Thursday Morning Notes - Oct 9

- Just Zip It has been entered in the Seton Hall University Stakes, at the Meadowlands on Saturday night. Problem is that the race has come up fairly tough, with the likes of Godolphin's Zada Belle, and the graded stakes winner Control System amongst the opponents. So, trainer Bill Turner will also enter her in a NW1x open allowance for Belmont on Sunday. She'll go in that race if it fills. Otherwise, we'll take our chances at the Big M.

Trainer Bruce Brown was encouraged by the racing secretary's office to enter Rap Tale in a 60K claiming event for three-year olds at Belmont. So he did. But the race didn't fill. So she's set to be entered at the Meadowlands for Monday afternoon.

The Chad Brown-trained horse I picked in the first at Belmont on Wednesday was scratched; but the trainer took the 7th with Ultimate Event ($10.80).

Nice price I thought on Kristi With a K ($10.60) in the 6th. Highest Beyer in the field, second off the layoff for a barn hitting at 31% in that category; what more can you ask? Trainer Barclay Tagg has won with three of his last four starters at Belmont. Kristi With a K is a half sister to the Grade 1 grass winner Bit of Whimsy; and she's out of an El Prado mare who's a half-sister to the likewise Royal Mountain Inn. Tagg has four live looking horses entered on Thursday's card, including Known (8-1), an interesting first-timer in the sixth, a turf sprint, with a flashy workout tab. By Johannesburg, this two-year old colt is out of Recognizable, a stakes winning Seattle Slew mare who's a 3/4 sister to the G1 winner Awe Inspiring (Slew O Gold). This is also the distaff family of European grassy stakes winners Culture Vulture, Polish Precedent, and champion Zilzal.