Litfin's review: Track continues to play lightning fast

Yet again – lightning-fast track

Five races on the main track, all sprints, played two full seconds faster than par, capped with an upset win by Palace (race 9, $20.60) in the Grade 2 True North.

Palace, away since a fourth Feb. 17 in the General George, rallied to contention on the turn as his stablemate, Marriedtothemusic, cut a half in 44.44 seconds, poked a head in front at the eighth pole with Jose Ortiz, and outgamed 2-1 favorite Bakken after six furlongs in 1:08.29 seconds, earning a 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He was a little off form in the winter, and frankly, he just didn’t care for the inner track,” said trainer Linda Rice. “The race looked like it had a lot of speed, and it set up for him, and he really likes Belmont.”

The long and the short of it

The day began and ended with races on the Widener turf, which was rated good. Two-year-olds dashed five furlongs in the opener, as Sunset Glow ($5.20), a filly who was the only entrant to have raced, posted a handy frontrunning win against the boys.

The inaugural running of the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup Invitational was won by Charming Kitten (race 10, $13.00), a 4-year-old colt by Kitten’s Joy, who beat the mare Irish Mission by a length for Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez. The time of 3:21.52 just missed the course record of 3:20.40 set by King’s General on July 4, 1983, in case you’re doing two-mile turf figures.

Said winning owner-breeder Ken Ramsey: “I’ve got the sire, and a rising tide raises all ships, you know? Two miles, that’s good advertising.”

Horse to watch

CELTIC SUNRISE
Trainer: Christophe Clement
Last race: June 6, 5th
Finish: 3rd

This 3-year-old Freud filly was in some traffic along the inside turning for home, slipped through along the rail in midstretch and finished willingly behind the odds-on winner, before galloping out with good energy in a promising debut.