For Charlie G has knack for trouble

A big payday awaits the 2-year-old Massachusetts-bred maidens in Saturday's $45,000 Norman Hall Stakes on closing day at Suffolk Downs.

The seven colts and geldings are fortunate last Saturday's Amelia Peabody Stakes for fillies was postponed to Wednesday because of high winds, because that race's easy winner, Considering, isn't likely to wheel back on three days' rest for this week's dance.

"We're entered just in case something crazy happens, but we're probably not going to run," said Considering's trainer, John Rodriguez. "We were bummed with the way she ran in her first two starts. She finally showed in the afternoon the way she had been training. The timing means she's probably done until the spring."

Considering, the only entrant with a victory, won the Peabody by seizing control of the pace. Two of the males have a chance to do the same if they live up to their breeding.

For Charlie G has found trouble in three of his four starts, but he got within a length of the lead in his one clean trip before fading two weeks ago. He is a half-brother to Fifty Seven G, the runner-up in this race last year and the front-running winner of the John Kirby Stakes last month.

Sultan's Prince is the latest Massachusetts-bred from the talented sire Sundance Ridge and dam Sultan's Light. Four of their five offspring have won statebred stakes races, including New England champion Stylish Sultan, who took the 2001 Norman Hall among his 10 stakes victories.

First-time starter Merrimack Pat is a half-brother to Sundance Richie, who was fourth in this race last year and recently broke through with two straight wins.

Piermarini has title in bag

Tammi Piermarini will win her first riding title when the meet ends Saturday and become the third female jockey to finish a season on top in Suffolk history. Through Wednesday, she had 99 victories, 24 more than her nearest rival.

A 40-year-old Massachusetts native, Piermarini served notice last fall that she would contend when she returned from maternity leave with 10 wins in her first week back. In the end, she cruised to the trophy when her main rival and the reigning three-time champ, Winston Thompson, broke his ankle in August.

Suffolk has a legacy of welcoming female jockeys, and Piermarini has been a perennial contender in New England since she started riding in 1985. She joins Denise Boudrot in 1974 and Susie Kelly in 1980 with Suffolk riding championships.

With David Amiss finishing second, the top two jockeys this season missed significant time in the saddle in recent years to raise a family. Amiss, whose 75 wins entering Saturday are a career high, missed four years to raise his young children and control his weight.

John Rigattieri will win his fourth straight training title by at least 19 wins over Rafael Ramos, although the competition was stiffer this season. Rigattieri's 64 wins so far are the lowest since his reign began as Monarch Stable's top New England trainer. Ten different trainers won 20 or more races in 2007.