Francis LaBelle Jr.
Belmont Park

Harold A. Via Jr.’s Good Night Shirt, tracing his own hoofprints that lead to a championship season in 2007, returned to Belmont Park on Sunday afternoon and successfully defended his title in the second running of the Grade 1, $150,000 Lonesome Glory Steeplechase at two and  a half miles over national fences.

Bob Hill
Staff writer

Arlington Heights, Ill. – On the last Saturday of the season at Arlington Park, two horses proved that “class on the grass” is an axiom that sometimes does not prove true.  Stormy Ballad broke his maiden in the Lake Michigan Stakes, contested at five-an-half-furlongs on soft turf.  Six races later, Dynaman won the John Henry Stakes in his first try beyond allowance company.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist

My Pal Charlie used a dream trip along the rail to take down the $500,000 Super Derby on Saturday at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La. The Indian Charlie colt got the jump on Macho Again when that one had to steady shortly before heading into the second turn, which again proved unlucky for the favorite.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist

Nick Zito and Tracy Farmer have a decision to make about the Breeders’ Cup coming up at the end of October at Santa Park in Southern California. That decision will involve whether or not they go and in which race they would put their star Commentator.

Commentator put them in that position by crushing six opponents Saturday in the Massachusetts Handicap by 14 lengths in 1:48.97 and that was while being eased at the finish.

Francis LaBelle Jr.
Belmont Park

If the idea was to give Indian Blessing a strong race, the idea lasted for about five furlongs Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park. But suddenly, as if she had grown tired of Zada Belle’s company, Indian Blessing pulled away to an easy  6¼-length victory in the 15th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap for fillies and mares at six and a half furlongs.

Tracksideview.com staff report

Trainer Larry Jones was concerned about Proud Spell giving up between five and 10 pounds to the competition in the Grade 2 Fitz Dixon Cotillion, and he had good reason when Seattle Smooth held off a late charge by Proud Spell to win the mile-and-a-sixteenth race by two-and-a-half lengths on Saturday at Philadelphia Park.

Laurie Ross
Tracksideview.com

IRON MAIDENS
Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008– Belmont

Kat Kubik
Staff writer

Mass Cap, 1 1/8 mile, Suffolk Downs

This race is all about Commentator, and most people are just wondering what the margin of victory will be. Commentator (2) will go straight to the front, with Volcanic Force (5) and Riversrunrylee (7) with him. They will be stalked by Won Awesome Dude (3), Cuba (4), and Dr. Pleasure (6). Beck and Call (1) will be the closer.

Graham Ross
Arlington Park

After saddling about twice as many winners at his nearest pursuer in Arlington’s leading trainer honors for 2008, defending champion Wayne Catalano is assured his fourth straight title as Arlington’s leading conditioner, fifth in the last six years, and seventh in the last nine seasons.

NTRA release

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced today the 2008 Eclipse Awards ceremony will be held Jan. 26, 2009, at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. The event will mark the first Eclipse Awards to be held in Florida since the 2003 ceremony, which was held in January 2004 in Hollywood, Fla. For the last four years, the Eclipse Awards have been presented in Beverly Hills, Calif., and they will return there in January 2010. The Eclipse Awards are presented by…