9/20 (SUF): 66th Massachusetts Handicap
 

66th MASSACHUSETTS HANDICAP

$500,000 Guaranteed
1 & 1/8 Miles
Saturday, September 20, Approximate Post Time: 5:45 p.m.

Post - Horse, Jockey, Morning Line

1 - Beck and Call, Tammi Piermarini, 20-1
2 - Commentator, John Velazquez, 3-5
3 - Won Awesome Dude, Casey Lambert, 8-1
4 - Cuba, Pedro Cotto Jr., 6-1
5 - Volcanic Force, Clifford Dooley, 20-1
6 - Dr. Pleasure, Cornelio Velasquez, 7-2
7 - Riversrunrylee, Pedro Gonzalez, 15-1

Past Performance
http://grantracingstable.com/mass_cap_pps.pdf

Nice of Asmussen to reportedly promise to send at least one of the four horses he nominated - Pyro, Student Council, Zanjero and Magna Graduate - and send zero.

Besides Commentator, nothing to get excited about there. I'm still going but disappointed in the final field.

That's the first thing I noticed when I read the entries, in remembering that last week Asmussen said one would be coming. I wonder why. I'd say there is a fair story for that side, but it's Asmussen so I don't throw him much rope.

I'll be there too, but also disappointed in the field. Suffolk is doing a lot to turn things around, and I think they were counting on a dynamite field in this year's Mass Cap, so hopefully another year will bring that.

I, too am disappointed in the field. I know Suffolk was working really hard to put together a good field. I hope there are no scratches as it is already a small field.

I will be there, Grandstand Box 1 right at the finish line.

Good luck to all

Hard to blame anyone decent for not wanting to run against Commentator in a rich ungraded stake at a time in the calender where so many graded stakes with comically weak fields and rich Graded races are going to be run for 3yos and up going long on the dirt over the next 3 or 4 weeks.

Hopefully something goes on a suicide mission and takes it to Commentator early. He's struggled tremendously with pressure in the past - but it doesn't mean he always will.

A horse like Fabulous Strike was the king on numbers with no pressure last year - but struggled with it - until he answered the question in a huge way in the Vosburgh at 9/2.

Did Fabulous Strike ever reappear?

He won a near walkover ungraded stake at Delaware in his only start this year.

He is in Erie right now training for the Vosburgh and looks well.

Does Anyone Else Feel The Excitment ?
Commentator

CRAZY TALK TIME:

I'm going to try and beat Commentator. The 7 horse has shown enough speed to suggest that if they go suicidal they can push Commentator through fractions under 46, which we all know he can't win a route race under 46 on the lead. So I'm going to try and beat him with the closers. Dr Pleasure seems the most likely.

LOL CRAZY IS NOT THE WORD..............


commentator wins this race for fun
sets a track record
and gets a beyer of 125 or higher....

I was with you on the Mambo in Seattle topic....but....125 beyer??? Not even Commentator is capable of that.

Maybe I can get $12 on a straight exacta of Commentator-Won Awesome Dude

Currently getting $11 for my Commentator-Won Awesome Dude straight exacta.

Stupid really, now that I see 1/9 on commentator and 24-1 on Won Awesome Dude, he's the smart wager

Commentator blows them away.Won Awesome Dude completes the $9 exacta payout

Bloodhorse Correction
 

Beautiful day for the Mass Cap and Commentator looked great. The Bloodhorse article mentions that Nick won 3 out of 3 yesterday. He actually only won 2 out of 3. Bobby Sands was upset in the 6th by Brother Joey for trainer John Riggattieri.

I thought there was about a 2.5% chance of this happening, only I thought Won Awesome Dude would pick up the pieces. So, played the P4 with that in mind after Suave Jazz scratched. Singled the first three legs, had the 2,3,6 in the Mass Cap, $3 ticket, punched it 30 times. Ended up being an okay way to end the day, until I sat in traffic going to the tunnel because there was only ONE TOLL CASHIER OPEN...

But, like Suffolk Girl said above, all and all just a great day. Weather was beautiful, east breeze kinda cooled me off during the afternoon, but the old track was packed and excited yesterday. I was sitting up in the clubhouse boxes, had one in front of a group of folks from West Point Thoroughbreds and they were raving about the track and how well Rich Fields is running it now.
Couldn't agree more. Hope everyone else who was there enjoyed themselves as well...

Commentator showed a new dimension and is a more dangerous horse now because of it. For the first time in his life he wasn't on the lead after a half and won. I hope they send him to the Classic. He may take to the synthetics and win it and if nothing else he'll assure that Big Brown won't get another trip like he did in the Monmouth turf race.

BB's people did the right thing in ducking Commentator.

I now am officially a fan.
Those were not easy fractions and he relaxed
not on the lead.
He has put on some great shows.

He did show a new side, no matter what the field.
I always thought he was a 7f Belmont blaze.
He is more.

Just a few pictures from the MassCap
 

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLan...localeid=en_US


Well, it wouldn't be a day at the track if I didn't have pictures. I actually edited this down to just show the MassCap - there are 10 (yes, only 10) pictures of the MassCap. The third picture shows Riversrunrylee about to pass Commentator and Commentator's head is turned to the right, towards RRR, with his ears pinned back, looks like he didn't take kindly to being passed so quickly. As others have pointed out, he rated beautifully and went on to show us what an athlete he is.

Thanks to Suffolk Downs for making this another beautiful day for all. I hope they are able to keep it up.