Belmont Notes - Sept 16

- Trainer John Hertler is worth a mention for his recent lucrative results at Belmont at Saratoga. He had two winners at Saratoga, both of the bombshell variety - first-timer Baxter paid $88.00 on July 31, and though it took the trainer a full month to return to the winner's circle there, Oden's Tale rewarded $59 to his backers. On closing day, Classic Marilyn ran a game second at 19-1.

At Belmont thus far, Hertler has sent out six runners; two of them crossed the wire first. Landofopportunity returned $87.50 in Thursday's second, and then in the 6th, his Citifest finished first at 11-1, but was DQ'd to second after bearing out and bumping the runner-up in the stretch. The day before, Classic Marilyn once again proved Fundamentally Loathsome to those who left her out of the exactas, again hanging tough for the place, this time at 15-1. On opening day, Deelites Gold rallied for a close third at 18-1.

So I wouldn't dismiss the chances of Distant Tycoon, 15-1 in Saturday's 4th - he finished a very decent 5th despite traffic trouble in his debut in May; nor of Retribution in Sunday's 9th. Though the latter race is likely to be taken off the turf, note that this one was a longshot winner for Hertler on July 8th, scoring on the grass at 18-1.

- Grand Merger, a John Kimmel-trained two-year old filly who romped by 11 in the slop in the 4th at Belmont on Friday, is a full-sister to Stephen Got Even (AP Indy) who graduated in her second start.

- The attendance at Belmont on Friday was under 2,000 for the second rainy day in a row.