Columnist Ralph Siraco: Notes at halfway point

SINCE HORSE RACING'S annual season spans the entire year, 52 weeks, 365 days -- give or take a day or two -- the July 4th holiday signals the halfway point, and another year with another second season.

So, as we put another steak on the barbie, here are some notes scribbled across the program:

The weekend racing menu was as full and diverse as the multitudes of visitors to our gaming-party city and the fireworks were not limited to the night skylines.

On Saturday, the real Fourth of July, at Monmouth Park, N.J., the Molly Pitcher was a showdown of two nice Graded Stakes fillies in Glitter Woman and Relaxing Rhythm. The two set off in their own match race from the outset, but as the pair turned for home in the 1-1/16th-mile race, Relaxing Rhythm pulled away with Pat Day in the irons and romped to the finish. The Pat Byrne-trained filly extended her unbeaten streak to eight and is undefeated in her career. Minister's Melody finished second as Glitter Woman faded to third. The first two finishers were recent shippers from the just-concluded Churchill Downs meet. Beware, Churchill shippers to other tracks will be tough this summer. Rhythm's next stop should be the Saratoga meet in upstate New York, in August.

Belmont Park was hot, hard and fast for the Fourth. The first of Saturday's stakes trio was the Tremont for 2-year-olds. Now, I understand it's only July, but it's never too early to dream of next year's Kentucky Derby. Tactical Cat, with Jerry Bailey aboard disposed of the freshman field with ease. The D. Wayne Lukas trainee rolled in the 5 1/2 furlong affair and was also a Churchill shipper. Lucky Roberto was a distant runner-up and King's Crown was third. It was the second "look-em-up" house quinella that was split on the day. Of course the other was the aforementioned Relaxing Rhythm and Glitter Woman.

The most impressive performance of this Fourth of July may have been in the Poker Handicap on Belmont's billiard table-like turf course. The One Mile Handicap was an exhibition for Elusive Quality. The Bill Mott-trained 4-year-old took the lead from the start and blistered through splits of 22:3, 44:2 and an unbelievable 1:07:2 for the six furlongs. It was the fact that Elusive Quality never stopped and continued uncontested without urging to finish up the mile in a new course and North American record of 1:31:3 that dropped the jaws of all who witnessed the race. Although the track was conducive to speed, the effort could only be classified as a monster move. Europeans be forewarned, this American may defend the colonies in this fall's Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill.

Jockey Jerry Bailey was going for a holiday Stakes hat-trick sweep in this Suburban Handicap, the traditional July Fourth Belmont feature, with Blazing Sword. But, America's leading jockey and regular rider of Skip Away had to settle for two-out-of-three. Frisk Me Now under Eddie King out-raced longshot Ordway, who suffered his own holiday traffic, to win while Sir Bear finished third.

On the left coast at Hollywood Park, three stakes races dotted the 10-race holiday card. The Playa Del Rey Stakes saw a promising sprint prospect in Reraise. Outsprinting the more famous Souvenir Copy, the Eddie Delahoussaye-ridden runner withstood two challenges from the runner-up before putting him away.

Jockey Gary Stevens had a two-flag day as he guided Magellan to win the American Handicap, at 1 1/8 miles, then Squeak to victory in the Beverly Hills Handicap, at 1 1/4 miles, both on the Hollypark lawn. He also allowed owner Gary Tanaka and trainer Ben Cecil two winners circle pictures as the connections of both of those winners.

A funny thing happened to the odds-on California shipper on the way to an easy win at Lone Star Park in Texas. The Bob Baffert-trained Anet, at 1-to-5 odds was supposed to be money in the bank and cattle on the ranch in the Lone Star Park Handicap. With only four challengers, it would seem almost impossible that Anet could do anything but return 20 cents on the dollar in the 1-1/16th-mile race. Well, not only did Anet not win, he didn't hit the board. Mocha Express, a local favorite, upset the feature with a victory when he ran down the pacesetter Prince of the MT. It is noteworthy that Anet's failure is not the first, but rather the latest in odds-on busts at the Dallas-Fort Worth track. Earlier this year, a pair of "sure things" from Southern California finished off the board as well. Futuristic and Reality Road bombed on the same day, and let's not forget that Skip Away was beaten last year at Lone Star. Hmmm?

Baffert, however, did not leave empty, as his Commitisized captured the supporting feature USA Stakes on the lawn later in the card. Hmmm?

And for the hunch players: Bydawnsearlylight won the 8th at Laurel at $7 and half an hour later at Calder, Mr. United States arrived at $6.20 in the 9th.

In Town: The "Rebate" controversy or concern on horse-race bets is starting to heat up again. The Fiesta Race Book is the first to come under the scrutiny of this state's Gaming Control Board, but will not be the last. Special "Proposition" wagers policies at multiple locales are under the Gammers eye. Mr. Starr anyone?

The Coast casinos will renew the famous "Battle of the Barbary" handicapping contest for the upcoming Del Mar season that gets underway July 22. The fourth new challenge will change venues to the more spacious Orleans complex from the newly remodeled "boutique" book at the Barbary Coast. Robert "Muggsy' Muniz will complete the eight-person shootout for the entire Del Mar 43-day summer season.

Finally: The new Comp-u-race replay systems are now at three Las Vegas race book locations and are a must for handicappers. The replay center enables anyone complete replays of major California tracks at a fingertip. The MGM Grand, New York-New York and Bally's currently have the Comp-u-race systems in place, but it's a best bet that almost all race books in Nevada will soon be Comp-u-race complete. And the beauty of the addition for race players is that the new handicapping aid will be free.

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