Starlight Racing's Shanghai Bobby (Harlan's Holiday) maintained his unbeaten record with perhaps his most impressive effort to date. Rider Rosie Napravnik settled the favorite in a perfect spot in second as California shipper Goldencents (Into Mischief) cut out a :23.55 opening quarter. He ranged up to challenge as they passed the half-mile pole in :47.45, and opened up down the lane. "He was taking me to the lead before I wanted to go, but he was full of it and did it as easy as could be," Napravnik offered. "He's just gotten better and more mature with every start, and I think he's just going to continue to grow and exceed our expectations." Shanghai Bobby already secured a spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile by virtue of his GII Three Chimneys Hopeful S., and earned some more towards his cross-country plane fare with this "Win and You're In" contest. "That was fun!" enthused Starlight's Jack Wolf. "When I saw we drew the two [post] I wasn't too excited, especially with the speed inside, but it actually worked out well for us. You could [have made] a case for any of the horses in here and I'm very proud of the way he performed against this bunch. We'll talk to Todd [about the Breeders' Cup] and see how the horse comes out."
Saturday, Belmont Park
FOXWOODS CHAMPAGNE S.-GI, $400,000, BEL, 10-6, 2yo, 1m, 1:35 2/5, ft.
1--sSHANGHAI BOBBY, 122, c, 2, by Harlan's Holiday
1st Dam: Steelin', by Orientate
2nd Dam: Steel Band, by Carson City
3rd Dam: Wedding Band, by Mighty Appealing
($105,000 yrl '11 KEESEP). O-Starlight Racing; B-Stonehaven Steadings (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher; J-Rosie Napravnik. $240,000. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, $607,000. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.


2--Goldencents, 122, c, 2, Into Mischief--Golden Works, by Banker's Gold. ($5,500 yrl '11 FTKOCT; $62,000 2yo '12 OBSJUN). O-W C Racing, Kenney, Dave & RAP Racing; B-Rosecrest Farm & Karyn Pirrello (KY); T-Doug F O'Neill. $80,000.
3--Fortify, 122, c, 2, Distorted Humor--Kotuku (GB), by A.P. Indy. O-Godolphin Racing LLC; B-Darley (KY); T-Kiaran P McLaughlin. $40,000.
Margins: 5, 1, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.65, 3.70, 6.20.
Also Ran: Archwarrior, Micromanage, Chief Havoc. Scratched: Bern Identity. Click for the brisnet.com chart, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Taylor Made Sales.
   Shanghai Bobby, freshened up after a successful bow at Aqueduct Apr. 19, picked up where he left off by wiring the 5 1/2-furlong Track Barron S. at Belmont June 27. He completed his tour of NYRA tracks by reporting home sharply in the GII Three Chimneys Hopeful S. at Saratoga on Labor Day, and was favored in this competitive affair. (Click here for a Sept. 8 feature on Shanghai Bobby's breeders).
   Winning trainer Todd Pletcher also had sharp maiden winners Archwarrior (Arch) and Micromanage (Medaglia d'Oro) in the field, and said that both colts showed their inexperience. "[They] ran like horses who had only one start," he explained. "Archwarrior got stuck down inside, a position he's never been in. He got some dirt and just sort of ran evenly down the backside. I thought he showed some interest late when he got in the clear. Micromanage needed to do a little more. He was a little bit wide around the turn, and I think we learned a little something about the way he needs to be ridden; we probably need to place him in the race a little more. The one thing we felt Shanghai Bobby had going for him coming into the race was seasoning. Those three starts, sometimes, are really important."