BELMONT PARK (ELMONT, NY) JULY 5, 2008

Trainer Bobby Frankel has the class edge with Southern California-based invaders Champs Elysees and Sudan, but local hope Presious Passion has the element of surprise on his side in the $750,000 United Nations Stakes (gr. IT) at Monmouth Park July 5. There are no North American grade I victors among the nine entrants for the 55th running of the United Nations, which is contested at 1 3/8 miles. The United Nations, along with the Salvator Mile, highlight the "NTRA Summer Racing" series this weekend. Both races also are part of Breeders' Cup Challenge Day at Monmouth, meaning the winners each will receive an automatic starting berth in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Oct. 25. The show will air over ESPN2 from 6 to 7 p.m. (EDT). Trainer Mary Hartmann has been conditioning horses at Monmouth Park for more than a decade, and in multiple graded stakes winner Presious Passion, she could have a legitimate shot at the New Jersey track's top race for older horses. “This is my first horse ever in a grade 1 race,” Hartmann said, “and it’s really exciting.” Her 5-year-old Florida-bred Royal Anthem gelding has three graded wins over the past two years, all at outrageous prices.

RACE #9 - BELMONT PARK - 5:16 PM EASTERN POST

6.0 FURLONGS DIRT GRADE I THREE YEAR OLD FILLIES STAKES $250,000.00 PURSE

#3 INDIAN BLESSING
#1 INDIAN WAY
#7 PALANKA CITY
#4 BY THE LIGHT

Just in case you forgot your Thoroughbred Racing History ... The Prioress Stakes is named for the first American Thoroughbred ever to win in England! Prioress was bought by Ten Braek from General Wells as a three year old in 1857 for $2,500. She was then sent to England where she won both the Great Yorkshire Stakes and the Cesare Witch Handicap in 1858. In the latter, Prioress finished in a triple dead heat with El Hakim and Queen Bess; she then won the run off. In this year's edition, the 61st running of this stakes affair, #3 INDIAN BLESSING drops in class (-7) this afternoon, and is the pace profile leader in this stakes field sprinting at 6.0 furlongs on the dirt. She's hit the board in "POWER RUN FASHION" in five straight, winning three times in this recent streak of racing consistency. #1 INDIAN WAY comes off a maiden-breaking "POWER RUN WIN" in her last start, which was just the 2nd race of her young career to date. Jockey Cornelio Velasquez and Trainer Anthony Dutrow send her "postward" for the "Saturday Feature" ... they've "whacked the tote board" with 62% of their entries saddled as a team to date.

RACING NEWS: Del Mar fans became used to seeing multi-millionaire Sarafan from 2001 to 2005. This summer they and the rest of the country can see the gelding on television in the new series, “The Cleaner” on the A&E network. Sarafan and Fighting Furrari, one of the primary horses who played Seabiscuit in the movie, took turns portraying the racehorse Moonshine in an episode slated to air Aug. 12. The racetrack sequences were filmed at Santa Anita May 19-20. Benjamin Bratt of “Law & Order” fame plays the title character, William Banks, who helps people get clean of their addictions. In this case it’s a jockey named Jimmy Alvarez, played by James Madio. The impetus for a racing-related episode came from Steve Boyum, who directed it, and executive producer and co-writer Jonathan Prince. Both are racing fans. “I was raised in the Los Angeles area, and my dad would take me to the races as a small child,” said Boyum, who has worked extensively as a director, stunt coordinator, and stuntman. “Santa Anita was like a shrine to my childhood, and I always thought that I would love to shoot something there.”

HOME TRACK BONUS

RACE #6 - PENN NATIONAL - 8:49 PM EASTERN POST

8.0 FURLONGS DIRT FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD $4,000.00 CLAIMING $9,800.00 PURSE

#6 CHARLIE'S SWORD
#2 SUZY Q
#7 CARYCITA
#8 GRACIES CHOICE

#6 CHARLIE'S SWORD takes a class drop (-7) this evening, and is the overall speed leader in this claiming field racing at the mile distance on the dirt, and comes off a "POWER RUN PLACE" finish facing better company in her last start. Jockey Katie Lee and Trainer Mike Rogers send her "postward" tonight ... they've hit the board with nearly half of their entries saddled as a team to date. #2 SUZY Q, an 8-1 shot, has hit the board in three straight, with two of those results, including a win her last time out, also qualifying as "POWER RUNS."

KENTUCKY BONUS

RACE #10 - CHURCHILL DOWNS - 5:51 PM EASTERN POST

6.0 FURLONGS DIRT GRADE III TWO YEAR OLDS STAKES $150,000.00 PURSE

#5 SEGAL
#7 LYIN' HEART
#3 THEREGOESJOJO
#1 SCREEN YOUR FRIEND

#5 SEGAL has hit the board in "POWER RUN FASHION" in both of his two career starts to date, including a "POWER RUN WIN" to break his maiden in his "first asking." Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan was in his irons for that win which produced a +110% return on investment in the process ... Bridgmohan is back today for his 2nd ride, gunning for back-to-back "Circle Trips." #7 LYIN' HEART is undefeated in a two race career to date, including a "POWER RUN WIN" his last time out.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BONUS

RACE #5 - HOLLYWOOD PARK - 2:10 PM PACIFIC POST

9.0 FURLONGS CUSHIONED TRACK GRADE I FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD STAKES $300,000.00 PURSE

#3 ZENYATTA
#1 TOUGH TIZ'S SIS
#2 SILVER Z
#5 SEALY HILL

#3 ZENYATTA qualifies as a TrackMaster PLUS "PowerPony," takes a slight class drop (-1), and is both the speed and pace profile leader in this stakes field today racing at, or about, 9.0 furlongs on the "dirt." She is a perfect 4-for-4 into "The Circle" racing at today's distance and surface, and has produced "Circle Trips" in each of her last five outings, with her last two victories also qualifying as "POWER RUNS." #1 TOUGH TIZ'S SIS has hit the board in five straight ... winning twice .. however I also note that the wins were not out of the "POWER RUN VARIETY."