Michael Hammersly's weekly "Trip Notes" report, which includes stakes action at an array of tracks across the country for the weekend of Sept. 29-30, this week focuses on Belmont and Santa Anita.
BreezeFigs Quick-Pix Saturday September 29th, 2012
Flat Out is primed for a peak performance in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and it’s only gravy that he returns to the surface over which he recorded his biggest victories. Flat Out dominated last year’s Gold Cup and Suburban Handicap in his only two prior starts at Belmont.
Unless you were around when the Keystone/Philadelphia Park/Parx Racing purses were $50,000 per day, what went down last Saturday might not be that meaningful. If you were there (as I was) back then, the day, with players betting $4.2 million on the 12-race card and $2 million on the three featured stakes races, was surreal.
Race replays featuring contenders for stakes races at Belmont Park on Saturday, September 29, including the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational.
Trip Notes for stakes races on the weekend of September 22, 2012 including the Gallant Bloom Handicap, Cotillion Stakes, and Pennsylvania Derby.
I’ll be betting on three stakes races on Sunday. I like the Belle Cherie and the Promenade All at Belmont, and the Ralph M. Hinds at Fairplex.
BreezeFigs Quick-Pix Saturday September 22nd, 2012
Book Review is expected to be an overbet favorite in the $400,000 Charles Town Oaks on Saturday, leaving Beautiful But Blue as one of the best value-based wagers of a stakes-filled day of racing.
Parx Racing offers not one, but two $1 million races Saturday in the Grade 1 Cotillion and Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby, as well as a lucrative supporting feature in the $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes. There are also rich races Saturday at other tracks that don’t often grab the spotlight, namely the $400,000 Charles Town Oaks and the Grade 3, $200,000 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park. Meanwhile, at Belmont Park, the main event is a good renewal of the Grade 2, $200,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap.
