Friday Night Notes - Oct 6

- Tom Albertrani said that "The pace scenario is going to set up for us this time," talking about Balletto in the Beldame at Belmont on Saturday. [Bloodhorse] I agree that there could be a contentious pace, with Fleet Indian, Teammate, and Tour D'Or in the field. Fleet Indian is the 7-5 morning line favorite, and Pletcher's mare will likely be chasing Tour D'Or; even the trainer seems resigned to that. She does have a couple of races in which she's sat behind, or stalked the leader and won. On the other hand, those was against far lesser than these.

I think the race could set up for Round Pond. If you look at her one turn races, she sits in the second tier and kicks home well. In fact, I would venture to say that she prefers one turn, and she should love the added distance on a track over which she took the Grade 1 Acorn last year. First time Prado doesn't hurt either.

- There were two favorites amongst the winners of the seven Polytrack races at Keeneland, as well as a 2-1 second choice. Seems like a pretty typical day. Four winners had last raced at Saratoga, including one of Biancone's winners, What A Tale. This two-year old son of Tale of the Cat got beat a nose at the Spa by longshot Baxter. He was bet to 7-5 in his debut that day, and was 6-5 here. What A Tale's third dam is Mrs. Warren, and oh my, I remember her from 1976-78, when I was just getting started with thoroughbreds. She was trained by Woody Stephens and ridden by Eddie Maple when she won the Spinaway, Matron, and Schuylerville at two.

Biancone's second winner was Pyramid Love, who was eased in her last start, the Alabama. She was 6-1 here. Pyramid Love is by Fusaichi Pegsasus, out of a Broad Brush half sister to Arc winner and European Horse of the Year Peintre Celebre.