Shug McGaughey's CLIFTON BAY, the overwhelming favorite in Thursday's featured allowance race, came from last to first to be up by a neck over the very game STILLED. STORMY WEST was third. CLIFTON BAY ($2.80), a dark bay filly by GONE WEST, had Edgar Prado up and traveled the the mile and a sixteenth over the yielding Widener turf in 1:44.68. The vicory was CLIFTON BAY'S second from three starts.

Troubled Trip: In Thursday's first race, a one-mile claimer on the Widener turf for older fillies and mares, CHICAGO'S GIRL got squeezed late between OHBEEGEEWHYEN and the winning WILLI'S SWEET GIRL ($15.20). Channing Hill steadied CHICAGO'S GIRL and she missed by just three-quarters of a length. It appeared to us that the winner came in on CHICAGO'S GIRL and the stewards must have thought so too as they immediately posted an Inquiry and flashed the top two numbers. After a review the order of finish was allowed to stand with CHICAGO'S GIRL taking the bad end of the deal. This gal was game late and could have won here with a clean trip. Check her out in the next start with similar.

With the move to upstate coming after Sunday's racing, the New York Racing Association announced that entries for Wednesday's opening-day card at Saratoga will be drawn on Saturday. Entries for Thursday's card will be taken on Tuesday.

Friday's top race is a $75,000 optional claimer under Nw3X allowance conditions at a mile for horses three and up. The race drew a field of just six and will go off as race three on the program. Richard Dutrow's WILD DESERT has been tabbed the 7/5 morning line favorite and will start from post 2 with Cornelio Velasquez. This 5-year-old son of WILD RUSH was last seen going second in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap last November at Churchill Downs but has been working steadily since May for the return. He's a winner at the distance and comes in here off a best of 16 work tab.

TASTEYVILLE (5/2) is 2/3/0 from seven starts at a mile and has been in the money in four consecutive starts in the NW3X condition. Last out he got second to HIGH FINANCE in one of these at a mile although he was beaten eight lengths. Look for this one to be on or near the pace with honest fractions.

The Longshot: Horse-for-the-course TACTICAL GOLD (8/1) is 3/2/0 from six Belmont starts and has hit the board in his last four races. He won a straight $35,000 claimer at a mile in his last start and shows two recent second-place finishes in NW3X company. Overall, this Tom Albertrani trainee is 7/8/5 from 24 races and is a winner at the mile distance. He's got speed but can rate and we like that Edgar Prado takes the return call from the rail. If the top one falters off the long layoff, this 5-year-old could be right there.

THUNDERING SUCCESS, SHMOO, and MOON'S HALO complete the field.

Just one ticket prevented Thursday's Pick 6 from going into carryover mode. Somebody nailed the wager for $36,691.00.

Reminder: Friday's racing closes out the Belmont Sunset Racing Series. First post goes at 3 p.m.