Aqueduct Red Smith (race 8) COMMENT: In the final graded turf stakes of the season in New York, Spring Quality stepped up his game, notching his first graded stakes win. Coming off a fourth in the shorter Grade 2 Knickerbocker at Belmont last month, the son of Quality Road broke well, got a dream trip, sitting just off longshot Memories of Peter as that runner had a clear early lead while setting slow splits, remained in second, just outside of favorite Money Multiplier, continued to travel comfortably in second, advanced on the longshot pacesetter going to the far turn, challenged that foe into the lane, fought hard through the lane and just got to the line before the hard-charging Call Provision. This was just his ninth start, so there’s room for more development for the 5-year-old gelding, and trainer Graham Motion said he’d be freshened and pointed for some of the big races in 2018. Call Provision, one of two from the powerful Chad Brown barn (Money Multiplier) and a strong winner of a tough optional claimer at Belmont last month, lagged back, came with a strong run between horses in the lane, surged late just inside the winner but just couldn’t quite get to him. Get Jets, favored after winning three of his last four, including two New York-bred stakes, stalked a couple of lanes off the rail while a couple lengths behind the eventual winner, moved closer going to the far turn, moved up outside the eventual winner into the lane, finished well but just wasn’t quite good enough. Money Multiplier, a good second in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga on Aug. 26 but dropping here after a disappointing eighth in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont on Sept. 30, broke alertly, stalked in third while saving ground, just inside the eventual winner, remained there throughout, had to wait for room and check briefly coming into the lane but stayed on the rail, found a clear path, ran on well, but like the show horse, just wasn’t quite good enough. Oscar Nominated, second, albeit beaten 10 3/4 lengths in the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine on Oct. 15, sat in midpack while saving ground, sitting just inside of Get Jets, remained between horses, was in traffic on the far turn, came out in the lane but was fairly one-paced to the wire. Hunter O’Riley, the winner of the Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga on July 29 and then a decent fourth in the Sword Dancer but who suffered a slight setback after that, lagged well back from the start while saving ground, not far behind the eventual runner-up, continued to save ground, was asked for run on the far turn, came off the inside, swung very wide into the lane but was unable to get involved. Churchill Commonwealth Turf (race 10) COMMENT: Mr. Misunderstood came into this off three straight easy turf wins. He stepped up into graded stakes and made it four straight (and 7 for 7 on turf) with another handy win. The son of Archarcharch bided his time early as 7-10 favorite Mr Cub set a slow pace under some pressure from Gorgeous Kitten, remained well back to the far turn, came with a strong run into the lane, surged into contention, grabbed the lead inside the eighth pole from Mr Cub and drew clear. This class of turfers is loaded, so while he’s shown talent, he likely still needs more in a division that features Bricks and Mortar, Yoshida, Oscar Performance, Good Samaritan, Frostmourne and Sharp Samurai, among others. Not bad for a horse you could have claimed for just $30,000 a year ago. Trainer Brad Cox said the Woodchopper at Fair Grounds on Dec. 30 is possible, but he was leaning toward giving the horse a break and targeting the bigger turf races there later in the meet. Parlor bounced back nicely off a dull sixth in an allowance race on Keeneland’s turf last month as he sat back just behind the eventual winner after a slow start while staying inside, was still just behind that rival turning for home, had to wait for room coming into the lane, which surely cost him, found a lane, pitched out and finished well. Mr Cub went right to the lead, took pressure from Gorgeous Kitten while setting slow splits, was pressured by that foe to the far turn, was getting rid of him into the lane when quickly confronted by the eventual winner and weakened a bit in the final furlong. Giant Payday, third to Mr. Misunderstood in the Jefferson Cup here Sept. 30, stalked in third while staying wide and in the clear, loomed a threat turning for home but was one-paced in the lane and unable to threaten in the final furlong. Del Mar Bob Hope (race 5) COMMENT: Greyvitos, a maiden, couldn’t handle Italiano when third to that foe at Santa Anita on Oct. 21, but that was his first start in almost three months, he got blinkers for the first time here, and the $100,000 son of Malibu Moon responded with a big effort to post the 19-1 upset. From his rail slot, he shot right out to a clear lead, moved off the fence some while still clear and setting a solid pace, looked to be in trouble when Mourinho came at him into the lane but held that rival at bay and was extending his advantage in the final half-furlong. He had missed time with an injury but looks back on track. Being by Malibu Moon, the sire of Kentucky Derby winner Orb, he may progress further with more ground, and the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity at Los Alamitos on Dec. 9 could be next. Mourinho, who failed to scratched into the Juvenile Turf Sprint on the Breeders’ Cup undercard Nov. 4 after an impressive debut win at Santa Anita on Sept. 30 and a decent second in the Speakeasy there Oct. 15 (to today’s foe Beautiful Shot), took off the blinkers and ran splendidly as he sat third early while saving ground, remained there to the far turn, loomed a big threat to Greyvitos when making a run at him into the lane but just couldn’t quite get to that rival, ending up second, far clear of the others. This $625,000 son of Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver has promise. Beautiful Shot, a winner of his first two starts in rallying fashion, including the Speakeasy, sat just behind Mourinho from the start while to that rival’s outside, couldn’t keep up with that foe on the turn and into the lane and plugged along to get third, though he was far behind the top two. Run Away, a prime contender after winning four of his first five, including a Grade 2, and running third in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, sat second, chasing Greyvitos, from the start, moved inward for the stretch run but never produced a run.