Music Note delivers loud and clear

ELMONT, N.Y. - On a day when a transformer fire took out most of the power in the Belmont Park grandstand, Music Note put some electricity back into the historic facility with a dominant 11-length romp in the Grade 1, $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks.

The victory was the fourth straight for Music Note, a streak that began last Nov. 1 and includes last month's Grade 1 Mother Goose in which she defeated Kentucky Oaks winner Proud Spell. On Saturday, Music Note beat a field that included Ashland winner Little Belle, who finished second by 6 3/4 lengths over Flaming Slew. Little Belle is a stablemate of Music Note.

While Music Note had to overcome a stumbling start in the Mother Goose, she had clear sailing throughout the Coaching Club under Javier Castellano.

Music Note, a daughter of A.P. Indy, settled into last position for the opening half-mile while Never Retreat set the pace pressed by Flaming Slew. Those two were a half-length apart running a half-mile in 48.18 seconds.

Music Note moved into third position about 4 1/2 furlongs from home, and she cruised to the leaders around the turn. Approaching the five-sixteenths pole, Castellano looked over to see where Little Belle was and at the quarter pole he asked Music Note to go and she responded with an eye-catching turn of foot. Though the race was won by the eighth pole, Castellano smacked Music Note once right-handed and she accelerated again.

Music Note ran a final quarter in 24.17 seconds to get the 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.66 over a fast track. Music Note, coupled in the wagering with Little Belle, returned $2.70 as the 1-5 favorite.

"This time she settled beautifully, she sat right off the speed, she was more relaxed today," Castellano said. "I think she's been doing better and better. I got to the quarter pole, I asked her a little bit, she took off. At the eighth pole, she opened up. I know it was a small field but it was very impressive the way she did it today."

As he did for the Mother Goose, Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor traveled from England for the Coaching Club and was impressed with what he saw.

"She really improved from her last race," Suroor said. "She showed a different class than all of them today. I talked to the jock and told him to just sit in behind, keep her nice and relaxed, and she showed a good turn of foot in the end."

Suroor said both Music Note and Little Belle would be pointed to the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga on Aug. 16.