Hammersly's review: The Lost Tigress back in fine form

The right changes

When The Lost Tigress ($5.80) made her debut Nov. 1 at Aqueduct, she was highly regarded as she was sent off the 2-1 second choice. The race, however, was disaster as she was never in the hunt, finishing seventh of nine, beaten a city block (26 3/4 lengths). She hadn’t been seen since, but when trainer Charlton Baker returned the 3-year-old daughter of Henny Hughes in the day’s opener, he did so with a couple significant changes.

First, it was nice to see no class drop. She remained in against state-bred straight maidens. However, Charlton, who had strong numbers off a long layoff like this going in (28 percent), brought her back with blinkers and Lasix added. It worked.

Under Jose Ortiz, she was fourth early, moved up sharply to challenge for the lead going into the far turn, got the better of her rivals into the lane, opened up, and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter, winning by 2 1/2 lengths.

Despite her debut running line, she was no secret as she went off the 9-5 second choice behind Pretty Like Me (a shorter 9-5), who rallied for second.

Changes also worked for Pep the Champ ($9.30) in race 4. The 3-year-old son of Wildcat Heir was dropping from straight maiden to maiden claiming and adding blinkers for the $40,000 turf sprint for trainer Tony Dutrow.

Under Manuel Franco, he sat well back early and began a strong, sustained run going to the far turn that carried him past the leaders and well clear for the easy five-length win.

The best laid plans

Sometimes it can be a boon when things don’t go as you planned.

Trainer Christophe Clement continued his strong run as just a few days after taking down the Belmont Stakes, he sent out the New York-bred filly Summer Solo ($5.20) against open company for the first time in Wednesday’s featured eighth, a 1 1/16-mile allowance race on the inner turf, and she was more than up to the task.

Oddly enough, this wasn’t really what Clement wanted. After her debut win over New York-bred maidens at Aqueduct last fall, she wasn’t seen again until May 18, when she returned to rally past New York-bred N1X foes on the Widener Course here May 18. Clement said he was impressed with her that day because he didn’t think she was fully fit.

He wanted to go into another New York-bred second-level allowance race or New York-bred turf stakes but couldn’t find such a race to fill, so he ended up trying open foes. It worked – very nicely in fact. Under Joel Rosario (the same guy he used on Tonalist to win the Belmont), Summer Solo, a daughter of Arch, lunged at the start to get away poorly but settled in fourth early, steadily improved her position, and came with a strong run in the lane to overwhelm pacesetter Irish Score and win going away by 1 1/4 lengths.

Heavy favorite Run of the River, who was returning from illness after being so impressive this spring in Florida, was nowhere to be found as she finished last of five in a disappointing return.

Nice day for Nick

It was sort of odd to have a big Belmont Stakes day and for Nick Zito not to be a part of it. But don’t fret – the trainer is humming along nicely this meet, even if he is without a “big” horse.

He won two races on this card, first sending out Noble Doss ($15.20) to win the day’s second race, a $12,500 claimer at a mile on dirt. That guy stalked the pace from his outside slot, came with a smart wide run into the lane, grabbed command, and drew off to win by 5 3/4 lengths under Irad Ortiz Jr – and Nick didn’t lose him via a claim.

He wasn’t as lucky with race 3 winner Grand Arrival ($6.30). The 3-year-old gelding, $200,000 at auction, was dropping from an N1X to a $50,000 N2L claimer at six furlongs, and the drop showed.

Under Joe Bravo, Grand Arrival bucked at the start to get away terribly, smacking the gate and losing his rider early. He looked hopelessly beaten after that as he was last and well back early but, after settling into stride, came with a strong, sustained wide rally that got him up in the final half-furlong to win by three-quarters of a length.

Unlike Noble Doss, however, Grand Arrival moves to another shedrow. He was claimed by Linda Rice, who won a two-way shake to get him. This son of Harlan’s Holiday romped in the mud at Saratoga over maidens last summer, which was enough to earn him a shot at the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes and the Grade 2 Nashua Stakes. Those outings didn’t go well (ran eighth and seventh, respectively) but show that at one point, there were some expectations here.

Horse to watch

PATTY AND NOOCHE
Trainer: Dominick Schettino
Last Race: June 11, 4th
Finish: 2nd by 3/4

The gelding dropped from allowance ranks and moved back to dirt after a dull turf try, and it nearly worked. He was slow into stride in this six-furlong event, began his run on the far turn, stayed wide and in the clear, cut the corner diving down to the inside where he grabbed command at the 16th pole, but couldn’t quite finish with the winner in the final yards as that foe was on the best part of the track (wider out).