Odds and Ends

- The headline from the Fair Grounds reads FG Records Fall on Louisiana Derby Day, but a closer look reveals the paradox of racing these days. Out of more than $11 million wagered on the program, only $866,466 was bet on track by a crowd of just 6,672 on the biggest racing day of the meet.

- Nick Zito continued his ridiculous hot streak with two winners at Gulfstream, including a Grade 2 stakes win with Sir Shackleton (Miswaki) in the Richter Scale BC Sprint; and with his latest Derby hopeful Bellamy Road (Concerto), a George Steinbrenner-owned colt who had been trained by Michael Dickinson. Bellamy Road won by a mere 16 lenghts.

We expected him to run big, but not like this, to be honest with you," said Zito, who took over the training of the son of Concerto two months ago. [Sun-Sentinal]

This colt threw in a :22.1 second quarter before cruising home with two consecutive :24.3's for a final time of 1:35.4. Zito mentioned the Wood as a possible next start.

- Rockport Harbor's foot seems to be better this morning.

Servis told Fox Hill owner Rick Porter the scar from the original wound suffered in the Remsen Stakes (gr. II) was damp Sunday morning, indicating there is a foreign substance, such as pus, that's starting to break out of there.

"He said he's gotten most of it out, the horse is walking fine, and he's still planning on running him in the Rebel," Porter said. "We never expected him to be 100% for the race anyway, but John would never run him if he thought it would hurt the horse." [Bloodhorse]

Afleet Alex breezed an easy half-mile in :50 Sunday. Also working for the Rebel was Greater Good.

Greater Good broke off about 3 or 4 lengths behind Copy My Notes, and under instruction from [trainer Bob] Holthus, was kept behind his stablemate around the turn.

Greater Good accelerated past Copy My Notes in midstretch on the outside and was approximately 1/2 lengths clear of his stablemate at the finish….Greater Good covered his opening eighth of a mile in : 13.01, a quarter-mile in: 25.35, three-eighths of a mile in: 37.72, a half-mile in: 49.89 and fiveeighths of a mile in 1:01.02. [Arkansas Democrat Gazette]

I'm off to the Big A...