Belmont Notes

- Blue Sky God, who ran second in the 3rd at Belmont on Saturday, was one of those Godolphin private purchases from earlier this year. This three-year old son of Stormy Atlantic was sent to Dubai after graduating in his second start, at Aqueduct last November for Barclay Tagg. This was his 4th race since then, including one appearance in Dubai, and this was actually his best finish. Later, in the Noble Damsel, the barn's Astronomia, bet down to 7-2 despite stretching out substantially, finished 8th. Since their hat trick at Saratoga on August 15, Godolphin has cooled down a bit, having won just once in their last 12 races. Dance Away Capote, who had "a lot to do" as noted by a skeptical Tom Durkin as they entered the turn, made a very wide move around the turn to give Tagg his first of two graded stakes win on the day. I'll post more about his Futurity winner Tale of Ekati over the Breeders' Cup blog.

New Chapter was 9-5 for Darley when making her debut in the second on Sunday. But Porte Bonheur won off easily, with Channing Hill just cruising along until he shook her up midstretch. This daughter of Hennessy tired to a distant 8th at 25-1 in her debut and was the longest odds horse in the morning line on Sunday at 15-1. However, she was sent off the 6-1 third choice and won for fun. Nice.

Hill was involved with another hottie a bit later on the card. Come Fly Away had run only on the Keeneland Poly or grass in her first six starts, and was 6th at 32-1 in her last effort. Here, she was 10-1 morning line for her dirt debut. But she went off at 7-2, split horses midstretch, and prevailed by a head over Stormy Winter. Great game.

Meanwhile, Tagg had two more winners on this day including the always-trying Dave, who managed to rally late in the Ashley T. Cole and get his first win since May of 2006. The trainer now has five winners and three seconds from 13 starters.

Sunday was yet another miserable day for Pletcher after Saturday's nightmare, capping off a horrid weekend. Three more losers, including two favorites who not only lost, but ran terribly...a familiar pattern for the Toddster over the last couple of months on this circuit. Featherbed, a heretofore promising three-year old filly, was dead last, and forget about the 'steadied' comment in the chart; she was already last at the time. And in the finale, Mr. Sam I Am, 8-1 morning line, was sent off as the 5-2 favorite; but no tote magic here as he checked in 7th, ugh. Pletcher is 16-1-3-1 at Belmont, as the move downstate has provided no relief whatsoever....if anything, it's getting worse!

And stop the presses....Richard Schosberg actually had a loser in the 9th, after celebrating his Saratoga success by taking his first three at Belmont.