By ED FOUNTAINE
June 8, 2008
Track was fast, turf firm; rail was golden.
SECOND RACE: Field of nine 3-year-old maidens included pair of first-time starters that cost $1 million-plus as yearlings: Todd Pletcher's Zong ($1.7M) and Kiaran McLauhglin's White Tie ($1.3M), but both had bad racing luck and failed to hit board. Sixthirteen, third in first two starts, second in last two after setting pace, favored at 2-1 under Channing Hill, went to lead again, set pace along rail, was hooked by 3-1 Tiz It turning for home, dug in to hold him off by head in long drive to wire.
THIRD RACE: Beyond Challenge, 57-1, set pace pressed by 39-1 American Brave going mile-and-eighth on turf, and those two were still in front battling for lead at top of stretch. Smart Enuf, 4-5 favorite under Cornelio Velasquez, rallied wide turning for home, 5-1 Seeking No More, Rajiv Maragh up, rallied inside, but neither was match for 4-1 Piazza Di Spagna, who came flying late to take command under Ramon Dominguez.
FOURTH RACE: In allowance field going mile, Mobo set pace, pressed by Firejack, with Forefathers, 8-5 favorite stretching out after rallying wide for third in six-furlong Bold Ruler, tucked inside dueling leaders under Kent Desormeaux. Turning for home, Giant Deputy loomed boldly rallying wide under Javier Castellano, but Desormeaux found room along rail, gunned Forefathers through mid-stretch to win going away, with Giant Deputy along for second.
FIFTH RACE: Hawkwood, favored in previous four starts for Tony Dutrow, beaten in three of them, was favored again at 2-1, Cornelio Velasquez up. He gunned to lead along rail but was hooked by Too Tough Pee and Revealer in suicidal speed duel that set things up for 20-1 Endless Circle to come charging late under Alan Garcia.
