Belmont @ Big A: Saturday, September 23

[Teach]

Race One:

As I begin to assess the speed and endurance of thoroughbred race horses, there's an old saying: "There are horses for courses," and I might add, "Horses for surfaces."

In this 40k MC sprint Belmont @ The Big A opener, over what promises to be a sloppy track, CITIZEN MACK, at least in my opinion, stands out. Yes, as “Nicely-Nicely” Johnson sang in “Guys and Dolls,” “I’ve got the horse right here (in this case) his name is…”: CITIZEN MACK. “El Panameno,” Jose Lezcano, is in the irons. Jeffrey Englehart trains this Quality Road (Elusive Quality)-bred 4-year-old.

As I continue, yet if there’s “a fly in the ointment" (isn’t there usually), this Medaglia d’Oro-bred hasn’t raced in a month of Sundays, March 18, to be exact. Yes, this Rutile-bred has been away from the races from vernal equinox to the autumnal one and, I must candidly state, that his trainer, the aforementioned Jeffrey Englehart, has what can only be described as a modest record with horses that have been “en vacciones.”

Frankly, the question that must be answered, one that can only be answered on the racetrack: “Is this horse ready?” If he’s ready, he can win. In his favor, there was a solid 4-panels work up at Finger Lakes; yet will that translate to today’s pari-mutuel start? One final point, this 4-year-old is making that precipitous class-drop from the MSW ranks into “the selling ranks.” Yet, in the final analysis, “If this steed is indeed ready, it’s time to toss the confetti!” Others: , , .

p.s. I know I shouldn't have had that Bloody Mary!

[Teach]

Race Two:

Now, at this early hour, the handicapping conundrum: “Does this race remain on the lawn, or will it be shifted to the main?" I’m of the belief that it will be exeunt for most of the turf horses and entrer for the MTOs. In that light, I’m handicapping this race as if it will be run on the dirt at six panels.

"Scroll down,” the man said, to the MTOs. That is my “starting point.” My pick in this 100k Allowance, n1x, is DIGITIZE. This Chad Brown-trainee has, most definitely, a wet-track lineage, both “on the top” and “on the bottom.” On top, there’s Distorted Humor, that means Mr. Prospector. On the bottom, there’s Awesome Again, that means Northern Dancer. To add to this MTO’s luster is the fact that his chauffeur is the very capable Flavien Prat. I might mention that this Maclean’s Music-bred is making his second start off a layoff; it’s a category at which his trainer, Chad Brown, does exceptionally well. Further, a solid 4-panels morning-work enhances this 4-year-old's resume. Others: , , , , .

[Teach]

I have just learned (I have egg (scrambled) on my face,) that today's card has been cancelled due to inclement weather. Until next time, Au revoir.