Suffolk: Fueld of 10 square off in Norman Hall Stakes

Ten Massachusetts-bred 2-year-olds are slated to jump-start their careers with a little stakes money Saturday in the $50,000 Norman Hall Stakes at Suffolk Downs.

Half the runners are making their racing debuts while two more might as well be after showing little in their first races in open maiden contests.

King Colby should be the favorite in what will be his second career start. He finished fourth after setting the pace with jockey Dyn Panell on Oct. 15. Owned and bred by Frank Politillo, the son of Sociano is trained by Tom McCooey, and figures to take command of the race from post 3.

A better start will be important to Turko Star, who exits the same race as King Colby but finished seventh after getting tangled up at the break.

Vernon Bush had to take up the gray son of Andromeda’s Hero and from there chased the lead pack, eventually losing by almost 27 lengths. Bush is scheduled to be back aboard in the Norman Hall.

Also in that Oct. 15 maiden race was Fonzy, who broke poorly from an inside post position. The second chance to sprint with leading jockey Tammi Piermarini aboard should help him improve his early speed.

Of the first-time starters, a good performance in the Norman Hall appears to be a birthright for Sociano’s Star. The filly’s three immediate older brothers and sisters all performed well in 2-year-old statebred stakes, including last year’s Norman Hall winner Sociano’s Legacy.

The bad news for Sociano’s Star is she drew the rail under jockey Gerry Wales, but trainer George Brown sent her sister Sociano’s Treasure to a third-place finish from post 2 in the 2009 Norman Hall and his only debut winner in the last five years, a filly named Special Robin, won from the rail last October.

* Suffolk holds a Daily Racing Form /NTRA handicapping tour event Saturday with a spot at the National Handicapping Challenge in Las Vegas January 27-28 on the line.

The top NHC Tour member will qualify for the national championships and the top 10 finishers receive cash prizes as all entry fees will be paid out. The $60 fee includes a Daily Racing Form , a simulcast program, and lunch. Registration begins at 11 a.m. in the Topsider Room.