Penn National track report

At an age when many racehorses are already long retired, Beau Cash is just beginning his career. In an extreme case of better late than never, the 8-year-old horse Beau Cash made his first lifetime start at Penn National last Thursday night.

Facing maiden special weight company in a six-furlong sprint, Beau Cash finished sixth of seven, beaten more than 20 lengths.

Bred, owned, and trained by Albert R. Martin, Beau Cash is a New York-bred who had 10 recorded workouts at Belmont Park since December in preparation for his career debut.

Katie Lee, the leading apprentice jockey at Penn National and third in the overall rider standings, accepted the mount on Beau Cash. Her agent, former rider Marty Salvaggio, said that Martin furnished a simple explanation for Beau Cash's belated debut.

"Mr. Martin told me that he valued the time he has spent with his daughter and family as she grew up these past few years," Salvaggio said. "He always intended to give Beau Cash the opportunity to race and now the horse will get a chance to do what he was bred to do."

Martin, who started 327 horses in 1990 at various East Coast tracks, disappeared from racing after that season for three years and has raced only sporadically since 1994. From 2002 through 2004, he had just seven total starters.

* All horseplayers needed to do to collect a $555 pick three on last Saturday night's first three races was to play Luis Belmonte's mounts. He won by 8 1/4 lengths with Civil Revolt ($11.20, race 1), who finally won his maiden on his 35th try, and won with Inca Prince ($6.80, race 2) and World Tour ($37.40, race 3).

* Five of the six starters in the eighth race on March 23 were claimed for $7,500, including the winner, Forever Monteiro, who was taken by Les Stickler Jr.

* Secret Terms ($26.20), who showed nothing in two sprints since she was claimed by Tracy Lopez for $4,000, switched to a mile and 70 yards and romped by 10 1/4 lengths on March 23.