Okay, let's see...
13-race Belmont Stakes Day analysis - check.
True North advance - check.
Race of the day video for Friday's Brooklyn Handicap - check.
Pace and speed figures for yesterday's dirt races - check.
With all deadlines met, it's time to catch up on Thursday's early races:
Acquired Cat (1st, $6.80) held gamely to wire a second-level statebred allowance in her first start of the year. Since claimed by Dominic Galluscio here in May of 2009, she is 4-1-0 from five starts in the same condition. Her time over a firm-to-hard Widener turf course was 1:21.48 for seven furlongs.
Chain Mover (2nd, $5.90), a Monmouth Park shipper, drifted out late, but prevailed over Street Talk'n Man, who hadn't been out in over a year.
Sharp Instinct (3rd, $4.10) was clear through six furlongs in 1:10.35, and staved off Tribeca and Next Exit despite requiring 28.35 seconds to run her final quarter-mile.
One Turn Eddie (4th, $4.10) went to the front and improved his position under confident handling from hot-riding Javier Castellano. Several rivals were eased in the statebred maiden claimer, and Mom Proof was vanned off after being pulled up.
Maybe the New York State Racing & Wagering Board will approve a new bet called the "Super E-Z," in which bettors have to box or part-wheel all the horses who will be eased in any given race.
