Odds and Ends

Three winners for David Jacobson at Belmont since we mentioned him last week, each interesting enough to mention here.  On Thursday, Big Business ($35) shipped in from Del Mar, where he last ran second for 16k on the Polytrack, was entered here for 35k on turf, stayed in when the race was moved to the dirt, took advantage of a hot pace to rally from way back and earn a 92 Beyer much the best for his career.  On Friday, Ea ($6.50) got in off the main track only list to win his third in a row; the last being a marathon at the Spa.....the ol' two mile to mile and a sixteenth cutback maneuver. Quite a successful claim, but not quite as successful as Saginaw ($6.70), who won a state-bred stakes on Sunday.  Jacobson took that one for 30K from Dutrow, and has now earned well over ten times that amount, having now won four state-bred stakes amongst his seven wins in eight starts since the claim.

Another interesting entry for the barn on Wednesday; Gee Linz makes his first start since Jacobson claimed him from Schettino for a cool 50K in his debut.  Won in the mud by three with Ramon, and he hangs around to ride for the new connections.  He's by Frost Giant out of a Distinctive Pro half-sister to the speedy NY-bred Galloping Grocer.

Alpha was just awful as the 7-10 favorite in the Pennsylvania Derby, getting to the lead in a dawdling 1:14 flat for the 3/4s (a mile and 70 yd allowance race went in 1:11 3/5 a few races earlier) and having nothing to offer in the stretch as he faded to 6th.  What does one even have to say for himself when his horse runs so poorly, especially after a high profile win as the one he shared with Golden Ticket in the Travers?   Well, you can blame the track.

 "I'm glad we don't run very often at Parx," [McLaughlin] said. "I thought the racetrack was very deep, dry all day.  [Times Union]

 
Or, you can blame the jockey.

 McPeek, carrying Golden Ticket's saddle cloth, said he was disgusted with the effort of [David] Cohen.  "We talked about how there might not be a pace....I think he tried to guess the pace of the race, and you can't guess the pace of the race."

At least Golden Ticket picked up the third place purse money of $112,300.McLaughlin was perhaps consoled by sweeping the early double at Belmont the next day with a couple of young horses with much potential.  Sayaad ($4) took the opener, outdueling Never the End despite getting called upon about a stride later than that foe was (here, our favorite chart caller gets a little carried away with the details).   Sayaad is a 2 yo son of Street Sense who's a half-brother to a turf sprint stakes winner in Banga Ridge; he's out of a Time for a Change mare who's a half to all those [fill in the letter]Z Warrior horses.  And Dance Card ($3.90) won her 3rd in a row as she continues to climb up the class ladder, earning a Beyer of 95.  She's by Tapit out of a stakes-placed Editor's Note mare.

Two winners also for trainer Timothy Hills, including Cosmic Energy ($14.60), who was the second horse of the weekend I noticed to return an overlaid win price with Ramon Dominguez having come off after a winning effort.  (Master Achievement returned $11.20 on Saturday).  Ramon is the best, as most will agree.  But you have to give the horses some credit at least.  (And no, not redboarding.....was kicking myself after each of these as well.)   That's three wins in a row for this 3yo daughter of Unbridled Energy.