MEADOWLANDS
NOTEBOOK
by Gary Granade
Richard Malouf’s homebred PUNCH THE ODDS (Two Punch) shrugged
off the challenge of Who’s the Cowboy (Intensity) before besting
that foe by two lengths in the colts and geldings division of the
New Jersey Futurity on Friday night.
Punch the Odds stepped the six furlongs over the good main
track in 1:10 1/5 and returned $3.20 as the 3-5 favorite. The
tote board showed 6-5 when the race started, but heavy satellite
betting action just before post time knocked the odds down
further. Sonawho (Evening Kris) was another 2 3/4 lengths back in
third. There was no show wagering.
“He breaks out of there like a shot and that’s what he
did tonight,” winning trainer Eddie Broome said. “We
figured we’d play catch us if you can. The Sleeters’ horse (Who’s
the Cowboy) took it to us early, but he was able to kick away
from him in the stretch and go about his business.”
“Eddie (trainer Broome) told me to let him roll and take
the early lead,” winning jockey Julian Pimentel said.
“At the eighth pole I asked him and he went on with it
easily.”
In the fillies’ division of the Futurity, I’MTOOGOODTOBETRUE
(Good and Tough) was certainly too good for her competitors. She
went to the front immediately, set the pace and pulled clear to
win by nearly nine lengths. Trained by Edward Allard and ridden
by Harry Vega, the winner was timed in 1:09 3/5 for six furlongs.
She gave back $3.20 as 3-5 shots delivered the goods in both
divisions of the Futurity.
Earlier in the evening, EMERALD EARRINGS (Helmsman) rated just
off Ensenada (Seeking the Gold) in the early going, took control
going into the far turn before drawing off to a conclusive 3 3/4
length score in the $60,000 Honey Bee S.
Emerald Earrings, from the high-powered Bruce Alexander barn,
covered the mile and a sixteenth over the main track in 1:42 3/5
and paid $4.40 as the favorite. Richetta (Polish Numbers)
completed a $15.20 exacta.
The winner has a bright future for Alexander, who is starting
to heat up after getting off to a slow start.
“She rated kindly for me early,” winning jockey
Chris DeCarlo said. “She just waited for me to let her go
and at the half mile pole she started pulling me. In the stretch
she proved she was much the best.”
In Saturday night’s featured $60,000 Rushing Man S., CHOOSE
(Arch) took control at the break and never looked back, coming
home by three-quarters of a length in 1:09 2/5 for six furlongs.
Choose, a three-year-old colt from the Carson City mare Harp
Attack, returned $8.60 as the 3-1 second choice. Wimplestiltskin
(Petionville) rallied to complete a $35 exacta while Knight of
Darkness (Helmsman), the odds-on favorite, was another 3 1/4
lengths back in third.
Knight of Darkness may have been undone by the wicked speed
bias Saturday night.
“He seems to have found his niche in dirt sprints even
though his pedigree suggests he’ll go longer,” Choose’s
trainer John Forbes said. “I told Tommy (jockey Turner) to
play it by the break and he rode a super race today. We’ll take
him down to Florida and look for a spot for him down there.”
The speed bias became more pronounced through the week, as
front-runners got everything on Saturday night. The turf course
was only used on Tuesday and Wednesday, but favored closers as
usual.
With all the talk of statistical dead-heats and too close to
call polls now in the past, there’s a new tight race emerging in
East Rutherford, New Jersey, as jockey Stewart Elliott leads Joe
Bravo by one winner, 28 to 27, with just five racing days
remaining in the 2004 Thoroughbred season.
Each has a long list of accomplishments on their resumes, and
each knows what it’s like to be the top rider at the track. The
New Jersey edge may be in Bravo’s favor as he’s racked up eight
titles at the Big M, nine at Monmouth Park, as well as
championships at Atlantic City and Garden State.
Elliott, a Philadelphia Park import this year, has been the
top rider in the Keystone State for the past several years and is
no stranger to New Jersey racing, having finished second in the
Monmouth standings in 1999, before moving to Pennsylvania.
Leading apprentice Rajiv Maragh is still very much in the hunt
with 26 trips to the winner’s circle.
The race for top trainer is also incredibly close with
Patricia Farro showing the way with 10 wins, two more than
four-time leading Meadowlands conditioner Broome. Tied in third
with six wins apiece are Todd Pletcher, Terri Pompay, Ned Allard
and Bill Mott.
Farro, a native New Jerseyan, is looking to become the first
female in Meadowlands history to win the trainer’s title. Neither
Farro nor Broome have any horses entered on Tuesday afternoon’s
card.
HORSES TO WATCH
Tuesday (11/2)
3RD — MEMO (Notebook) put the 1-2 favorite away with a burst
on the stretch turn and cruised home. He’s back in his best form
for Terri Pompay.
Wednesday (11/3)
7TH – FRENCH DRESSING (French Deputy) broke in the air, was
stopped cold at the furlong pole and got up for the show. Can
beat a similar field with a clean trip.
8TH – GOLDEN GATOR (Pentelicus) really took to the additional
distance with a strong win. Having cleared the “two other
than” condition, he may run in an expensive claimer next and
will be hard to beat.
Thursday (11/4)
3RD – URBAN ANGEL (Rakeen) was an impressive winner in her
first start for the high-powered McCaslin outfit. Mare likes to
win and this barn will place her correctly.
Friday (11/5)
6TH – Emerald Earrings seems equally at home sprinting or
routing on turf or dirt. She give high percentage trainer
Alexander plenty of options.
10TH – BARNEY SMITH (Evening Kris) closed from far back for
the place over a strongly speed-favoring track. Continues to look
better each time out.
Saturday (11/6)
6TH – DORST (Dance Brightly) made a threatening move to reach
contention, but could make little progress late against the
dominant speed bias.
8TH – Knight Of Darkness is another who was severely
compromised by the speed favoring track. He appeared clearly best
in this spot and deserves another chance.