Brotherly Love

- Those wacky brothers Maktoums were at it again on Thursday, and c'mon, go ahead and admit that you're just riveted by their rivalry, right? It's as fascinating as watching George and Jeb Bush playing ring around the oil well. The stakes were far lower, a three and up maiden race at Aqueduct rather than the Breeders Cup Classic. But perhaps it was a small measure of revenge - very small - when Darley's three-year old Pulpiteer, trained by Tom Albertrani, defeated Kiran McLaughlin and Shadwell's Abraaj in the 4th at the Big A.

It was the 8th lifetime start for a son of Pulpit for which Darley paid $900,000 as a yearling in 2004. This win gives him lifetime earnings of around $70,000. Thus far, I guess this one goes in the foolish category. Pulpiteer is out of a half-sister to the late Hollywood Futurity winner Siphonic.

- Rob must be excited. Wait no more, NYRA has moved this weekend's racing to the inner track, and there is one person - she knows who she is - who knows that I predicted last weekend that we'd be seeing the inner track before its scheduled Nov 29 opening. Imagine, something at the Big A opening ahead of schedule. With the main track needing repairs that NYRA can't afford, tonight's heavy rain and the prospect of a sloppy racetrack has prompted them to move Friday through Sunday's action to the IT. They hope to have the main track in good condition for next Saturday's Cigar Mile and supporting stakes.