Congratulations to Filiberto Leon and his wife Roberta on the birth of Mariah Leon. The 7-pound, 1-ounce baby girl was born just after midnight at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, and just missed being a Fourth of July baby.
Mother and daughter are doing well. Filiberto celebrated in a deserving fashion yesterday at Belmont. After being scratched late in the fifth with No Secrets and at the gate for the first with Miz Koddington, he won with his only mount in the ninth, Song For Annie.
1ST RACE – Prior to start, Three Is The Charm tied up and was gate scratch. Then, Leon felt Miz Koddington wasn’t warming up properly and asked her to be scratched as well. When race finally went off, Swan Lake set pace and had lead until midstretch. Impulse Shopper made wide aggressive move around turn into contention and took lead in midstretch then went on to victory. Peaches N Nectars was headstrong early, raced with leaders down backstretch and tired.
3RD RACE – Skipper Kipper and Mr. Buffum battled for early lead, setting fast fractions of :22 4/5 and :44 2/5. Not So Wacky made three-wide move on turn and Intidab four-wide move. At top of stretch, Intidab was still under hand ride and swept by field. He drew off to impressive victory in 1:08 2/5. Margin of victory does not tell how much best he was.
4TH RACE – Surfin The Net went to lead and never looked back. Rejoice By Choice ran on wrong lead in stretch drive and couldn’t catch winner. Fist-time starter Easy’s Echo raced green and lost photo for third to Always Available.
5TH RACE – Pace made race again on inner turf course. Invitation held ground on rail and set early pace going into clubhouse turn over World’s Ensign. He was joined down backstretch by Big Vig, who made aggressive move to front. The two raced together entering stretch and Invitation drew off.
7TH RACE – Ghost Ring changed tactics and rated off pace. He made wide move around turn to reach contention with favored Sailor’s Warning following. Ghost Ring floated Sailor’s Warning wide into stretch and Sailor’s Warning flattened out while Ghost Ring went on to easy score.
9TH RACE – Buy Sell or Hold was rank early and went very wide entering backstretch. Velazquez tried his best to control her and eventually sent her to front, but she flattened out in stretch. Song For Annie saved ground, angled out slightly to go around tiring Timely Legend, then passed and cut in front of Noble Days, forcing her to check sharply. Song For Annie then held off the fast-closing Firmness to get money. There was no inquiry.
PICK SIX
Winning numbers (5-12-2-2-7-5)40 winners each receives $7,5121055 winners (5 of 6)each receives $72.50No Carryover