Bound For NY

Never been on the turf nor beyond 6 1/2 furlongs? No problem for Client Eight ($8.40) in the first at Belmont on Saturday, confidently sent to the post at 3-1 despite his lack of experience for the task. Mike Hushion is another trainer enjoying a high-percentage meet here, now nine for 28 (32%); 68% in the money, four for his last ten. Client Eight, not to be confused with Client Nine, is a heavily inbred (Mr. Prospector 4x5x4, Seattle Slew 4x4, Secretariat 5x5, Northern Dancer 5x5) son of Tapit, out of a Mr. Greeley mare (his third dam is the champion older mare North Sider). Last year's leading rookie stallion, Tapit is currently ranked #5 on the sophomore list.

$1.8 million of the $4.7 million that his progeny has earned is attributed to Stardom Bound. Last year's juvenile filly champ has been out of action since her disappointing third in the Ashland. Gee, that hasn't yet worked out for Iavarone, has it? And to think, at one time I thought she was Derby material, making excuses for the lackluster speed figures she earned in the Las Virgenes and SA Oaks. Oh well. Nonetheless, the Churchill Downs barn notes noted her arrival on the 4th of July.

“She has been on vacation and yesterday was the first day she had tack on since she went on vacation,” said Michelle Nevin, assistant to trainer Rick Dutrow.

“Stardom Bound will go back to New York with Zee Zee on Monday,” Nevin said. “We are going to put her back in training and start all over again.”

So there's something to look forward to. You never know, with the Dutrow magic touch, even if he's missing for 30 days, she could come back strong. And with the Breeders Cup back on her home turf plastic, man, that would be personally satisfying if she came streaking down the stretch in front of the screaming crowd, and scores of people watching on ESPN2, and ran down you-know-who in the Ladies Classic....oh, right. You-know-who is not coming...