Bits and Pieces according to ZATT

I ask you -- how good is Lady Eli? I don’t think even Chad Brown or Irad Ortiz, Jr. truly know at this point. Much like American Pharoah did in the Belmont, the three-year-old daughter of Divine Park really showed me something in the rich Belmont Oaks. Until a horse demonstrates that they can get it done at a demanding distance, it is good to be skeptical. Doubts were quickly erased by Lady Eli on Saturday with an overpowering win at 10 furlongs. In more than four decades of following the horses, I honestly cannot remember an American turf filly beginning her career any better, or with more potential, than this one. Another Breeders’ Cup this year, and then who knows, maybe something really memorable next year. Lady Eli may well be good enough to start entertaining raids on some of the world's best turf races overseas.

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Surprise, surprise -- American Pharoah is Monmouth Park bound for the Haskell Invitational. OK, so this decision surprised absolutely no one, but I was holding out hope that his connections would think a little bit more outside the box and give Saratoga’s Whitney Handicap some serious consideration. The Haskell will be fun, and quite the scene, man, but it likely will not present a true challenge to our Triple Crown winner. At least, it shouldn’t. After the Jersey Shore, I would like to see him try older horses more than once, so I hope that the Jockey Club Gold Cup is also given serious condition, rather than the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx. Call me crazy, but I want to see our champion tested against the best.

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Back to the Stars and Stripes card at Belmont Park -- I continue to marvel at Private Zone. When the Canadian-bred first came up from South America for the Rene Douglas led Good Friends Stable, I thought he was really a nice, underrated, and tough horse. Three years later, I think the same things about him -- only tenfold. The six-year-old gelding is as good as ever, and in Saturday’s Belmont Sprint Championship, some talented sprinters had absolutely no prayer against him. This is one horse that I hope can remain healthy and racing for a few more years.

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If you ask how good is Lady Eli after the Belmont Oaks, I think we also need to ask -- what’s wrong with Main Sequence? He has now finished seventh in his last two starts. A Dubai bounce, or has the best turf horse in the nation last year lost a step this year?

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And while Main Sequence floundered, Big Blue Kitten announced himself as the new top turf male in the nation, in my opinion. (Notice I said “male” there, in a show of huge respect to the fantastic young filly at the top of today’s Bits and Pieces.) Two years ago, it looked like this Ramsey runner was ready to make a real run at a championship. That didn’t quite pan out, and then last year was slowed by physical setbacks. Much like the same time two years ago, this Kitten looks ready to purr again, and maybe even more so this time around. And please don’t get me started on the silly comments I’ve seen on him needing a rabbit. Racefans, please. Main Sequence, and all the other ralliers for that matter, had every opportunity to benefit from the pacemaker as much as Big Blue Kitten, but none could do so. Big Blue Kitten was just much the best in the best turf field of the year so far. As good as he looked yesterday, it got me thinking about whether California Chrome really wants to tangle with the guy we watched yesterday, come Arlington Million in six weeks.

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For those of you who are regular readers of these pages, you know that I retain a soft spot for the very good four-year-old European, The Grey Gatsby. Well, that rooting interest did me no favors this weekend in the running of the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. My choice threw everything but the kitchen sink at the unbeaten Golden Horn, to no avail. If you have not yet seen the John Gosden trained three-year-old run, do yourself a favor and check out his replays now. He is a stunning mover, and impresses me more with each and every race.

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Out West, we saw the highlight of the short Los Alamitos Thoroughbred meet with Saturday’s Los Alamitos Derby. Last year, you’ll remember, that this was the race where Shared Belief earned his initial victory at nine furlongs. No such superstar showing this year, but we were treated to a heckuva good, long stretch run. The highly regarded Kentuckian fell flat in his first try beyond seven furlongs, which left the outcome to Gimme Da Lute and Prospect Park. The former was the first to put away the favorite, but the latter kept coming, and had he run straight and true, I think he would have won. The winner is solid, but I think Prospect Park is the one with still, as of yet, untapped potential.

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If you are looking for a new two-year-old filly in which to throw some early interest, look no further than the daughter of Sky Mesa who was unveiled Friday at Arlington Park. Amira J is her name, and her debut was an eye-popper. Sent off at 7-10 in a field of six, off a series of solid morning works, she went right to the early lead, and continued to widen her margin all the way to the wire, ultimately winning by two touchdowns. The final time of :58.05 is excellent over the Polytrack, and she is bred to run on any surface, and to handle two turns. Looks like Michael Stidham may have a good one.

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I have always been fond of the Eddie Kenneally trained five-year-old, Bradester. He’s not a Grade 1 type, but he is a hard trying horse with good early foot that I always expected to break through and win something. He’s come close in the past, but Sunday was finally his day. His performance in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile was top shelf. The 109 Beyer attached to the 2-length victory was well earned. I didn’t bet him, mind you, because I was high on Red Vine, but I say well done, Bradester, regardless.

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Losing Saturday’s all-graded stakes Pick 6 at Belmont by a head bob was a bitter pill to swallow. Tonalist should have been able to beat Effinex. I should have singled Lady Eli or Private Zone instead of Tonalist. Oh, well … that’s gambling.

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Tomorrow marks the 40-year anniversary of the death of Ruffian. Needless to say, she was one in a million. Perhaps I lived a slightly sheltered life, but her breakdown, and eventual passing, was undoubtedly the saddest thing that happened during the first decade of my life.

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OK, I admit it … I don’t particularly care for seeing the Summit of Speed at Gulfstream Park. It’s a Calder thing. Or is that Gulfstream Park West now?