Trips October 14

Belmont

VEGAS NO SHOW (Race 8@BEL, October 9, 2013, 1 1/16 miles. Stakes) Longest shot on the board was in tight down the backstretch, hesitated slightly near the ¾ pole, ran under restraint in the turn and was boxed in heading toward the ¼ pole. Was behind a wall of opponents when entering the stretch, looked toward the rail and then came back out, eventually finding a small seam on the outside and then fought while bumped and squeezed between foes around the furlong marker. With determination the longest shot fought on got a head in front and prevailed for the much deserved win.

Finger Lakes

LAZEKA (Race 4@FL, October 8, 2013, 6 furlongs, Claiming $4,500) The third choice was away slowly, traveled along the rail and was checked abruptly and sharply near the 5/8 pole when crowded by a foe, moved to the outside and gradually made up ground. She then ran widest of all in the turn and was fanned 9-10 wide when entering the stretch. She rallied very well to finish fourth only a couple of lengths behind the placed horse.

KEENELAND

SHADOW ROCK (Race 2@KEE, October 9, 2013, 6 furlongs, Allowance 1X) Fourth choice was traveling on rail less than a length behind leaders when he was crowded, forced to hesitate and pull back, losing 2-3 lengths. He followed the leaders in the turn and was then bumped and squeezed between others in the stretch, steadied near the 1/16 marker and tried to re-rally. Finished fourth less than 3 lengths behind the winner.

Laurel

SMART POWER (Race 7@LRL, October 9, 2013, One mile, turf, Allowance 1X) The fifth choice was crowded at the start and taken back near the rear, advance into the first turn and was steadied just before entering the backstretch, made progress while running down the backstretch and was then steadied again in the far turn and forced to be behind a wall of horses. He then rallied and swung a little wide to advance and moved back to the rail once in the stretch to finish a respectable fourth.

SPEIGHTER MAN (Race 8, LRL, October 9, 2013, One mile, AOC 3X) The sixth choice was bumped leaving the gate and forced to steady shortly thereafter being shuffled to last. Made a good run to stay in compact field and rallied well just before the stretch but was forced 6-7 wide. Ran well to be a close third.

PARX

FIGHTERTOWN (Race 5@PRX, October 7, 2013, 5 furlongs, OFF turf, Allowance 3X) The second choice was an impressive winner after running toward the back of the pack early, moved up in the turn, was fifth and bumped before the top of the stretch. Once in the stretch and until the 1/8 pole, the eventual winner was behind a wall with nowhere to go, tried to get through but was taken up and pulled back just inside the 1/8 pole. He then waited and circled around the wall now having to chase down a fast running closer who was moving away to a presumed easy victory, but FIGHTEROWN moved quickly, caught the winner and passed that foe easily under a hand ride.

Suffolk Downs

PIZZARCO (Race 2@SUF, October 8, 2013, 6 furlongs, Maiden Claiming $5,000) Fourth choice was hit extremely hard and lost balance at the start and was quickly more than a dozen lengths behind the others. She ran well and caught the field in the middle of the turn, weaved thru traffic, was fanned wide in the stretch, then hesitated behind another once in the stretch, went outward to have room and closed well to gain third.

Woodbine

FIGHTING CHRIS (Race 7@WO, October 9, 2013, 6 ½ furlongs, Allowance 3L) The third choice was away well and in early contention until the eventual winner crowded him short of the half mile pole forcing FIGHTING CHRIS to check and retreat losing 4-5 lengths. He rallied in the turn and was then fanned 7 wide trying to get a clear run. He ran very well in the stretch and closed but finished a close up third, obviously compromised heavily by the incidents in the trip.