Belmont Notes

 - Two winners for David Jacobson on Sunday.  Been a really good year for this barn, hitting at 23%.  Not even Saratoga put much of a dent into the operation.  Back on Aug 1, I wrote here of his prospects for the then-young meet, saying that I thought he'd do a bit better.....than his 8% Spa win rate over the last five years.  He ended up with 8 winners from 46 starters (17%); and now, back downstate, he has three winners and a narrow loss from eight starters.

In the 3rd, Jacobson brought back Minescape ($12.80) on three days rest, showing that Dutrow is not the only guy around here that can do that successfully.  He dropped him in for 30k after he ran up the track in his first effort after being claimed from Zito for 35k two races back.  The barn hits at 24% in the 1-7 days off category.  Minescape is a 3yo son of Mineshaft out of a Cormorant mare who's a half to the really nice NY-bred graded stakes sprinter Lottsa Talc, winner of 21 races from 65 starts, and the dam of the fine sprinter Fort Loudon, last seen running second to Willy Beamin in the G1 King's Bishop (speaking of horses winning on short rest).  She's also the dam of the dam of Jackson Bend.  So, plenty of speed in this family.

In the 9th, Jacobson won off the claim with Boots Ahead ($9.10), who he took from George Weaver for 35k last time out.  This gelded six-year old son of Storm Boot had toiled faithfully for that barn since his debut in March, 2009, winning seven times in 24 starts, and earning enough minor shares in stakes to accumulate some $330,000 in purse earnings.  When he was entered in a beaten claiming race at Saratoga on Aug 15 (a race from which the first three finishers have now come back to win), it was the first time he'd been exposed for a tag; and Jacobson was waiting (wouldn't be surprised if he had to win a shake).  Entered here for a 50k optional tag, he edged out the sharp Strong Impact (for the Bruce Brown stable that, as I mentioned yesterday, is on a roll), and earned a 94 Beyer that is his best mark in over a year.  So, it will be interesting to see what the trainer does next with this one.