In the last 24 hours, Mark Hennig has put over two first-timers (Don’t Forget Gil, $27.40; Tire Kicker, $39.80) and an allowance horse (Victory Assured, $11.60).

Blazing Saddles Barclay is at it again, winning in clumps. He is just amazing at Belmont Park, no matter the meeting: Clever Martini ($8.80), According to Plan ($11), Kristi with a K (yesterday, $10.60).

Cuteness Alert: After Tire Kicker scored for Hennig, the Women’s Club of Great Neck presented the trophy to Cornelio. They were like a mucher cooler version of the Golden Girls, racetrack ladies, all smiles, having a blast. Does that beat Bridge, girls, or what?

Main track again was swallowing inside speed.

Even-money Brazen Action (2nd) held gamely after setting the pace inside. Should roll against this caliber on an honest track. Clever Martini didn’t make any progress until he was angled off the rail.

Garcia had to work to pull up Victory Assured, who looked ready for another lap.

Pacemaker Ms Freightshaker (7th, 6-1) couldn’t beat the bias but her respectable third made her a filly to watch for DiPrima —perhaps a slight class drop, or not, going 6 or 7 furlongs.

Casino Drive races Sunday. He and his classy, fun Japanese contingent deserve good things. If they were to pull off a win in the Classic, I might have to rank the training job with Dickinson’s Da Hossian miracle.

The only time I ever picked against Big Brown was in the Belmont, with Casino Drive. This horse is extremely gifted. And they have him doing that way hip power-walking regimen that, I’m telling you, is darn-near meditative to watch. But the Classic seems a Hail Mary. Wonder if Fujisawa (trainer) would have come here with Better than Honour’s rangy son (biggest Mineshaft I’ve seen), if he didn’t have a boss.

Quirkycap

Vanned off after his previous race, Forever My Friend (8th), the only horse in the field today with four bandages, returned to score at 30-1 under Morales, who also had a pair of seconds and thirds (one at 55-1).

The rail on the dirt was not the place to be; inside speed was most disadvantaged.

Masala No Chicken: Masala (2nd) and Santiago broke with the field, bravely dropped way back to last, commenced seriousness at the quarter-pole and, and splitting retreaters, wore down favorite True Rebel at a generous $14.80—you’ll be seeing plenty of more of Santiago/Jacobson.

Stretch run of the third was a Wild Geese ($2.90) chase, 1:08 4/5.

Three-star bug Jackie Davis, daughter of Robbie Davis (in his prime, one of the VERY best in NY), finished a close fifth on Look Now (4th, 15-1). Jackie saved ground, showed some left hand, some right hand, didn’t panic in tight in midstretch—nice job. SO rooting for her!

Way to Karakorum (5th, 8-1) set the pace near the rail and held gamely—next time, same company, better rail, all the way. Sister’s Speed ($41.80) was yet another bomb at the meet for Rajeeev.

No use crying over Milk Run (7th, 6-1, third). Sure, she appeared to have been “bottled up” much of the way from the quarter-pole home but sometimes, if a horse has enough run, she MAKES her own holes. Will probably be favored next time.

What does New York have to do to get another Cup???

Quirkycap, Thoroughbred Racing in New York, Facebook.

At the 4:00 mark…

The appropriate number of eeees today for my favorite young jockey, Rajiv Maragh, who pincayed four grass winners:

Phi Beta Mom (4th, $12)
Smartgabrielle (7th, $4.20)
Perfect Casting (8th, $5.90)
Catty Madeline (9th, $16.40)

Main track played fair, P6 was hit.

Firster Thoroughly Holy (2nd, $9.50) was MUCH the best, breaking a tad slowly, weaving, waiting, weaving, waiting, darting clear late. Cornelio gave a subtle fist pump after winning for The Green Sprint Queen, Linda Rice.

Turn Away (3rd, $3.50) stumbled and went to her face, literally, at the start—and when I write literally, I MEAN literally—somehow she recovered and, most amazing, Castellano stayed aboard. What tremendous athletes, the filly and the man riding her. Who else rallied for the win but Turn Away and Javier. Gameness equinified.

Conversely, Castellano enjoyed a Gold Trippi ($8) in the fifth, sitting off contentious frontrunners early and then feasting on the weary.

Prado was vintage Cordero aboard Multidude (6th, $6.50). Watch the replay. Sitting with a fistful of gelding on the far turn, Prado carried the looming Bullstar way, way wide and then charged back inside to finish business with the seam-splitting favorite, Leap Day (bumpy start). Great ride by Prado, but Carlos Martin legged him up on the goods. Carlos is underrated, under-appreciated.

I’m psyched for tomorrow’s card. Will be digging in shortly.

Formulator, alligator.

Quirkycap, TRNY Facebook

Will a hooded Cribnote take the turn in the Champagne?

In the Jamaica, will Wesley get in the fight earlier under Prado (replacing Castellano), or will it even matter against that turf demon from Clemencia (Clement and Garcia, Gio Ponti)?

Who will be favored in the crapshoot Frizette? Persistently is logical but a couple might be on the verge of igniting.

Finally (earlier, actually), in the second race, the fine, FINE looking Imperial Council makes his second start for Shug. In his debut, Imperial Council broke step slowly, moved fast to the second flight, tipped and surged to the lead before he began to lug in on a very game colt named Hello Broadway (half to Nobiz), who came again for the score. Imperial Council will be facing ominous firsters from Zito and Pletcher, but either one will have to be extremely talented to beat Shug’s handsome colt.

Three winners today for Johnny V (with Day, Pincay and Cordero looking on), and two for Rajeeev, including Mondo Diverso (5th, $64.50), the LONGEST PRICE in the SHORT FIELD. That system seems to work better downstate.

$540,334 carryover!!!

The track played fair today.

Sanchez had to work overtime to pull up Fly the North Wind (1st, $5.90), who wanted way more after winning by 15.

Unless my eyes were failing me (always possible), that was bin Suroor walking Formal Decree (8th, $5.20) from the paddock all the way to the track. Statuesque gelding had his game face on today. Dry Martini ran beyond himself for second. Billy Turner has many options with this talented guy. Grass in Florida or chilly route stakes at the Big A!!!! He is PERFECT for those.
looks amazing so far.

Will Palin be eased down the backside, feign injury to get vanned off from embarrassment, or will she shock at a huge price!?!?!

Quirkycap, TRNY Facebook

How do you invest all your love in the training of a guide dog, or in the breaking of a yearling, when you know the animal will leave your hands by the X on the calendar? These are not jobs for the weak.

I’m already in anticipatory mourning over the retirements of Big Brown and Curlin. In just a few months, these guys will be getting more tail than a bus full of John Mayers—and I’ll be staring at an empty on-deck circle; there isn’t a juvenile or returning sophomore who accelerates my heart or inspires fits of rude unbounded rooting, save maybe that Tapit>Pulpit>A.P. Indy filly out west.

But I disagree with Mr. Mojo Risin’; the west is not the best. With hair loss came the sober realization that Affirmed and Sunday Silence rank above their respective nemeses, but I’m east coast right coast Risen Star Kingpost, always have been, Atlantic Yearly, so unless the beauty’s in my traveling zone, I tend to just wanna be friends.

Brooklyn says Cribnote, a very cool choice, and brave; I tend to invest after a two-turn effort that grabs me. She’s braver. Profit potential is enormous when you buy stock in infancy.

Does anyone have a love in waiting?

As always, give three to five minutes for the video to load.

He nearly overcame a curse (lunging pre-race gate break), a free-running, saddle-slipped Triple Crown winner (fated into rabbit’s role, joining barnmate Life’s Hope as they cooked rabbit slew) and, finally, a brilliant international superstar with a dreamy blueprint trip.

The fractions for the distance were Mach 3.

Over the years the race has welled me more than once. It is the effort, along with Slew’s Marlboro dismissal of Affirmed, that made me a lifer. All Gold Cups bow to Seattle Slew’s Gold Cup.

See ya tomorrow. I’ll be in the grandstand paddock starting around 1:15 p.m., and will revisit for all the Grade Is and probably for all the fancy schmancy maiden races, too.

Bring galoshes and goggles and maximum lung capacity to cheer for the HOY vey. Barring a miracle (cue Benny Hinn, with Benny Hill’s music), tomorrow will be the last time Curln races in New York. He’s not Cigar, he’s not Ghostzapper, he’s not Slew or The Bid or Big Red, but he’s been a thoroughbeast to reckon with and, as I’ve said before, he’s been better on his worst days than any of the greats have been on theirs.

If you can’t make it to Belmont tomorrow and you don’t have access to the OTB channel, streaming coverage of all the races can be found on the Horse Racing Radio Network, with Rowland Hoyt. Rolly brings so much knowledge, preparation and passion to all his broadcasts—he’s the host of the Gulfstream Park telecasts, among other endeavors—I strongly recommend checking him out whenever you can. Tomorrow he’ll be here.

If you do go to Belmont, buy as many Curlin t-shirts as you can afford. NYRA has given B.E.S.T. (Backstretch Employee Service Team) 5,000 Curlin tees to sell. B.E.S.T. can potentially make $25,000!!!! Thanks to Brooklyn Backstretch for passing that information along.

Those of you who read Fran LaBelle’s piece on Alan Goldberg (under Recent News) might have used Goldberg’s only horse at Monmouth today, See My Heart, $24.20.

Let’s rock that Elmont joint tomorrow. I’ll be the guy with the big silver NASA-looking $38 umbrella and the video camera and the backwards Curlin cap, screaming in code at trainers and jockeys.

Oh, did I mention Belmont cancelled today? No soupy sales.

Quirkycap, TRNY

Smokin Hero now has five career starts.

Third today (2nd race) at 3-5.
Second at 6-5.
Second at 4-5.
Second at 3-5
Second at 6-5.

In the opener, the tripart entry was banged from 4-1 to 5-2 in the last flash, and Flibberjibit ($7.80) made the sneaky late poundage look smart.

Prado lost the first at 4-5, returned to win the second at 4-1 (Haynesfield, another Speightstown).

It’s been a while: Longest Price in Short Field! (Trust me, you’d be showing a nifty profit since last winter) And Great Thought (3rd, $20.80) was a HUGE overlay. Throw out the grass and slop races and what you had left was a filly who’d already broken her maiden (DQ’d, actually, on polytrack). Dry dirt and the switch to Frankel’s go-to jock, Castellano—bam! I had her heavily to win, but couldn’t maximize in exotics.

Habaya (4th, $20.20), from turf monstress Golden Apples, had more angles than a Coliseum but so did half the field. Storm Cats have been mowing grass all summer. Nice filly for the Mig.

Rice/Garcia in a grass sprint—$17.60! (5th, Kevazinga).

Shug’s Boca Grande (8th, $4.10) last time trailed in the slop behind the filly who also would’ve beaten both Zenyatta and Ginger Punch. Tough Tizs Sis, I will never forget that effort.

Benlayla (7th, $19.40) and Musca (9th, $11.80) continue a recent pattern—switching to Desormeaux and stretching out (Smax, 23-1, second).

Gold Cup, 2008.

Bring several sets of goggles.

Quirkycap, TRNY, Facebook.