p> <p>  The program concludes with a pair of graded stakes, the Grade 3 Poker (9th, 5:12) at a mile on the Widener turf; and the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap (10th, 5:45), once around Big Sandy at 1 1/2 miles.</p><p><a href="http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-and-were-back" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Belmont: The heat is on http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-heat

Main track fast, turf firm at hot and steamy Belmont Park Wednesday

 Track Reports Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:15:28 +0000 Dave Litfin 122098 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  The main track is fast and the turf courses are firm to start Belmont Week. Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-90s today and tomorrow, before a cold front moves through Friday, bringing with it a 50-60% chance of showers into Saturday.</p> <p>  Rose Catherine (7th), the Todd Pletcher-trained turf sprinter who won four in a row last year including the $200k Turf Amazon, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the featured $60,000 Nonsuch Bay overnight stakes.</p> <p> </p> Belmont: Fast & firm; $62k pick-6 carryover http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-fast-firm-62k-pick-6-carryover

Main track fast, turf courses firm, $62k pick-6 carryover at Belmont Sunday

 Track Reports Sun, 05 Jun 2011 16:16:03 +0000 Dave Litfin 121938 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  The main track is fast and the turf courses are firm for a 10-race Sunday card that has four stakes and a pick-6 carryover of $62,344.</p> <p>  Friend Or Foe, whose 109 Beyer for winning the Empire Classic equaled the fastest figure by a 3-year-old router in 2010, makes his 4-year-old debut in the $60,000 Easy Goer overnight stakes (3rd) at 1 1/16 miles. He meets three rivals including Rail Trip, a $1 million earner on synthetic tracks who wears an aluminum pad (again) for his first start at age 6.</p><p><a href="http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-fast-firm-62k-pick-6-carryover" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Belmont: Fast & firm http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-fast-firm-19

Main track fast, turf firm at Belmont Saturday

 Track Reports Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:46:48 +0000 Dave Litfin 121868 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  The main track is fast and the turf courses are firm for Saturday's 10-race card, highlighted by the Grade 2 Vagrancy Handicap (9th) for fillies and mares.</p> <p>  Hilda's Passion, who set the pace and finished second while against the grain of a strong outside closer's bias in the Humana Distaff last out, will be odds-on in the 6 1/2-furlong Vagrancy as she spots four rivals anywhere from 6-10 pounds. Post time is 5:17 p.m. Eastern.</p> <p>  There is a $300,000 guaranteed late pick-4 that begins with race 7 at 4:12 p.m.</p> <p> </p> Belmont: Castellano "en fuego" http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-castellano-en-fuego

Javier Castellano wins both ends of early daily double at Belmont Friday

 Track Reports Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:45:36 +0000 Dave Litfin 121787 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  Javier Castellano, who swept both ends of yesterday's early daily doube to kick off a 5-for-8 afternoon, has struck early and often again by riding the $11.20 double of River Fancy (1st, $5.80) for Dominic Galluscio and Algorithms (2nd, $3.40) for Todd Pletcher.</p> <p>  Algorithms, a Bernardini colt that took all the money in the 2-year-old maiden dash and won impressively, was Castellano's seventh winner from his last 10 mounts.</p> <p> </p> Belmont: Fast & firm http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-fast-firm-18

Fast and firm at Belmont Friday

 Track Reports Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:29:01 +0000 Dave Litfin 121773 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  The main track is fast and the turf courses are firm for Friday's card, where the richest races are a $60,000 maiden special-weight dash for 2-year-olds (2nd) and the $60,000 Wandering Cloud overnight stakes (8th).</p> <p>  Todd Pletcher sends out two of the five juveniles in race 2, with Behemoth breaking from the rail and Algorithms from the outside in a five-horse field.</p> <p>  Ava K. will be favored over five rivals, including returning Maid of the Mist winner Sentimental Lass, in the Wandering Cloud.</p><p><a href="http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-fast-firm-18" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Belmont: Five wins for Castellano http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-five-wins-castellano

Javier Castellano wins 5 races at Belmont Thursday

 Track Reports Thu, 02 Jun 2011 20:24:53 +0000 Dave Litfin 121737 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  When you're hot, you're hot, and Javier Castellano has been on fire today. Settling into a perfect stalking trip sitting third behind a speed duel, he brought first-time starter Who's On the Case (7th, $12.60) from off the pace to take over inside the eighth pole, and then held off a late inside run from Outlaw Cody Z to win for the fifth time from six mounts on the card.</p> <p> </p> Belmont: Castellano 4 for 5 http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-castellano-4-5

Javier Castellano wins a lot of races at Belmont

 Track Reports Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:58:02 +0000 Dave Litfin 121725 at http://www.drf.com <div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-inside-poster"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Dave Litfin </div> </div> </div> <p>  Javier Castellano has won with four of his first five mounts on the card. After accounting for both ends of the $47.20 early double on Starsilouette ($7.50) and Socialsaul ($11.40), he finished third with All About Alex in race 3, and then won the fifth and sixth races with Those Lion Eyes ($3.40) and Unaccountable ($6.50).</p><p><a href="http://www.drf.com/blogs/belmont-castellano-4-5" target="_blank">read more</a></p>