Betty's Pearl

Those of us most despondent to see the winner of the first leg sitting out the second can console ourselves, precisely on grounds of tradition, that an abbreviated GI Belmont Stakes would never have allowed a "proper" Triple Crown anyway. Even so, with Curlin obviously deploying a rather more important son at Saratoga this weekend, we can be indulged in neglecting his contribution to one of the more intriguing winners of a relatively quiet week. Original Sin is a slower burn than Golden Tempo, but appears to be thriving with...

1st-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 4:25p.m. LNJ Foxwoods and NK Racing's Paradise (Gun Runner) gets her start for trainer Brad Cox and Irad Ortiz Jr. who combine to win at a 26% clip at Churchill Downs over the past year. The first foal out of MGSW and MGISP Venetian Harbor (Munnings), the filly brought $700,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Tracy Farmer's Tap This Way (Tapit) also makes her career debut, getting the services of Florent Geroux for her unveiling. Trained by Mark Casse, the homebred is out of...