Monday Morning Notes

Too bad I didn't have time to preview the Cigar Mile, which was a fascinating betting race. At least of course before many of the main contenders put in disappointing performances - particularly Musket Man, who received strong support at the betting windows - and Jersey Town upset the field at 35-1, earning a sparkling Beyer of 110. I must say though, that this horse wasn't that much of a surprise to me. No redboarding here, I'll show you my Pick Three ticket (which ended in disappointment when neither of my two horses in the 10th cracked the top three). Four-year old son of Speightstown was making his third start since returning to the care of Barclay Tagg, and was coming off a career best effort in the Bold Ruler, in which he was beaten less than two lengths by Bribon, who was sent off as the favorite. I thought that his true value was far closer to his 12-1 morning line, and was surprised at his odds. It surely wouldn't have killed me to back that opinion with a lousy two dollar win bet!

Jersey Town is out of the G1 (Mother Goose) winner Jersey Gal, and this is the distaff family of the 2005 Cigar Mile winner, Purge (whose third dam is the second dam of Jersey Town).

The Remsen and Demoiselle were each scratched down to five horse fields and uncompetitive wire-to-wire results. These races are surely not what they used to be - generally wide open stakes filled with juveniles already with ample two-turn experience against winners. Dixie City won easily despite barely seeming to make it to the wire herself; and To Honor And Serve was never threatened at 3-5, earning a Beyer of 102. This is a son of Bernardini, out of a stakes-winning Deputy Minister mare who is a half-sister to the multiple graded stakes winning India.