Friday Morning Notes - Oct 27

- Steven Crist in the Form (sub. only) disagrees with me regarding Flower Alley.

At least Flower Alley won a Grade 3 race this year, whereas both Perfect Drift and Super Frolic are winless in six starts. (Perfect Drift qualified on the points system that determines half the field, but Super Frolic was chosen above Flower Alley by the selection panel, which determines the other seven spots.) It also seems wrong that two Europeans who have never even raced on the dirt, David Junior and George Washington, were given preference over a Travers winner and Classic runner-up.

OK, he's entitled to his opinion. I rate a nose loss in the Stephen Foster above a Grade 3 against four horses; and Super Frolic, in addition to his close third in the Hollywood Gold Cup, was third in the G1 Pacific and second in the G2 Californian. I guess he has a point, but I don't at all agree about the Euro horses. How could you exclude either of them for a horse that's run the way Flower Alley has this year?

- Some betting odds from the UK:

WILLIAM HILL: Classic: Evens Bernardini, 5-1 Lava Man, 6-1 Invasor, 8-1 George Washington, 11-1 David Junior, 20-1 Sun King, 25-1 others.

Mile: 11-4 Aragorn, 5-1 Araafa, 11-2 Gorella, 9-1 Librettist, 10-1 Echo Of Light, Sleeping Indian, 12-1 Aussie Rules, 14-1 Ad Valorem, Rob Roy, 16-1 others.

Turf: 11-4 English Channel, 3-1 Hurricane Run, 4-1 Cacique, 8-1 Red Rocks, Scorpion, 10-1 T H Approval, 12-1 Go Deputy, 14-1 Better Talk Now, 28-1 Rush Bay, 33-1 others.

Filly & Mare Turf: 15-8 Ouija Board, 5-2 Wait A While, 13-2 Satwa Queen, 9-1 Honey Ryder, 10-1 Germance, 11-1 Film Maker, 14-1 others.

- Reader T.O. lamented that the Cup would not be on TV in Canada; but don't despair. TSN will put ESPN's telecast on its high-definition channel. As well, it will be carried on HPI TV, the horse racing-wagering channel, and streamed on HPIBET.com. [Toronto Globe and Mail]

- Dick Powell, of Brisnet, on the wonders of synthetic surfaces:

Polytrack received its greatest endorsement last Friday at Keeneland when rain hit the Lexington, Kentucky, area. Thirteen sophomore fillies, including one also-eligible, were scheduled to run in the Valley View S. (G3) on the turf. When the rain came, the race was switched to the Polytrack and, not only were there no scratches, but with the addition of the also-eligible entrant there were actually more horses running in an off-the-turf race than had it stayed on the green.

Been around a long time - never seen that before.

- Johnny Velazquez was at Keeneland on Thursday, and he and Todd Pletcher confounded the bettors, with the latter breaking through with two winners at this meet in which he's had a slow go. Audacious Chloe got beat at 4-5 in a grass stakes; but they won the 7th with 5-1 Throng, and upset even money Miss Mambo with second choice Honey Rose, an interesting five year old mare from Argentina who now has two good efforts in as many North American tries.