Litfin: Belmont review of Friday, May 23
Belmont Park review, Friday, May 23
Five O'Clock lightning
The Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, and Belmont was hit with a summer squall-like downpour after race 8, which was the last of four turf races on the program.
In a remarkably prescient move by track superintendent Glen Kozak, race 9 was the lone race that had been moved to the main track in the morning.
Needless to say, anyone tinkering around with track variants and such should denote that the first four dirt races – all at one mile – were run on a harrowed “good” surface, while the six-furlong nightcap was run through a sea of slop.
New York-breds one-two in feature
Horses on or near the early lead dominated on dirt, with the exception of the feature, when Sailmate (8th, $10.20) came from far back to nail fellow New York-bred Escapefromreality in the $80,000 allowance-optional claimer.
Sailmate benefited from a searing pace, as Cougar Ridge was gunned to the front through splits of 22.49 and 45.32 seconds, and was along in time on the outside, upping his record at Belmont to 5-0-1 from seven starts for John Kimmel.
Escapefromreality, making his first start since wiring the Albany at Saratoga last summer, and denying Amberjack a sweep of the Big Apple Triple Series and a $250,000 bonus, ran huge in his 4-year-old debut. He was on the lead soon after the start, but eased back when Cougar Ridge went hell-bent-for-leather, poked a head in front at the quarter pole after six furlongs in 1:10.14 seconds, and just missed.
North Slop, racing with blinkers off, was a good third after racing in close touch throughout.
Top 'Tommy' scores
Those who consulted the Tomlinson ratings had reason to be glad race 4 remained on the grass. Peaceful Talk ($20.60) boasted the top turf number in the $65,000 maiden claimer, and he improved mightily off two dirt races at Aqueduct.
Racing with blinkers on, Peaceful Talk rated kindly with Rosario Montanez through easy fractions of 25.90, 51.54 and 1:16.20 seconds, and had plenty left to widen in the lane from Inventor’s Gate. The latter chased throughout, and gamely out-battled 19-10 favorite Corinthian Summer to get second.
Horse to watch
Malibu Queen
Trainer: Rene Araya
Last race: May 23, 2nd
Finish: 4th by 2 3/4
Beyer: 68
Shuffled back a bit heading into the turn, swung out in search of running room into the stretch, but was beaten to a clear path by the eventual runner-up, at the same time a rival was drifting out slightly in front of her.