Pride of the Sheikhees

Tweet Godolphin sends out National Pride today in the 3rd at Belmont (ML 5-2). I've been keeping an eye on this one since he stumbled out of the gate in his Saratoga debut as the favorite and finished next to last. In his maiden win last November at Aqueduct he beat two notables, Saratoga Russell and Mint Lane. He bounced back on the Sunday of Alabama weekend to win a $67K allowance nipping Posse Cat (a cat nip?) at the wire by a head. He was entered Sunday in the $75K Step Nicely Stakes, but scratched so he's back today in this $50K N2X Optional Claimer for 3yos. The Macho Uno colt stretches out to a mile tomorrow against some pretty tough competition. Bobby Frankel challenges the Sheikh with On Board Again (ML 3-1) and regular rider Javier Castellano, who returns to a longer distance after two sprints against some tough competition (and adds blinkers). He finished fourth in his last, the opener on the Travers Day card to Aquino and West Express (winner of the race in which the Pride stumbled). The other main challenger should be Solemn Promise (ML 7/2), who has only raced once at the mile distance, and that was with a wide post position (#11) at Gulfstream Park, and we all know what that means, unless you are Big Brown, of course. I look for the Pride and Promise to hook up for a nice duel in the stretch.

Bella Cavello's La Chica Rica returns on Saturday night at Mountaineer (8th race), to try and recover from the tough beat last out versus nemesis All Giving. She shortens up to 5 1/2 furlongs under the lights. More to follow later this week as we approach racenight.

I learned via an email from the manager at the Sunset Station Casino, that I actually finished in the top 25 percent (meaning top 15) in the NHC qualifying contest, wherein the winner had a total of $125 and the top ten moved on to a December qualifier. Oh, how I wish I had that one race back. I'm going to give it another shot or two before the end of the year. It was a gas and I learned enough to have some confidence to give it another go....why not?

Ok, I lied. I won't be sitting out the Breeders Cup races. Trying to convince some of my Toga pals to head west (and then north) to spend the day at Casino Niagara in Niagara Falls, Ontario, in the sports book for the action at Santa Anita. They have a nice little race book in there, with plenty of adult beverages and things to bet on. Plus it's super cool to walk over the Rainbow Bridge between the two countries and walk right smack into the casino. Not to mention the presence of one of the eight wonders of the world in plain view. That's the plan, if you're in the neighborhood.