Litfin's review: $1.8 million buy fizzles in debut

Wednesday, May 14 review

A ‘TALE’ OF THE TURF

Of four grass races on the Wednesday card, three were run at one mile on the Widener turf.

Race 1, the fastest of the trio, marked the debut of Pacific, a $1.8 million in-training purchase as a 2-year-old who was bet to 3-5 for Todd Pletcher. The pricey purchase never fired, however, and checked in a distant fourth. Lunar Tales ($6) sat a garden spot trip behind dueling leaders Jimmy Soul and Howl, and wore down the former in the final yards, as the sixth meet winner (and fourth on turf) for Gary Contessa, who has reunited with Winning Move Stable.

FAVORITES SWEEP LATE PICK 4

Two other Widener course miles book-ended an all-chalk late pick 4 ($163.50):

Nickerdoodle (6th, $3.80) shipped in and proved much the best over $40,000 restricted claimers for Patricia Farro, despite breaking a step slowly and being floated wide into the lane by Dattts Da Boss. Nickerdoodle is now 2 for 2 at Belmont, and 0 for 8 elsewhere.

Eddy’s Time (9th, $5.80) ducked out in deep stretch while clear, and held off fast-closing first-time starter Lady Kreesa for the “Funny Cide Gang” of Sackatoga Stable and Barclay Tagg. Lady Kreesa, a half-sister to multiple stakes winner King Kreesa, galloped out well in front of the rest of the field.

The middle legs proved formful as well, although Bravodino (7th, $3.90) gave his backers some anxious moments, needing just about every inch of the 10 furlongs to catch 35-1 pacesetter Comes the Dream in a second-level allowance on the inner turf.

Sensational Slam (8th, $5.90), the 2011 Fred “Cappy” Capossela Stakes winner, was beaten 23 lengths in a $14,000 claimer at Belmont last May, but the 6-year-old horse has since turned his career around for trainer Pat Quick, and got a good pace setup to take the $100,000 Diablo Stakes with a late run.

Green Gratto outran Royal Currier for the lead through demanding fractions, and was ultimately disqualified from second after drifting out and bumping that rival in the stretch.

HORSES TO WATCH

JIMMY SOUL
Trainer: Dominick Schettino
Last race: May 14, 1st
Finish: 2nd by neck
Beyer: 82

Won a hotly contested pace battle but lost the war to perfect-trip stalker Lunar Tales when switched to the grass third time out this year. Clearly bested the remainder in a game effort.

LADY KREESA
Trainer: David Donk
Last race: May 14, 9th
Finish: 2nd by neck
Beyer: 64

Half-sister to multiple turf stakes winner King Kreesa was reluctant to load into the outside stall. She settled suddenly in midstretch only to run out of ground in debut, galloping out strongly past the wire.