3rd of July Notes

Pletcher took the second on Thursday with Newport ($7.90), running for a 65K tag in a high-priced maiden claiming affair. First time Ramon probably didn't hurt either. This is a three-year old daughter of More Than Ready who James Scatuorchio paid $350,000 for in 2007. I've noticed that the Toddster seems to win his share in the maiden claiming ranks, not a level that we might normally associate him with, and a look at Formulator confirms that. Pletcher is a solid 25% in the category over the last two years; four winners in his last seven such starters overall, at all tracks (mostly out of town).

Scotchontherocks ($13.60) won the third for Scott Lake while running for a 60K tag, and has to be in the running for claim of the year. Lake took this three-year old gelded son of Trust N Luck for 16K at Gulfstream in February. This was his 4th win in 7 starts since, plus two seconds, and he's now grossed some $80,000 for owner Donald L. Brown, Jr.....nice going there!!

Trainer Timothy Ritvo lost his first 27 races at this meeting....but has now won two of his last three (plus a third with 86-1 Todo K in the aforementioned second race) in July with the win by Dance Gal Dance ($3.80) in the Wandering Cloud Stakes. These things have a way of evening out.

- Via Bennett Liebman's Racing and Gaming Today page on the Albany Law School site, one winning bidder in NYRA's recent auction of land plots surrounding Aqueduct is suing the association, claiming that it is now demanding more money.

Sita claimed after he bought three Ozone Park lots for $233,200, the auctioneer contacted him June 13 and 15, telling him NYRA wanted more money for the properties and that it had a higher offer from a third party despite his having the highest bid at the auction.

Sita’s suit seeks enforcement of the contract he signed at the auction so he can receive title to the properties on Eckford and Huron avenues. [YourNabe.com]

- There were some folks who were annoyed at all the pot being smoked at a Ziggy Marley concert at Del Mar last year.

“I was appalled that marijuana smoking was being done so overtly with no attempt to hide it,” said a Carmel Valley resident who said he attended 16 concerts at the state fairgrounds this summer.

“I was offered a couple of doobies myself,” said another parent.

Yet another parent complained that vendors at the fair were selling purses, T-shirts and jewelry containing images of marijuana leaves. [Zimbio.com]

In response, new rules were established for reggae concerts at the San Diego County Fair, which is held on the grounds, establishing a minimum age of 21, banning all smoking, and authorizing pat-down searches at the door!! And then, they ended up canceling all of the reggae shows altogether.

However, that is hardly the case for the upcoming Del Mar race meeting, where no less than four reggae shows have been scheduled for the Friday concert series. In fact, I seem to recall a quote from a Del Mar official from last summer in which he joked about the scene - and scent. Probably doesn't hurt at the concession stands, that's for sure. And one of the shows - The Wailers - is scheduled for July 31, which is the Friday that I will be in town with the Head Chef and two teenage girls in tow. Perhaps we'll endeavor to leave the kids back at the beach that evening.....though they may have the same thing in mind for us. Ya mon!