Biancone's Good Thing

- Baffert is psyched about Roman Ruler’s chances in the Haskell: “He's doing better than he ever has been in his life.." He worked 5f in :58 3/5 at Del Mar this morning. Also prepping for the race at Monmouth is Chekhov, coming off his second to Park Avenue Ball in the Long Branch, and trainer Patrick Biancone notes, "He was a late foal (May 19, 2002….He's still immature, but he's learning with every race and like I said he's progressing nicely." [Bloodhorse] Unfortuantely, Chekhov's connections chose to have him learn and progress in races like the Belmont Stakes.

Biancone is on a bit of a roll at Saratoga, with 3 winners in only 5 starters thus far, including his sensational 2 yo Henny Hughes, who earned a 105 Beyer for his win in the Saratoga Special. Afleet Alex got a 102 in winning the Sanford last summer. Today, Biancone won the 5th with 50-1 shot Stock Tip, who survived a claim of foul (though second place finisher Charmsil did not). This ironically named 3 yo filly (she’s out of a mare named Cookingwithmartha), was making her turf debut after a distant 8th on the dirt here last year in her only other start. She got, according to the chart, a ground saving trip from Chantal Sutherland, who will certainly attract more business if she keeps bringing in winners. She won the 10th yesterday with a rousing stretch rally on Square Dancing ($37.40). She's a hungry rider worth keeping tabs on if and when the quality of her mounts do improve.

Stock Tip is by Thunder Gulch out of the abovementioned mare by Majestic Light, and her third dam is Rosetta Stone, the dam of Upper Nile and filly turf champion De La Rose, so with some imagination and courage, one could have made a case for this bombshell, which capped a Pick 4 payoff of over $219,000 – as Tom Durkin said, “Have a nice day!” Or as Martha would say, "That's a VERY good thing!"