Off the Tracks stars in Mother Goose, Rodrgiuez sends out a couple of nice debut winners at Belmont Park

BELMONT NOTEBOOK

A single graded affair topped the weekend of racing at Belmont Park.

Mother Goose S. (G1): Newtown Amber Stud et al’s OFF THE TRACKS (Curlin) gained the lead out of the gate and improved her margin at each call in registering a 3 ½-length triumph for trainer Todd Pletcher. Runner-up in the Acorn (G1) in her previous outing, the surging sophomore filly completed 1 1/16 miles on the fast main oval in 1:41 with Jose Ortiz in the controls.

Track Stats

A total of 48 races were held at the Elmont, New York venue, with favorites winning at a 38 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 60 percent of the wins during the week. From 23 races on the main oval, four animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (17 percent), while seven of the 25 grassy races were taken all the way on the lead (28 percent).  

All but one of the wire jobs on the turf came on the outer turf oval, with the other a sprint on the inner lawn. Speed was fairly good overall, with many winners tracking close before proving best.

Meet Totals

Races:		438
Dirt:		240
Turf:		198
Favorites:		161 (37%)
2nd Choices:		87 (20%)
Turf Wire:		42 (21%)
Dirt Wire:		48 (20%)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (6/30)

3RD – GRASSARLA (Bluegrass Cat) chased in second early and remained there throughout in a nice first try behind a very sharp winner. The Chris Englehart pupil will be a major player next out with even minor improvement.

8^TH – Euro import ROCA ROJO (Strategic Prince) was last to the top of the lane in her U.S. bow but exploded in the stretch en route to a convincing score with John Velazquez. Unraced since June 2015, the Chad Brown charge no sings of rust off the long layoff and could be a real good one in the states.

Friday (7/1)

2ND – JEWEL HEIST (Wildcat Heir) fought off a foe after being passed at the top of the lane and held off a late charge in posting a nice debut tally. The juvenile colt won for a conditioner in John Kimmel who is not great first time out, so this could be an interesting prospect going forward.

4^TH – The Ian Wilkes-trained SWEETGRASS (Street Sense) took the lead in early stretch and powered home a clear and impressive winner with Jose Ortiz. Expect this graded-stakes placed filly to be back with black-type runners very soon.

7^TH – David Jacobson’s ASSET INFLATION (Greeley’s Galaxy) sped to the lead early and never looked back in a most facile turf sprint score in this heat. The six-year-old gelding came home well under some urging and looms large in his subsequent offering.

Saturday (7/2)

1ST – LIBBY’S TAIL (Tiz Wonderful) went widest in the lane and still won like a good thing first-time out for trainer Rudy Rodriguez. The two-year-old filly rallied home fast behind a moderate early pace and could be any kind going forward.

6^TH – GALILEO’S SONG (Galileo) returns to this list after defeating a useful allowance field in this turf test for conditioner Chad Brown. The three-year-old filly always looked to be in the right spot and appears to have a nice future ahead of her.

Monday (7/4)

3RD – MIND YOUR BISCUITS (Posse) swept to the front at the top of the lane and dominated to the wire in a 9 ¼-lngth romp under Joel Rosario. The sophomore colt remains in a sharp form cycle.

7^TH – SUMMER REVOLUTION (Summer Bird) gave trainer Rudy Rodriguez a second impressive debut runner when the three-year-old dominated a maiden special weight field by a 7 ¼-length margin. Overlooked at 14-1, the colt overcame a tricky rail draw at a difficult distance for a first-time starter with ease and the Kentucky-bred is bred to run longer as well.

A Look Ahead

A huge Saturday of racing will top the action at Belmont Park. The co-features are the $1.25 million Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) and $1 million Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1). Also on tap is the $500,000 Suburban H. (G2), $500,000 Dwyer S. (G3), $400,000 Belmont Sprint Championship (G3) and $150,000 Victory Ride S. (G3).