Off to Virginia

- Rap Tale is set to ship off to Colonial Downs tomorrow night for Saturday's Brookmeade Stakes, at a mile for Virginia-breds. Trainer Bruce Brown believes in shipping them either right before a race, so that the horse doesn't quite have a chance to fully grasp the fact that all is not as it usually is; or a week or two beforehand in advance in order to fully adapt.

She's listed at 10-1; but as I've said, there ain't much in here. Pletcher has the morning line favorite in Perfect Forest (5-2, and owned by Edward Evans, from whom Rap Tale was claimed). She's the obvious and clearcut class given her third place finish in the G3 Comely. However, she's never been on grass, and draws poorly, in post 11, for the first time in her career. Horacio Karamanos rides; he's winning at a rate of 35% at Colonial!

Debbie Sue is next at 3-1, off an allowance over the track with a field-best grass Beyer of 86. However, it's her second off a layoff with just 13 days rest; and she shows a distinct pattern of following good races with not-so-good ones. I'm wondering if she'll even run. Top Time (6-1) has been very consistent versus cheaper (not sure if that's quite the right word in this case), and also starts from an outside post. Rap Tale and two others follow at 10-1.

I think I've been pretty objective when it comes to horses in which I have an interest; too much for my own good in some cases, as with Highland Cat. Contrary to what at least one person commented, I did not tout Rap Tale here before her last race, her first on grass; but said merely that I was cautiously optimistic. But I have to admit that we're all pretty pumped about this race. She had a lot of stretch trouble in her last that was not reported in the charts and finished up very well once clear. Here, she draws an excellent post (4), and has good tactical speed in a field which doesn't have much at all. She hails from an up and coming trainer doing extremely well on the big stage, and the reports on her condition continue to be most upbeat. This time, I'm not being objective at all when I say that I think she has a shot. But I do think she has a shot.

- Just Zip It hasn't raced since her third in open company on June 4, and is being pointed to a state-bred stakes at six furlongs on August 18 at Saratoga. She's really been picking up the pace in her morning workouts; her last work, on July 3, was a half mile in 48.46 (4/27).

She hasn't raced simply because there hasn't been a spot for her. Strange, you'd think there would be an open company entry level allowance for fillies and mares at six furlongs sometime, somewhere in the condition book. But all there's been this month at Belmont is a seven furlong race, and a NW2X at six that's going tomorrow. Bill Turner considered the latter but decided to pass.

- Who’s gonna run in the Travers? Not Denis of Cork, for one.